News

Why doesn't substack have emojis?

Hello Friends!

Today is an actual newsletter again.

I have some news. I kind of can’t believe it. I would also like to ask that my mom stops reading, immediately, I mean it.

As mentioned in some recent newsletters I’m fairly new to writing. Because classes haven’t been in the budget, most of feedback I’ve received has been from literary publishers. Which have all been flat rejections.

Therefore, I haven’t received much feedback for my work and haven’t known what to do with that. But last fall, after a whirlwind of intense conversations, I decided to write a short story. Then a few weeks later, Seattle Erotic Arts Festival posted a call so I submitted it.

And it got accepted into their show and 2025 anthology. (why can’t I insert the teary-eyed emoji on substack???)

There we go.

It may be a small nothing to some but it’s a big deal for me. I’ve always enjoyed writing but never thought it was good enough to share. I’ve always been, and still am, bad with words. Heck - part of the catalyst for going HAM on writing was after a guy I dated called me inarticulate and said my ideas were dumb.

Like the first, I KNOW. The second, EXCUSE ME???

Anyhoo. Writing gives me an opportunity to organize and share everything that’s in my giant, floating walnut. It gives me so much more agency in communication considering how challenging oral-language has always been for me.

(Mom, since you’re still reading, why didn’t you put me in speech therapy?!?!?)

Anyway. If you’d like to read my work, you can do so by visiting the Seattle Erotic Arts Festival May 2nd, 3rd, and 4th at the Exhibition Hall in Seattle Center.

I know what you’re thinking… the WHAT festival?!?!?

Okay two things:

#1. My piece ain’t that spicy. I mean… it’s descriptive.. but not spicy. And that’s the point. The piece I wrote is very on brand. It’s a short story describing the underwhelming sexual situations young women put themselves in because they’re insecure about their bodies. It’s intention is to help women of all ages question how what they believe about their bodies impacts how they behave, and consequently (sometimes) what they receive.

#2. I would be intimidated too. Obviously… there’s a lot of erotic art. But if performances and demonstrations are not your thing, you can go to the festival during art gallery-only hours and simply look at sculptures, paintings, and literature.

I’m over it now, but the only downside to this SUPER EXCITING success is that I will not be in attendance because I’ll be in a different state with no income, and therefore unable to publicly read my piece. (But it’s still blowing my mind that if I were in attendance I would be reading?? in front??? of??? an?? AUDIENCE????!??) That is better than any amount of money.

Anyway - if you’re in Seattle and would like to support me, consider visiting the Seattle Erotic Art Festival from May 2nd-4th to read my piece title “Katonah, Maybe”.

EXCEPT YOU, MOM.

XOXO,

Stephanie