April issue, coming soon!
Vine Leaves Literary Journal has had a few staff changes.
Dawn Ius, co-publishing editor with Jessica Bell, has
recently stepped down. The blog post about it is HERE.
Jessica has needed to do some new hiring. The Vine Leaves staff
is posted HERE.
Since Vine Leaves started in 2012, I’ve been an avid reader.
The journal introduced me to vignettes and got me writing them too. My piece
“Left Behind” was published in their April issue and in their Best of Vine
Leaves, 2012. They also published my poem “Catty-Corner” in their July 2012
issue.
I’m happy to announce
I’m now part of the Vine Leaves Literary Journal team, working as a Publishing
Editor’s Assistant. My bio is HERE.
In the last month, I’ve performed a few tasks:
The 1st task was to set up a Pinterest page. I’d be thrilled if you’d visit, especially if you
followed it too. Here’s the LINK.
Please click it and tell me what you
think.
My 2nd job was to vote on the shortlist poem for
the April 2014 issue, which is coming soon.
And now my 3rd assignment has been to read the 2014
quarter-finalist list for The Annual Vine Leaves Vignette Collection Award and
help choose the semi-finalists and grand finalist. Details about the contest
are HERE.
It’s been a rewarding month for me, but I’m adding it to my list of items to juggle:
Family (is a priority always)
My job (gives me satisfaction… and a paycheck)
Special Education classes (are a lot of work but will be
done soon-ish!)
Writing: (fulfilling-frustrating-need it like breathing)
Editing (it’s a learning experience and rewarding)
This gives me 5 items to juggle and I’m horribly
uncoordinated. Have you seen me dance?
I need to make sure I make time for things that matter and I
also need to make sure that I don’t get lulled into treating my
responsibilities at Vine Leaves as a replacement for actually writing.
But I won’t let that happen, right?
So the only downside is that I can no longer submit my
pieces to Vine Leaves. It’s totally worth it.
What are you juggling now?
Are all your balls in the air or
are you dropping any?
Awesome news, Theresa!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Matthew!
DeleteYay! And...on dancing.. Methinks we need to see a video!
ReplyDeleteSamantha, think of Elaine on Seinfeld. That's all you need....
DeleteCongrats on the Vine Leaves gig. Jessica will be fun to work with.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, Jessica is great. She makes me laugh!
DeleteHi Theresa .. that's great news - congratulations and I see Jess has put you to work pronto .. so pleased VineLeaves has you on board. A busy person does much more than the mundane lot ... so roll on I say.
ReplyDeleteI guess you're doing the A- Z too .... ??? No - don't hit me ... you'd have to dance of water to do that ..
Have great fun and such a lovely read ... cheers to you and to you both at Vine Leaves .. Hilary
Hilary, Thank you. I'm not doing A to Z this year, though I'll check in and read A to Z posts like yours. In April, I'm taking a grad class, hosting an exchange student, visiting family for Passover, and so on. No time!
DeleteCongratulations, Theresa! I'm sure you will do just as good a job as Dawn. That's a lot to juggle, but if you set aside a block of time every day for each item, you can make it happen.
ReplyDeleteAlex, that's so nice of you to say. Dawn had much greater responsibility than I do. I'm happy to be a part of the team and help in any way I can.
DeleteSo proud to have you on board, Theresa! And you're doing an awesome job. I hear you on the "using VL as a writing replacement". I do it a lot. I've had to set a schedule for myself. I block out certain times of the day I'm allowed to work on VL. Once I did that, it's worked like a charm! xoxo
ReplyDeleteJessica, thanks for the advice. I know others who have been in writing-related fields really struggle. I've been telling them not to neglect their own writing. Now I need to make sure I don't either! Everything has been manageable, so far.
DeleteCongrats, Theresa. So excited for you. I know you'll figure out how to juggle it all.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Natalie. So far, so good. We'll see what the next couple of classes do to take my time!
