I've always believed this too. If nothing else, you'll learn something about yourself, other people, and/or your field of work. Take those calculated chances. But, just as importantly, make the time to sit down and reflect on the learning, whether you get that "something" or not. https://t.co/jrcDjsY4I8
— Jenny Bhatt (@jennybhatt) February 6, 2022
Midweek Notes from a Practicing Writer
Three quick updates from my desk.
1. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who has posted or sent me a kind message on the occasion of the 18th anniversary newsletter issue. A few of you have even let me know that you’ve chosen this moment to purchase my books, too. I’m grateful.

2. Wise words that resonate ⬇️
I appreciated these comments a lot when I saw them over the weekend. They express better than I was able to in a recent communication with my accountability partner how I feel now that a publisher on whom I’d pinned some “final” hopes for my picture-book bio manuscript has rejected it. At this point, I’m at the proverbial crossroads with the project. I’m not sure how (or if) to move forward with it. But I don’t regret all that I’ve put into it at all.
3. At long (long) last, I am the proud possessor of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.
They were installed along one wall of my office last Tuesday, and I’ve spent many hours over the past week unpacking and re-organizing my books.
Which, I suspect many of you will agree, is a pretty great way to spend a chunk of time.

Congrats on your new bookshelves!
Happy CHAI Anniversary, Erika, and Mazel Tov on your happy new bookshelves!!!
Thank you both very much!
Happy for your success with the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves! My wife, being a retired school librarian, loves books almost as much as I do. So even though we live in a small townhouse with tiny rooms, we have books floor to ceiling in two (count ’em) TWO rooms! We each figure we’ll keep the other, thanks be to [insert Deity here].
By the way, on a similar tack to your comments about wanting/getting, my first thought was of the Zen (I think) comment that the best way to hit the target is to aim away from it. Not quite the same, but on the same branch.
Thanks for your informative newsletter, which I share in all (15-20) of my writers’ FB groups.
What a lovely comment, Jack. Thank you. (And it sounds as though you and your wife are very well matched!)
Well matched? We even share the same neuroses! lol
Congratulations, Erika, for getting your bookshelves! Organizing and displaying books is one of my favorite things to do (next to reading them). And thank you for your informative newsletter each month. I always look forward to learning about new submission possibilities!
Thank you so much, Charlie!