Traci looks back on the last year and notices what has bloomed: “As great as the last year has been, as much as I’ve enjoyed traveling and giving readings, no award will ever feel as good as writing feels when it’s going well.”
Are You A Girl Or A Woman?
Jyl talks about the power of precise and strong language: “It began with the simple question to my students, Are you a girl or a woman? The overwhelming answer was “girl.” I am talking about age eighteen-and-older young women. I simply didn’t understand.(…) But my students (male and female) don’t like the word “woman”; in fact, they loathe it. Which means to me they loathe part of themselves, however unconscious the loathing may be. What’s wrong with the word “woman?” I asked.”
Finding Balance—Or Not
Terri thinks about the balance the woman writer must strike: “Whenever the need arises, because I’m a mom first, before anything else, my work takes a backseat. Deadlines get pushed back, the article or story goes unedited, the book sits in a file, waiting, neglected. And I feel guilty for letting it go. If I do focus on work, I feel guilty for not devoting more time to my family…Every female writer I know says the same thing. We love our families—we want to give of ourselves—but why does it have to be either/or?”
Okwui Okpokwasili: On Solo Performance
Lauren discusses the nature of solo performance art and what she seeks when she goes out to experience it: “…there seems to be some sort of ubiquitous notion that art is a synonym for entertainment, which it certainly can be, but in many cases, is not. And in the case of solo performances, many people write such performances off because there aren’t enough bodies onstage to keep them ‘engaged’ or ‘connected.’ When I attend a performance, however, I’m not necessarily looking to be entertained or to experience some sort of spectacle. I’m looking to be stimulated.”
Notes from the Road: Bethesda and Washington D.C.
Traci hits the road again—this time Bethesda and Washington D.C.—to read from her new book of poems, our lady of the ruins. Cherry trees in bloom, good food and company—and poetry!
Weekly Writing Prompt
This week, we’re returning to a local vintage store in search of a specific type of muse. Join us for this week’s writing prompt and tell us about the inspiration you find.
Finger in the Socket: Musings on Reading, Writing, and the Speed of Light Squared
Naomi thinks about the parallels between reading and writing connections: “I think it has to do with the word ‘drive…It is a strong action verb. For a book to succeed with me, I have to experience that action, and it must come from a sense of need, of hunger, both in the writing and in the story. I have to know that the characters want something very badly and that want will propel the story forward…When I am ‘in the zone’ with writing, I feel that same sense of urgency, that flow of energy that carries necessary words from brain to page. I wish I could bottle it. I wish, like a good chemist, I could isolate compounds, mix and remix, heat, pour, and cap.”
Everything’s Coming Up Crocus
Traci celebrates the first stirrings of spring on the Vernal Equinox with the upcoming release of her new book of poems, Our Lady of the Ruins: “The weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer, and the crocuses are springing up behind the back porch. Most importantly, the windows are open and the post office keeps delivering presents. Today they delivered an advanced copy of my new book!”
Writing Rituals
Jyl talks about the importance of ritual solitude to the writing life: “I have worked very hard not to fear being alone. Because, if I can’t be alone with myself I cannot write. I can’t be afraid of all the feelings that pour into me when I sit with myself. Having rituals helps: Always writing with the same extra fine black pen. Writing at the same time of the day, at least five days a week. Loving myself enough to trust my own creative spirit.”
Book Marketing and “The Rule of Seven”
Terri shares invaluable advice about indie book marketing: “Writers often ask how I market my novel. Questions about the effectiveness of specific promotions are difficult to answer…. What I have found is that a multi-pronged approach works.”
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