{"id":6231,"date":"2025-08-05T13:10:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T13:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/2025\/08\/05\/write-of-passage-a-seat-at-the-table-or-not\/"},"modified":"2025-08-05T13:10:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T13:10:00","slug":"write-of-passage-a-seat-at-the-table-or-not","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/2025\/08\/05\/write-of-passage-a-seat-at-the-table-or-not\/","title":{"rendered":"Write of Passage: A Seat at the Table\u2014Or Not?"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-6231-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/170153742\/cfa6b2307c74c181895163f81eb283c1.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/170153742\/cfa6b2307c74c181895163f81eb283c1.mp3\">https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/170153742\/cfa6b2307c74c181895163f81eb283c1.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p>We all want to belong.<\/p><div id=\"vanes-2268928302\" class=\"vanes-content vanes-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 2px;margin-right: 2px;margin-bottom: 2px;margin-left: 2px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/fireswordandsea.htm\" aria-label=\"Fire Sword &amp; Sea\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?fit=1706%2C2560&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Fire Sword &amp; Sea\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?w=1706&ssl=1 1706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=1365%2C2048&ssl=1 1365w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" width=\"569\" height=\"853\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>Whether it\u2019s for our intellect, our stance, or even our looks, we yearn to be chosen\u2014for who we are, or for who we might become.<\/p>\n<p>We hope for a fair assessment of our gifts, talents, hard work, and ethics.<\/p>\n<p>So when we\u2019re overlooked, dismissed, or flat-out ignored, it hurts. It feeds our doubts. When it\u2019s pervasive, it claws at our pride like eagles\u2019 talons, stripping us down until there\u2019s nothing left but scabs.<\/p>\n<p>We smile. We send off polite emails and make gracious calls, pretending it doesn\u2019t matter. We lift our chins and say, \u201cYou are not worthy of my time\u2014or even my presence.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But in secret, we ache. We bleed anew\u2014reliving the cost of the blood, sweat, and tears it took to get here. We question ourselves. <em>What else could I have done? Who did I offend? Where is that sense of American bravado\u2014the belief that if I build it, they will come?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In publishing, this ache to belong is ever-present. Facing rejection after rejection, often without a clear reason, cuts deeply. A \u201cno\u201d in publishing doesn\u2019t always come with feedback. Sometimes it just means you&#8217;re stuck in midlist limbo. When opportunities vanish, imprints dissolve, or priorities shift, you\u2019re left holding an unwanted manuscript and a pile of broken promises.<\/p>\n<p>At the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance New Voices New Rooms Conference, I listened to keynote speaker Silas House\u2014a New York Times bestselling author and winner of two Nautilus Awards\u2014say something that struck deeply:<em>\u201cThere are many ways to burn books (that don\u2019t require matches)\u2014one of them is by denying them space, visibility, and readers.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Sometimes rejection doesn\u2019t come as a loud no. Sometimes it\u2019s silence. Unanswered emails. Delays. Misdirection. But even a quiet \u201cno\u201d is still a no. And it shapes your experience. It can limit you.<\/p>\n<p>Quiet no\u2019s make it hard to trust. Even future yes\u2019s become suspect.<\/p>\n<p>Every author dreams of a beautiful cover that captures the soul of their story. We long for an editor\u2019s offer that affirms our voice. We want a marketing and sales team working in partnership with us to push our books into the hands of hundreds, thousands\u2014maybe millions.<\/p>\n<p>So no, it\u2019s not enough to just get a book deal. We want a seat at the table. Because a publishing contract without editorial support, marketing strategy, or visibility often isn\u2019t worth the paper it\u2019s printed on.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s like being proposed to with a ring, but instead of a grand wedding with a 25-foot train of lace and sequins, you\u2019re rushed to City Hall under gray skies, muttering quick vows with no photos to prove it ever happened.<\/p>\n<p><em>Fire Sword and Sea<\/em> is my 29th book. While that\u2019s a triumph worth celebrating, it\u2019s also a sobering reminder of what I\u2019ve learned\u2014the good, the bad, and the anemic.<\/p>\n<p>Silas House also said, <em>\u201cArtists from gated places have to act as role models.\u201d<\/em> And from my experience, I\u2019ll tell you this: you are worth courting. You\u2019re not a cheap date. When access is limited, our very presence becomes defiance. Our work becomes resistance.<\/p>\n<p>Our words\u2014through books, essays, podcasts\u2014speak truth to power. Our stories are meant to light the dark.<\/p>\n<p>At that same conference, Angie Thomas and Nic Stone joined the conversation. Two beautiful authors, who it seems, some want to take their seats away. They referenced Beyonc\u00e9, who said: <em>\u201cNever ask for permission for something that belongs to you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the truth at the heart of this essay.