Rejection Roundup: May
+ some life updates and some thoughts on the Thin Line of Almosts
I am drafting this Rejection Roundup from my parents’ lovely home in Florida. I’m in their lanai, facing the golf course, staring at the sky. Thunderstorms have been in the forecast since I landed, but despite these dense, gray clouds, we haven’t seen a drop of rain. Bonus: their new little dog Chichi is sitting on my lap, taking a snooze while I write.
I don’t usually give full-life updates but May has been exceptionally full. In fact, Florida is the fourth and final stop on the month-long whirlwind that was May.
The month began with a quick vacation to San Juan, Puerto Rico to celebrate Freddy’s birthday. At the beginning of the year, knowing that we would be moving but having no set timeline, I said Let’s just plan a trip. And wow, am I glad I did! It gave us a chance to relax and for Freddy to spend some time on the island. I booked the flights with miles and we stayed at a budget hotel that gave us access to the beach and the pool so that’s what we mainly did – went from the pool to the beach back to the pool again. And thank goodness I had somehow had the foresight to plan this vacation because wow, did it prove to be the very top of a roller coaster for the rest of the month.
That Saturday, I flew into St. Louis and was driven two hours to Cape Girardeau to attend the Lanford Wilson Festival of New American Plays. Easily a Top 5 Career Experience. The Festival features plays that has roles for college-aged actors and my play We’re Okay, We’re Okay, We’re All Gonna Be Okay was one of the five full-length plays that was included. I was shocked to meet so many playwrights who follow this Substack (hello to you all!) and had such a great time hanging out and seeing their plays. And congratulations to Abe Johnson whose play Migration Season won the whole festival!
I loved getting to work with the student actors – they were all wonderful and their passion really ignited me. And my director, Seth Gordon, was lovely to work with as well. The play was so well-received and it meant so much, to hear what it meant from the students. I was also able to teach a masterclass! Something I love to do just as much, if not a little bit more, than writing.
I was really bummed to have to leave the festival early, but it was for a really exciting reason – We’re Okayx3 was being read in NYC for its first non-university audience, and it featured students who originated the roles in each of their universities. I had never walked off a plane and into a reading of my own before – it was kinda cool to do! I was loved getting to see the students and the original directors, and so happy to see that the play resonated with an audience that was more removed from college.
It was also thrilling because we were able to announce the new partnership between The Farm Theater and Stage Partners! Thrilled that We’re Okayx3 is one of the inaugural publications and hopeful that it can find its way into more college and universities – it seems to really resonate with that crowd.
Then I was off to Chicago, to do some house-hunting. I worked with a really great realtor – Stephanie Walker, who is also a playwright! Her play Adirondack Chair Circle is receiving its world premiere with Steppenwolf this fall. It was great to talk to her about all things theater in between seeing potential places to live.
Stephanie is an awesome realtor – if you’re in the Chicagoland area and looking to move, I highly, highly recommend you reach out to her. At the end of a marathon of three days, it looks like we have a place to live! Any and all good thoughts are appreciated as we wait and see.
Then I flew right to Florida to visit my parents. My dad is still not doing great – his days are up and down. Talk about a rollercoaster. But he is in good spirits and I’m happy to spend time with him and my mom. I’m here through the first week of June before flying back to NYC and maybe settling into a calmer summer.
Maybe.
May was also a month full of Rejections! Especially a bunch of Almosts. So without further ado – here comes the roundup!
I am thrilled to see THAT TIME TERRI AND LILY TOOK A ROAD TRIP TO SEE THE LAURA INGALLS WILDER HOUSE continues to roll through this submission cycle! Even though it hasn’t yet placed, it’s clear that the play is striking some sort of chord, hitting a nerve, singing a song to the readers who are encountering it. That, to me, tells me that it’s a play with legs (or…tires? Gas? Insert road trip metaphor here…). It’s still out for some other opportunities and I am hoping for a Yes sometime in the next few months. But I’m happy that it’s very long name is out there, in the air. If you’d like to give it a read, it’s on New Play Exchange!
There is a slight sting of regret when it comes to all the Almosts Terri & Lily have had. The feeling of Almost getting a chance to work on it but - not quite. I honestly went back and forth on whether or not I should write something about this because we’re not supposed to be disappointed by the Almost. Or, at least, we are not supposed to talk about it. We’re supposed to be grateful. It’s supposed to provide a cushion between us and the rejection. And while yes, it is an honor and it is wonderful to know that the play is resonating, there is still a small hurt that comes along with it, a certain kind of moan that comes along with the news.
Again, I really went back and forth on whether or not to talk about this. Even me, who talks the big talk about being transparent, gets scared about telling the truth sometimes. All the time. Because I’m afraid it’ll be misconstrued or that I’ll appear to be ungrateful or that untrue stories will be told about me. But really, I’m just saying the quiet parts out loud. Because we’ve all talked about this in the corners of bars, over cafe tables, our coffee breaths full of that specific disappointment we feel like we can’t articulate. And whenever I’ve had those conversations, they always made me feel a little bit better. They made me feel a little bit less alone. It made the business side of this art thing feel doable. And so that’s what I hope these words can provide to you, who might also resonate, who might also be nursing a sting.
None of us are alone.
This May saw more rejections than May of last year – 5 compared to 3. May always seems to be a really slow month for submissions – last year I submitted nothing in May and the year before, I only submitted three times. This year, I submitted to 5 opportunities, but a bunch of them were short play and monologue festivals – something I rarely do! My submitted plays were all over the place:
my pierced ears (a micro-monologue)
My Ex Started a Podcast (a micro-monologue)
FLY, BABY (a 10-minute play)
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
What will happen?
Only time will tell.
That’s it for this month’s Rejection Roundup! As always, you can expect a free post about mid-month (or with the way life has been going, maybe a little later than mid-month!) and paid subscribers will see a Sneak Peak of a new play, coming soon.
A few announcements before we go -
After a brief hiatus, one-on-one dramaturgy sessions are once again OPEN! If you are looking to spend the summer getting a play in shape, reach out! I’d love to work with you. All the info about sessions, including pricing and testimonials, can be found here.
Is there a class you’d like to take with me over zoom? Reach out and let me know! I’m putting together new courses but would love to hear from you. Send me an e-mail at ginafemiasecondemail@gmail.com and let me know.
We’re Okay, We’re Okay, We’re All Gonna Be Okay is getting published! Read all about it here.
Stories to Tell at the End of the World is officially being development as part of New Light Theater Project’s Lucky 13th Season! Co-produced with 5th Wall Productions in Richmond, Virginia, stay tuned for more information about this new piece!
MERCUTIO LOVES ROMEO LOVES JULIET LOVES is a Finalist for the Lammy Awards in LGBTQ+ Drama! Consider buying a copy of the play and making it a part of your theatrical season today.
Hey, thanks for being here! Until next time, protect your art - and your heart.