Happy MLK Jr. Day, New Writing in MNopedia, Offerings

Hello! Glad you're here! This is Monday, January 20, 2025. It is MLK Jr. Day in the US. This issue is the one I meant to have out January 16th, and I plan to have another newsletter out this week on the 23rd. If you're feeling like you'd rather hear from me in this form at some other frequency, say monthly, please feel free to hit reply and let me know. In the long term I'm sure I'll have some sort of system where you click a link for that, for now it's a manual process.

If someone forwarded this message, or I sent you a link on the web, please subscribe.

New Writing: The Death of Anna Salzer in Rochester State Hospital, 1897, MNopedia.com

I have a new article out on another 1890s patient. Anna Salzer was admitted to and died in Rochester State Hospital in 1897. Her death was documented in detail by Lydia B. Angier, another patient, who I've written about earlier. This work, which is archival, broad, and feels almost collaborative with people whom I almost could have been. Please check it out, and please know that the article discusses physical abuse, institutions, and psychiatric care if any of those topics are ones you might want to take care of yourself around. I'm extremely grateful to MNopedia editor Lizzie Ehrenhalt, and centered some of our process together in a LinkedIn post about the article

Recommendation

I was really inspired by Venus De Mars' recent post about remaining on Facebook, and in the light generally. Venus, in her own words:

I refuse to be pushed off social media platforms because of fear; my own fear, and theirs. Friends, allies, my trans-community members, those of you living out, and those of you who are presently surviving in shadows but contemplating living out, and finally, those of you who do not understand yet, why I am trans, and therefore may fear me... I will remain here: I will remain in daylight. ❤️ -Venus de Mars

I'm extremely grateful to Venus as a person existing in the world, and I know my performance practice wouldn't likely exist without some of the roads she paved. I know also, that my own fear feels seductive sometimes. There are many parts of my writing and art that take stigmatized experiences, and insist on our own dignity, on our own subjectivity, our own interconnected understandings. I know there are many who welcome my perspective, and also, I feel fear sometimes, including in ways I speak up. I also have been really grateful for a variety of recent media about different eras in queer history, including Telling Queer Histories' Instagram nods to different movements and spaces in Minnesota queer history (some relatively recent). We've always been here, and we'll be here.

[And, I want to note, that I don't ever want to critique someone's survival, there are folks who want to be less online now, that isn't my strategy and I understand we all have to pick our own strategy.]

Consults, Classes, Manuscript Consultsetc.

If you have an art business question, including wanting help self promoting, or applying, or proposing, or prioritizing, you can speak with me for an hour about whatever it is you're looking for art biz support on. Request a consults are via Springboard for the Arts

Also, if you're taking Springboard Work of Art business skills for artists classes there's a chance I'll be facilitating. There are a bunch of great topics coming up, so check out the calendar.

I also have several classes coming up with the Loft Literary Center:

• Improv Workshop for Writers: Exploring Interactive Methods to Draft and Revise in 6 Weeks starts Wednesday January 29, 2025
• Sampler Class: Creative Nonfiction with Alison Bergblom Johnson Online February 4, 2025
• Double-Session Class: Internet Research for Nonfiction Writers, Memoirists, Biographers and Family Historians February 22 & March 1, 2025

The Loft does have resources for folks regarding access, if you have an access need, or a scholarship need please reach out to their Education office at 612-379-8999 or at Edu@loft.org .

I also am offering manuscript consults independently. If you'd like my eye on your work please see my manuscript consult booking page.

Thanks for reading to the end and I'll be in touch again soon. In the meantime please reach out if there's anything I can help with.

Warmly, Alison