Theme for Fall 2022 Journal: Twilight Zone

Howdy all! I hope your summer of 2022 is going great. The theme for the fall 2022 journal is the Twilight Zone. Submissions open Aug. 1, 2022. We accept fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art. Remember no short story should be longer than 20 pages, and we don’t accept prose poetry. 

For this theme, we want to see surrealism. Things that shouldn’t make sense, but do. An area of gray, where two different ways of life or states of existence meet, like what is between life and death, does limbo exist? Maybe it is the mental, emotional or physical state between reality and fantasy. We want to blur the lines of what people think is reality. What art do you see around you that is fantasy, unreal, but it exists and was made?

As always, if you have more questions about the theme, don’t forget you can always email the fantastic editors at editors@borrowedsolace.com.

The editors can’t wait to dive into the twilight zone!

S5 Episode 6: Resources

In season five, episode 6 of the podcast, Addey was joined by Kelsey and Madison–the hosts of the podcast Novel Nashville.

In their own words, Novel Nashville is “two Nashvillites hosting a book club. Nerd out with us as we talk books, authors, and our undying devotion to all things paper and print. Read along and join in for a weekly podcast as we discuss our book of the month: what we loved, what we loathed, and all of the little moments that made us do that weird squeal-to-yourself-shimmy thing when the couple we are shipping finally gets together. We aren’t just a podcast; we are a community, and we don’t just want to talk; we want to listen. Follow us or sign up for our newsletter to get your reading list and join the conversation. Welcome to the club, y’all!”

To find out more about Novel Nashville, check them out on their website, on Instagram, and on Facebook. And, of course, you can find the podcast wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

Now, let’s pretend we are discussing this week’s episode while reveling in the first day of summer. What do you think about an online book club? What book would you want to read if you were to join an online book club? Let us know in the comments below!

S5 Episode 6: An Online Book Club feat. Novel Nashville

This week on the podcast, Addey is joined by the hosts of Novel Nashville, Madison and Kelsey! Novel Nashville is a fun new book club in podcast form. Listen now to find out more about the podcast and its hosts–you won’t want to miss it.

S5 Episode 5: Resources

Season five episode five of the podcast was all about art and featured a conversation between Addey and borrowed solace‘s executive editor Nicole. Here are some of the resources mentioned in the episode.

The Old Art Jail Center

Seven Fine Art Disciplines

And, as always, don’t forget to keep an eye out on our submissions page for when we open back up for submissions! We are always looking for art and photography for our journal covers or to feature in an art section of the journal.

Now, imagine we are discussing this week’s episode of the podcast while getting artsy. What is your favorite art style to admire, and what is your favorite type of art to create yourself? Are you an art or photography type of person? Let us know in the comments below!

S5 Episode 5: All About Art

This week on the podcast it’s the triple A’s–all about art! We accept art for the journal but have never discussed it in much detail on the podcast before. For this episode of the podcast, Addey is joined by executive editor Nicole to talk about the types of art we are always looking for to publish in the journal and the types of art we ourselves enjoy creating and admiring.

S5 Episode 4: Resources

Season five, episode four of the podcast featured Jessica Payne and Sara Read of #MomsWritersClub for part two of their conversation with Addey. Here is some more information about both #MomsWritersClub and Sara & Jessica if you’d like to learn more:

Jessica Payne

Jessica’s debut novel, MAKE ME DISAPPEAR, is a twisty psychological thriller about a woman on the edge who is willing to do anything to escape her sociopathic—potentially dangerous—boyfriend, including arranging her own kidnapping.

Jessica grew up in Kansas City, later moving to the Pacific Northwest where the mountains and Puget Sound became home. Beyond writing, she loves to run, rock climb, and explore the great outdoors with her daughter and husband. She is also an RN. When holding still, which isn’t often, you’ll find a book in her hand and a cat or dog in her lap. Jessica writes suspense and thriller and is the host of #MomsWritersClub on Twitter and YouTube.

