Finding Humor Within Myself

I could write many humorous pieces about these two.

 

Last Friday I had the joy of helping WOW! instructor Ashley Harris with her webinar on writing situational humor. I knew it would be best if I had a notebook handy while she was teaching, and I was right. Though I don’t normally consider myself skilled at writing humor, after penning some essays that delved into painful family dynamics and true crime recently, I was ready to switch things up. 

You won’t be surprised to learn I came away with three solid ideas thanks to Ashley’s prompts. In one prompt, she shared an image of a national women’s magazine cover and students were tasked to write ten sentences inspired by one of the article titles. I zeroed in on “Quick and Easy Dinners.” I began scribbling immediately. When both kids were living at home, making dinner every night was anything quick and easy for a variety of reasons. The other three members of my family have an allium intolerance, meaning onions, scallions and garlic cause them abdominal discomfort and bloating, among other symptoms. My daughter always had sensory issues with certain foods. And I feel like I’ve been off and on Weight Watchers for the past 10 years. The beginning of this humor piece practically wrote itself. Quick and easy, my foot! 

Another prompt had me scribbling down instructions on how to pet sit my two dogs. By exaggerating a few of the details, the list that currently resides on my computer could easily turn into a humor piece. One of my rescue dogs has heart valve damage because her previous owner didn’t give her preventative heartworm medication. As a result, she takes Viagra every eight hours. Yes, you read that right. How is that not going to make a pet sitter chuckle? 

Another prompt involved taking a serious event that happened to us recently and making it funny. I’ve recently been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and the first day I was taking the prescribed dose of medication I became loopy and out of sorts. I probably shouldn’t have been driving. Then I had to move my husband’s SUV in the driveway while two A/C repairman stood in the yard (because of course our air conditioning had broken down). 

Here’s what I was able to draft about that experience: 

The two young A/C repairman stood in front of our house trying to ignore the sight of a flustered, middle-aged woman trying desperately to repark a Jeep Grand Cherokee in her short, slightly uphill, concrete driveway. Through the open windows (it was, after all, a scorching hot afternoon in the south), they heard the vehicle beeping at me because I had decided not to buckle myself in. I also refused to move the seat, and my husband is eight inches taller than me. I put the car in reverse, or so I thought, because it was really in neutral. It vrooomed loudly in response. Bless their hearts. They probably thought I had already started drinking for the day. 

You get the picture. I have so many other life events that I could turn into humor pieces. Like the time I was walking around the grocery store with my blouse inside out before a kind woman clued me in. Or the day the back windshield broke on our SUV when we were driving home from the beach. We rigged the open space with beach chairs, bungee cords, and beach towels, and of course it rained the entire five hours back. This is why I can’t recommend the instructors here at WOW! enough. Not only that, but we cracked one another up while sharing these story ideas. Sometimes it’s good to be able to laugh at ourselves in this crazy journey of life. It’s good for the soul. 

Have you written any humor pieces lately? I’d love to hear about them! 

Renee Roberson is an award-winning writer who also produces the true crime podcast, Missing in the Carolinas. She’s teaching a class on how to write Short, Twisty Suspense on Oct. 2 if you’d like to check it out.

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2 comments Ashley Harris, Renee Roberson, WOW! classes, writing inspiration, writing situational humor

A Museum Honoring American Writers

 

This past weekend my family traveled to Chicago for a few days and attempted to squeeze in as many things as we could during the visit. Of course, once my phone figured out where we were, a place called the American Writers Museum began popping up in my social media algorithm. 

My daughter and I left the guys to their own devices on Sunday and took the walk down Michigan Avenue to the museum, tucked away on the second floor of a building a few blocks away from Cloud Gate in Millennium Park. 

At first, I thought we would be one of only a handful of patrons, but by the time we left two hours later a sizeable crowd had trickled in. We started in a thoughtfully-constructed and airy gallery devoted to children’s book authors. From there we explored an interactive timeline of works that spanned 400 years, designed to engage all five of the senses. 

Another permanent exhibit featured 100 authors and playwrights, ranging from the 1600s to the 1980s, including many underrepresented voices. Memories of history I learned as a child came back to me as I walked through the different sections: Colonial Visions & Revolution, The New Nation, Many Voices, Modernism, and New Voices. I liked that my 23-year-old daughter was also exposed to the many creatives and reporters that comprised The Cold War and 1960s Counterculture, as well as leaders in social activism. 

We explored a special gallery dedicated to the visionary voices of Chicago, such as Lorraine Hansberry, Gwendolyn Brooks, Carl Sandburg, and Roger Ebert. Another exhibit honored immigrant and refugee experiences, and visitors are invited to share their family’s stories and leave them behind for others to read. 

A temporary exhibit this year titled “American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture” explores the ways literature reflects and influences our understanding of religion. The “Tools of the Trade” exhibit was especially interesting, showing various tools writers throughout history have used in their creative process, including an Underwood typewriter favored by Ernest Hemingway and a braille writer utilized by Helen Keller. We even got to test out a few antique typewriters ourselves!

Part of the museum is devoted to helping writers jumpstart their own mental blocks around writing. Interactive exhibits offered up writing prompts, and we were allowed to type up a letter sharing our thoughts on the museum, permitting our words to become a permanent part of the exhibit.

I walked away from the museum inspired and less fearful of sharing my own words (I’ve been working on a new novel that has a lot of autobiographical elements in it, which has given me pause more than a few times). 

But as I read the words of such strong and intelligent writers like Octavia Spencer, Ralph Ellison, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and Flannery O’Connor, I realized I need not be so fearful. Our lives would be boring if every writer said the same thing and didn’t weave in their own experiences and opinions in for perspective. This was one time where I didn’t mind the social media influence that guided me to this enriching museum experience. 

 The American Writers Museum is located at 180 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. 

Renee Roberson is an award-winning writer who also produces the weekly true crime podcast, Missing in the Carolinas.

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1 comment American Writers, American Writers Museum, Chicago Museums, Renee Roberson, writing inspiration

Interview with Bianca Jones, 2nd Place Winner in the WOW! Fall 2025 Flash Fiction Contest

 

Bianca Jones is a library assistant, developmental editor, and fiction writer represented by Leah Pierre of Ladderbird Literary Agency. She writes sweet young adult romance and dark, unsettling horror…and she would love to combine the two one day. You can find her on X (formerly Twitter) at BJOwrites. 

----------Interview by Renee Roberson 

WOW: Hello, Bianca, and welcome! I loved your winning story,  “A Forgiveness of Crows," which discusses a family curse and the ability to break the cycle of generational trauma. How did you first get the idea for this piece? 

Bianca: I’ve always admired crows for their gentleness, mischievous nature, and their extreme intelligence. Recently, I watched a blip of a video, maybe 45 seconds long, about crows’ ability to form relationships. Crows are familial creatures that have long memories and can hold grudges for up to 17 years! If you hurt one, you can end up catching a thwack on the head from its grandchild years later—they mean business. As an African-American in the South, connecting crows to Jim Crow came as easily as saying the word “crow” out loud. So, I started there, and the “family history” unfolded all on its own. I’m interested in exploring this idea in an extended format, maybe as a novelette, in the future! There’s a small detail of my narrator being a woman—a break in the cycle of sons that become fathers who are killed by the crow curse—that could have several meanings. Was it actually her tiny son’s kindness that broke the curse? Did the curse require a “male sacrifice” of sorts, and that’s why she was spared? Or was it something else entirely? I’m quite eager to know myself. 

