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What it’s like to reread my old work

February 3, 2026 / 25 Comments

This week on the IWSG blog hop, we’re talking about rereading old work. What’s it like to reread my old work? Before I dive into that: This post is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG) blog hop. On the first Wednesday of every month, we IWSG-ers share our doubts, fears, struggles, and triumphs. Our awesome co-hosts this month are J Lenni Dorner, Victoria Marie Lees, and Sandra Cox. Stop by and leave them some comment love. Each month our fearless leader (Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh) gives us an optional question to answer. This month’s question is, Many writers have written about the experience of rereading their work years later. Have you reread any of your early works? What was that experience like for you?

When I reread my old work

I recently had the experience of rereading one of my earlier stories, The Fine Print, because a colleague asked to read it. What was the experience like for me? I was irritated at how many typos I found. No matter how many times I proofread, a few slip through. Sigh.

Besides the typos, whenever I reread something I wrote, I wonder where the ideas came from. When I’m writing, I’m in creative mode, and my ideas come from some mysterious place beyond the vale (or from my muse, the drunken floozy, who occasionally puts down her tequila bottle long enough to give me something interesting to say). But later, and especially after months or years have passed, I reread and cannot recall where the ideas came from or why I chose to write a character a certain way. I just… did. And that’s the magic of the creative process. We really do draw from some subconscious space that, once we are done, is closed to us till we are, again, writing.

Also, I realized my opening line was kinda clunky. Sigh.

Writing updates

The writing update is… I’m still limping along. Coming to the end of my query list for Vanishing, Inc. and slogging along with revising Delta Dawn. Here are my query stats as of February 2:

My Query Stats. Active project: Vanishing, Inc. Outstanding queries: 35. Outstanding submissions: 3. Queries sent: 93 Negative replies: 54 (58.1%) Positive replies: 4 (4.3%)

An agent requested a query in response to a pitch event on Threads. I sent the query and just received a rejection a few days ago. She loved the premise but didn’t connect with my writing style. A couple of weeks go, I got a rejection on a full request. That agent said my writing was strong, but she lost connection to the characters based on the choices they made. When agents tell you publishing is a subjective business, they aren’t just trying to soothe your feelings. It ultimately rests on people’s taste in books, and yeah, that’s hella subjective.

I believe there are readers out there who will love my book, and one way or another, I will get it into their hands.

Life updates

Some of you who know me in real life already know this, but the last few months have been rough. Long-Suffering Husband is having some serious (and in one case, incurable) health problems. There have been lots of medical appointments, late-night conversations, fear, and lifestyle changes, with more of all of the above on the horizon. We mostly soldier on in true GenX style, but it’s… hard. And I expect it’ll get harder.

It’s a cliché, but hold your loved ones close, folks. Don’t put off that call, that text, that get-together. We are in this life for such a short time. Don’t get so busy paying bills and working through your to-do list that you forget to really live your one wild and precious life.

On a happier note, I finally posted my 2025 highlight reel. Check it out if you want to know what I got up to last year (besides whining about writing).

The memery

I can’t stay in a dark place for too long, and they do say laughter is the best medicine, so… let’s laugh.

My husband and I cope with dark humor, so this next one is dead on:

And as long as we’re rolling with the dark humor:

And on a serious note…

And finally, I’m going to do something I almost never do on here–end on a serious note. I know my readers come from various points on the political spectrum, and that’s OK. Disagreement is healthy, and I’m always open to different perspectives. I mostly don’t talk about politics here, because there are plenty of other places for people to go for that, and plenty of other people who know more about it than I do.

However.

Basic human rights are not “politics” and are not negotiable in a democracy. I am disgusted by the behavior of ICE and almost more disgusted at how many people think their behavior is acceptable. We can have spirited debates about immigration–who and how and how many and how best to secure the border. Those are hard questions that deserve to be tackled in good faith across the political spectrum. What is happening now has nothing to do with good faith and little to do with immigration. It has everything to do with domination and retribution, neither of which have any place in a civilized, free society.

So let me be clear: I will not debate whether it’s OK to beat and kill people for exercising their constitutional rights, and I will not debate whether it’s OK to snatch people off the streets without a warrant or probable cause. I was taught that tyranny, extrajudicial murder, arrests without probable cause, and imprisonment without due process have no place in the United States. Those things happen in other countries that didn’t enjoy the freedoms our forefathers and foremothers fought for.

I still believe that. We can enforce the law without abuse. And we must.

Why am I bringing up “politics” on a writing blog? Because I cannot in good conscience stay silent about what’s happening in what used to be the greatest democracy the world has ever known.

