Suzanne Lavallee
Why did you submit to trash to treasure lit?
I had submitted my short story to so many different magazines and it had been rejected so many times... I was ready to just put it away in a file on my laptop and forget about it... That was when I discovered TTL and decided to give it one more shot.
How would you describe your writing practice?
I usually write novels, but I submit poems and short stories to lit magazines the most.
What is the biggest thing that stops you from submitting work to lit mags/journals/publications?
Usually if I feel like my work isn't something easy to relate to... I automatically decide nobody will like it or want to publish it.
Do you think the writing industry has an impact on your confidence in your work (good or bad)? Why?
I think it has both helped and not helped. It's inspiring to see someone my age published, but it's also very easy to compare myself to them and decide that because I have not reached their level of success, then I am not as good of a writer.
When do you start to doubt a piece that you are working on?
When I'm done with it...
Once you trash one of your pieces, what makes you come back to it (if ever)?
Usually I never give up on anything I've written... I may put it aside for a few months or years but I'll always go back as long as I still believe in it.
How many pieces do think you have currently in your 'abandoned' folder?
Quite a few poems... More to count.
What is the ultimate reason that you trash your work?
I feel that it is bad or not relatable.
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)
I think the opportunity to publish whatever I'd like and not be judged for being too niche or unrelatable.
What writing advice have you been given that has changed your perspective on how you treat/view your work?
My favorite piece of writing advice is that you do not have to accept EVERY piece of writing advice you receive... I think after spending a lot of time trying to fit all these guidelines and "advice" I've been given, learning that I can choose what advice I would like to follow is very refreshing and freeing.
If you have any upcoming work (books, publications, features, art, etc), feel free to mention them here, so that we can support you!
I'm coming out in The Winnow's dual theme issue Nov 15th.
Suzanne Lavallee (She/Her) is an eighteen year old writer based in a small town in New England. She is the co-founder of The Limelight Review, an online literary magazine for disabled & neurodivergent voices and can be found writing, listening to Lana Del Rey, or on social media: @suzannelvwrites & IG: @suzanneofthebooks