You can follow Jessica and see all that she’s up to on her website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Sara Read

Sara Read writes contemporary fiction that aims for both the heart and the mind. Her debut novel, JOHANNA PORTER IS NOT SORRY, comes out March 7, 2023 on Graydon House Books (HarperCollins/HQN). In this snarky, sexy, book-club-ready novel, Johanna Porter, a soccer mom who was once a rising star in the rarefied realm of high art steals a world-famous portrait of herself from the narcissistic artist who was once her lover, sending her into hiding and on a poignant, funny, and emotional roller-coaster ride of questionable choices and self renewal. 

Sara’s short stories have been featured in The Missouri Review, Beloit Fiction Journal, and Zone 3 Press, and she has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She is represented by Laura Bradford of Bradford Literary Agency.

Before she started writing fiction, Sara got a degree in Women’s Studies from U.C. Santa Cruz. She tried the nine-to-five life for about a nanosecond before moving to rural Virginia to become a flute-maker’s apprentice and traditional fiddle player. Some years and two babies later, she returned to school for a Masters in Nursing. A cancer survivor herself, she now has the distinct privilege of caring for cancer patients.

Sara lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with her husband, two teens, a terrier, and three snarky cats. She loves a long run, a long road trip, and a long talk with a friend.

You can follow Sara and keep up to date on her writing on her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

#MomsWritersClub

#MomsWritersClub is a group of writers who are also moms. They host bi-weekly chats on Twitter, and post YouTube videos discussing all things about writing AND being a mom–and the intricacies of doing both at once.

You can learn about #MomsWritersClub on their YouTube channel and find out more information on Jessica’s website here, and on Sara’s website here.

Imagine we are catching up after a busy mother’s day weekend and the conversation turns to this week’s episode all about Sara and Jessica’s publication journeys. What did you think about the episode? Do you have any takeaways from listening to their stories? Let us know in the comments below!

S5 Episode 4: The Road to Publication feat. Jessica Payne & Sara Read

This week, Addey is back with Sara Read and Jessica Payne of #MomsWritersClub to talk all about their individual journeys to publication. Jessica and Sara share all about the process of writing their books, querying agents, getting “the call,” submitting to publishers, and, finally, signing their book deals.

S5 Episode 3: Resources

Season five, episode three of the podcast featured Jessica Payne and Sara Read of #MomsWritersClub. Here is some more information about both #MomsWritersClub and Sara & Jessica:

#MomsWritersClub

#MomsWritersClub is a group of writers who are also moms. They host bi-weekly chats on Twitter, and post YouTube videos discussing all things about writing AND being a mom–and the intricacies of doing both at once.

You can learn about #MomsWritersClub on their YouTube channel and find out more information on Jessica’s website here, and on Sara’s website here.

Jessica Payne

Jessica’s debut novel, MAKE ME DISAPPEAR, is a twisty psychological thriller about a woman on the edge who is willing to do anything to escape her sociopathic—potentially dangerous—boyfriend, including arranging her own kidnapping.

Jessica grew up in Kansas City, later moving to the Pacific Northwest where the mountains and Puget Sound became home. Beyond writing, she loves to run, rock climb, and explore the great outdoors with her daughter and husband. She is also an RN. When holding still, which isn’t often, you’ll find a book in her hand and a cat or dog in her lap. Jessica writes suspense and thriller and is the host of #MomsWritersClub on Twitter and YouTube.

You can follow Jessica and see all that she’s up to on her website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Sara Read

Sara Read writes contemporary fiction that aims for both the heart and the mind. Her debut novel, JOHANNA PORTER IS NOT SORRY, comes out March 7, 2023 on Graydon House Books (HarperCollins/HQN). In this snarky, sexy, book-club-ready novel, Johanna Porter, a soccer mom who was once a rising star in the rarefied realm of high art steals a world-famous portrait of herself from the narcissistic artist who was once her lover, sending her into hiding and on a poignant, funny, and emotional roller-coaster ride of questionable choices and self renewal. 

