Rejection Roundup: August
+ some thoughts on protecting your time
Before we begin:
I am teaching 4 virtual classes this fall! Two playwriting classes with ESPA (First Draft and Rewriting Your Draft), Novel Writing 101 and Creative Jumpstart. Join me!
I hate summer weather.
It is my enemy.
There’s nothing I love more than a dreary rainy day with a hint of cold, or a long, snowy afternoon. Sweaters and hoodies and sweatpants are my favorite items of clothing. My mind works better in the crisp cold, in the pale winter light.
Hot, humid, sunny? It turns my brain into soup. I find myself retreating to the comfort of artifical air whenever I’m able, ironically staying inside more during the summer months than all of winter. And this summer so far? Has been absolutely miserable.
It doesn’t help that we had a couple of heatwaves in New York this month and while I have an air conditioner in my bedroom, the major work of July has been to pack up my little apartment by myself in preparation of my September move.
It has been a feat!
I am so glad to say that the worst of the work is finally over, though I am not sure if that’s true for the weather. August is looming large in front of me and I’m already exhausted by it, even though the exhaustion stems mostly from great things. But there came a point in July where I looked at all the work I had accomplished and looked at all the work I had ahead and said Well. I can’t do everything I said I would. Some things are gonna have to change – and then I had to do that work, too. The work of re-negotiating what my time will look like, and what I can realistically commit to without running myself ragged.
I’ve written about the importance of saying No before, but I figure now’s as good a time as any for a small refresher. Our industry, like most creative ones, is an industry that does not take kindly to the word No. Often times boundaries are met with resistance, with a narrative that seems to be saying You aren’t trying hard enough or You’re not being grateful for this opportunity when really, all an artist is trying to do is to survive. To navigate through. And when an artistic leader or a theater company presses up against your boundaries, it can be hard to double-down on advocating for yourself because we become afraid that we may be labeled as difficult or lazy, that our self-advocacy may take away future opportunities from us.
On the more personal level, it’s hard to say no to friends and peers. It’s hard to not show up for a show that you know a fellow-artist has dedicated so much of their time and heart to. It’s hard to say No to a party that you really want to go to, or to turn down a lunch that you were really looking forward to attending.
So rather than being realistic about our time or honoring our boundaries, we begin to say Yes to opportunities or events or to tasks that we really should be saying No, or at least saying Let’s negotiate how much time is spent here. We’re so afraid of the consequences, of hurting someone’s feelings or hurting our own reputation, that we fill ourselves with Yes’s – and run the risk of becoming exhausted and empty.
All for the sake of a Yes.
I looked ahead at my schedule and the various projects that I had going on as well as the logistical needs of this impending move and I said okay.
I can’t do everything.
At least not to the extent that I normally would have.
If this had been a different summer, I would have been able to embrace everything I needed to do and everything I wanted to do. But it became clear that if I wanted to retain my physical and mental health, I had to prioritize.
So I made a list of everything that was expected of me, all the projects and deadlines I had committed to, and all the things I wanted to make sure to do. I prioritized what I had to prioritize and I sent a bunch of e-mails and began a bunch of correspondences, sharing how much I would be able to commit to what and when.
It is a hard thing to do, to advocate for yourself. But it is one of the best things we can do as artist’s and as humans. Our peace of mind and heart, protection of our physical and mental energy, these are the vital, priceless things of our lives.
You are allowed to protect that peace.
This month’s Rejection Roundup is – a bit anti-climatic! I only received one Rejection in July and it was:
How does that compare to last July?
The good news is I cut my rejections in half!
Last July I only received two rejections, so I think a lot of folks are out of office – or are in different types of offices.
Protecting my time and peace of mind extended to how I managed applications this July, too and I only applied to two opportunities. There were a bunch of residencies that I had initially planned on applying to but at a certain point during this move-process, my brain stopped being able to form complete thoughts and I said well. Maybe next year.
Last July I had applied to 5 opportunities, so this was quite a difference – probably the most different than other comparative months this year.
I sent out the following plays this month:
THIS HAPPENED ONCE AT THE ROMANCE DEPOT OFF THE I-87 IN WESTCHESTER
THAT TIME TERRI AND LILY TOOK A ROAD TRIP TO SEE THE LAURA INGALLS WILDER HOUSE
lisa; a fantasia
I’ll be able to share some good Road Trip news a little later this month, so stay tuned for that! And I’m planning on finally putting lisa; a fantasia up on New Play Exchange – I think it’s ready to be seen by more eyes and I hope that will happen. I am planning on writing a little cover letter to go along with it though – well, you’ll see.
At this point I’m not sure if ROMANCE DEPOT will ever receive a production – I feel like its viability is narrowing. I wonder if it’s almost too outdated to be a part of any future season or reading series. A bummer since it has been such a proven crowd-pleaser, and I really long to be in a rehearsal process with it. Ah well – maybe someday, still.
That’s it for the roundup this month! Thank you so much for supporting this Substack – it means the world that you’re here. Until next time, please protect your art – and your heart.
A few announcements before we go -
Registration for virutal fall writing classes are now OPEN! I am teaching two playwriting classes with ESPA, Novel Writing 101 and Creative Jumpstart: a generative writing class. Sign up for Novel Writing 101 and Creative Jumpstart with me directly by e-mailing ginafemiasecondemail@gmail.com and for ESPA with the kind folks there.
One-on-one dramaturgy sessions are available this August! If you are looking to spend the rest of summer getting a play in shape for Fall Submission Season, reach out! I’d love to work with you. All the info about sessions, including pricing and testimonials, can be found here.
Nashville, I will be in your city at the end of the month with my play butterfly effect, presented by Woven Theater! Read all about it here and get your tickets!
MERCUTIO LOVES ROMEO LOVES JULIET LOVES won a Lammy Award for Best LGBTQ+ Drama! Buy a copy of the play and program as part of your season!
We’re Okay, We’re Okay, We’re All Gonna Be Okay is getting published! Read all about it here.