WOW: I did not know that about crows! I can definitely see this being extended into a longer story. Have you published any flash fiction or short stories prior to this one? Where do you find your ideas? 

Bianca: I actually haven’t published any flash fiction before! I’m a novelist, and I’ve never considered myself strong at writing short fiction; I’m far too long-winded for that. In fact, I wrote “A Forgiveness of Crows” as a 2,200-word short story before I re-read the contest rules and realized I was supposed to be writing flash fiction, so I had to cut down this story quite a bit! It was a lovely challenge, though, and it’s made me more confident in my ability to write short fiction. My ideas come from odd tidbits and things I learn, or from inspiration in books that I read; working at a library gives me a lot of inspiration to work with all day long. 

WOW: You are represented by Ladderbird Literary Agency. Could you tell us more about your path to finding an agent and what books you have in the works? 

Bianca: I’m so proud to be represented by Ladderbird. I’ve been writing young adult contemporary fiction novels since college. Around big life events like marriage and children, I queried on-and-off for nearly twelve years before writing a story that centers around the lives and mental health struggles of Black and brown people; in particular, it’s a love story between two high school seniors, one Hispanic and one Black. I decided to, for the first time, query Black and brown literary agents. I found Ladderbird, read its bold, front-and-center mission statement on their website that says, “We have a passion for bringing marginalized voices to the forefront,” and I felt like I and my work would be supported and seen in a way that we hadn’t before. I reached out to Leah Pierre, and she loved my story as much as I do. It was very “right moment, right time,” but built upon years of writing, scrapping, writing again, and quite a few dozen rejection letters. Currently, we’re querying my YA mental health romance and a YA rom-com, and I’m also editing a YA paranormal novel with a touch of romance and a whole lot of spooky. We’re crossing all of our fingers that an editor will bite! 

WOW: Kudos to you for sticking with it! I know writing and querying for so many years is not for the faint of heart. It sounds like you found the perfect champion for your stories and I can't wait to see how your journey progresses. I noticed you work in a library (and I work part-time at an independent bookstore!) so I’m curious what genres you are seeing grow in popularity with your patrons. 

Bianca: I’ve worked in public libraries for 13 years, and I’ve seen so many genre trends come and go. Having one foot in the publishing world helps me see the trends before they even hit the library sometimes! Currently, the focus is less on genre and more on author and author read-alikes; aside from romantasy, which is still a major player in our circulation numbers, authors like Freida McFadden, Colleen Hoover, Kristin Hannah, and Taylor Jenkins-Reid always fly off the shelves. Any author who writes a lot of edgy intrigue is going to be a must-borrow. A touch of historical fiction usually makes a book even more coveted. And with books older and newer being turned into films left and right, I see renewed interest in stories that were popular ten or twenty years ago. Sometimes I get to see a classic, such as Wuthering Heights, start circulating more, and that’s really exciting! 

WOW: And don't you love recommending books to people looking for their next great read? I concur with all you said above. What is the last book you read and what was it about? 

Bianca: I read a cozy little book called Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa. Takako, the 25-year-old main character, is broken up with in a painful and embarrassing way, and she gets locked in a mundane cycle of depression in her city apartment. She moves to the outskirts of Tokyo, into the tiny apartment above a bookshop owned by her eccentric uncle. Previously a non-reader, she becomes engrossed in the second-hand books as she organizes them and begins selling them alongside her uncle. Over the course of the few months she spends living above the Morisaki Bookshop, she learns about herself, love, and gains a new perspective on the importance of consistent, healthy relationships. Lately, I’ve been reading sweet, human-centered stories from Japanese and Korean authors, both as a way to gain insight into another culture and to read something different from my usual rotation of spooky, spicy, and non-fiction.

WOW: Those stories are very popular, and now I have to put Days at the Morisaki Bookshop on my list! I have also been wanting to check out Jesse Q. Sutanto, who's been writing in a variety of genres. Bianca, thank you again for being here today and please keep us posted on your publication news!

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Leave a Comment Bianca Jones, Contestant interview, Renee Roberson, WOW! Fall 2025 Flash Fiction Contest, writing advice, writing inspiration

Sometimes You Just Need to Start

 

I get a little too caught up in figuring out my processes sometimes. For example, with my podcast booking service, I got overly obsessed with finding the right task app, time tracking app, to-do list app, project management app, you name it. Anything to make me feel more organized, that less was on my plate, and I wasn't so stressed. 

It didn't work.

And what I've come to realize is that all of this hunting for the one app that will make my life easier is just wasting time. 

Truth is, what ended up working out is a simple Google sheet where each tab represented a client, and I would fill it with the podcaster I pitched. I also included a Google Doc of what I'm pitching at the top. That simple. That easy. Oh, and occasionally, I'd add notes. 

I didn't need a fancy app. I didn't need bells and whistles. 

And the same problem can happen with my own writing. 

On a cloudy, colder-than-usual August morning, I opened up my laptop, took a sip of coffee, and hunted for a story on my Google Drive.

I knew it was somewhere. I had worked on it...oh, I'm sure not that long ago (or so I thought).

Ah, there it is, I told myself when I found it. 

Sadly, the last time I worked on --- peaking at my document changes -- was this May.

Let me tell you, this summer has been a doozy. It's not just the heat. It's not even one thing in particular. 

All the while, my creative writing turned into a guilt-inducing project I'm ignoring.

Surely, there's just something wrong with my processes. 

I thought of downloading a writing app. Tried a mind map one. Briefly considered a fancier writing software. 

Deep down, though, I knew my little old short story didn't need those things. It just needed my attention.

So, I got started with one more final round of edits. And by around noon, a polished, ready-to-submit version of my short story was done.

I learned that sometimes you just need to start. Guilt from neglect can lead us to look away from our stories in shame. 

Don't let that happen. Just get started. Write despite any begrudging thoughts that scream, "Why bother?" 

Why?

Because your efforts add up. Before you know it, you'll have a completed...something. A poem. A novel. A short story. An essay. A stream of thoughts.

No matter what you do, keep going back to your writing. You never know when you'll catch a wave of creativity. Ride with it when you do. Sure, the dry spells happen. 

Just don't give up.

Nicole Pyles is a writer living in Portland, Oregon. Her writing has appeared in Sky Island Journal, Arlington Literary Journal, The Voices Project, The Ocotillo Review, and Gold Man Review. A poem of hers was also featured in the anthology DEAR LEADERS TALES. Her short story, “The Mannequin of Lot 18,” was nominated for Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy for 2024. Since she’s not active on social media very much, stay in touch by following her writing blog at World of My Imagination.

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1 comment Getting Started, Nicole Pyles, writing inspiration

Surviving the Holiday Marathon

Welcome to the December 30th blog post. I have a sneaky feeling that this should be either about ruminating over the writing accomplishments of 2024 or making writing resolutions for 2025. The problem is, I've read many writing on those exact subjects in the past month and chances are you have also. So let's try something different.