ReplyDeleteTheresa, this is such great news! Congratulations. I just followed the Pinterest page :)
ReplyDeleteJulie, thank you so much for following the Pinterest page. Vine Leaves is following you back!
DeleteCongrats on the new appointment.
ReplyDeleteI pretty much dropped all my balls this month, and I'm kinda wondering how many pieces I'm going to have to pick up.
Misha, I'm sorry. I hope the carnage isn't too bad. I think that's what my May and June are going to look like.
DeleteSo happy for you! Jess is the best! Heart her so much. I know you'll enjoy yourself, but you'll also be a major asset to Vine Leaves. Woot!
ReplyDeleteSheri at Writer's Alley
Home of Rebel Writer CREED 2014
Mighty Minion Bureau Team #atozchallenge
SA, I agree, Jess is the best! I'm so happy for the opportunity.
DeleteCongratulations! Great news all around!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Romance Book Haven!
DeleteCongratulations! I think you'll juggle better than you think. All of those are things that you care about/are passionate about. It will be busy, but you can do it. Good luck to you!
ReplyDeleteShelly, I'm usually up to the challenge. You're right--it's about being passionate about what you're dong. Thanks!
DeleteI think this is a great thing for you, Theresa. You'll meet a lot of people who love writing--even more than you meet already. As to the juggling--I've lost track of how many of those balls are in the air.
ReplyDeleteCleemckenzie, keep juggling! I like seeing the writing from another perspective.
DeleteBig congrats! What a cool step up. Good luck juggling! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carol. And congratulations to you again!
DeleteI agree with Shelly. You obviously have some juggling skills. Congrats and best of luck keeping all of those balls in the air.
ReplyDeleteHa, Kim, I'll keep those balls in the air! Thanks!
DeleteCongratulations, Theresa!
ReplyDeleteYou can totally juggle these things. I bet you could juggle chainsaws if you wanted to.
I think, the more the person has to fit into their schedule, the more efficient at time management they become. That's why I'm a little worried about retiring from teaching to write full time and be a mom. I'm afraid I'll screw up both of them!
Dianne, aack! Chainsaws??? Ha! Thanks for the confidence.
DeleteI don't know how you're squeezing in writing while teaching full time. I think retiring will be great for you! When are you retiring?
Congratulations on the cool new job, Theresa! I would've followed you on Pinterest, but I think you have to be on Pinterest in order to follow, and I'm not on that site. I like your Pinterest page, though! It's very colorful. I don't know how you juggle family, work, and writing, but that's very impressive. I wish I could say I've devoted more time to my fiction writing, but my dissertation is pretty much all-consuming right now. One thing I have tried to make more time for is making new friends; there were a couple instances in the past couple week where I spent time with friends rather than stay home and work, though in the back of my mind I kept thinking of all the work I still had to do. (I am a workaholic, after all.)
ReplyDeleteNeurotic Workaholic, dissertations are time-sucking and creativity-sucking, so I don't blame you for not writing a lot. You're also juggling so much! When I was in grad school for my History MA, I barely had the energy to read fiction.
DeleteI'm glad you're squeezing in some fun. You need it! (Even if you are a workaholic.)
Wow, great news. Congrats.
ReplyDeleteMy juggling begins at work--I have to prioritize that this time of year. Unfortunately, that means cramming everything else in with the remaining time. This translates to some things not getting done well, and others not at all--my blogging and reading are prime victims.
Slamdunk, I know, I can't get everything done at home either. We do the best we can, right? I just told my family that our dinners are going to have to be less elaborate. I can't be spending 2-3 hours per dish on a regular basis anymore.
DeleteCongrats, Theresa. I think you're a good fit for Vine Leaves. You've taken on a lot of tasks, but as they say, ask a busy person if you want a job done. You'll get such a good grounding in your work at VL. I tried to check the Pinterest page but it wouldn't open. Probably my problem. Just changed my browser...
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll become an excellent juggler!
Denise, thanks for trying with Pinterest.
