Just over a year ago, we launched this newsletter, The Kernel, as a way for us to coalesce our thoughts and contribute to the literary world in our own way. Our first send-off fittingly talked about finding your writing community, something that’s of great importance to us. Over the past year, we’ve been able to collaborate on essays, interviews, and conversations and watch as we’ve blossomed, both individually and together as a unit. To commemorate the success of our newsletter and our weekly commitment to show up to this space, we’re sharing how we celebrate our writing wins—whether they be big or small. Read on for our thoughts, and let us know how you celebrate your wins in the comments below.
Shelby
There’s this idea that when a neurotypical person completes a task, they feel a sense of accomplishment, but when a neurodivergent person finishes something, they feel relief. As someone who has ADHD and is in the process of figuring out other potential neurodivergent diagnoses, I relate to the latter. Whether the writing win is big or small, I have trouble truly feeling excitement or pride for whatever it is. My mind is already on to the next thing. For instance, on Monday, I wrote 1,000 words towards my novel. I rarely have those kinds of writing days. Instead of being in the moment and being able to acknowledge my accomplishment, all I could think about was how much more I have to do to get my novel draft complete. Maybe one day that sense of accomplishment will come for me, but until then, I’ll just keep moving forward.
Natalia
When I have a writing win I reward myself by calling a friend or wandering the streets of NYC with no particular destination. The difficult part is knowing what to count as a writing win. I could easily say getting 100 words on the page is a win, but that is making it too easy on myself and then the rewards would be too frequent to keep me motivated. I’d say if I complete a big revision, or write a new scene, or write 1,000 words then these substantive tasks mean a reward to me. There are bigger rewards I dream about for when I finish a complete functioning first draft of my novel, or get an agent, or a book deal. Things like a dreamy backpacking trip through Patagonia or a fabulous pair of earrings. They are ridiculous rewards but thinking up new markers and incentives does help me when things get difficult.
Sarah
I am a deeply anxious and insecure writer, so celebrating my writing wins feels essential to changing that behavior. This year I started an MFA program, and the fact that I made it through this year—and that I even thrived while doing it—really boosted my confidence. I entered with a lot of imposter syndrome, but every workshop and final draft told me that my work was good enough, that I did deserve a seat at the table. This past year I wrote five short stories that I am really proud of and which I hope will serve as the basis for a future collection. I also wrote my first two pieces of flash fiction and completed two personal essays that I have been trying to write for years. On the business side of writing, I met with a couple of agents, which demystified that process and gave me encouraging feedback that my writing is of publishable quality. I attended my first AWP conference and was finally accepted to a summer writing workshop (I even won a partial fellowship!). Attending the Lighthouse Writers Workshop and working closely with one of my writing idols, Jenny Offill, helped convince me that my efforts at writing are paying off, that my work is resonating with others, and that writing fiction is a plausible path for me to pursue.
Neidy
I am someone who is most motivated by positive reinforcement, and because of that, celebrating my writing wins with others is a key element in my writing practice. As I'm sure my fellow Kernelists will attest, I am the first to suggest holiday critique group parties and virtual reading salons. Opportunities to praise and receive praise have compromised my favorite writing moments. While I often celebrate in other ways (hello, gigantic pile of books I purchase as “treats” for myself), it is external validation that gets me excited, and so, when I am celebrating my writing wins—finally cracking what was missing in a short story, making a breakthrough in a new point of view, etc.—I reach for my fellow Kernelists.
Our kernel of advice: Find ways to celebrate your writing wins and lean on your writing community when it’s hard.
Inspiration, Information, & Insight
Shelby has been working, working, working on her novel as the submission deadline for her workshop looms. Her goal for the novel is good enough, not perfect, something she had to come to terms with in order for completion to be possible. She also made a collage this past week and had so much fun in the process; it’s a delightful creative escape for her as she does them solely for herself and doesn’t expect anyone else to actually see them.
This week was a recovery week for Natalia from Japan, which meant plenty of journaling but no reading. She’s looking forward to a return to routine.
Sarah spent this past week at the Lighthouse Writers Workshop in Denver, working closely with her writing hero Jenny Offill, meeting with an agent, taking craft seminars with Claire Messaud and Wendy Chen, and hearing incredible readings from authors including T Kira Madden, Danielle Evans, Steve Almond, Maurice Carlos Ruffin, and more. But the highlight of her week was meeting the other writers in her workshop and adding them to her circle of writing friends. Sarah didn’t read a single book or short story all week, but she’s coming home with a suitcase full of signed books that are immediately making it to the top of her TBR pile.
Neidy has been traveling for work.