How are you surviving the holiday marathon? Mine started on Thanksgiving and hasn't let up yet. I still have New Year's Eve, New Year's Day dinner, a Waffle Breakfast the first Saturday of 2025 and a visit to Longwood Gardens Christmas display. Don't get me wrong. I love the holidays. Family, friends, fun. And food. Lots of food. But at some point the to-do lists, schedules and seeming never ending events make me want to run away. I've come to believe that my favorite part of the holidays is mid-November. I can enjoy the fun of thinking about the holidays without the pressure of actually making the holidays happen.

What we need are a few holidays with zero expectations. Celebrate it. Don't celebrate it. And no rules about what you "must" do. That's a holiday I could enjoy from start to finish.

If you want to add a holiday to your calendar that is pure fun, I'd like to suggest a few writing-related holidays this year. Maybe they will inspire you to write something poetic or funny or romantic or deadly. Maybe you'll celebrate them by posting a meme, buying a book or just eating a delicious cupcake. They could encourage you to turn down a new writing path. There are no rules or requirements for these holidays!

January 2 - Science Fiction Day

February 1 - Robinson Crusoe Day

February 26 - Tell a Fairy Tale Day

March 8 - Proofreading Day

April 17 - Haiku Poetry Day

May 16 - Biographers' Day

May 22 - Sherlock Holmes Day

June 19 - National Name Your Poison Day

July 7 - Tell The Truth Day

August 9 - Book Lovers Day

August 16 - National Tell a Joke Day

September 10 - Swap Ideas Day

September 26 - Love Notes Day

October 9 - Curious Events Day

November 1 - Authors Day

December 7 - Letter Writing Day

If you could create your own holiday, what and when would it be?

Jodi M. Webb writes from her home in the Pennsylvania mountains about everything from DIY projects to tea to butterflies. She's also a blog tour manager for WOW-Women on Writing and a writing tutor at her local university. Her ideal holiday would be Writing Under a Tree Day. Get to know her @jodiwebbwrites,  Facebook and blogging at Words by Webb. 

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Leave a Comment holidays, Jodi M. Webb, writing inspiration, writing prompts

Interview with Julie Lockhart, Third Place Winner in the WOW! Q4 2024 Creative Nonfiction Contest

 

Julie Lockhart loves an adventure in wild places. During the last years of her career, she led a grief support nonprofit, where she discovered the beauty and depth of personal stories, writing about her experiences to help grieving people feel less alone. Her essays have been published in The Journal of Wild Culture, bioStories, Feels Blind Literary, Minerva Rising (Keeping Room), Bluebird Word, Sunlight Press, and Witcraft. Julie has placed several times in the top ten in Women on Writing Essay contests. She is a Pushcart nominee. Born in the Chicago area, Julie has lived, worked and played in the Pacific Northwest since 1982. She lives in Port Townsend, WA. Find her at: julietales.com. 

 ----------Interview by Renee Roberson 

WOW: In “Sonata,” you weave your extensive knowledge and experience of playing music with the highs and lows of marriage, divorce, death, grief, and processing all of the above. What gave you the idea to set an essay against this particular backdrop? 

Julie: Thank you for interviewing me! For a couple of years now, I have been studying the various forms that can enhance a personal essay–hermit crab, braided, collage, etc. For example, I love Brenda Miller’s A Braided Heart, as well as many of her essays. My husband and I are both musicians, and when I described to him the hermit crab essay form, I realized that one possible way to organize an essay is through the musical scale. I thought of the idea before I had any content in mind. A year ago, I signed up for Chelsey Clammer’s grief writing course. Something in her readings and assignments triggered this idea of using Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata in C# Minor as the basis of an essay about my second marriage and the grief that seeped into my life through that relationship. Once I had the form, the essay kind of wrote itself. I was in the flow. Of course it’s been edited several times since, but I was able to get the essentials of what I wanted to say inside the musical scale. Chelsey loved it. One of the things I’ve come to realize in this writing journey is that it’s important for me to write what I know, and I know music. There may be another musically organized essay in my future! 

WOW: I know you’re a fan of Chelsey's writing workshops, and they’ve helped you produce numerous award-winning essays. Are there any other online writing classes or workshops you think would be helpful to writers exploring creative nonfiction? 

Julie: I am especially inspired by Chelsey’s readings and assignments in her classes. These four to six-week courses drop me into the creative zone. I also enjoy two-hour courses on a particular topic, such as Barbara Noe Kennedy’s travel writing course (although I have yet to complete a travel piece). A short course I would be interested in is how to write about difficult people in my life without subjecting myself to their reactions, assuming they get ahold of one of my essays. I use pseudonyms, yet I wonder if there are other recommendations by seasoned memoir-style authors. And are there legal ramifications for publishing an essay with details of abuse, etc.? I think a lot of writers would be interested in such a short course. 

WOW: That's a great idea for a course. I agree about taking Barbara's travel writing webinar and I also have yet to produce a travel piece so you're in good company there! Your essay, “Worthy,” has been nominated for a Pushcart prize. This is an emotional piece that details your experience with domestic abuse and violence. How difficult was it to capture those feelings and details in one essay? 

Julie: I worked on “Worthy” over a period of several years as I figured out how to write impactful narrative nonfiction. That meant lots of revisions, trying to “show” vs. “tell,” and also immersing myself in what it felt like to be me back in my 20’s. Scene was particularly important for getting back to those feelings. For example, the scene where my ex was so angry that he threw bags of chips out of the cabinet and stomped on them put me right back into what it felt like to be blamed for everything wrong in his life as I cleaned up the mess. When I submitted it to Feels Blind Literary, I paid for a critique. The editor asked me to expand the ending so that readers would be able to see how I escaped that marriage. Then I dove back into the messy months of separation and divorce. It was great advice and they loved the changes. A big challenge for me and perhaps all writers is what to include and what not to include in a personal essay. In “Worthy” I picked a few choice and significant scenes that illustrated what I went through and massaged the essay to help readers sink into my experience. 

WOW: In a previous interview with WOW!, you mentioned you enjoy reading the critiques from the contest. How have they been helpful for you and should other writers participating in the contests select a critique for their submission? 

Julie: When I submit essays to journals and magazines, rejections come without me ever knowing what the editors did or didn’t like about my work. We writers need to develop a thick skin for the inevitable rejections. I will usually wait a little while and then make revisions before sending a piece out again. But I’m in the dark about what works and doesn’t work. What I love about the WOW! critiques is how positive your readers are in their critiques. They generously point out things that work well. They also give suggestions where the writing could improve. I used those suggestions for revising an essay that didn’t place in the top ten, then got it published somewhere else. I think it’s worth the cost and highly recommend WOW! critiques if a writer can afford the extra cost. 

WOW: I agree--I think our critiquers do a fabulous job. You also created a blog with some of you and your husband’s favorite hikes. How often are you able to get out and explore and how do you think nature inspires your creative writing? 

