Welcome Paula Kupchak Hall and her runner up in the Q3 Creative Nonfiction contest, "How Does the Heart Function?". Paula's essay reaches back in time but makes it feel as if it happened just yesterday.
Paula writes upmarket women’s fiction and creative nonfiction. Her work often
features protagonists who find humor and heartbreak in life's obstacles. She
has honed her craft through her local writing community and the University of
Calgary's Creative Writing Program, and is an active member of two writing
critique groups. Her work appeared in the July 2023 issue of Hippocampus
Magazine. Paula is currently seeking representation for
her debut novel, THE SUNSHINE DIET. She is a Communications and Public
Engagement Specialist, and resides in Alberta’s foothills with her husband and
four children, a schnoodle named Nessa and Gary the gecko.
Follow Paula on Instagram:
@Paulaj_hall
WOW: Congratulations on your runner-up place for "How does the heart function?". What made you decide to write about this powerful moment from your childhood?
Paula: Thank you! I wrote this piece shortly after my father passed away, while I was
processing our complicated relationship. As I worked through the memories, I
began to understand how this moment had followed me into adulthood and shaped
me as a parent, highlighting how important it is to show up for your kids.
Writing the piece gave me a way to make sense of the past and carry something
meaningful forward.
WOW: In your essay you wrote about an event that happened over four decades ago
yet it is so rich in details. How do you summon up all those tiny details from
years ago?
Paula: While it’s a short piece that takes place over a very short period of time, for
little me, that night was long. Waiting, watching the clock, hoping he would
show up, and seeing other parents celebrate their children’s work and
accomplishments - it all seemed to happen in slow motion. More broadly, though,
I think that as we age, the past can become clearer. Moments we haven’t thought
about, or perhaps haven’t allowed ourselves to think about, can suddenly come
back into focus. Memories that have been dormant for years can resurface with a
new understanding and meaning.
WOW:As an active member of your local writing community, what do you feel is the
most valuable thing writers can get from gathering with other writers?
Paula: Writing, along with navigating submissions, finding an agent, and figuring out the publishing world, can be isolating. The people around you may be supportive, but they don’t always understand what you’re going through. This is where the real value of connecting with other writers lies. It's reassuring about being able to talk to people who understand the frustrations, the waiting, the rejection (so much rejection!), as well as the highs and small victories, because they’re living it, too. It reminds you that you’re not doing this alone.
WOW: It does help to surround yourself with people who understand the writing life. Tell us a little about your writing journey.
Paula: As cliché as it sounds, I’ve been writing short stories for as long as I can
remember - and thankfully, only one story from childhood survives. I chose a
career that involved a lot of writing, and that constant practice kept my
writing skills sharp. About a decade ago, I took some creative writing courses
and quickly discovered I had a lot to learn about this kind of writing. I
started with short stories and eventually began working on the novel I
completed this year. When people talk about “flow,” they’re describing exactly
what happens when I write. I can spend hours at my keyboard, feeling both
relaxed and invigorated. I hope I never lose that feeling- or the excitement I
get from learning something new about my craft. I want to keep growing, keep
improving, and, most of all, keep writing.
WOW: We all know that feeling! Can you tell us about your latest project?
Paula: This year, I completed my debut novel, THE SUNSHINE DIET, women’s book-club
fiction about a marketing professional who is reassigned to a project in
Ireland while facing personal and professional disaster after she alters her
wedding date instead of her dress. I’ve spent the past several months in the
editing process, and have learned a ton. In April, I began a mentorship with
Sam Hiyate of The Rights Factory, where we worked through structure, pacing,
and stakes. After that, the manuscript went to three beta readers, whose
feedback gave me even more to consider. I never would have thought the editing
process would make me a better writer, but here we are. I’m now in the trenches
querying agents while working on my second book, THE YELLOW DOOR, set in the same
world. I also continue to regularly write short creative nonfiction - it
feeds my writer’s soul.
WOW: We'd love to see more of your creative nonfiction here at WOW - and don't forget to keep us updated on your querying process.
0 comments:
Post a Comment