Category Archives: Writing

NaNoWriMo 2017

Creative non-fiction, Fiction, Inspiration, NaNoWriMo, NaNoWriMo 2017, Writing

I am participating in my third-ever NaNoWriMo. It’s been a bit of a journey to get to the first lines of this challenge.

I wanted to write a book, fiction specifically. I’ve been feeling it’s high time for me to launch into the “next phase” — and that felt like doing something book-y.

I narrowed my initial three ideas down to one. I had a beginning, a mushy middle, and an end. The basics. I began plotting and getting to know my characters. I read books on the process. I studied my favorite novels.

I was starting to feel…stressed, actually. Completely unready to take this on. Not in an “I’m not good enough” way but in a “This doesn’t quite feel right” kind of way.

About a week ago, I got several emails and messages from friends and acquaintances about various humor pieces I’ve had published in the last few months. They all mentioned how my voice is distinct, and their words were complimentary and so very appreciated.

I said to my husband that I needed to find a way to make my book humorous like my essays, that that feels most me right now. And in his infinite wisdom, he said, “Why don’t you just do a book of essays?”

It stopped me in my tracks, as did my response. “Because I think for that to be successful, I’d need a much larger internet following than I have.”

Which…is not a good reason not to write the book I want to write and the book that I think will be good. I can’t control the market, I can’t worry about the selling points. I just need to worry about writing.

So I started from scratch, planning essays, figuring out a tentative through-line which I am more than happy to toss aside at any point. I’m keeping the novel ideas because I’m learning (the hard way) to never say never.

Today I started writing.

See you in 50,000 words!

I’m in the Readers Write Section of This Month’s The Sun Magazine

Creative non-fiction, Publications, Recommendations, The Sun Magazine, Writing

When I began writing professionally about two years ago, I told myself that if I ever got into the Readers Write section of The Sun magazine, it would signal a transition to the next level of my career. So here I am. Next level. And perhaps my next milestone will be having an actual feature in it.

You can find a hard copy of The Sun by checking out the list of B&M stores here.

You can scroll down and read my piece (and the other magnificent essays) here.

Also, treat yourself or a loved one to a subscription to the magazine. It’s part fiction, part non-fiction, all quality.

Month in Review — Probably Shouldn’t Have Woken Me Up When September Ended

Month in Review, Recommendations, Writing, , , , , , , ,

Usually, I type up the Month In Review posts either the last day of the month or the first of the next month. And here I was all fired up about Hugh Hefner and the hero treatment the man is receiving …

then Las Vegas.

So. Here we are again. My words on this topic won’t matter. We’ve shot people every day. We’ve not stopped it. Not after it happened in a club, in a church, or in a classroom.

I am in perpetual mourning. For victims of hate, victims of catastrophe, victims of senseless violence. Victims of ideologies. Victims of climate change deniers. Victims of the NRA.

My sorrow is deep and the reactions are predictable.

I will act, and I will donate, and I will put my feet to the pavement.

…And I will share what helped make September bearable, or at least escapable for bursts:

 

Maybe this is the only instruction guide we need to be happy, even at times like this.

I’m a big ol’ nerdball when it comes to documentaries. Makes sense, I guess, as I also tend to gravitate towards nonfiction writing. But it’s the weaving in of storytelling craft that makes for an outstanding piece of nonfiction, and Ken Burns is the master. I was riveted from moment one. I’m only on Episode Five, but this is not a series to binge watch so much as to take in and digest before moving on to the next part.

Oof. Why it’s so important that we study history. It is because of this that I hope we can scrub all the faux news and the equivocating and the creative silent editing and the “butwhatabouts” from the record. Not an easy essay to swallow, but there’s some pretty disgusting stuff in world history and it would be nice to not have to repeat it. Unfortunately, we are a stubborn species, determined to live repeat rather than shuffle.

Sometimes, especially when life gets mired in ugly small indignities – a turned back, a cruel word, an untruth, a passive-aggression – or just the daily grind, it can be hard for me to access creativity. I will be turning to these strategies as needed. Hopefully, they won’t be needed often!

Maybe this is just the answer to it all. 

I wish you good friends, a nice cup of something warm, hugs, a sense of history, a creative spark, and dessert.