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve been asking for a seat\u2014as if our worth needs outside validation. As if we need permission to matter.<\/p>\n<p>Stop asking. Stop waiting.<\/p>\n<p>You already built your chair\u2014with your words, your work, your presence. You\u2019ve earned your place.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, we want a public seat. <strong>It\u2019s about power, visibility, and the right to shape the narrative. I get that, but I challenge you to claim your worth, understand you have built your chair with your work, and that you have the right to sit without asking anyone for permission.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Books to help you recognize your chair:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/a-parchment-of-leaves-silas-house\/8553734?ean=9781949467253&amp;next=t\"><strong>A Parchment of Leaves \u2013 Silas House<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Silas House\u2019s <em>A\u202fParchment of Leaves<\/em> (2002) is a beautifully rendered novel about Appalachian life, loyalty, and cultural dislocation.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/dear-martin-nic-stone\/8602491?ean=9781101939529&amp;next=t\"><strong>Dear Martin \u2013 Nic Stone<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Nic Stone\u2019s <em>Dear Martin<\/em> is a powerful, unflinching novel that explores race, identity, and justice through the eyes of a Black teen who begins writing letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. after a traumatic encounter.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/the-hate-u-give-angie-thomas\/17739550?ean=9781432893378&amp;next=t\"><strong>The\u202fHate\u202fU\u202fGive \u2013 Angie Thomas<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Angie Thomas\u2019s breakout debut <em>The Hate U Give<\/em> (2017) centers on Starr Carter, who bridges two worlds and finds her voice amid systemic injustice.<\/p>\n<p><strong>This week, I&#8217;m highlighting <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hubcity.org\"><strong>Hub City Books<\/strong><\/a><strong> through their website and <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/shop\/hubcitybooks\"><strong>Bookshop.org<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Hope you love the cover of <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/fireswordandsea.htm\"><strong>Fire Sword and Sea<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u2014Help me build momentum for this historical fiction. Please spread the word and preorder this disruptive narrative about lady pirates in the 1600s. This sweeping saga releases January 13, 2026. The link on my website shows retailers large and small who have set up preorders for this title.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Show notes include a list of the books mentioned in this broadcast.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>You can find my notes on Substack or on my website, <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vanessariley.com\/\"><strong>VanessaRiley.com<\/strong><\/a><strong> under the podcast link in the About tab.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you&#8217;re ready to move with purpose and power, hit that like button and subscribe to <\/strong><strong><em>Write of Passage. Never miss a moment. We have work to do. Let me help recharge you.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Thank you for listening. Hopefully, you\u2019ll come again. This is Vanessa Riley.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is a public episode. If you&#8217;d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.substack.com\/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=CTA_2\">vanessariley.substack.com\/subscribe<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"vanes-728640140\" class=\"vanes-after-content vanes-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 3px;margin-right: 3px;margin-bottom: 3px;margin-left: 3px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?fit=1080%2C1350&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Listen to the Write of Passage Weekly Podcast\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?w=1080&ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=240%2C300&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=819%2C1024&ssl=1 819w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=768%2C960&ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" width=\"540\" height=\"675\"   \/><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We all want to belong. Whether it\u2019s for our intellect, our stance, or even our looks, we yearn to be chosen\u2014for who we are, or for who we might become. We hope for a fair assessment of our gifts, talents, hard work, and ethics. So when we\u2019re overlooked, dismissed, or flat-out ignored, it hurts. It [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6232,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[81,793,9,620,756,694],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-personal-stories","category-politics","category-recommended-reading","category-syndication","category-technology","category-tv-and-film"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/978b4e02d1dc7a139567f31dd9d00e8d-scaled.jpg?fit=1920%2C2560&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6231","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6231"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6231\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6232"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6231"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6231"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6231"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}