Julie: Interesting that you ask that question. I just had a publication in Herstry that was inspired by the rain forest of the Olympic National Park. Wild places give me juice for living fully--with vivid scenes that I can recreate in my writing. And I have another recent essay that delves into hiking and aging. Living on the Olympic Peninsula means I enjoy quick access to places that bring me solace and allow me to escape into creative reflections. Several times a week, we get on the local trails that take us into lush Northwest forests and views of the Salish Sea. We also have a pop-up truck camper that gives us comfortable camping in places farther away. In 2020, my husband and I created that blog during the pandemic when we lived in Southern Oregon--with the Pacific Crest Trail within easy driving distance. Day hiking sections of the PCT became our way of moving through the stress and fear that came with both the pandemic and the discord in national politics. It kept us sane. Just as nature keeps me sane in this crazy election year.

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Leave a Comment Contestant interview, julie lockhart, Renee Roberson, WOW! Q4 2024 Creative Nonfiction Contest, writing inspiration

Dare to Take a Chance

Whether the heat or the holiday, I glanced at the calendar where I’d written “WOW! Blog post” and crumpled. 

Well, I didn’t literally fall to the ground in a crumpled heap of sweat. But I think my brain probably crumpled inside my head. Just collapsed into a pool of gray mush. Because not a single, solitary idea was left in the old mental file cabinet and time was a-wasting! 

Fortunately, that image of a file cabinet saved the day. I remembered that I had a file on my desk marked, “WOW! Post Ideas” and all I had to do was open the file to find… 

A whole lot of nothing. A lone sheet of paper waited, one with notes that had been struck through indicating I’d used that idea. UGH. But wait! There in the corner of the folder pocket, a scrap of newspaper. An old, torn, yet glorious scrap of an astrology column. Here is what it said: 

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). When you muster up the courage to take a chance, that’s something in and of itself. You needn’t couple your daring with the added pressure of demanding that you succeed. 

Isn’t that wonderful? You never know what amazingly accurate wisdom you’ll find in an astrology column! 

Now, I understand that life is about taking chances. Heck, sometimes, just getting out of bed in the morning is taking a chance. So this generalized horoscope was bound to hit the nail on the head with a vast majority of Libras (including me) as well as pretty much any newspaper reader. But the words resonated specifically for me that day—and why I’m sure I saved it—because I was deep into “Should I or shouldn’t I?” mode on switching the focus of my career.

But isn’t much of any writer’s life about mustering up the courage to take a chance? 

For example, when a writer spends money on a critique of a manuscript or when a writer sends out a query to the first agent. (Or the fiftieth agent.) How about when a writer pitches an article to an editor, or when a writer chooses to self-publish a book? Or even when a writer offers classes to other writers. I mean, basically, when a writer goes from thinking about to the act of doing, that takes courage of a special sort. 

But what I most love about that horoscope is the next line: 

You needn’t couple your daring with the added pressure of demanding that you succeed. 

Wow. Imagine how many writers—whether just beginning or considering something new and different—are out there right now, longing to try but stuck in a place of inertia because of fear of failure!

But here is what I wrote on the bottom of the scrap of newspaper: 

“Give yourself credit for starting. Starting is for the brave.” 

That was my takeaway point. So on this day after celebrating the land of the free and the home of the brave, dare to take a chance with whatever is calling your heart. Be brave!

~Cathy C. Hall

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2 comments Cathy C. Hall, fear of failure, horoscope, taking a chance, writing inspiration

Interview with Julie Lockhart, Q4 2022 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest Runner Up

Julie Lockhart spent most of her career in academics, publishing extensively in peer-reviewed journals, such as Critical Issues in Environmental Taxation, and Advances in Accounting Education. During the last years of her career, she led a grief support nonprofit, where she discovered the beauty and depth of personal stories, sharing her own experience as well as that of others to help grieving people feel less alone. Her essays have appeared in the Medford Mail Tribune, Ashland Daily Tidings, Women on Writing and the Journal of Wild Culture. Julie’s website is: www.julietales.

interview by Marcia Peterson

WOW: Congratulations on your top ten win in our Q3 2022 Creative Nonfiction essay competition! What inspired you to write your essay, “Lego Girl?”

Julie: Thank you for these questions! Lego Girl came out of a writing class with Chelsey Clammer. She had an assignment choice to write about a special toy from childhood while weaving in some research. I pretty quickly came up with Legos since they enhanced my creativity as a child and occupied me for hours. When I write about the challenges I’ve faced in my life, I also strive to show how I’ve moved through them so the reader may be inspired to grow through their own stuck places. Lego Girl evolved into such an essay.

WOW:  That's great, and we love to hear of your successful experience with  Chelsey's class. How did your essay develop, both in your initial thinking about it and in the revision process?

Julie: Sometimes I know my story line right away, but for this one I had to work it out as I went along. The assignment required taking a different look at how to tell my story. I started out with researching some of the basic facts about Legos as I told the story of building Lego mansions as a kid. The writing then reminded me that my messiness around Legos followed me into adult life, which brought me to the relationship with my first husband where my messiness triggered his anger. I started to see how Legos could become a metaphor for the mold my parents and other relationships tried to put me in. I know I’m not alone in the challenge of breaking molds to become who we are, especially for women. Next, I looked to the research to see what benefits Legos have for Attention Deficit Disorder, which I was happy to find. I hoped to take the reader through my own understanding that ADD was actually a good thing; the way my brain works, once I was able to understand it, has allowed me to have a very successful career. Intuitively, I chose to write the essay in third person. This is the first time I’ve done this, and I really like how it came out. As I edited the piece, I worked to weave appropriate metaphors of Legos into the essay, such as “hard plastic hurts,” and “…they broke the mold…” I also found the writing process to be cathartic – where I came from, and where I am now. I didn’t know how I would construct the essay until I did; the different aspects of the essay and the ending surprised me, which is fun!

WOW: Thank you for sharing your essay writing process. What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it?

Julie: I’m often in the middle of several books at the same time, part of my ADD nature. Priest Daddy, by Patricia Lockwood, is a wonderful memoir that I recommend. I am also reading a lot of literary magazines online to get a feel for where my essays might be accepted. I have a lot of unpublished pieces, and a “stack” of rejection letters (part of the process), although I’ve had some recent successes. This comes from studying these magazines and persistence in continuing to submit!

WOW: Are you working on any fun writing projects? What’s next for you?

Julie: It’s all fun, especially since I’m retired and looking back at my life from a place of peace and contentedness. I’ve been focusing on learning and experimenting with the different forms of writing personal essays, such as collage and braiding. I recently revised a personal story by braiding in another story from my childhood. I watched the piece magically transform from a good story to one with so much more depth. And then there’s my memoir. I want to get back to it as winter sets in, but I’ve been having so much fun writing short essays where my ADD brain loves that the finish line is in sight. I’m starting to look at classes on writing a memoir so that I get an outside push to finish it!

WOW: Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Julie. Before you go, can you share a favorite tip or piece of advice related to creative nonfiction writing?

Julie: The best thing I’ve done for myself is to loosen up my writing and experiment with different forms of constructing essays. My professional career started in academics (accounting) where I stuck with all the rigid writing rules I learned in school. Creative nonfiction writing has given me the opportunity to explore and break out of rigid molds. I encourage it for everyone!

****

For more information about our quarterly Flash Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Essay contests, visit our contest page here.

