Ep. 45 | Writing Your Truth

Ashley M. Coleman shares a solo update from Permission to Write, then moves into a candid salon-style reflection on rejection in publishing and writing. She explains why rejection is not a verdict on your worth, how craft helps you interpret feedback, and why every “no” can still move a manuscript forward.Key topics* Permission to Write updates, including GG Renee Hill’s upcoming class, Memoir in Motherhood, writing through the complexity. https://www.permissiontowrite.org/memoir-and-motherhood * Support for the application fee fund for Black writers through Permission to Write. https://www.permissiontowrite.org/donate * The state of nonfiction publishing and why nonfiction may be struggling right now. https://thewalrus.ca/nonfiction-is-struggling-publishers-are-making-it-worse/* Catapult’s sale and shutdown, plus what that means for the indie publishing space. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/101588-catapult-to-be-sold-end-operations.html * Britt Bennett’s upcoming novel, The Last Diva, due in June 2027. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/new-novel-by-brit-bennett-coming-in-2027/ * Ashley’s personal perspective on rejection and how it has evolved over time* The difference between rejection as a personal wound and rejection as useful information* Why craft makes it easier to tell whether a piece needs revision or a new home* How feedback, even alongside a pass, can be a meaningful sign of potential* Staying committed to a long-term project despite repeated noesTimestamps* 00:05 - Permission to Write updates and upcoming Memoir in Motherhood class* 00:34 - Supporting the application fee fund for Black writers* 01:01 - Nonfiction publishing feels shaky right now* 01:58 - Catapult is being sold and will end operations* 03:26 - Britt Bennett’s new novel, The Last Diva* 03:56 - Why Ashley wanted to talk about rejection* 04:26 - Rejection is not always about whether you are good enough* 04:53 - Every writer gets rejected, even after publishing a book* 05:52 - Craft helps you read rejection more clearly* 06:18 - Feedback can be more valuable than the rejection itself* 07:14 - Why a pass can still motivate revision* 08:06 - A long-term novel project shaped by multiple rounds of rejection* 09:02 - “Giving up did not cross my mind”* 09:30 - Closing encouragement to keep goingNotable quotes* “You can be good and the answer can still be no.”* “Rejection is a dime a dozen, but feedback with the rejection is precious.”* “Giving up did not cross my mind. I was compelled to tell the story.” Get full access to Permission to Write at permissiontowrite.substack.com/subscribe

Ashley M. Coleman opens with a publishing roundup before moving into a wider conversation about what it means to tell the truth on the page when the internet is ready to react in real time. She reflects on the Nicole Hannah-Jones essay about public schooling, the responses it triggered, and the risks writers face when personal writing becomes public discourse.Key topics* Ashley Coleman discusses a New York Times opinion piece about awards, DEI, and the backlash around literary recognition. * She highlights Kennedy Ryan’s expanding success, including her Hoops romance series being optioned by Netflix after news about her Skyland series. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv/articles/kennedy-ryan-having-hollywood-moment-222909182.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall * She discusses Nicole Hannah-Jones’ New York Times Magazine essay about choosing public school for her child in New York City. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/magazine/ny-public-schools-black-students-segregation.html* Ashley reflects on the tension between individual parenting choices and collective responsibility, especially for Black families navigating unequal school systems.* She shares how the essay prompted her to think about her own public-school experience in Philadelphia and the sacrifices her parents made.* She questions whether readers are willing to extend grace to Black women writers when their work is vulnerable but not universally popular.* She considers the consequences of writing truthfully, especially when personal essays become internet discourse.* Ashley connects the conversation to a broader tradition of Black writers, including Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Nikki Giovanni, who wrote boldly about injustice.* She ends by asking listeners what it means to write vulnerably and whether writers are ready for the attention their work can bring.Edited by @officialdilemma Get full access to Permission to Write at permissiontowrite.substack.com/subscribe

Ashley M. Coleman opens with a quick publishing roundup, including Kennedy Ryan’s Before I Let Go series being greenlit at Peacock, and then shifts into the main salon topic: what it really looks like to write while holding down a full-time job. This episode pushes back on the romanticized myth of the full-time author lifestyle and makes the case that a day job can actually protect creativity, discipline, and lived experience.This Week in Publishing Romance powerhouse Kennedy Ryan announced that the series based on her book Before I Let Go has been greenlit at Peacock with an all-star team at the helm. Attica and Tembe Locke are the showrunners, and Malcolm D. Lee will be directing alongside the acclaimed author.The best-selling Before I Let Go is the first novel in Ryan’s three-book Skyland series. It centers on a divorced couple, Yasmen and Josiah Wade, who are still drawn to each other.https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/kennedy-ryan-before-i-let-go-series-peacock-1236696830/Ryan has the first, first look deal of its kind as an author and will be able to not only support her own books, but she will be able to champion others as well.Ashley M. Coleman will be moderating a conversation with Dr. Latorial Faison and Deesha Philyaw on Oct. 13th as they discuss Writing the Women of the Black Church on Oct. 13th. This free event is a collaboration between the Wintergreen Women’s Writers Collective and Torch Literary Arts. We hope to see you there for a great discussion. https://wintergreenwomenwriterscollective.com/news/welcome-table-talk-6. Here at PTW, we just wrapped up our Read Like a Writer series in partnership with Rep Club here in LA, and what phenomenal conversations we had with authors Angela Nissel and Rasheed Newson. If you missed it somehow, you can head over to our YouTube channel to view the recordings. Salon TopicThe advantages of writing with a 9 to 5: * Takes the pressure off the art. * Can help you take your writing time more seriously. * Gives you experiences that you can take into your work. Edited by @officialdilemma Get full access to Permission to Write at permissiontowrite.substack.com/subscribe

