It's NOT Covid
But this sinus headache is giving epic drum solo from "In the Air Tonight" on a continuous loop
I had ideas for this and the next couple of newsletters, but life and all …. My dad (age 86) went into the hospital with Covid; after 5 days, he’s home and reports that he’s doing well. For me, that was a straight punch to the solar plexus: I’m no stranger to the realities of mortality, but I wasn’t quite ready to let go. And I didn’t have to. Not yet.
The same day I hear about my father going into the hospital with Covid, my mom’s car died. Just. Died. I know nothing about cars except keep it filled with gas and adhere to regular oil changes (which I do). So when this happened, I just shrugged. When the tow truck driver explained that it’s likely a sensor of some sort, I still had no idea. A week and two days later and we still don’t know what’s happening with her car. Now that’s not bad in the scheme of things, but it is time consuming and it is costly.
So I’m a day-ish behind on work and that would normally be okay except for this fucking headache. Because me, I took a Covid test once symptoms became present and persistent — it’s negative. But I still feel like garbage and really want someone to pamper me because UGH!!!!
While I catch up on work, check out some of my favorite ‘stacks. Expect the usual: politics, social justice, feminisms, and random things.
In no particular order, I love it when these newsletters hit my inbox:
The Audacious Roundup by Roxane Gay — the right amount of Hollywood gossip mixed with important news. What I love is that it is a real roundup of stories I want to hear about, read, learn, and more. She’s possibly reading my mind some weeks, the roundups are so spot on, and I’m okay with that.
The Remix by Robin Boylorn and Eesha Pandit — If you used to follow the blog Crunk Feminist Collective, The Remix is exactly that. News and insight you need as well as the way you need to hear it. They don’t shy away from the messy parts of living as a feminist; indeed, they embrace it. Why? Life is messy. The Remix is doing intersectional feminism to your earhole with a funky bass line and I’m here for it.
How to Glow in the Dark by Anna Sproul-Latimer at GLOW literary agency is soooo helpful for anyone with questions about querying, writing, editing, submitting, and publishing. She doesn’t harbor fools and she doesn’t soften the blows, but she does give practical, serious advice while beguiling you with her way charming way with words. I’ve seriously written her fan mail about how gorgeous her newsletters are. (I’m a sap for good writing.)
Lilly Dancyger could write a phone book and I would read it. (Does that reference even hit anymore??) Her newsletter is often informative of her classes — writers, you won’t regret a moment of your time with her. But seriously: do yourself a favor and get into her work. Her memoir is entitled Negative Space and it is stellar. Just go read it.
Claire Potter really is a Political Junkie. Not only does she have a book by that title, but she also pens a regular newsletter that is informative, thoughtful, curious, and provocative. They are unafraid of taking a stand and defending it. They are also rigorous as a professor and scholar, but I know her best as a friend who made time to support me personally when I had so little to give back. If you dig contemporary politics, their newsletter is for you.
That’s a handful right there — and you can pay or not; paid gets you more content while unpaid gets you so close in Anna’s newsletter that you’ll give in eventually. A real domin-edit-rix she is!!
Two things happening here:
If you did so much research and writing over the summer, you might have a book proposal in the works, or a chapter of your book or an edited book. Here’s the deal-eo:
You send me your proposal draft, chapter draft, or some such. Within 10 days, I’ll have it back to you with detailed written feedback and a time for a Zoom call.
That’s it.
Now, if you are just out of graduate school and have little to no idea about how to write a book proposal, here’s the second thing happening:
I am going to run an Academic Book Proposal bootcamp. Over six weeks, we will hit every step of the proposal and why it is important. I’ll give you insights I’ve garnered over 20+ years in academic publishing. The six-week process will be virtual of course, and is only $199.00. From pitch to comps, from audience to ideal presses, from author credentials to readership, we will get your manuscript ready to propose to academic and independent publishing houses. If you’re interested, please let me know by emailing me at FormoreEditorial@gmail.com, subject line Academic Book Proposal.
As always, we are showing off Shirley Chisholm and hope you are ready to book Professor Anastasia Curwood for your spring campus, community, or corporate event!! If so, click on “ready to book” and let’s talk!!
So here it is — a short work week, a shout out to workers (we are UNION proud!), and some great reads along the way.
XO,
Stephanie