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Leave a Comment contest interview, contest runner up, Creative Nonfiction, julie lockhart, Marcia Peterson, personal essay writing, Q4 2022 Creative Nonfiction essay Contest, writing inspiration

Embrace the Ordinary

by Marcia Peterson

Who would want to hear about my boring life? How can I write something compelling when my personal history is nothing special? These are questions many of us ask ourselves—and they can stop us in our writing tracks.

But ordinary can be enough, even great. First, you’ve got more material from your so-called boring life than you think. Second, strong writing skills can make almost any story interesting. It’s time to believe in your stories and get your pen moving!

Who’s to say you’re uninteresting?

We tend to believe that most people already know or experience a lot of the same things that we do, and therefore what we have to offer is common. But even if there isn’t much unique about your life, then the issues that have relevance to you would also be meaningful to many others. In other words, people who are similar to you would probably enjoy reading something they can relate to. For example, as a writer, don’t you enjoy hearing about other writers’ experiences?

On the other hand, there are people who live very different lives from you, who’d enjoy a peek into your world. Even the seemingly mundane can be fascinating if it’s different from our own lives. A book like Water Cooler Diaries: Women Across America Share Their Day at Work, a collection of short diary entries from women across the country on one given day, shows how interesting the average woman’s daily life really is. We are curious about people who live a different version of ordinary.

You are the tour guide

If you still think your life stories are too dull, writing guru Anne Lamott offers more support. In an older interview for The Writer magazine, she stated that you don’t have to have a lot of drama or outward destruction in your life to have a lot to write about. “But you need to have been paying attention, you need to probably have felt things very deeply,” she said. “If people are funny and can just tell me stories about life or give me their version of things, and choose their words carefully, I’m in. I’m interested.”

Lamott has always been honest in her own work, sometimes painfully so, and readers love her essays. She advises writers to share the real truth, and reminds us that we all have something to tell others. “I don’t think there’s anything more interesting than one human telling the truth in the clearest, truest possible way. If somebody has a sense of humor, it’s so fantastic. Everybody has been through something that no one else has seen, and he or she alone can be the tour guide for that time, that place, that house, and that role in the family—I think it’s all just inherently interesting.”

Don’t bore the reader

Author Vivian Swift also provides inspiration for sharing our ordinary lives. Her illustrated memoir, When Wanderers Cease to Roam: A Traveler's Journal of Staying Put, has many fans. One of her readers wrote to Swift, noting what an interesting life Swift has led. Swift addressed this notion on her blog, stating: “And I want to answer this, once and for all: I have not. Had such an interesting life. No more than most.”

Swift then provided the secret for those of us with average lives: “However—and this is my whole raison d’etre as a writer/illustrator—I do know how to present ordinariness in a readable way. And that’s the only reason I get away with writing a whole book about myself, and why I give the impression of having had an interesting life.”

In reference to a certain part of the book, she continued, “So, the trick is, to write about that alley (and any other similarly ordinary part of one’s life) in a way that would make it interesting to other people, specifically readers. And that is the whole trick to writing a memoir: having an interesting life is not enough (and, in my case, not even necessary); it’s being able to write about it in a manner that doesn’t bore the socks off your reader.”

The bottom line? “If you give us a good enough story, we’ll let you get away with having an ordinary life,” she says.

***  

So, be confident in the value of your stories. Tell them well, and we’ll want to hear about your life. “I love it when people will tell me the truth and really take the lid off the soup pot and let me peer in,” Anne Lamott says. The ordinary can actually be extraordinary.

--This article originally appeared in WOW's Premium Green newsletter

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4 comments Marcia Peterson, ordinary life, value of your stories, writing inspiration

About Age, Attitude, and Working

Last weekend, I was sitting around a kitchen table, meeting with a few adults, enjoying a delightful brunch. We were joined by my friend’s eight-year-old daughter. Out of the blue, she asked, “Do you work?”

I paused for a minute, thinking—oh, lots of things about how I work, if I work, this industry I’m still engaged with in a love/hate relationship. But to keep it simple with my new friend, I said, “Yes, I do. I’m a writer.” 

“An author,” she said, her voice dropping in that way we do when awestruck. (A tone I reserve for astronauts or rock stars.) 

The conversation moved quickly to the next topic but I was stuck, pondering this little girl’s reaction to what I do. To an eight-year-old, being an author was amazing! Whereas to a woman of a certain age (ahem), being an author is kinda… 

Ordinary. And I’m a bit ashamed about that. Not that I think I should be skipping around shouting, “I’m an author! Woohoo!” all the livelong day but neither should I forget what it took to get to that achievement, and how hard so many excellent writers continue to work, hoping to accomplish publication. 

So, yes, I need to kick my jaded attitude to the curb and reclaim my enthusiasm. Darn right, I’m an author and that’s awesome! 

And in the same week, in a conversation with my contemporaries, something came up about laptops. Or was it streaming? The point is, it had something to do with technology and of course, we were grousing about all the new-fangled stuff out there and some were, admittedly, done with it all. They’d stick with what they knew, thank you very much. 

And sitting at my desk later, laptop open and glitching over some time-consuming upgrade, I wondered when I would be done. 

Um…to clarify, I mean how much longer would I make the effort to stay in the game. Because as we all know, time and technology wait for no one. It’s constantly changing, this business of writing, and there’s no going back to our halcyon days. 

Writing will always be writing, sure, so people (I hope!) will always be required to come up with the ideas and write the thoughts. But how we edit, how we market, how we query—just to name a few—have changed by leaps and bounds! Much of what I learned five years ago has long surpassed the “use by” date.

We often resist change, but with age, it seems like we resist even more; we decide it’s just not worth the bother. But now that I think more about it, I wonder if it’s not so much the years stacked against us but our attitude. Maybe that old nugget is true, that you’re as young (or old) as you feel. And when we start thinking old, we wave the white flag. 

Honestly, there are days when I want to snatch up the white flag, wrap myself in it, and just take a nap. But then an eight-year-old girl comes along and reminds me that authors are awesome, no matter how old they are. And that makes me smile when I go back to work, trying to figure out yet another "helpful innovation" by some young whippersnapper.

~Cathy C. Hall

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2 comments accepting change, attitude, Authors, Cathy C. Hall, writing inspiration

Chasing Those Bright, Shiny Objects

Photo by Harry Cooke from Pexels

When I sat down to write this post, I decided to look back on some of the writing goals I shared with my Butt Kickers Writing Accountability Group at the beginning of last year (don’t you love that name?) What I learned is that writing down goals does not help you when you’re one of those writers who tends to chase all the bright and shiny objects that come your way. 

One of the best things about working in the freelance space is that you have flexibility to chase those random opportunities. This can also be one of the worst things you can do, because it distracts your focus. I’m not sure which camp I fall in, though. When I look back at my accountability group, not a lot of us have met all our original goals, but we’ve all continued to write and have made amazing strides. One member, Sioux Roslawski, published her book and is now working on adapting a screenplay of it. Sue Bradford Edwards has published several non-fiction books as a writer for hire and is working on both a cozy mystery and middle-grade fiction book. Another writer, Ann Kelly, juggles a full-time day job in the tech space but has also become an accomplished poet, getting her work published in several different literary journals. Kelly Sgroi has written several women’s fiction books and even received a full manuscript from an agent (crossing my fingers for her!) Nicole Pyles has continued to write, revise, and submit a bank of short stories all while seeking full-time employment and manage blog tours for WOW. WOW’s Executive Editor Angela Mackintosh has continued the day-to-day operations of running this amazing company, wrote more than 50,000 words for National Novel Writing Month, has submitted creative non-fiction, and been published in several different literary journals, and much more. I know I’ve left some of their accomplishments off this list, but they are welcome to correct me in the comments section because I’m running out of space! 

