Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: Behind that Brevity Byline

Last week, the online journal Brevity launched its latest issue. I’m proud that my essay, “Before Sunrise,” is part of it.brevitylogo435

As mentioned in the bio note that follows the piece, “Before Sunrise” is one in a series of linked essays that I’ve been working on. At the moment, there are four essays in the sequence. Each essay treats an element of an assault that took place four years ago. The opening piece, “Sunday in the City,” was published in carte blanche last fall. Another essay, essentially “about” the medical/surgical treatment that followed the attack, is the one that, as I’ve mentioned here on the blog, was recently accepted for publication later this year.

Meantime, the fourth essay, which centers around the ensuing police investigation, has begun circulating in search of a home. All of you practicing writers will surely appreciate this fun fact: Within barely an hour of the Brevity essay going live, I received an initial rejection (via email) for that fourth essay. Ah, technology! (At least, though, it was a personalized and encouraging rejection.)

Another practice-related note: This is my first byline in Brevity after many, MANY submissions that I’ve sent in over several years. All of that advice that you hear is true: You can’t let one or two (or more) rejections stop you from submitting your work.

One last thing: I’ve been moved (and overwhelmed) by the response to “Before Sunrise.” Thank you all for your kind messages and comments.

9 thoughts on “Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: Behind that Brevity Byline

  1. Eliana says:

    It was a great piece, and I’m interested in reading all 4 together. Keep up the thoughtful work.

  2. Jo says:

    Incredibly and quietly moving. Thank you for sharing it.

    Thanks, too, for sharing a bit of the background of getting published in this journal. It’s encouraging to see that persistence really will enable good writing to see the light of day.

    Looking forward to the other essays in the series!

  3. Wow. Loved the use of 2nd person POV. I’ve tried it before, but never really pulled it off. Kudos to you!

  4. Erika Dreifus says:

    Thank you all so much. And Rebecca, kudos to you on that new Tablet essay!

  5. It’s a lovely piece. Congratulations too on cracking Brevity. Not easy! I have had one piece accepted myself and many, many rejected.

    1. Erika Dreifus says:

      Thanks very much, Richard. I’ll look for your piece there!

  6. Barbara Baer says:

    moving writing, all done with ‘brevity’ which suits the shock of what happened.

    1. Erika Dreifus says:

      Thank you, Barbara. I think that you’re on to something–all of the essays in this series are quite short, intense–perhaps to mirror the swiftness and intensity of the episode.

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