Carly Chandler
Why did you submit to trash to treasure lit?
I submitted to trash to treasure lit because, while I was submitting to other literary magazines, I couldn't find a home for some of my work that I ultimately ended up submitting to trash to treasure. I believe that every author has that one poem or a personal essay that they believe isn't "literary" enough to be good in a literary magazine, and trash to treasure's entire purpose aligns with my beliefs as a writer and the practices I want to continue; I believe that all work deserves to be celebrated, even the "trash" that we discount.
How would you describe your writing practice?
I would describe my writing practice as simultaneously being consistent and irregular. I'm always writing, so something is always being produced and is happening, and the thing is always being done, but I struggle with writing the same thing consistently. Like, last month I wrapped up a novel and wanted to move on to a poetry chapbook for NaNoWriMo, but my current hyperfixation is the novel 'Mexican Gothic' by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, so I'm emulating her style and focusing on a gothic horror-romance novella.
What is the biggest thing that stops you from submitting work to lit mags/journals/publications?
The biggest thing that stops me from submitting to different places is the discouraged feelings I feel from receiving rejections. I've never been good at handling rejection, even before I attempted to enter the "professional writing" atmosphere, and though I've gotten better about handling rejections in the last few months, I still find myself submitting irregularly due to the onslaught of rejections I'll receive.
Do you think the writing industry has an impact on your confidence in your work (good or bad)? Why?
I think that the writing industry has had both a positive and negative impact on my confidence. As I previously said, the biggest thing stopping me from submitting is my fear of rejection, and so, when I receive those rejections, it really hits my self esteem and makes me feel like an imposter. On the flip side, I've received seven (seven!) acceptances in the last four months, and that makes me feel like I can really make this whole "writer" thing happen. Receiving acceptances or rejections is definitely not the bulk of being a writer, but the "grind" culture around receiving those acceptances makes it really a difficult thing to want. We, as writers, are expected to have two full time jobs; our day jobs, and effectively outreaching our creative works. It's exhausting, but it's the only way to be a writer in this day and age.
When do you start to doubt a piece that you are working on?
In short form pieces, I typically start to doubt the piece if I start working on it and immediately get caught up in the world-building and overthinking behind the piece. I'm drawn to really well drawn out fiction, but when I do it, I somehow manage to do it wrong. In longform pieces, I typically start to doubt pieces when I hit a plot hole that I'm absolutely convinced will never be able to recover.
Once you trash one of your pieces, what makes you come back to it (if ever)?
If I trash a short piece, it'll likely never see the light of day again. The same generally goes for longform pieces, but I've definitely come back to more novella/novel ideas than I have short story. I think that the amount of content and dedication that goes into a novel allows for us to have more grace, as writers, but I know that if I trash an idea once, I'm likely going to trash it again.
How many pieces do think you have currently in your 'abandoned' folder?
Too many to count. I have deleted works, "abandoned" works, a junk file, and too many blurbs to even count.
What is the ultimate reason that you trash your work?
I trash my work because the longer I stare at it, the more I hate it. There's the old saying that "we're our own worst critic" and I have to believe it, because I've had some stuff published that I cannot believe people actually liked. I trash my work because I'm mean to myself, and I can be, because there's no one in my head to stop me. Authors, don't be mean to yourself. You're doing great.
Is there anything that would stop you from trashing your work? (More education in writing, more publications/less rejections, a change in the industry, etc)
As someone who is pursuing their Master's degree in creative writing, I don't think that more education would stop me from trashing my work - I do think that changes in the writing industry and less rejections would make me more confident in my work and the things I have written - and would make me more confident in the things that I want to write. There are so many unseen ideas solely for the fact that they aren't "literary" enough, hidden away in the trash pile that is my mind.
What writing advice have you been given that has changed your perspective on how you treat/view your work?
My mentor has always reminded me that it's good to take mental health breaks. This might seem like a big "duh", but as a former gifted kid whose burnt out, I've always been going, going, going. I still feel bad whenever I have free time, but it's important to get plenty of sleep and rest, and to know that you are NOT doing a bad job for taking time for yourself.
If you have any upcoming work (books, publications, features, art, etc), feel free to mention them here, so that we can support you!
My work is upcoming in Ilinix Magazine and Dollar Store Magazine, and I'm excited to announce that I've finished my first novel, so hopefully we'll be hearing more about that soon!
Carly Chandler (she/they) is a queer experimental author from Louisiana who specializes in horror and poetry. They have previously been published in Argus Magazine, Demonic Verses, Words and Whispers Magazine, and Toil and Trouble Magazine, and their work is forthcoming in Dollar Store Magazine and Ilinix Magazine. Their fiction, poetry, and creative essays also appear in trash to treasure Literary Magazine. Their Twitter handle is @carlywithawhy.