The Losing Game: Writing Acceptance 2/?

Hello friends and rivals, have I talked to you today about the importance of community? Because mine is responsible for an overwhelming amount of the good things that happen in my life.

By that same token, it's important to be a good community member when you can, to look out for each other, to volunteer, and to contribute. Using resources laid out for you is amazing, but when you give back, you help ease the workload of the folks doing the thankless work of creating spaces for you (and I) to thrive. One such good community member is Duncan (you can follow @df.parizeau to enjoy this service also,) a friend who has been using instagram stories to post calls for submissions. What a simple, great way to let people know about opportunities! And one of the people who jumped on said opportunity is me.

(Ugh that little wiggle, can you even?) I aim for 100 rejections a year. You know what's a great way to achieve that goal? Learning about new publications, checking them out, and then (if you're a good fit,) submitting! Hell, sometimes you even get acceptances.

So when Duncan posted about a publication called Feminist Space Camp, they pretty much had me at the name. When I investigated further and the theme was "Home", something I write about perhaps more than anything else, it felt like friend-delivered kismet. (I'm only 50% sure I know what kismet is. Am I using it right?) With crossed fingers (and toes, because my toes are unusually flexible,) I sent off a packet of poems. I got back this:

[WRITING ACCEPTANCE 2/?] Dear Erin, Thank you so much for your submission! We would be so honoured to publish your poems. I've spoken with our artistic director and she agrees with me in publishing all of them. I think they feed into each other in beautiful, evocative ways. Warmly, Tita FSC Magazine

So cheers, babies! I'm so, so pleased to be off to space camp! Maybe I'll see some of you fine astronauts there?

Before I sign off this time, I want to return to the idea of being a community member who contributes. If you are a person who wants to submit writing work but you don't know where to start, or don't know how to write a cover letter or bio, and you want help connecting to resources, note that I'm super happy to share this with you! It's an offering that is easy for me to make, and I want you to feel like you can get your words out there. So reach out. I'm friendly. Until next time, - E.B. Kirsh