Kate Brody on moving goalposts and writing "Rabbit Hole," her debut novel. Plus NEW fiction and January workshops
Write or Die weekly #8
This week, we are doing something a little different! Kate Brody wrote a piece for us about her journey from dreaming of a writing career in second grade to the publication of their novel Rabbit Hole (out today!!) Despite achieving significant milestones, like coverage in major publications and being stocked in Barnes & Noble, Kate still struggles with constantly moving her own goalposts, failing to fully appreciate her accomplishments, and grappling with the realities of a literary career. Read her mini-essay below.
If I could go back in time twenty-five years, to when my favorite thing in the world was Ms. Axelrod’s second grade writing workshop, and tell myself that one day I would get to spend my days thinking about stories and characters and books, child-me would be elated.
If I could go back ten years, to when I was starting an MFA, and assure myself that one day I would publish a novel, younger-me wouldn’t have asked about the advance.
If I could go back a year to the post-copyedits, pre-pub limbo, and let myself know that the book would garner coverage in glossy magazines, national newspapers, and arts publications—well… limbo-me may not have believed myself. At that point, I was pretty sure I had written a heap of garbage.
But here I am, five days away from the publication of Rabbit Hole, living my actual dreams, and still, I am obsessing over every single most anticipated list that the book isn’t on.
This morning, I flew my family from California to New York so that we could visit with family before I start my book tour. When I walked in the door of my in-laws’ house, my father-in-law thrust his PEOPLE magazine into my hands, so that I could see my book on the “PEOPLE Picks” page. That high lasted under a minute.
A few hours later, a friend sent me a picture of my book in the Union Square Barnes and Noble. They stocked it early. My book for sale! In Barnes and Noble! What a strange and surreal thing. But wait—where do they have it? Upfront or over by mysteries and thrillers? How many copies have they ordered? Underneath it on the shelf—is there a handwritten note of bookseller recommendation? No? Why not?
At Christmas Eve dinner, a relative asked me why Rabbit Hole isn’t going to be a Good Morning America book club selection. I stammered something about advances and indie presses and the politics of book selection, but then I actually thought: why isn’t it, you failure? Despite the fact that only a handful of books a year achieve that status. Despite the fact that my book is ALL WRONG for Jenna Hager Bush, who I’m sure is not about to recommend a novel about Reddit, depression, and sickly dogs to her GMA audience.
I’ve done this all my life. There were colleges I wanted to get into until I got there, and then I started wondering where the really smart people were. There were jobs I was desperate to get until I had them, and then they didn’t feel like enough—enough money, enough challenge, enough prestige. Part of me likes this about myself. Call it ambition, call it lack of complacency. It’s motivating. I don’t want to participate; I want to win. The downside is: it makes it hard to appreciate what I have and what I’ve already accomplished. Also—you can’t win art.
I used to watch published writers complain about their book tours and publicity demands, and I’d think: champagne problems. Whiners. Ingrates. But now I understand how quickly things can become familiar.
The motto these days is: stop moving the goalposts.
Remember that 7-year-old girl. Remember the 23-year-old. Remember the sting of writing my first novel and failing to find an agent. Remember the things I said would be enough, the deals I made with the universe. Please, please, please. Remember the feeling of the first hardcover in my hand, my name on the cover. Remember how I thought of my dad, long dead, and wished he could see it, hold it, touch it. Remember all the people who helped get me here: the teachers, my husband, my agents, my editors, my publicists. Remember how much luck is involved in all of this.
For launch week, I have one goal: to enjoy the ride. Because I know that after this comes the years of frustrating, solitary, blissful work trying to do it all again.
Kate Brody lives in Los Angeles and holds an MFA from NYU. Her work has previously appeared or is forthcoming in: The New York Times, Literary Hub, The Literary Review, Electric Literature, The Rumpus, CrimeReads, Noema, and Write or Die, among others. RABBIT HOLE is her debut novel.
