I feel like the most useful thing I can do right now is keep posting donation links for Israel/Gaza, so I’ll do that. And another reminder: People who are downplaying or outright ignoring the devastation in Israel so that they can support Palestinians *are not helping*. Please spend some time researching the many nuances of this conflict, and please don’t act like grieving Jews don’t matter. It’s possible to want a better way forward for everyone.

If there are any groups I should add to this list, let me know.

World Central Kitchen is feeding displaced families in Israel and working with a local partner in Gaza to distribute meals to Palestinians

Soroka Medical Center is handling the emergency medical response in Israel

The JDC helps Jews and others in crisis around the world

Save the Children is trying to get needed supplies into Gaza

American Friends of Magen David Adom is Israel’s first aid/first responder service

United Hatzalah is a volunteer emergency medical services organization that operates across Israel

Americares is trying to assist with people’s medical needs in Gaza

Doctors Without Borders is trying to assist with people’s medical needs in Gaza

The International Committee of the Red Cross is providing medical supplies and household items to people in Gaza and trying to help people in Israel locate missing family members

The Forward has a longer list of organizations that need help. And CNN has set up a fund that allows you to donate to multiple organizations at once, including several listed above.

Stay well and stay safe.

I’ve been off social media this week. I know better to expect nuance or thoughtfulness or, largely, support when it comes to Israel. And I can’t see the point of opening myself up to even more antisemitism, especially when my kids were dealing with various antisemitic microaggressions even *before* this past week.

But it shouldn’t be hard to denounce terrorism. It shouldn’t be hard to say that civilians should never be targets. Yes, I mean all civilians.

I’m also not the expert in a country I’ve never been to, so I’ll leave the in-depth commentary to people who do have that expertise. When there’s an attack or a war or a natural disaster, I’d rather look for ways to help; to me, that means giving money or resources to the groups on the ground. This week I donated to the JDC, which helps Jews and others in crisis around the world, and American Friends of Magen David Adom, Israel’s first aid/first responder service. The Forward has a longer list of organizations that need help. And Americares is trying to assist with people’s medical needs in Gaza.

Stay well, stay safe, hope for better times.

My primary critique group is kidlit-only and everyone in it is fabulous. But since they are kidlit-only, I couldn’t bring them the short stories I increasingly write for adults. Especially since some of those stories are horror. Picture books don’t exactly go along with, um, carnage. (Unless the picture book is “I Want My Hat Back,” but that’s probably an exception.)

So I went looking for a secondary critique group for my short stories/novellas/whatever else I decide to write for adults. Finding a group can be the easiest and the hardest thing to do. Because while there are writers’ groups, both in-person and online, that advertise for new members, and there are plenty of places around social media where you can link up with potential critique partners, you don’t want just any group. You want the group that makes the most sense for you.

First of all, there’s a difference between support groups and critique groups. With a support group, you can get together and vent. You can talk about how tough the industry is. You can lift each other up, help each other to keep pursuing their creative dreams. Support groups are good for the soul and your sanity. (I have one of these groups, too! I recommend them.) But they don’t help you improve your writing.

Critique groups are specifically focused on the craft. You meet to read and discuss each other’s work, whether that’s a complete story, an excerpt of a longer work, or a full novel. There are plenty of guidelines out there for how to do this professionally—in other words, how to give useful feedback without being a jerk. This post has some good suggestions, for instance.

My point isn’t so much the mechanics of critiquing, though. It’s making sure you and the group are aligned. Are you all looking to get published? Are you all writing in the same, similar, or complementary genres? How much time are you able to devote to writing and revising each month? Can you all commit to meeting and providing feedback regularly? Will each member of the group get equal time to share their work?

Here are some of the reasons I’ve seen critique groups fall apart. A member never actually finishes any manuscript—they keep rewriting chapter one over and over. One prolific member insists on their work being read constantly, ignoring the needs of other members, until they entirely overtake the group. Members are perpetually too busy to commit to regular meetings or to write anything new. Members are either hostile to constructive criticism or incapable of giving constructive criticism. You need structure, you need consistency, you need everyone working toward the same goal—even if they’re each doing so in their own way.

When you’re looking for a group, audition it. Attend a few meetings, try to get a sense of what the other members are like. Make sure their level of commitment is similar to yours. They’ll likely be evaluating you as well. The right fit benefits everyone.

As for me, I found a new group through Uncharted magazine, which organized a digital critique group meetup. They’ve only done this once so far, but maybe they’ll do a round two at some point? Otherwise, if you’re in need of a critique group, check the official sites of writers’ organizations and poke around social media. You’re bound to find something. Good luck and keep writing.

I sold three short stories last month. One sale was a reprint of the first short story I’d ever written. One was the second time I’d submitted that story anywhere. And the third was a story I’d been trying to get placed for at least a year and had been racking up rejections for my trouble. All three sales made me happy (especially the one I got emailed about on my vacation. Pretty good reason to justify checking my email in the middle of Animal Kingdom!). I can’t wait for readers to see these stories. In fact, you can read one of them now.

There are a couple of conclusions to draw here. First, obviously, is that the submission process for short stories is fairly subjective, and sometimes you need to keep trying to find the editor who loves your work. Second, you can’t take rejection personally, although you’re still allowed to hate it. (I find chocolate is helpful in these situations.) Third—most important—getting your stories out there is a numbers game. The more you submit, the more likely you are to get acceptances. You can’t win if you don’t play.

A reminder: Getting an encouraging rejection letter with helpful feedback also counts as a win. An editor asking to see more of your work? Definitely a win. Dusting yourself off after a discouraging rejection and sending that story somewhere else? That’s a win too.

I’m waiting to hear back on a couple of other short stories. They’ll get accepted or they won’t. If they’re not accepted, I’ll try again.

This process takes a lot of work and time, which can be a little frustrating if you also have a day job (what do I do at my day job? Articles like this, among other things). But it’s work that’s worth doing, and it’s for you. The only expectations you have to meet are the ones you set for yourself.

Keep writing, keep submitting, keep persevering.

*Taps mic* I think this thing is still on, right?

So, it’s been an interesting few months. I left my freelance career for a full-time job, and that job let me go after a year. I thought an agent was interested in representing my book, but she apparently changed her mind before I ever sent her the revisions she requested. And I quit the critique group I’d been testing out over excessive mansplaining.

And that was just *September*.

I started rebuilding my freelance work, I sent out more queries, I submitted more short stories. I collected more rejections. Then I finally got Covid. Happy holidays!

(I’m fine. It was mild.)

So here I am, starting over in every way possible. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. I got to do two library presentations last year and it was fun. I did finally catch up on my reading, including this fundraiser anthology, which is phenomenal, and this cool-as-heck Jewish anthology, which I joined the Kickstarter for. I’m waiting on a contract for a short story. I’ll spend the month planning out the year as I keep working to get my middle grade novel published. Plus the other short story and the novella I’m working on. You never know which seeds are going to sprout into something beautiful.

I hope you also have a creative January. Stay healthy out there.