I’ll leave you with this photo of a sign I saw in a Camp Verde, Arizona, coffee shop some years ago.

Chalkboard sign with the following text: I love you. You're probably thinking, 'You don't even know me.' But if people can hate for no reason, I can love."

Even in these trying times, I will not give in to hate. I hope you don’t either.

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25 Comments

  • Joanne

    February 3, 2026 at 2:37 pm Reply

    Okay, that last sign? Yes! I heartily agree with your “political” views too; I don’t think basic human rights are politics either. I am so so sorry to read about your husband’s health. Sending lots of prayers and well wishes (in whatever form you need them!). Your memery is spot on as usual.

  • Barbara Mealer/B. A. Mealer

    February 3, 2026 at 3:41 pm Reply

    You are moving along, and you are right, there are a LOT of people out there who would love Vanishing, Inc. So if no Traditional taking it, there is always indie publishing. And when you make a splash with the book, you’ll get that agent. (I know of two people in my groups who have done so.)

    As to keeping close to those you love, I lost Al in Dec. He had a valiant fight with stage IV gastric cancer and died from a heart dysrhythmia before he had to really suffer–which was good. You never know when things are going to happen, so enjoy your loved ones while they are with you.

    As to the politic stuff–I get it. And somethings do need to be changed while protecting the citizens of this country from those criminals who came here. We need a better system for admittance to here. I just want the criminals gone. We can deal with the rest later.

  • scoxauthor

    February 4, 2026 at 9:46 am Reply

    What a wonderful sign and yes, what’s happening in our country today is horrific and unfathomable. I’m so sorry to hear about your husband and wish him the best of all possible outcomes. Good luck with Vanishing, Inc. and Delta Dawn. Love those titles.
    Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com

  • SE

    February 4, 2026 at 7:37 pm Reply

    I’m very sorry to hear about your husband. I hope there’s more good news on the horizon and you both get a break from the heavy news for a while.
    And, HARD agree to your end note. How did they make us stand up every morning with our hands on our hearts and pledge to liberty and justice for all, and then expect us to just forget about that?

    • Janet Alcorn

      February 5, 2026 at 8:12 am Reply

      Thanks. And – exactly! I believe deeply in the ideals on which this nation was founded, even though we’ve never truly lived up to them. It disgusts me to see so many people ready to throw all that away just to have power and “own” the other side.

  • Olga Godim

    February 6, 2026 at 11:34 am Reply

    Sorry about your husband’s health problem.
    And I totally understand your political rant. I live in Canada now, but I’m an immigrant myself, although it is been over 30 years since I left my country. But I lived in a dictatorship once. It is scary to watch what is happening now south of our border. The connections are disturbing.

  • C.D. Gallant-King

    February 6, 2026 at 1:07 pm Reply

    I don’t know how you can live in that country without waking up screaming every morning.

    But I’ve had that same discussion/argument many times. It’s not about “politics.” “Politics” has nothing to do with human rights. The right every human has to be who they are, and to be treated with basic respect, should be a given, and non-negotiable.

    Anyway.

    So sorry to hear about your husband’s health problems. You’re right, nothing is guaranteed, and we need to appreciate every moment we have.

  • Jennifer Lane

    February 6, 2026 at 1:15 pm Reply

    Hi Janet, I love what you said about feeling surprised when re-reading your old works–I agree. Where did that idea come from? The creative process is mysterious sometimes. You’re making good progress with querying, especially given hubby’s severe health problems. <3

  • Victoria Marie Lees

    February 6, 2026 at 7:46 pm Reply

    Janet, you and your husband are in my prayers. Stay strong. And what wonderful advice you share here. We only go through life once. There is no dress rehearsal in life. Love, respect, and pay attention to others.

  • Loni Townsend

    February 8, 2026 at 2:19 pm Reply

    My condolences about the spousal health issues. I sympathize and know what it feels like. And I appreciate you speaking out with love. I wish more people would exercise such compassion.

  • jlennidorner

    March 3, 2026 at 10:30 pm Reply

    It would be good if more people cared and opted to feel love in their hearts. I like your query tracker. Best of luck with your writing endeavor.
    “What I say is, a town isn’t a town without a bookstore.” — Neil Gaiman

    J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) @JLenniDorner ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge international blog hop

  • Crystal Collier

    March 4, 2026 at 6:30 am Reply

    I couldn’t comment on your post about the short story, but I’m so with you. It’s amazing how one success can springboard into a new journey, eh?

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