We Have it Totally Under Control:
A collection of essays about life, love, and survival during unprecedented times.
The COVID pandemic brought a lot of new things into my life, including gray hair, buying sweatpants online, and mid-day power naps. But it also reconstituted something that had been missing for years: creativity. When the world shut down in March, I started writing, drawing, and painting for fun — something that I hadn’t done since much of since my son was born almost 12 years ago.
After experiencing the high of contributing my writing to a few anthologies and blogs last year, I had an idea. Why not create my own? And henceforth begins the grand experiment of We Have it Totally Under Control.
The purpose of this project is twofold: to create a sort of long-winded time capsule that captures memories of this crazy era, and to give writers — both experienced and novice — the chance to share their stories. I intend for the final ebook to be free and accessible to everyone (and will cover the costs of self-publication), so I won’t be able to pay contributors. But I will make sure you get all the credit you deserve, and will do everything in my power to get the word out (with your help)!
Guidelines and rules:
· We Have it Totally Under Control is intended to be a collection of personal essays — no fiction or poetry. (Nothing against fiction or poetry. I love both! But editing them is not my forte.)
· Theme: we want to hear about something profound that happened to you, your family or your community during the pandemic. Did you survive COVID? Did you have a new baby or get a new kitten? Did you lose or gain employment? Did you get passionate about politics? Did you start meditation (…or medication)? Are you an essential worker? While your experience is, of course, unique to you, try to make it relatable to others through your writing.
· Submit your personal essays via email to Alison Roth at ivotedtoday at yahoo.com. Word documents are preferred.
· Recommended length is 800–2,000 words.
· Deadline for submission is February 28, 2021 at 9 p.m. ET.
· The editors will try to be as inclusive as possible — but submitting your work does not guarantee publication. We reserve the right to reject, edit, and alter your work.
· You may submit work that’s been published elsewhere or that you plan to publish elsewhere, assuming you have the rights to do so.
· Curse words and adult themes are allowed, within reason. (Please note: I will be sharing this with my mom.)
· Looking for inspiration? Read this, this or this. (And yes, I included one of my own essays for inspiration — don’t hate me.)
Please reach out if you have any questions, and I look forward to reading your stories.
