Hello, writers! It’s been too long. I’m eager to resume a more regular writing schedule. After a summer of upheaval (finishing some novel revisions, moving house, family travel), I’m finally able to settle in to the honest work and the quiet discipline of the fall. I love the fall. I am, at heart, a squirrel: industrious, impatient, always anticipating the future, planning and working and scurrying around. I don’t do rest very well. I don’t feel fulfilled unless I’m working regularly. So here I am, at my newly set-up desk, full of words I want to write, podcast episodes I want to produce, stories I want to tell. I hope you’ll want to join me on these adventures.
Writerly Bites
I’ve been busy producing a host of new episodes for the podcast. There will be new thoughts on kickstarting your writing, new book recommendations and ideas, even some new interviews with authors I admire; so stay tuned for your weekly bite of inspiration.
My Writing
I’m happy to report that I have some short stories appearing in literary magazines that I’ve admired for years. My story “The Grown-Up Hour” can now be read at Swamp Pink, formerly Crazyhorse. And I have a story forthcoming at the wonderful Redivider. Stay tuned for that one when it becomes available. I’m deep in novel revisions, as well, and hoping to make progress on that. I’ll be sharing what thoughts I have on the revision process; it’s always slower than I want it to be, but it’s also the phase of writing I find the most creative, the most challenging, and the most satisfying. This is where the words actually start to resemble the dream you have in your head for the work.
Events
I was delighted to travel to Chicago two weeks ago for the incomparable Printer’s Row Lit Fest, one of my favorite literary festivals. I led a talk on novel revision with incredible writers: A.D. Nauman, Daria Lavelle, Ananda Lima, and Rowan Beaird. These brilliant writers discussed their books and shared frank and funny observations about the revision process.
If you’re in the Ontario area, I’ve got two events coming up: I’ll be reading as part of Phylum Press’s reading series at the Niagara Arts Centre on September 21, and I’ll be giving a talk on craft at the Terryberry Library in Hamilton. Hope to see you there!
Teaching
I’ve been teaching at Pioneer Valley’s 10-Month Manuscript Program, as well as teaching single classes on revision, endings, and scene-building. Find out more about upcoming classes I’m teaching at Grubstreet and Storystudio, and consider applying for next year’s year-long manuscript program at Pioneer Valley.
So all that is to say that I’ve been storing up my acorns, people. I’m digging little holes and burying food for the winter. I’m searching and climbing and seeking, even as I’m waiting for the next big steps in my writing to happen. And that, I think, is how we can all write like squirrels — keep making the magic happen even when you’re waiting for something else; keep burying your acorns, making your little deposits of notes and ideas and pages as you work, work, work away toward the future.