For me personally, I had set a goal of monetizing my podcast, Missing in the Carolinas, grow my true crime YouTube Channel, wanted to submit a few essays to writing contests, and planned on revising a young adult novel I wrote several years ago during National Novel Writing Month. None of that really happened. I did continue to produce two episodes per month for the podcast while working my regional magazine editing gig, picked up a new ghostwriting client, and wrote 60,000 words of a thriller/suspense novel during National Novel Writing Month. I also entered one essay in a CNF category of a national writing category and am waiting to hear back on how that went. I have the tendency to look at this list of results/non-results and feel like I didn’t accomplish a lot, but if you look at the amount of content I wrote for The Muffin, my personal blog, the magazine I edit, the podcast, and the novel, it’s a heck of a lot of writing! I’m also in the process of seeking publication of another YA novel I wrote years ago, so there’s that. I was also featured on a local business podcast in my area and am in contact with another podcast I pitched myself to several months ago. 

I’m trying to learn how to embrace the beauty of the freelance life, and the freedom of choosing which projects I work on. I feel like you must go in one direction if the muse strikes you, even if it wasn’t on your “official list of goals.” 

Cheers to following the muse and I encourage you to follow all the bright and shiny objects in 2022!

Renee Roberson is an award-winning writer and editor who also hosts the true crime podcast, Missing in the Carolinas, which recently surpassed more than 40,000 downloads. Learn more about her work at FinishedPages.com.

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2 comments accountability groups, benefits of being a freelance writer, creative writing, Renee Roberson, writing inspiration

Interview with Kaylie Hatch, First Place Winner of Summer 2021 Flash Fiction Contest

Kaylie’s Bio: Writing has been Kaylie’s passion ever since first grade, when she realized she didn’t just have to tell a story; she could let her imagination run wild, and fall in love with her characters. She especially loves fantasy and science fiction—genres where she can really let her imagination play. She is currently working her way to making a career of writing. She writes short stories, flash fiction, poems, and novels, but this is her first time actually being published. She also loves reading aloud, be it her stories, or those written by others. She was born in Seattle, and still misses the Pacific Northwest, but now lives in Dallas. You can connect with her @i-prefer-the-term-antihero on tumblr, @antiherowriting on twitter, and/or @i_prefer_the_term_antihero on Instagram. She loves chatting with fellow writers, and receiving feedback on her work, as well as prompts!

interview by Marcia Peterson

WOW: Congratulations on winning first place in our Summer 2021 Flash Fiction competition! What prompted you to enter the contest?

Kaylie: Thank you so much!! It still doesn’t feel quite real to be honest. I can’t believe I won!!

I’ve been writing for a long time, and while I have always been serious about it, I’d never entered any official competitions before. One day I just decided I really wanted to enter a flash fiction contest and yours came up. Yours was certainly the most appealing. Even just reading the rules the competition felt very personable. I really loved your option to receive critiques too. it’s been a wonderful experience all around.

WOW:  Love to hear that! Can you tell us what encouraged the idea behind your story, “The Dressing Room?”

Kaylie: It actually originally began as an idea for a prompt of another writing group I’m in. They do weekly prompts, and one was “Staring into Their Eyes.” That was back in March of this year. I decided to submit a different story for that prompt specifically, but that idea of The Dressing Room was one I never quite forgot. I always wanted to make it into something because it felt like it could be a really powerful idea if done well. It seems that you guys agree and I couldn’t be happier!!

The one thing I know for sure it was inspired by was something in one of Terry Pratchett’s works. In Witches Abroad there’s a scene where Granny Weatherwax becomes trapped in a prison of mirrors. Death tells her that she will get out when she finds the one that’s real. She looks down at herself and says “this one.” I always found that idea extremely powerful, and had wanted to do something similar for a long time.

I’m sure it partially came from being someone who struggles with anxiety and self-image too, and knowing there were others around me who struggled with similar issues. But ultimately I think probably everyone has that one thing they want to be more of—more beautiful, more intelligent, more powerful, happier, etc.

I had this idea of a dressing room where you could “dress” as another version of yourself, rather than clothes. I liked this thought of someone being able to bring their desires to change themselves into fruition. The power of the dressing room is a horrible one, really. It’s the kind of thing that looks wonderful on the surface—you get to be the best version of yourself—but in practice…how much of you—the you who walked into that room—would you lose in picking another version of yourself? Which version of yourself is the one who walks into the room? What quality do you possess most abundantly? What if the version of yourself who walks into the room doesn’t possess one quality in particular, but rather already has all those qualities you want, and you don’t even realize it? What if you’d lose more than you gained by choosing a single version of yourself?

So this story is kind of my encouragement to anyone who looks in the mirror and sees something they want to change about themselves. That perhaps you are already the best version of yourself.

WOW:  That's a great message. What do you enjoy about flash fiction writing versus the other kinds of writing that you do?

Kaylie: It really was that other writing group I’m in that sparked a passion for flash fiction in me. (The group is called Tale Foundry, if anyone’s curious). I joined it in early December last year. Previously I would write in the opposite direction—my pieces would be very long, sometimes too long. But I liked this idea of writing a piece every week, and was willing to stretch my limits to get everything I wanted to say into the small word limit. I expected the word limit to be a burden, but after doing that for a year I’ve become rather fond of it. I really enjoy the challenge of it. I think it’s helped my other writing a lot too because it’s taught me how to edit much faster, and say what I want to say in a more concise manner—as well as simply help me figure out what I truly want to say in the first place.

WOW: Can you tell us what projects are you currently working on? What can we plan on seeing from you in the future?

Kaylie: I’m always working on a lot of things at once, but what you can probably expect next from me is I’d like to begin submitting short stories to magazines. I’m currently working on a science fiction story. I’ll probably also continue to submit flash fiction to competitions (probably even to more of yours) too!

WOW: Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Kaylie. Before you go, do you have a favorite writing tip or piece of advice you can share?

Kaylie: It has more to do with critique, but honestly the best piece of writing advice I ever got—and I regularly give this advice to other writers—is that other writers will often critique you based on how they would have written the piece.

When I was starting out, I thought I had to take every critique given me—that other people would obviously know better than me. But one day someone critiquing me paired her critique with that piece of advice and it kinda changed my life.

I realized that other people didn’t by default know better than me. They're people too, with their own styles and preferences. I was allowed to look at their critiques and go “would changing this benefit the piece as a whole?” and I was allowed to say “no.” Because that’s what matters: what benefits the piece.

Now that’s not to say you should blow off every critique you get, certainly not. Like I said, ask yourself if taking the critique would benefit the piece. Sometimes it will. But other times it’s just a stylistic choice and you’re free to take pride in the choice you made.

