It’s Okay to Take a Break from Writing …

Life got really messy at the end of September. I’m talking emotional trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, insomnia . . . and then I got locked in a tiny dairy bathroom for 45 minutes while on a travel assignment. (Look for that story in print very soon.)

My point in explaining all this is that sometimes you just have to give yourself a break. Really.

I’ve been called the queen of the hustle, and it’s true—my storytelling brain works overtime, all the time, and always has. But once in a while, the hustle gets exhausting. I believe it’s okay to say NO, to protect your mental and physical health. I had to say NO to the October newsletter, or seriously, people, I was going to spontaneously combust.

(For the finest example of spontaneous combustion I’ve ever seen on screen, please watch the Hart/Smith family favorite Bleak House this holiday season.)

All right. Now that I’ve got that out of the way, I’m delighted to announce my new online course, “How to Write and Publish Short Personal Essays.” Sign up for the eight-series video course and watch at your leisure, or opt for the supported version which includes editing and consulting sessions with moi. My past students have been published in HuffPost, High Country News, Sierra, Brevity, The Writer, and numerous other publications. I’d love to help you tell your story to the world!

What I’m Publishing

·        On November 8th, please welcome my newest middle-grade novel! Daisy Woodworm Changes the World just landed on Powell’s Best Books of 2022 list. I’d be so grateful if you’d purchase a copy for your favorite reader ages 8-14, or for your favorite teacher or librarian.  

·        This is the long travel/sustainability piece I’ve been working on for the past six months! Immersive tour groups are helping Oregon heal from natural disaster—and trying to prevent the next one – The Sunday Long Read

·        Here’s a piece in which my terrier falls into the Siltcoos River and lives to tell the tail. Souvenirs of Travel: Simple Ways to Enrich a Journey and Create Lasting Memories - AAA Oregon/Idaho

·        Representation matters. Buy these books. These 9 Children's Books Feature Characters with Down Syndrome (theabilitytoolbox.com)

·        Just in time for holiday shopping! 6 Small Business Owners with Down Syndrome You Can Support (theabilitytoolbox.com)

Where I’m Teaching & Reading

November 8th: “Write Personal Essays to Build Your Audience and Earn a Paycheck”—Online and In-Person, with Willamette Writers Eugene Chapter

November 20th: “The Nature of Gratitude” with writers Eric Alan and Tom Titus, poet Jorah LaFleur, and musicians Halie Loren, Daniel Gallo, and Beth Wood.

A Few Cool Writing Resources

·        Love popular history? You’ll want to subscribe to writer Jack El-Hai’s free monthly newsletter, Damn History. It’s absolutely fascinating.

·        It’s National Novel Writing Month! I wrote about this fun and inspiring event in “Seven Ways to Build a Writing Habit” for The Writer Magazine. The organization behind NaNoWriMo is lovely; they offer so much support for novel writers, and it’s free!

·        This short essay “How to Get a Free Writing Retreat (or almost anything)” piqued my interest. I love that the writer mentions Trusted Housesitters, which I’ve used and loved.

Conferences, Workshops, and Calls for Submissions

·        Resonance Magazine is looking for pieces that explore the emotional relationship to music. Click the link for samples.

·        Remember to check NewPages.com weekly for new publishing opportunities; today, I see editorial calls for poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and writing by teens!

·        There are several excellent writers’ conferences coming up next year. Feeling too introverted to attend? You might want to read my article “An Introvert’s Guide to Writing Conferences.” I’ve trained myself to extrovert with the best of them. Heck, I brought juggling balls to the Willamette Writers Conference earlier this year, and my colleague Eric M. Witchey gave me pro juggling tips on the hotel patio!

Another pro-tip: remember always to email or call and ask about discounts for any conference you attend; often, students get a discount, and often, others can volunteer for a lower rate, as well.

·        I’ve taught several times at the San Francisco Writers’ Conference, and I’m always impressed with the quality of education and the camaraderie between staff, presenters, and attendees.

·        This one’s on the other side of the country, and it looks terrific! 2023 BLUE RIDGE WRITERS' CONFERENCE - Welcome (blueridgewritersconference.com)

·        And I wrote about this conference for The Writer Magazine. Let’s Just Write! An Uncommon Writers Conference 2023 (chicagowrites.org) Chicago! Make time to see some art and architecture and their incredible aquarium.

But remember, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, you can say NO to all of the above and retreat to take care of yourself. Really.

P.S. Here’s my gorgeous new book cover, illustrated by Italian artist Elena Bia.