KB’s year in review
Instead of writing a looong twitter thread, here’s an essay/stream of consciousness.
[image credit: Dr. Seuss’ “Oh The Places You’ll Go”]
Friends,
I really been in my essay-writing bag lately. Idk, the flow and freedom within a big prose block has really freed me in a world and in circumstances that feel outta my control. I’ve been reflecting (cause what else can you do when you have COVID and are stuck in the house for 10+ days?) on what this year has been, who I have been up in it. To say the least, I’m proud of myself. I hope you are too after I tell you what’s been up.
I started writing essays FINALLY and got some schweet pieces in Teen Vogue, Blavity, Autostraddle, and Spectrum South. I also started my own newsletter (that’s why you here, hehe) to give myself a place to play around in this genre. This one makes me so proud and I started with it because it’s something I’ve been talkin’ bout doing for years. We out here. :’)
When I tell you I shot my shot, nigga. I really shot my shot’s shot’s shot’s shot. 50+ essay pitches, 10+ CNF submissions, 200+ poetry submissions, and 40+ fellowship/book submissions went out from me this year. That brings my total shot’s shot to over 300. That ain’t counting the booking requests I spent hours sending this month (*eye rolls*) and the submissions I’ve yet to send this month. Shooters gon’ SHOOT, okay?! Very happy I put myself out there (to some avail) this year. About 50 of those are still in-progress to put your prayer hands and crystals together for your boi.
My debut chapbook How To Identify Yourself with a Wound won the 2021 Saguaro Poetry Prize. It comes out February 1, 2022 and it’s gon’ be a MOVIE, ok?! This chap has been a LONG time coming. Like,,, first poems in there were written when I was 23 and I’m 26/gayer/grayer than who I was then. Lol. it’s a good book tho so preorder it.
My debut full-length poetry collection Freedom House is under contract with Deep Vellum Publishing + set for release early 2023.
I was a PEN America Emerging Voices Fellow and studied under the likes of Roya Marsh, Jubi Arriola Headley, Victoria Chang, and more. I also studied alongside an amazing and bright cohort of writers that I am SURE will take the publishing world by a storm in the coming months/years(/hours?). The fellowship was an amazing experience and I ain’t never had a fellowship that paid me (*hair flips*) til this one. I wrote most (like, 90%) of Freedom House off of the validation that being a PEN fellow afforded me alone, honey. The book is damn good too.
CLEARLY the HTIYWAW & FH poems is hittin’ for somethin’ cause I got them published in the likes of The Offing, ANMLY, Beestung Magazine, Hooligan Magazine, and more. ALSO 3 a’ dem boiz got nominated for Best of Net and a Pushcart Prize (!!!!!!). I would gush more over this, but I got all 35 of this year’s pubs (+ last year’s) (+ some forthcoming ones) laid out all pretty on my website. Check 'em out if you wanna read a book’s worth of KB poems before my books actually hit the shelves. :)
A nigga got an agent !!!!!!!! For a nonfiction book that we won’t talk about right now cause I’m still writing her !!!!!!!
I started a nonfiction book !!!!!
I started a new poetry collection !!!!
I got some poems accepted in places I truly thought I was still at least a year away from !!!! American poetry review ?! Electric Literature ?! Literally this time last year I would’ve told you you were bullshittin lol.
I got my yearly Ruth Lily rejection (where my other rejectees at ?!)
I got longlisted for a couple prizes (they wasn’t acceptances, but that was cute)
I got a “please submit again”-typa no from Colorado Review, Ploughshares, and Gulf Coast lol/ I’ll get ‘em next time if I decide to submit again after the embarrassment.
I solidified a couple exciting shows that’ll actually pay me what I’m worth (& that I’m excited to tell y’all about more in the new year).
I got an EP on Spotify. & Apple Music. & wherever else you stream your music & podcasts at. ;)
I sold 130 copies of a zine I made during the pandemic (you can still find a copy at The Little Gay Shop in Austin, TX).
I started a nonprofit with a friend.
I got that nonprofit, and another nonprofit I started/led, to a $20k+ operating budget in a couple months.
I left both nonprofits in the hands of amazing leaders.
I got into grad school (and left when it wasn’t serving me).
I became self-employed (KB the artist/consultant is open for business)! This is a dream I’ve had since undergrad so I’m especially proud of this one.
I stayed alive.
And that last one means the most to me out of all of these tbh. I stayed alive and can laugh, sing (badly) (only in my car & my shower), fuck up, try again, get rejected, get accepted, take a walk around my city to learn something about something'; I stayed alive so I can love. Live. Write. Read. Be here with you, even in the ills and wills of this place we call earth.
And I’m grateful for it. I hope you are too as you reflect and prep for next year (or let it happen however it will). Let’s all be easy on ourselves and celebrate what we’ve accomplished (even if it’s just staying alive) this year. <3
Love, peace, and chicken grease,
KB
You are amazing!