Today, we also published an interview with Kate in Write or Die Magazine! Barrie Miskin chats with Kate about how a manuscript shape-shifts over time, carving out space for your writing within an overflowing life, writing a juicy sex scene, and looking forward to what’s next.
I think the part of writing sex scenes I really like is I love really embodied characters. I love writing about bodies. I think that's my favorite way to think about character. Not through dialogue or action even, but just the way people's bodies feel to them.
Read: On Crafting a Literary Thriller, Writing Sex Scenes, LA Versus NY, and Her Debut Novel “Rabbit Hole” with Kate Brody here.
Announcements
December Fiction Selection: “Pit Stop” by Amy DeBellis
Who told me that I have to be afraid of every male body in my presence over the age of twelve and under the age of ninety? Who told me this—family, society? Late-night crime specials? Or my own animal body, small and breathing and curious, so round at its borders and carrying within it some secret hidden softness that is constantly in danger of being ripped out and torn apart?
Learn more about Amy and her process for writing this hypnotic story in our Fiction Spotlight interview!
SAVE THE DATE: Our first Write Together Retreat of 2024 will be held on Saturday, January 20th, featuring a special craft chat by Haley Jakobson! Haley will discuss how to approach writing as a holistic, nourishing process. As someone who is vehemently opposed to “suffering for your art” and is generally bored about the emphasis on ~critique~ in the writing world, Haley believes that writers truly blossom when their process is infused with affirmation from community, self-care, and a wide array of tools to turn to as they deepen their craft.
Upcoming January Workshop and Community Opportunities
January 10 & January 17 from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (EST)
Editing for Style: A Hands-On Lesson in Copyediting with Jordan Koluch
In this two session class, you’ll learn the basics of good copyediting and implement those basics over a number of sample texts. We’ll start with becoming familiar with The Chicago Manual Style and Merriam Webster, then move on to the different things copy editors should always be looking for when approaching a text.
*scholarships available!
Saturdays, January 13 - February 10, from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (EST)
Screenplays By Badass Women (Including You!): Study The Greats, Become The Greatest with Lauren Veloski
In this 5 week class, we will deep-dive several of the most groundbreaking screenplays by women, engage in conversation about what exactly these cinematic worlds offer that’s brilliantly off-kilter and essential, as well as WRITE diligently into our own screenplays.
Saturday, January 20 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM EST
The Magic and Mining Of Metaphor: A Poetry Workshop with Kelly Grace Thomas
Learn from award-winning poet, author, and educator Kelly Grace Thomas how to mine and create metaphors full of surprise, punch, and power!
Sunday, January 21 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM EST
Start a Newsletter to Supercharge Your Platform, Network & Business with Courtney Kocak
In this masterclass with Courtney Kocak, founder of the newsletter Podcast Bestie (a best friend to aspiring and indie podcasters), will teach creative professionals to harness the power of direct content marketing to propel your audience, network, and business to new heights with a growing email list.
Monday, Janaury 22 from 7:00 - 9:00 PM EST
Small but Mighty: Creating and Submitting a Poetry Chapbook with Adrie Rose
Curious about what the deal is with chapbooks? In this 2 hour workshop with Adrie Rose, you will explore the history of poetry chapbooks, their possibilities, and how to pull yours together and submit it.
Saturday, January 27 from 11:00 - 1:00 PM EST
WriteFlow: A Hybrid Generative and Feedback Lab with Lucianna Chixaro Ramos
Join this monthly, genre-flexible writing workshop to both create new work using original prompts and critique existing drafts, perfect for those seeking a productive and collaborative environment.
Saturday, January 27 from 2:00 - 5:00 PM EST
Finding Your Voice: Unleashing the Unique Narrator Within with Maxim Loskutoff
Every writer has a unique talent, something they can do that no one else can. Whether it's a style, a voice, a particular rhythm in dialog, or an innate knowledge of a place in time. In this online seminar, we will look at the work of great writers to discover theirs, while also drilling down to find yours!