There is so much writing advice out there, but after around fifteen years of writing, I’ve found that almost every “rule” people make about writing isn’t truly a hard and fast rule that applies in every situation. (Like, people say you shouldn’t use adverbs and passive voice. There is absolutely a reason people say that, and you should pay good attention to when you’re using either, but you can certainly use both to great effect as well).

All that to say, as weird as it might sound, the best piece of writing advice I have is…sorta, don’t give others’ advice too much power over you. Know that it’s your writing. And your writing journey. I’ve found people tend to learn those writing rules I mentioned before with time, but only through learning how those rules work through their own writing.

So in a nutshell…be true to yourself, and be willing to go on your own journey with writing. Learn to enjoy your writing first and foremost.

Thank you for chatting with me!! As well as for all the support!! I’ve had such a wonderful time participating in this contest!!

****

For more information about our quarterly Flash Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Essay contests, visit our contest page here.

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Leave a Comment contest interview, first place winner, flash fiction, Kaylie Hatch, Marcia Peterson, Summer 2021 Flash Fiction Contest, writing inspiration, writing tips

What to Do with All the Unfinished Manuscripts?

On our Facebook page, I recently asked how many unfinished manuscripts our community had on their computers. We received many different responses from Naomi Blackburn writing, "I have 4 in various stages from concept to first edits. All will be finished," to Sophie Giroir putting the laughing while crying emoji and writing "easier to count the folders."  

It's much easier for me to ask that question than to answer it myself. My word of the year for 2021 is FINISH, and so far, it hasn't been going so well...but that's all about to change--I'll save that for a different post.

What I wanted to talk about today was reasons why unfinished manuscripts exist in a writer's world and what you could do (or not) about them.

1. Some unfinished manuscripts are not meant to be finished. Some of my early picture book drafts or half-finished novels are just not meant to be completed. I don't think any of these are a waste of time, and maybe some day one or two of them will turn into something more--now that I know more about writing and marketing and my audience than I did when I started. But you can probably point to at least one manuscript that's in draft form on your computer or in a notebook in your desk drawer, and it doesn't need to be finished. It was written for a certain reason at that time, and it's served its purpose. 

Tell yourself that's okay! It's all part of the learning process, and that's true.

2. Find a writing partner or critique group. Sometimes, what you need is a writing partner or critique group to help you finish the manuscript. Basically, a writing partner or critique group can keep you accountable and keep you writing. Some members of my critique group meet online a few days a week and write together. I know some people are in a group that is strictly accountability--so there's no critiques--just encouraging each other to stick to your goals.  

3. Find a writing class or coach. One of our Facebook followers said she hired a coach to help her finish some manuscripts. That's definitely something a coach can do. They can help you figure out what is blocking you from finishing and set goals to complete what you want. A writing class with regular assignments can also help. The class I teach for WOW! about writing a novel with a writing coach is designed so that writers are turning in a section of their novels for critique every week. Many writers like the design of the class because it makes them work on their novels on a regular schedule every week.

4. Get a routine. No matter if you have a class or an accountability partner or a writing coach, the biggest thing about finishing manuscripts is having a routine where you write on a consistent basis. Your routine does not have to look like anyone else's! But if you have a routine, this will help you finish manuscripts that you want to finish. 

So what about you? Do you have unfinished manuscripts on your computer? Do you plan to finish them? And how will do you this?

Margo L. Dill is a writing coach, teacher, and author living in St. Louis, MO. Sign up for her Writing a Novel with a Writing Coach class which starts on September 3. Find out more details here. Read about Margo here. 

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4 comments Finish Manuscripts, goals, Margo L. Dill, writing inspiration

One Step Can Get You Unstuck

Sometimes, we can all feel a little stuck. Being stuck can look like writer's block. It can look like a lot of unfinished projects. It can also look like never putting our butts in the chair. What do we do when we’re stuck? 

I’m not going to define exactly what I mean by stuck. We all have different versions of what this means. But if you're reading this right now and nodding along with me, then think of the way that you are currently stuck. And let’s try to do something about that. 

Lately I’ve been feeling very stuck in a few areas of my life. I decided life is too short to live this way. It’s too short to not make progress on a book. It’s too short to do a job that I don’t enjoy. It’s too short to continue with commitments that are not fulfilling. When I had this moment of clarity, I decided to do something about feeling stuck. It was just one small movement toward a better future. But as soon as I did it, I felt better. 

This summer, I’ve been working with three writers who are all writing for middle grade or young adult readers. Each one of them was feeling stuck this past week. I’m not sure if it had to do with the moon, the dog days of summer, or just a writing funk. But all three were stuck. 

Then on our biweekly Zoom call, each one of them reported they were unstuck and had made progress. So what happened? 

One of the writers couldn’t figure out how to write "the next scene" in her novel. She had worked on the chapter far longer than she wanted to. After talking to another writer, she decided she would try moving the timeline PAST this scene. She labeled the next chapter "3 weeks later," became unstuck, and solved her problem. 

The next writer was stuck on one scene also. She couldn’t figure out how to transition between an event she had happening in her novel and a more important event that needed to happen in a few scenes. She wasn’t writing. So instead of making excuses for not working on her manuscript, she decided to write a scene that was not in chronological order. As soon as she did this, it freed up her mind. She realized how to transition characters from point A to point B--she made forward progress. 

The last writer had a bit of a plothole. She wanted a surprise to happen in her science fiction teen novel. But the surprise really wasn’t making a lot of sense for that story world. When critiquing her work, I pointed this out, and she felt a little stuck. Then she realized why--she wasn't writing as the character--she was almost writing as herself. The main character was acting out of character, and it created a plothole and a stuck writer. As soon as she realized this and fixed it, she was back in business. 

If you’re feeling stuck, the number one thing that will not work is to do absolutely nothing. But if you can muster up the energy to do one thing differently whether it’s in writing or your job or relationships or commitments. Most likely, that one small thing will propel you into forward motion! The horrible feeling of being stuck will be gone. 

Pigs like to be stuck in the mud on a hot summer day. But that's not us! We aren't meant to be stuck. Take one step in a different direction and see what happens. 

Margo L. Dill is a writing teacher, coach, publisher, author, and editor living in St. Louis, MO. Find out more about her at https://www.margoldill.com or https://www.editor-911.com. Check out her classes in the WOW! classroom. The next one starts the first Friday in September.

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7 comments Margo L. Dill, writing coach, writing inspiration, writing motivation

Good News/ Bad News

Have you ever been faced by the good news/bad news question? Like when your first-born kid walks in the door and says, “I’ve got good news and bad news. Which do you want first?” 

I always say give me the bad news first (“I flunked the Algebra test”). I like to have something positive to end the discussion/encounter on a high note ("But almost the whole class flunked it"). Granted, that’s not exactly good news anywhere except in a high school classroom, but the point is, there’s hope, right? Maybe the teacher will do a re-test. Or maybe she’ll allow half credit if the wrong questions are turned in with correct answers. Or maybe the students can drop their lowest grade. See what I mean? Options for a better outcome! 

