By Nicole Stump Let’s be clear: writing is hard. Regardless of good intentions, excellent ideas, and unbridled motivation, the regular routine of being in a space with an idea and communicating it to other people is difficult. This post exists to explore some habits, practices, and strategies that might create forward momentum in a writing... Continue Reading →
By Tiffany Lepa Recently, I did a thing. I created and printed a collaborative feminist zine called “Hey Girl, What Can You Do With That Mouth?” Throughout this process, I learned a lot about DIY self-publishing and the art of zine-making, so I thought I'd share some nuggets of knowledge. After joining a feminist writing... Continue Reading →
It is a truth universally acknowledged that nobody who has wiped your bottom much believes in your writing. Sure, moms will cheer for this writing thing as they did your various finger paint masterpieces. But relatives’ gentle, distant that’s nice will not sell books. No, you need fans. And to find fans, you must have a... Continue Reading →
-Sumedha So, technically this was a speech that I performed in a Toastmasters contest. But blog, speech, really, they are all ways to communicate so I thought this might make an interesting read! So here you go... When we are kids we don’t care about what the world thinks. We don’t know social norms or... Continue Reading →
A few weeks ago, during a lull in Austin’s unusually rainy autumn, my husband and I and our two dogs went out for a walk at one of our favorite parks. It is rugged and off-center enough to have remained somewhat confidential in dog/park crazy Austin. A three pronged path runs through it, which means... Continue Reading →
by Marissa Macy It's hard to write about improv theatre without sounding like a warm and fuzzy camp counselor, or a fiendish cult leader. And trust me, improv has turned me into both of those things. I do, as a matter of habit, stand in circles and recite things that sound like satanic rituals with... Continue Reading →
Following the “Me Too” movement, I’ve told my partner and my closest straight male friends that I just assume every man in my life has done something terrible to women - guilty until proven innocent - and I feel no remorse for this. I don’t have to look far to find reasons that support my... Continue Reading →
I accepted representation from a literary agent for my novel (hi, Erik!), and announce this on Facebook to a tepid reception. No one is a prophet in her own country. But I do receive an invitation from an old friend for dinner. She read some of my early autobiographical stories, the ones where I still... Continue Reading →
I don’t want to presume, but I suspect that every avid reader has one day asked themselves: what do I get from this? Am I just reading compulsively? Like any activity that requires a large time investment we want to know that it is repaid somehow. Books should make us wiser, better stewards of our... Continue Reading →
by Marissa Macy Finishing feels so good. No, not like that. Okay, like that too. But here, I’m talking about finishing a writing project. Writing, particularly in the novel format, is a long, thankless slog. And finishing something is a rare occurrence. Even if you’re prolific, you may experience the satisfaction of completing a... Continue Reading →
