Moby Bytes: On Writing & Crying...
Dispatch #3: and #bookboots and winks.
Dear Friends,
On December 1st, I submitted MY OCEANS to my editor. A funny little day in the life of a writer because it might take her (#me) nine years to get from first draft to editor submission, and yet the momentous day goes by unmarked. The kids want pancakes, the dog paws at the door, dentist appointments are overdue, I’ve got nothing “to show” for my (marathon) book milestone other than a digital file uploaded to my publisher’s author portal, and then I collapse into bed by nine like any other night.
Except I knew this would happen and so I got myself some #bookboots. They sat on my windowsill for two months behind my writing desk (as I wallowed in the hell realms of citations, permissions, and fact-checking). I allowed myself to touch them and admire the goal they stood for, but not to wear them until my book was in the hands of my editor.
Is it petty of me to indulge in consumerism to mark my achievement? Probably. Do I feel awesome stomping around my house in glorious self-recognition? Without doubt. And yet cowgirl boots are ill-suited to the ice and snowbanks beyond my front door, so I mostly stomp through my own hallways—which feels an appropriate pairing to the internal achievement.
And this could be as good as it gets!? I’m told by all my debut author friends that the experience of launching a book is (mostly) a vulnerable, exhausting, and stressful letdown (a narrative reemphasized this week by a delightful binge of author interviews on the Debutiful Podcast). So I’m refusing to attach my emotions to a random day stamped on a publishing calendar (though, it’s March of 2025 for those with egos not anchored to the book, lol).
But do give me a wink if you see me stomping around a bookstore or library or convention center next spring in my boots (which I will definitely be wearing). And I will wink back. In recognition of your own stomp-worthy, even if quiet, achievements. And we will have a nice little I-see-you moment between us. Which might be all I ever wanted when I set out as a writer?
Oh, the crying! Maybe you thought they were tears of happiness. But they weren’t. They were actual, huge, sobby tears of everlasting grief…
… every time I drafted, edited, or re-read my essay just published at the EcoTheo Review. Currently, the essay is only in the (gorgeous) print magazine, which is what I wanted for such an intimate piece: An emotion-engaging, touch-worthy, and glossy home of wall-to-wall poems, prose, and art. The EcoTheo Review celebrates wonder, conversations, and connections of ecology, spirituality, and art. Those are some of my favorite words in a mission statement and if you like those words too, you can purchase a copy of EcoTheo Review. Here’s the mag cover and first page of the essay…
To finish reading, you can purchase the issue or hang tight for the essay’s online publication. I’ll share that link on Instagram as soon as I get my hands on it.
Signing off, but scroll on for some more writer-ly, reader-ly, and oceanic bits & bytes…
Warmly,
Christina
Ps. Between brutal family beatings of COVID, flu, GI bugs, and lingering infections, I haven’t had a healthy day (without kids) since 2023. I’d apologize for my lack of substacking and social presence, but can’t we all agree to be done apologizing for stupid reasons?
Also, as I’m still (obviously) in the phase of scouting my Substack voice & vision, I’m curious about your newsletter reading experiences:
Okay, I’m gonna say it: Every substack/newsletter I read feels 10x too long. But where’s the sweet spot? If you have a suggestion, example, or model you regularly read and love, I’d love a link and to hear more about it…
For the Writers & Readers
This essay, “In the Land of the Very Old,” written by 90-year-old Sam Toperoff, put me on the edge of tears the rest of my day. It’s worth your eyes and heart.
I’m very much enjoying exploring the AI-powered writing tools offered by ProWritingAid (like manuscript analysis of alliteration, echos, overused words, cliches, and more.) AI has flaws, but it isn’t all demon.
What I’m Reading & Loving this Month: Animal Wife, stories by Lara Ehrlich; Island of Sea Women by Lisa See; Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri, which I also folded into a hanging book ornament…
*Note: All references are unsolicited and authentic. Books use affiliate links.
Creature Feature
Pretty sure I’m an outcast on this, but muck diving is one of my favorite activities in the world. Give me a barren-looking underwater landscape and let me find all the hidden creatures moving in mind-bending ways. Like this bed of garden eels… (I miss these guys and the way they receded into their holes, but slowly emerged only for those who lurked long enough…)
Where Are You?
If you’re new to Moby Bytes, I’m Christina Rivera and MY OCEANS is my debut book of sea-linked essays investigating endangered marine life and deep-diving the oceanic kinship of bodies of water and beings. MY OCEANS is forthcoming from NUPress/Curbstone Books in the Spring of 2025 and Moby Bytes is where I’m building a superpod of ocean lovers and defenders. Please share Moby Bytes with a friend who might like more pod in their life?
i was just looking at eco theo earlier, now I must go back and grab a copy. :)
I like the book ornament!
I agree. Lots of posts are too long - I was unsubscribing to substacks the other day because there is no way I can keep up. I like the length of this post, and you could go longer still. Switch it up.
Hope to stomp around with you sometime! Those are great boots! And congrats on submitting!
Those boots..ah..great idea to buy,earn.