Tag: real talk

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

What Do The 5 Closest People In Your Life Say About You?

Who has read Melissa Ambrosini’s Mastering Your Mean Girl?

A chunk of her points can be found in other self growth books (which has to be an obvious clue these ladies are on to something), but I appreciated her focus on filtering life through a lens of love to achieve your highest potential.

She also asks the reader a lot of questions and gives space in the book to write your answer. Fun Fact: I LOVE questionnaires.

But today’s blog is not a recap of the entire book, today I want to focus on just ONE of the chapters regarding divine relationships because recently I had to let a relationship in my life go, and it was painful (yet also therapeutic and freeing).

This section of the book was a friendly reminder I made the right choice, and I’m sharing just in case you need to read it, too.

Q: Who are the five most prominent people in your life? 

Have you named them yet? I’ll wait…

……….

…….

….

..

….

…….

……….

…….

….

..

Who else used to do that ^^^ in notes you passed to your friends in middle or high school? lol, it’s the little things you guys. 🙂

Alright, do you have your five? Great. These top five relationships are a direct reflection of you. Read that again. They are a direct reflection of you. 

Melissa writes, “you see, we are a product of the people we surround ourselves with, which means whoever you’re hanging out with the most says a lot about who you are and who you are becoming. With that in mind, when you look at your list, is your immediate reaction ‘oh, crap!’ or ‘Hell yea, that’s awesome–these people are amazing; I am so inspired by them and grateful to have them in my life.”

Some people are really good at sucking the life and/or energy out of ya, and sometimes there is no removing yourself from the situation (coworker, boss, family member) so then what?

“Ask yourself what changes do I need to make within or to that relationship to make it more inspiring or healthy for me?” says Melissa.

The entire chapter stresses the importance about surrounding yourself with good people because these relationships influence your life. So why waste any of your precious time, space or energy on people who don’t appreciate it?

“The purpose of relationship is not to have another who might complete you; but to have another with whom you might share your completeness. – Neale Donald Walsch

RamblinRandol is my journey back to loving myself (which happens to include baking). It’s an open letter on how I’m growing through what I’ve been through. And like Maya Angelou said, “the ache for home lives in all of us…” It’s time for me to feel at home in my own skin.

Click here to be my digital penpal and receive an email from mwah twice a month or hang out with me on Instagram @sjrandol.