18 Comments

Thank you all for your prescription questions. I am noting all of them, and if I can answer them, I will, and if I do not, please do not be discouraged! Writing is a lifetime process, constantly unfolding. I am glad you are all here, and I appreciate your enthusiasm. <3

Expand full comment

There is an app called Seek for your phone. You hold it over any tree or flower or plant (or even insect) and it identifies it for you. I love it. It's opened up worlds for me. Love the newsletter.

Expand full comment

I love these Craft talks! What would you prescribe Jami: I’ve not published anything but I have scenes of stories, which for lack of a better word, need ‘stitching’ into a whole. I can see the whole, I feel the character’s yearning, what the arc is, but I can’t get there. I work really well with concrete prompts, freewrites, etc. Thank you!

Expand full comment

I have this challenge too!

Expand full comment

these emails are my prescription reminders to write. place is everything in any book i love to read as well as write. when I think of Craft i think of cheese and no I never got an MFA.

Expand full comment

genuine lol over here, lee

Expand full comment

After winning a tiny writing prize I am suffering from a debilitating fear of failure. Thank you for that prescription.

Expand full comment

Noted, and I will contemplate and get back to you. (Also if it turns out good, can I use it for the newsletter?)

Expand full comment

Of course.

Expand full comment

I need a little bit of restriction (but not too much) to get me going and found art really helps as a prompt, so I created ArtWrite. I post an image every day. Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3iYaSeW

Expand full comment

thank you for this post. and I definitely need a prescription. I have so many stop-start pieces and so many places in mind to submit to. but I just never do.

Expand full comment

Honestly, a very encouraging thing here for me is hearing that you never got an MFA. I’ve been struggling with this feeling that I’ll never be able to reach the level of skill necessary to bring my writing to the next level without one. One thing I’d love your thoughts on (if you ever are looking for a new craft talk topic), is advice specifically for writers who didn’t pursue MFAs and feel a little disconnected from the whole subculture of writers who came from that world. And, I guess related to that, any advice on plugging into the writing community? Understand you get a lot of comments and can’t respond to all—thanks so much for taking the time to share with us here.

Expand full comment

Hi Evan!

It's so funny because I already had it on my list of newsletter ideas to talk about how to connect with a bigger writing community. I think it's extra tricky right now because of Covid, so a lot of advice I could give is sort of not applicable until we can all meet in person again. But I can tell you that the thing was most helpful for me, hands down, was going to readings, and also forcing myself to do open mikes at readings. I met so many people that way. Of course this was in NYC in the early aughts, a very specific scene, a very specific time. (God, I'm old!) But I think the logic behind it still applies: finding people who are at the same place as you in your career, with the same level of energy, too. I would suggest locally at the moment taking a writing workshop, and perhaps seeing if you can meet people that way. (https://neworleanswriters.com/ looks to have some good teachers, for example, but also you have access to classes all over the place now, like Catapult in NYC or Lighthouse in Denver, for example.) This is not about getting an MFA, this is just about tuning up your brain and connecting with other writers. You may find an accountability partner in the class or even be able to eventually turn the workshop into a separate writer's group after the class ends. You could also post a notice at cafes or libraries to see if anyone is looking to start a writer's group. I really think having a regular set time to discuss your writing (and their writing) with people is probably the best first step. Good luck!!

Expand full comment

I'm glad to hear you suggest readings as a good way to connect, because the first ever reading I attended was for that exact purpose. And actually it was Kristen Arnett's reading at Saturn Bar for the release of Mostly Dead Things which was also where I was first introduced to you and your work. I failed miserably, because I left immediately after and spoke to no one. For an introvert like me, being intentional about meeting writer-strangers out in the wild and eventually having to share/talk about my work face-to-face is incredibly intimidating. Woo buddy I do not like it. But I guess that's just the challenge of being an introverted writer who also wants to get serious about their work, right? I feel like workshops and networking, though, is exactly what I need. Both for the accountability and to face my fears and insecurities more directly. Thank you for the suggestions and encouragement!

Expand full comment

I’ll take that prescription, thanks

Expand full comment

I LOVE this talk and the prescription is so spot-on for me, too. Thank you!

Expand full comment

Thanks for this prescription. I finished an MFA at the end of July and I seem unable to get going now and feel as if I don't know how to draw or write anymore. The more I look at other work, the more confused I get. Like Foxtrot Oscar, I think it's fear of failure. Making creative choices right now feels impossible. I just need to start doing.

Expand full comment

I discovered your writing by chance on the "lucky day shelf" at my library and truly did not comprehend in that moment how lucky I really was. Thanks for doing this newsletter; I really appreciate it.

Expand full comment