I wasn’t always able to see the good news in a bad news writing scenario. But in time, I found a Pollyanna strategy that helped me cope in a career that has an alarmingly high rate of bad news. It’s a numbers game, after all, whether you’re ultra-successful or just starting out. Here’s an example (or three) to show you what I mean: 

A form rejection from an agent: Yep, that’s bad news. But the good news is there are plenty of agents, and perhaps with a bit more research and specific targeting, you’ll get a nibble next time. And what if you go through every single agent and still no bites? No doubt, that’s really bad news. But it’s also very possible that new agents have come along since you started your quest. Workshop your query and then try the new batch of agents. Or self-publish!

A “No, thanks!” from an article pitch where you’ve already done all the work: Oh, yeah, that’s bad news. All that work and nothing to show for it. But the good news is you’ve already done all the work! Take a look around and see if you can pitch the same article to another similar market. OR give the article a different slant and pitch to an entirely different kind of market. OR pull the article apart and pitch sections to several other markets. You may end up better off than you would’ve been with an acceptance from the first rejection! 

A book comes out and it’s identical in concept/subject to your working manuscript: Ugh, that’s bad news. It’s kinda the worst news because you know that you have a great publishable concept. Who’s going to want it now? BUT there is good news here because you have a great publishable concept! 

So first, the chances of your manuscript being absolutely identical are slim; keep going. Moreover, chances are also good that in the time it takes for your book to be finished and sold could be three or more years! Um…yeah, that’s not hugely good news but it’s a start. Besides, maybe you’ll give your manuscript a new twist on the subject. And the even better news is you realized that the other book was out there before you started shopping your book around. You have time to do something different! Oh my goodness, so many options! 

So don’t waste your time and energy fretting over bad news. Look for the good news, my Pollyanna writers, and get back to work!

~

Cathy C. Hall, whose bad news is that she hasn't quite got round to working on her latest manuscript. But the good news is, she has totally figured out all those pesky plot points whilst lying around, snoozing and reading and eating at the beach. And isn't that the best news ever?!

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5 comments Agents, Cathy C. Hall, pitching articles, rejection, revising novels, writing advice, writing inspiration

How to Push Through to Success

It’s no secret I’m a fan of the book You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero. I’ve written about it on The Muffin and my own blog before, but today I want to talk about a particular idea that the author presents which I think pertains to most writers--even non-writers--but especially me. Here's the quote from the book (on the daily calendar page from a couple years ago. I like this quote so much I saved this and posted it on my bulletin board.):

Break on through to the other side! 

Won't you come with me?

When I read this section the first time in the book, it was an "a-ha" moment for me. I feel uncomfortable all the time--I don't know if it's more or less than any other human being, but uneasy feelings can happen to me when I'm writing something new (a women's fiction manuscript), when I'm taking advantage of a new opportunity (opening a publishing company), when I'm attempting a new skill (listing books on Ingram Spark to be sold through other stores besides Amazon), and even in my personal life (going on a first date, cleaning out my parents' house, or booking a vacation to a new place for me and Katie). 

In the past, sometimes, that uncomfortable feeling has made me give up and go back to my old ways. The "rallying cry to retreat," as Sincero so eloquently writes, has told me: "Margo, you don't really want to go on that date or be self-published or try a new genre. You are fine just the way you are." 

But now I know that uncomfortable feeling is actually wonderful--it's the signal that something fantastic is just beyond my reach. If I keep persevering, I will eventually reach my goal on the other side. Not only will I reach my goal, but I may even reach a better place after that first goal and continue to climb and climb. 

Of course, there will be haters, doubters, and people who say that you were right the first time. Your gut is warning you not to push through whatever hard thing you are trying and that you should definitely retreat and stay in your safe box.

I'm sorry, but those people are WRONG. They may love you, or they may want to sabotage you. But if you read about any person who has achieved great things or worked toward their goals and accomplished them, you will see a pattern: successful people wanting to quit or maybe even quitting, and then somehow pushing through and picking back up the pieces, creating a wonderful life with a little bit of tape and a few new scars. 

So the next time you find yourself at "the magical door to the other side," please push on through. Reach out to us here at WOW! if you need support--on our Facebook page or here on this blog--and let us know what's giving you that uncomfortable feeling. We will encourage you to push right on through to success! 

Margo L. Dill is an author, publisher, freelance editor, teacher, and the managing editor of WOW! Women On Writing. You can find out more about her publishing company Editor-911 Books and her own books here. If you want to take a class with Margo through WOW!, check out the WOW! classroom! 

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7 comments Jen Sincero, Margo L. Dill, motivation, writing inspiration, You are a Badass!

Interview with Lolita Pierce: Summer 2020 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Lolita Pierce’s short stories and essays have been published in Catamaran Literary Reader and the online magazine Literary Mama. A graduate of Northwestern University (The Creative Writing Major) and the University of California Law School, Lolita is currently being raised by her four children in Southern California.

--interview by Marcia Peterson

WOW: Congratulations on your top ten win in our Summer 2020 Flash Fiction competition! What prompted you to enter the contest?

Lolita:  It was the right moment in time. This was my very first contest. I had just completed “Tammy” and a few writers urged me to submit it. Finding a flash fiction competition through an online site that supported and promoted women writers, agents and book authors seemed serendipitous and so I entered.

WOW: Great job on your first contest, we'd love to see more from you. 

Can you tell us what encouraged the idea behind your story, “Tammy?”

Lolita:   I love art, and photography is a hobby, so I took an online workshop on ekphrastic writing (writing in response to art or the use of art as a literary motif). “Tammy” was inspired by Dorothea Lange’s photograph “Migrant Mother.” The whole story unfolded in one sitting after looking into her eyes.

WOW: I'm familiar with that haunting photo, from a class I took in college (I've included it here). As a busy mom, how do you find time to work on your writing projects? What works best for you? 

Lolita: My children are all artistic in some way and they consistently show up for themselves and their art in a way that inspires me to do the same. Finding time is easier now that they are older and understand the fuel of art. They are generous with me when I am late making dinner because I’ve been writing or when I spend hours on a Saturday holed up in my room. For the most part I write around their days and our time together, after school, after dinner and weekends. They are always first in my life so when they are busy that’s my time. Sadly, none of us are early risers and I often lament that I can’t get myself up while it’s still dark and use those precious early hours when the house is asleep. Despite my limitations, I am “writing in my head” all the time: while running, while reading a novel or watching a movie; while doing something totally unrelated to writing, I am thinking of the work or being haunted by my characters. This head-space writing makes me feel better about the lack of actual writing time, knowing that all the hours that I’m not actively penning words I am still laying foundation.

WOW:  What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it?

Lolita: I am often reading poetry, a book of nonfiction, a book of short stories and a novel during the same time period. Right now, I am halfway through The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel, The Book of Not by Tstsi Dangaremba, Whatever Happened to Interracial Love by Kathleen Collins and instead of poetry I’m listening to Gilead by Marilynn Robinson whenever I go for a walk or run.

WOW: Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Lolita. Before you go, can you share a favorite writing tip or piece of advice?

Lolita: If you feel you are a writer, own it fully.

Don’t let anything stand in the way of your becoming. And: unless you’re at the end of your life, it’s never too late.

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For more information about our quarterly Flash Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Essay contests, visit our contest page here.

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3 comments Contestant interview, Lolita Pierce, Marcia Peterson, Runner up, Summer 2020 Flash Fiction Contest, writing inspiration