DeleteI love Vine Leaves's mission, so I'm so glad to have a small part shaping the issues now.
Congratulations, and good luck for the future. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Glynis!
DeleteWow, you're taking on a lot there. Good luck and I'm glad your life is full of things you enjoy!
ReplyDeleteLibby, responsibilities come in waves. I am enjoying a lot right now!
DeleteCongratulations. I'm sure you'll juggle fine.
ReplyDeleteMedeia, I hope so. Thanks!
DeleteSounds like good experience. :) It's hard juggling all the balls, I agree! But rewarding too.
ReplyDeleteLR, is has been, so far. I'll just have to make simpler meals and have the family pitch in more when I have a class too.
DeleteWhat awesome news! Congratulations, Theresa!!! Jess is lucky to have you (and vice versa). I've no doubt you will rise to the challenge, but all I had to do was read your list, and I needed a nap. :)
ReplyDeleteVR Barkowski
VR, thanks! I feel lucky about the Vine Leaves job. And, yes, sometimes I DO need a nap!
DeleteAwesome, Theresa! I guess if I hadn't been so absent editing I would have already heard your news. How epic! I'm so stoked for you and wishing you all an anti-gravity machine...to keep all those balls up while you rest your hands. =)
ReplyDeleteCrystal, you've been an editing machine these day.
DeleteI'd love an anti-gravity machine. :)
Congratulations, Theresa! That's terrific news.
ReplyDeleteM Pax, thank you!
DeleteCongratulations!!! That's exciting.
ReplyDeleteStephanie, thanks!
DeleteCongrats, Theresa! You'll be great! :)
ReplyDeleteDawn, thanks. I hope so!
DeleteCongratulations. And once I pry that time turner out of Hermione's hands, I'll let you play with it. (And sorry about missing wishing you a Happy Birthday yesterday. The things I'm juggling keep me off the internet on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.)
ReplyDeleteLiz, yes, I'd love a time turner! Don't worry about the belated birthday wish. I'm happy to extend the birthday!
DeleteCongratulations! I'm so excited for you! It's a lot of work, but they couldn't have grabbed a better person for it :)
ReplyDeleteMichael, thank you so much!
DeleteLots of juggling but cool stuff!! I bet it is time consuming but fun to choose finalists!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a juggler too but have no advice but do your best and know that some things can slide sometimes. (like my laundry pile and cluttered house) :)
Kelly, it's really fun getting to read and evaluate, but I also feel for those who get rejected. We know how that goes, right?
DeleteCongrats, Theresa! You must be better at juggling than you think! =)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ruth. I hope so!
DeleteYay! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteArgh, yes, juggling. Lately real life has taken over my life. After a few years of writing being the top goal, this is a new twist for me... But good!
Deniz, juggling has taken over your life big time! In fact, when you move to a new country, that's needs an even bigger word. Give yourself some time to adjust--I'm sure you'll squeeze it all in.
DeleteLots of very important things to juggle, but you seem to be handling it very well! Congrats again on the job. Very exciting.
ReplyDeleteC Lee, so far I haven't dropped too many balls. But I'm pretty tired these days!
DeleteWhen it comes to juggling, you are the best! You've inspired me to write my new post. Yes, I'm back! :) Still struggling with my own shuffling and juggling but I'm getting "the voice" back slowly. Big hugs!
ReplyDeleteLen, my juggling is nothing compared to what you have to do. Big hugs to you too!
DeleteCongrats, Theresa. I prefer to think of it as plate spinning. I would say cleaning usually crashes to the floor, unless someone is coming over. I need motivation.
ReplyDeleteLeslie, yes, it's plate spinning! Cleaning is tough to squeeze in. As it is, I feel like I'm always doing laundry.
DeleteWhat a great experience, and they are so lucky to have you. It does sound like a lot to juggle, but I am always impressed by how much you can accomplish.
ReplyDeleteMissed Periods, thank you. From now until the end of June, I am probably going to do a lot of dropping. Things are getting crazy!
Delete