Sunday Summary

Welcome to the Sunday Summary for the week of 17 January 2022 to 22 January 2022.

This has been an interesting week–our writers have talked about some difficult things: writing about trauma, rejection, and the details that make a story pop. The stories themselves are hopeful ones, even if the topics are challenging. And of course, our regular features–Watch/Listen/Read and Caturday Questions. I know the weather has been chilly in many places, and I hope the cats are keeping you warm.

Keep reading to make sure you didn’t miss anything this week. Don’t forget to reach out to us with your stories. We would love to help you tell your story to the world.

Monday

“I write about trauma. I honor the place it has in my life… but I don’t want to get stuck in that place. I want to make sure I have a view bigger than trauma in my life. “

On Monday, Erika wrote about trauma–not about a traumatic experience, but about what it’s like to be a writer who often tells stories that are centered on trauma. Where is the line between writing trauma porn or inspiration porn… and actually talking about trauma? How does a person take those traumatic experiences and make them a part of, but not all, of their identity?

Tuesday

“before the pandemic, I thought I was a loner…If you’ve met people, you understand why.”

On Tuesday, Adam shared his recent experience with rejection letters. The lack of feedback from editors can be frustrating. How can you improve your writing or submit things better suited to their particular audience without feedback? As he explored rejection letters, he also talked more about the importance of a writing community. That community can be virtual, it can be face to face, it can be some combination of the two, but a writing community is really helpful for both growth and support. We’ll let you know as soon as Adam’s work is accepted for publication, too.

Wednesday

“There had been three anonymous reviewers, examining my proposal like coroners.
They’re coroners because they know who the victim is by name and pedigree.
The victim never gets to know who they are…”

On Wednesday, Eric Cheung took us into the world of academic writing. Once again, the need for feedback is a mainstay of the conversation. But this time, Eric puts the focus on the transmission, not the content. Now, to learn from the feedback, we have to be able to receive it. And no matter how open to receiving feedback we might be, isn’t it easier when it’s given in a positive, constructive way?

Friday

“The poetry I read…wraps itself around me like a blanket and as I read it, I am consumed, phoenix-like, by fire…” -Erika
“Learning and joy are synonymous”-Adam

On Friday, as usual, we brought you our Watch/Listen/Read feature. While Erika’s short attention span brought out a few poetry recommendations, Adam recommended a series of children’s books he loves. A few weeks ago Erika recommended a cover of the song “Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other,” and this week, Adam brought a recommendation for a different cover version. But has anyone ever actually heard the original recording?

Saturday

“Little Cat… do you believe in God?”

What would Caturday be without a question from the feline fandom? This week they have questions about how you decide on the details. What stays, what goes, and how do you tell? Go visit our Caturday post, and read all of what Big Cat and Little Cat have to say. Middle Cat will wait.

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