Okay, life starts happening and the first thing to go is often projects we love the most. But we’re back. This podcast has been such a labor of love, and we need more spaces to talk about Black books. But this podcast is much more than books. We talk about publishing news, our read like a writer concept, craft and much more. If you’re looking for something literary, but where we can laugh, incorporate pop culture, and deep dive business and books, you’re in the right place! This week in publishing: We discuss Tomi Adeyemi and adaptions and hiring outside editors. Our Salon Topic: Working towards a sophomore book release. Edited by: officialdilemma Get full access to Permission to Write at permissiontowrite.substack.com/subscribe

Listen to a live recording of our Craft Talk & Co-Work series in residence at Sip & Sonder in Inglewood. We caught up with author of No Ordinary Love, Myah Ariel to discuss her writing journey, perseverance in creative industries and the editing process and much more.Grab a copy of her book --> https://bookshop.org/a/8081/9780593640616  Get full access to Permission to Write at permissiontowrite.substack.com/subscribe

Listen to a live recording of our Craft Talk & Co-Work series in residence at Sip & Sonder in Inglewood. We caught up with author of The Unboxing of a Black Girl, Angela Shante to discuss writing voice before diving into a co-working session. Grab a copy of her book --> https://bookshop.org/a/8081/9798890039538  Get full access to Permission to Write at permissiontowrite.substack.com/subscribe

In this week's episode, Ashley is walking through the process of receiving her first edit letter, how she developed her own revision process, and the collaborative work of creating a book. This week in Publishing: Publisher’s Weekly says book sales were up in May! Which is always positive news.  https://t.co/GxRrB0iGIw NY Writers Coalition is closing its doors after 22 years of providing free workshops citing years of struggling to pay bills. https://gothamist.com/news/new-york-writers-coalition-decades-old-creative-writing-hub-to-close-its-doors Author of the Bridgerton Series discusses the change in story for Franchesa Bridgerton. Brings up an interesting thought about adaptations and how closely they should or shouldn’t follow the book. https://www.buzzfeed.com/noradominick/bridgerton-julia-quinn-michael-michaela-backlashGiven the Option: You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty Shop the title: http://ptwbooks.com Get full access to Permission to Write at permissiontowrite.substack.com/subscribe

In this week's episode, we're joined by authors Laura Warrell (Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm) and Rasheed Newson (My Government Means to Kill Me) to talk about writing sex, whether there is a right or wrong way, their approaches to writing intimate scenes, and more. A great discussion for Adults Only! Be sure to support their work: Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm: https://bookshop.org/a/8081/9780593466537 My Government Means to Kill Me: https://bookshop.org/a/8081/9781250833549  Get full access to Permission to Write at permissiontowrite.substack.com/subscribe

In Episode 38, Ashley is joined by authors Bella Jay and Shameka S. Erby to discuss the “stigma” around romance books, the indie romance writing community, representation within the genre and much more. It was a ki-ki you'll be sure to enjoy!Be sure to check out and support their work! https://shamekathewriter.com/ https://shop.authorbellajay.com/ Get full access to Permission to Write at permissiontowrite.substack.com/subscribe

In this week’s episode, Ashley is joined by special guest Jade Olivia discussing writing through a cultural lens unapologetically, and her new novel, A MONTH OF SUNDAYS. Grab your copy of A MONTH OF SUNDAYS HERE. This Week in Publishing: Lisa Lucas is out at Pantheon. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/20/books/booksupdate/knopf-doubleday-lisa-lucas-reagan-arthur.html  Bertelsmann has partnered with Enders Analysis and Arthur D. Little to publish a new report, "State of Play: Exploring Generative AI’s Transformative Effects on the Media & Entertainment." https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/newsbrief/index.html?record=4701 Rebecca Schinsky shared on her Today In Books Substack, the state of the publishing from the inside. https://todayinbooks.substack.com/p/the-state-of-publishing-as-seen-from?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1753633&post_id=144708803&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1gzvy&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email Get full access to Permission to Write at permissiontowrite.substack.com/subscribe