life – RamblinRandol

If You Feel Like a Mess on a Rock in Space… Same

This isn’t advice. It’s just me being honest, in case you need it too.

The last thing the internet needs is another expert.

So, I solemnly swear to never tell you what you should be doing. Nothing grinds my gears more than others trying to tell me “exactly” what I should be doing in order to achieve x,y, and z.

Because here’s the thing–the older I get the more I realize I don’t know shit. The moment it feels figured out, something changes and I’m back at square one. And honestly? Love that for us, it keeps us honest. (Except for the ones selling you that magic elixir.)

What I do know is how much I appreciated people being authentic and real with me about their truths. I learned the most from others sharing their own personal experiences. It helped process my own and I’d like to return the favor. Sharing what I’ve learned in hopes it helps you feel less crazy, less alone or less stressed about where you’re at.

Because if you feel like a mess on a rock floating through space, girl same. What even is my purpose here?

Hi friends, I’m trying hand over at Substack for a little while.

(I couldn’t keep sharing posts about silence and rejection from pitching, haha. And for some reason, opening WordPress feels like a drag. Not sure if it’s because at one time I had this popping and now it’s crickets or what but I’m trying to unblock the mental block.)

SO, if you wanna read the rest of the post above and learn more about the book that made me reconsider therapy, head on over to my Substack 🙂

ps: thanks for reading ❤

St. Patty’s Origin & Top 5 Books from 2024

Still no rejection letters since my Meg Thompson submission. And, I submitted to two people last week to make up for missing my goal the prior week. But, no clue who I’m pitching to this week. It’s on my to-do list for tomorrow and I’m going to try and track down another agent who worked on a book I reeeeeally enjoyed.

Last year my top five books were:

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
the Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
Weyward by Emelia Hart
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

None of these are technically in my category but you never know. The agent for The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (Fav book of 2023) led me to someone in their agency who would be a perfect match.

Just have to “dig a little deeper, Ross.” (Who knows that reference, haha).

It would feel ridiculous to post this without acknowledging it’s St. Patrick’s Day. Did you know this holiday got its boozey reputation when us Americans started to celebrate the holiday? It’s a religious holiday Ireland has observed for the last 1,000 years. Here’s a little origins article I found by the History Channel.

I won’t be drinking. But I will get dressed up in green and enjoy some bangers & mash for dinner.

Have a great week, friends. I hope something good happens to you this week.

Byeee.

Path to Publication or Acceptance & Depression

TikTok is either trying to troll or humble me. The algorithm keeps feeding me videos of young ladies in their early twenties doing GRWM clips for class. They all start with an immaculate skincare routine before doing a full face of makeup then hair and cute outfit. Every lady looks so put together and fab. In my heart, I am one of these ladies.

I pretend to be put together before reality crashes in and reminds me I was showing up to class in men’s basketball shorts and a tank top or oversized hoodies and sweatpants that needed the waistband to be rolled two or three times so I wouldn’t trip.

While I have evolved from men’s basketball shorts and sweatpants, it would take a miracle to get me to their level, haha. And that’s okayyy, lol. I know I can’t be the only one.

Speaking of accepting reality. Remember when I said, brb, gonna chase my dreams? Well, it took longer than expected (that pandemic whooped my ass) but the manuscript is “finished.” I’ve been pitching it to literary agents since the beginning of January. My goal is one a week. All but two have sent me rejection emails so far.

The thanks but no thanks emails haven’t dampened my mood. It feels exciting to have made it to this part of the process after dragging my feet and self-sabotaging the editing stage for so long. All the nos just make me feel “official.” Hahaha.

This will probably wear off as time passes and the not for me but good luck notes stack up. Last week I pitched to Meg Thompson. She edited Men Have Called Her Crazy. Every hot-button-item topic was well fleshed out. There was personality emphasized in the writing. I don’t know, it’s hard to describe. My gut simply shouted out, her! She would be excellent for Don’t Forget to Tip Your Waitress.

I took an extra week to complete her submission form. A rejection from her will probably sting. But who knows, right?

One of her asks was for a website. So here I am, resurrecting RamblinRandol with a new and clearer purpose. Documenting (because I don’t wanna spill the beans on Instagram… yet) this (what I expect to be winding) path to publication or depression that leads to acceptance because maybe this idea I’ve had for the past ten years just isn’t in the cards.

Hoping to update you every Monday. We’ll see. I hate rules. Even ones proposed by me.

Byeeeee