December 8, 2017
2017 was not the year I expected it to be. This time last year I was working away on a first draft of a novel and planning all kinds of other writing projects. While I was fairly certain I wasn’t going to actually accomplish all my writing plans, I had settled in for a great year of writing productivity. What…
October 6, 2017
Dear Sherry, I wanted to ask your advice. I submitted a short story and poem to a contest, and they want to publish both! What troubles me is the poem. I wrote it many years ago, as it’s very “emo” as was described to me by a friend. I’m wondering if publishing this old fossil poem of depression is going…
September 1, 2017
Dear Sherry, I’ve recently come to a crossroad in my life. I have had to re-evaluate a bunch of things, one of which is that I want to give writing another try. I used to write, a lot. I did some workshops, and even had a few short story sales. Then I stopped, mostly because of work and family. If…
December 9, 2016
Dear Sherry, I don’t know if I can take it any more. I’ve been submitting stories for a few years now, but I keep getting rejections. I’ve read the magazines I submit to so I know what the editors like, and yet they reject me. I’ve been taking classes and have been working hard to improve my writing, but I…
November 4, 2016
Dear Sherry, I want to be a writer. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. I’m writing short stories and thinking about submitting them, but I’m worried they’re not good enough. I’m worried that I’m not good enough. I haven’t taken any classes or workshops, and I don’t have a degree in creative writing like you do. Shouldn’t I have…
October 6, 2016
Welcome to the bookstore, where conversations such as this can happen: Customer: Hi. I know this book just came out, but can I get it in paperback? Me: I’m sorry, ma’am, but it’s only available in hardcover. Customer: Well, I saw it at Target and they had it in paperback. Me: Ma’am, if you find the paperback at Target, I would love for…