Welcome to Joy Ride, a monthly dose of joy, good things, creativity prompts, and gratitude by writer Jennifer Chen. If you like it, please share this newsletter with someone who might like it too.
Your Pep Talk 💝
At a WriteGirl book event, I chatted with another volunteer about rejection. She recently found out she didn’t get into graduate school. I empathized. I urged her to feel all the feelings—the disappointment, sadness, even anger—and then to try again when she was ready.
Something she said stuck with me. She mentioned that she came from a culture of “just get over it.” A brave face, so to speak.
Oof. I felt that. I told her I understood.
The sting of rejection—whether a job, relationship, or anything else—hurts. We’re not meant to just pretend it didn’t happen. It’s okay to spend time processing your feelings. It doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means that what you wanted was important to you. What matters to you is part of your heart. It’s more than okay to let it feel broken.
Bookstore Gift Card Giveaway 📕💰
Every year since the launch of this newsletter in August 2020, I give away a $25 gift card to a reader’s indie bookstore of their choice. If you’d like to enter, fill out this Google form. *I will only use the info to randomly choose a winner. Please enter by Aug. 31. I’ll email the lucky winner!
My Latest News 📝
I wrote a short story for the children’s magazine Cricket inspired by my local Buy Nothing group. I started my two-month research fellowship at the Huntington Library. I’m research a historical fiction I want to write about Chinatowns in California.
And! Artifacts of an Ex made Goodreads list of Fall’s Most Anticipated Young Adult Books! 🤗 (You can preorder here).
Check Out This... 😊
TV SHOW: Survival of the Thickest (Netflix). Michelle Buteau stars and produces this feel-good comedy that I loved from episode one.
BOOK: What’s Behind the Blue Door? The wonderful folks at WriteGirl released a creative writing prompt journal with 75 writing exercises to get you inspired.
POEMS: Five Poems by Jennifer Garfield. My poet friend wrote these brilliant poems. She writes with such clarity that her words stay with you long after you read them.
FUNDRAISER: Please consider donating to Hawaii Community Foundation - Maui Strong to help those who lost their homes, family, and belongings after the wildfires.
I'm Grateful For... 🐾
Pug parties. My family and I recently went to a local kid’s birthday party. He adores pugs so his mom asked if anyone with a pug could come over. You don’t have to ask me twice. It was a party for him, but really, the joy was all mine.
I hope your research at the Huntington Library goes well!