14 Comments
Feb 17, 2023·edited Feb 17, 2023Liked by Courtney Maum

The way that Catapult handled this business is shameful. It's makes me so angry and I didn't even work there, but their magazine promoted one of the awards I was fortunate enough to get. How hard is it to notify people before you do dirt? They're either incompetent or heartless or ashamed of their actions so that they didn't bother to notify people.

This also might be of interest. Corporealwrite is apparently taking pitches from instructors re courses to be taught: https://twitter.com/tumblehawk/status/1625573668775694337

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I am so sorry this happened!! I truly hope everyone finds new homes. And Before And After the Book Deal is one of the best books I've ever read on how to engage with the publishing industry. I gave it a starred review in Booklist. Courtney, would you get your rights back if the Titanic sinks?

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Feb 17, 2023·edited Feb 17, 2023Liked by Courtney Maum

Courtney, this is the personification of literary citizenship. And just being an all-around good human. Thanks for showing us what support looks like in this crazy industry! I pledge to take at least one course from one of these amazing instructors and will keep the orgs who are absorbing them in my bookmarks for future reference!

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Feb 17, 2023·edited Feb 17, 2023Liked by Courtney Maum

I'm so sorry this has happened. I love Before and After the Book Deal. I read it from the library and planned to buy my own copy, but it wasn't urgent because it'll be a while before I'm querying. But I bought it this morning from my local indie. It's great how you're pitching in and trying to help people recover from this huge mess.

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How interesting that I had bookmarked inquiring with Catapult just a few months ago, which I was looking into your work (after R. Makkai recommended you, before I took the plunge on substack.)

I am continually torn between three thoughts reading down these lists: 1) Thinking I should pursue being a writing coach/editor myself; 2) Thinking I need to hire one of these coaches or take more classes; 3) Slightly overwhelmed with indecision, telling myself I just need to spend more time doing neither, but actually writing.

But I did inquire with Jaime Green about taking her Scrivener class, because using the program correctly I think could save me a lot of time formatting and putting together a short story collection, and a lot of aggravation in the process. So you helped out at least one fellow Catapultee with this post.

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Feb 17, 2023Liked by Courtney Maum

RIP Catapult classes. I met so many great writers through their classes. Shout out to Danielle Lazarin! Working with Danielle transformed my process and got me through drafting and starting revision on both short stories and a novel. She is generous, kind, and an amazing coach/teacher. I’ve been so grateful to learn from her! And here she is - available for you too!

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Feb 17, 2023Liked by Courtney Maum

Sorry, I was so annoyed by how Catapult handled this that I didn't read through to the bottom to notice you already mentioned Dancyger's thread.

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