I'm so late to this bandwagon and so upset. What am I supposed to do with myself? What is supposed to fill this hole in my heart left by those two?!?!

He was a lovely man, and I learned a bunch talking to him, which was fun, but there is no way I have found to say, "I'm actually on a writing deadline and need to be left alone." that doesn't immediately illicit more questions and conversation.

I have no answers on how to get around this.

My first year of online pitch events I got zero likes on any of my pitches. This time with #DVPit, I got five. Last event I got around the same. That's growth. That's change. That's what you can achieve when you step outside of your comfort zone and go for the gold. So go do it. I believe in you. 💙

And at the heart of it all, that's what writing and art are about. Bringing humanity together through a love of story-telling. I hope each and every one of you finds that love, support, and growth in a community together. And if you're not finding one? Time to build it yourself. 💪 💪💪

So whether you got agent/editor likes or not, find your win. I have leveled up in ways I never would have been capable of without this group of writers. Not only are they my community, but they're my friends. We've been to each other's weddings and houses despite living all over the globe!

I'm so proud to say that half of them (at least) are now either agented, traditionally published, or indie published. There are a few of us still on the journey, holding out for the brass ring or that project that feels right for indie, but through it all we have each other, which is a huge win.

I did my first pitch event back in 2018 (alongside submitting for Pitch Wars!), and my first year I got no bites. From either. But what I did get was a strong group of writer friends. We built a discord, we edited each other's work, we learned, we crafted new projects, and we all grew exponentially.

I would be happy to! Thanks!

This isn't even fair for bisexuals everywhere.

More than anything, I am so glad I can look at my younger self today and say, "I spoke up. I'm sorry no one spoke up when you were hurting. But I'm speaking up for them. And I'll keep doing it."

Everyone deserves someone who speaks up. If you don't have that, be it for others.

There's no going back in time to stop the other people who were hurt because no one said anything. But I will be damned if it happens again while I'm around and aware. Trust will not be misplaced with me to take care of the people around me, no matter what.