Sara’s short stories have been featured in The Missouri Review, Beloit Fiction Journal, and Zone 3 Press, and she has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She is represented by Laura Bradford of Bradford Literary Agency.

Before she started writing fiction, Sara got a degree in Women’s Studies from U.C. Santa Cruz. She tried the nine-to-five life for about a nanosecond before moving to rural Virginia to become a flute-maker’s apprentice and traditional fiddle player. Some years and two babies later, she returned to school for a Masters in Nursing. A cancer survivor herself, she now has the distinct privilege of caring for cancer patients.

Sara lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with her husband, two teens, a terrier, and three snarky cats. She loves a long run, a long road trip, and a long talk with a friend.

You can follow Sara and keep up to date on her writing on her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Now, let’s pretend we are out in the beautiful spring weather gardening together when the topic of conversation turns to this week’s episode of the podcast. What do you think about finding and building a writing community online? What comments or questions do you have about #MomsWritersClub? Leave us a comment below and let us know!

​

S5 Episode 3: Creating Online Community feat. #MomsWritersClub

This week on the podcast, Addey was joined by Jessica Payne and Sara Read of #MomsWritersClub. This is part one of two episodes with Sara and Jessica, who have a YouTube channel together and are both well on their way to having their debut novels traditionally published. You won’t want to miss this episode full of great insight about creating a writing community and building an online platform.

Putting Yourself Out There

I like to think I’ve become immune to that jittery feeling that comes with putting myself out there. I’m learning, though, that there is no way to truly weather the feelings that come about when you’re pushing yourself to your limits.

Pushing yourself to the limits might seem like a bit of an extreme notion, but I think it’s the aptest way to describe the act of pouring your heart out to the world in your writing (or in simply showing up and being vulnerable) with no foreknowledge of the outcome. It’s a bit like betting on a horse race—you don’t know if you’re going to win, but you put all your faith in one horse anyway.

Sometimes it pays off—that’s the beauty in putting yourself out there. It could turn out fantastically. Sometimes, though, putting yourself out there scalds you, and doing so over and over again can seem a bit like the saying goes—fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

But part of being a creative—and part of being a human, it seems—is putting yourself out there over and over again, even if you end up with burns all over and only a few good outcomes from the experience. All it takes is one good outcome for magic to happen, after all.

Just because it’s necessary, that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

I’ve been experiencing that not-so-easiness on a grand scale for the past year. Right now, I’m sitting at 40 rejections on the romance manuscript I started querying last summer.

Despite the rejections (with a few requests that have gone nowhere, fast), I am continuing to put myself out there and submit some more! I’m currently preparing my submission materials to send the same manuscript that has been rejected forty times over straight to one of my dream publishers for an open call period they are having.

It’s not easy to put yourself out there—I even get a little jittery feeling in my stomach before I hit send on this very newsletter whenever I finally get around to publishing it—but I keep doing it.

I keep putting myself out there because I know that there’s no other way to do this writing thing.

In order for that magic to happen, I have to try.

So I’ll re-edit my query letter for yet another publisher or another agent. I’ll log into Submittable and send off another short story to yet another literary magazine all while doing my best to ignore the long list of submissions that are now in the “Declined” tab. I’ll keep sending podcast interview requests for borrowed solace: the podcast into the void, knowing that some people will simply ghost me.

Being a writer or creative of any sort means that you’ll constantly need to tell yourself to keep going. You’ll constantly need to work up the courage to submit and brace yourself for the potential rejection in your inbox.

But it also means that one day, you’ll get the one acceptance that matters. It means that one day, all of your rejections will be irrelevant because one blessed person finally decided to say yes.

So if you won’t give up, I won’t. We’ll see this thing through to the end and keep putting ourselves out there.

Because the best way to count yourself out of the game is to not even try.

Previously published in noteworthy.