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  • My Writing Journey #4: We’re Back Baby!

    Jun 3, 2026

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    by

    SteppeLively
    in Writing Journey

    Oh hello check-in! He he, well, um, if you’re looking at dates, you’ll note that the most recent post was in April. My intended posting schedule got a little blown up. Why? The answer is technology and WordPress updates. Updates,…

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  • The covers of the Scholomance Trilogy by Naomi Novik

    #TheTalk

    Apr 19, 2026

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    by

    SteppeLively
    in Family

    Sunshine turned eight years old in February. I say this only for age context. She and I have been reading the Scholomance Trilogy by Naomi Novik together. By this, I mean I have read the entire trilogy and have been…

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  • Personal rejection letter received March 12, 2026

    Rejection #2 – Response

    Apr 12, 2026

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    by

    SteppeLively
    in Writing Journey

    After receiving my first rejection of the year, I sent the story “The Hardest Part of Love” out again on March 1, 2026. On March 12, 2026 at 11:31am I received my response. I was working – well I was…

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  • My Writing Journey #3: Checking In

    Apr 5, 2026

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    by

    SteppeLively
    in Writing Journey

    Y’all I almost missed my first check-in! As of this posting, I’ve submitted stories 8 times and received 5 rejections. I’m well on my way to having my most prolific year in terms of submission. Up to this point, the…

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  • Form rejection letter received Feb 16, 2026

    Rejection #1 – Response

    Mar 29, 2026

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    by

    SteppeLively
    in Writing Journey

    On January 28, 2026, I sent out my first submission of the year. Nearly two weeks later, I received my first rejection letter of the year. I had read to expect a response within 5-8 days, so as the days…

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  • World in the Box of My Mind

    Mar 22, 2026

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    by

    SteppeLively
    in Behind-the-Writing

    A lot of little kids have imaginary friends – constructed personalities they interact with and likely (I presume) reflect the kids’ desires, dreams, fears, and anxieties. I’m sure many highly qualified scholars have written at great length about this phenomenon,…

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  • Query Goals

    Mar 15, 2026

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    by

    SteppeLively
    in Writing Journey

    This year, my amazing community group KanMoWriCo has put together a new leaderboard of sorts on TrackBear. We’re not tracking words written, hours spent writing, or even chapters completed. We’re tracking our rejections. Let’s be blunt. Rejections hurt. No matter…

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  • Beautiful Blue Eyes

    Mar 8, 2026

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    by

    SteppeLively
    in Family

    “What a beautiful little person you are. And you have blue eyes. That makes it even better.” The older white lady who complimented my six-month-old child meant well. She saw us sitting at a table in a coffee shop, Sunshine…

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  • My Writing Journey #2: The State of My Journey

    Feb 15, 2026

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    by

    SteppeLively
    in Writing Journey

    So we talked about my earliest experiences with writing, but where am I right now? As of writing this, I have submitted a handful of short stories for publication – all rejected without feedback. I have a complete manuscript of…

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  • My Writing Journey #1: Always Changing, Always the Same

    Feb 8, 2026

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    by

    SteppeLively
    in Writing Journey

    I am not at the very start of my personal writing journey. That started long ago. I was very small, entranced by mom’s portable computer. Portable computer, not a laptop. That sucker needed a table – or the largest shelf…

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