Immerse yourself in adventure. Readers will thank you.
March 1, 2023
Dear Writers,
First, a shout-out to my colleague Dana Shavin, who rocks all types of essays from her home in Tennessee. Check out this hermit crab piece titled “All You Can’t Eat.” And if you’re looking for a little inspiration and a few hundred writing prompts, my lovely friend Hope Lyda has penned My Unedited Writing Year: 365 Invitations to Free Your Creativity and the Writer Within.
Let me know if you have a publication you’d like me to help promote; I’m always happy to do so, on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
So . . . in a coaching session earlier this week, I asked a creative writing client one of my favorite questions: “What would you love to immerse yourself in for the sake of writing?”
And then, I clarified the question. What classes and workshops would you take? What skills would you learn? What experts would you interview and shadow? What adventures would you pursue in order to give readers a vivid, intimate story?
One of the main characters in the historical novel I’m writing (he’s my great-grandfather) is a juggling comic in the circus and vaudeville. So that I could better describe his act, I taught myself to juggle and attended the Oregon Country Fair to refine my skills. Next up, learning to walk a tightwire! (I’m going to write short personal essays about each experience and pitch to magazines, when I have a spare moment.)
In the service of this novel, I’m also going to explore the vaudeville-era theatres in which he and my great-grandmother performed around the country; I’ll write about this road trip for a travel magazine. I really need to learn to fly a biplane across the Canadian Rockies, as well, so if any of my readers can hook me up with a couple of lessons, that would be magnificent. 😊
When you take your storytelling seriously, when you write in service to your readers, the whole world opens up, and you find yourself signing up for classes in stand-up comedy or shadowing circus clowns for a day or signing up for flying lessons. And so I’m asking you, dear readers:
“What would you love to immerse yourself in for the sake of writing?”
What I’m Publishing
· Well, this is embarrassing. I published only one short piece this month (Write Nonfiction Articles to Build an Audience for Your Fiction | FundsforWriters) because I’ve been immersed in researching and writing the new novel. Here’s one of my older essays as a preview: Under the Big Top: My Great-Grandmother's Life in the Circus (nextavenue.org) Check out the vintage photos!
· In the midst of writing, I did a fun and thought-provoking podcast interview with Down Syndrome Resource Foundation to help promote disability rights along with my newest published novel, Daisy Woodworm Changes the World which includes a main character with Down syndrome. And Daniel Smorokowski did an interview with me for the podcast Special Chronicles which airs on March 20th, the day before World Down Syndrome Day.
A Few Cool Resources for Writers
· I’ve been hearing wonderful things about The Story Graph , which helps you to track the books you’re reading and recommend new titles tailored to your particular taste.
· If you’re thinking of becoming a screenwriter, here’s a short, pithy article on how to format and how to transfer your novel writing skills to this very different form: How To Write A Screenplay: 3 Best Practices To Help You Write A Compelling Script (thewritelife.com)
· If you’re curious about immersion journalism, here’s a podcast interview with journalist A.J. Jacobs about how he immersed himself in the practice of gratitude for his book The Gratitude Chain. He makes me want to practice radical gratitude.
· And finally, a thought-provoking, candid article by Rebecca Makkai about literary etiquette. This is wise, indeed, to explain what to do and what not to do around writers. (My own personal pet peeve: people who ask if they can “pick my brain.” I don’t tell them that the term makes me physically nauseous, but I do refer them to the consultation page on my website!)
Conferences, Residencies, and Calls for Submissions
· Did you know that you can attend either the entire AWP (Association of Writers & Writing Programs) Conference in Seattle on March 8-11, or purchase a Saturday pass for $25? The conference is packed with panels, readings, performances, a Book Fair with over 3,000 booths loaded with literature and swag, karaoke, publisher parties . . . it’s a blast. I’m the moderator for this panel; I’d love to see you there!
· Speaking of the Pacific Northwest, Hedgebrook is taking applications for their incredible writing residencies until March 15th. I visited an author at a Hedgebrook residency once; staff literally delivered her lunch to the doorstep of her cabin in a basket so as not to disturb the muse. Sign me up!
· Still feeling fuzzy-brained from the pandemic? Here’s an anthology call for creative writing about long Covid: Call for Long COVID Anthology Submissions! - NewPages.com .
· Are you holding onto a heartwarming road trip story? Intrepid Times is hosting a Romance on the Road Travel Writing Competition. Romance on the Road Travel Writing Competition—$200 Prize - Intrepid Times
That’s all for now! Feel free to share this newsletter these opportunities with everyone you know! And email me if something wonderful comes across your inbox. I’ll share it in the April newsletter.
Much gratitude,
Melissa
P.S. Here’s me immersed in a snow cave I helped to create for a “Savvy Snow Skills” middle-school class in Oregon. I know, I know . . . to truly immerse myself in this experience, I’m going to need to spend the night.
