Endless Inspiration — mnchrm vol. xliv
I drew a tarot card before starting to compose this newsletter, and got the 7 of Cups (or Chalices). According to the little booklet that came with the deck, this signifies Imagination, Signs, Aptitude, Longing or Day-dreaming. An auspicious card, indeed.
I've written before about how I try to avoid the start of the week paradigm, but for two weeks in a row, I've had an especially fruitful Monday. I'm sure it's just confirmation bias, but I'll take it either way.
Last week, it was receiving notes on the review draft I'd sent off to one of the editors at the Kenyon Review. Today, I completed the final submission of the piece to Kenyon, and to their editor in chief. I also got another review pitch accepted, for a book I'm terribly excited to read.
Finally, author Kathryn Scanlan read and shared my review of her book, AUG 9- FOG, which I covered for The Chicago Review. I was nervous, since I opted to tag her in addition to the publishers FSG when sharing the piece I wrote. I know it's a faux-pas to tag an author in a pan, but I intended my piece as glowing praise. Still, I was worried it might be ill-received by her, shrugged off as criticism, which any author might want to avoid regardless of slant. I took her silence as potential confirmation of my fears, but as it turns out, she probably just has far better self-control regarding Twitter.
I'm still figuring out this whole "writing for the internet" thing, through the lens of writing about books. However, I need to remind myself I'm making progress. I'm getting better at pitching, and starting to build the essential list of bylines and editor relationships that will help me indefinitely going forward. The setbacks I face still sting, each ghosted pitch or inability to find a home for a piece, yet I'm just setting out on this journey.
I've written before about how I try to avoid the start of the week paradigm, but for two weeks in a row, I've had an especially fruitful Monday. I'm sure it's just confirmation bias, but I'll take it either way.
Last week, it was receiving notes on the review draft I'd sent off to one of the editors at the Kenyon Review. Today, I completed the final submission of the piece to Kenyon, and to their editor in chief. I also got another review pitch accepted, for a book I'm terribly excited to read.
Finally, author Kathryn Scanlan read and shared my review of her book, AUG 9- FOG, which I covered for The Chicago Review. I was nervous, since I opted to tag her in addition to the publishers FSG when sharing the piece I wrote. I know it's a faux-pas to tag an author in a pan, but I intended my piece as glowing praise. Still, I was worried it might be ill-received by her, shrugged off as criticism, which any author might want to avoid regardless of slant. I took her silence as potential confirmation of my fears, but as it turns out, she probably just has far better self-control regarding Twitter.
I'm still figuring out this whole "writing for the internet" thing, through the lens of writing about books. However, I need to remind myself I'm making progress. I'm getting better at pitching, and starting to build the essential list of bylines and editor relationships that will help me indefinitely going forward. The setbacks I face still sting, each ghosted pitch or inability to find a home for a piece, yet I'm just setting out on this journey.
⁂
Now that I'm starting to make inroads with criticism, I have some clear next steps for my writing. This is a huge milestone, just getting my footing enough to see where I need to go next.
For one, of course, I need to finish my novel manuscript. It's been sort of slow going lately, which is a bit disheartening since I thought I had it "solved". Just got to keep my nose to the grindstone on it, so I've got a manuscript to pitch to an agent by the end of Summer.
Next, I'd like to start branching out to a more diverse set of literary journals with my critical writing. I've got a huge list of ones I read from and have submitted to, though I slowed down on sending out short fiction so far this year.
Third, I'd like to get back into the swing of writing and sending out short fiction, as just mentioned. I've been reading a ton of it, lately (more on this later), so I'm feeling a bit rejuvenated on the form. Not sure how that'll transfer into actually writing, though!
Fourth, try and land some pieces that aren't criticism. I'm getting pretty decent at reading a piece, thinking critically about it, and writing something explanatory, even though I've only done a handful of actually published pieces. However, the muscles are starting to take shape there. Where I've been (far, far) less successful is in pitching more essayic content.
It's strange, I'm sort of in a weird spot for a writer. I'm not a journalist; I can't really write about a local issue or cover an event (though I can do an interview). I don't really have the sort of life for the kind of first-person personal essay writing that's popular now. I'm still kind of looking for the home for the sorts of writing I did on my blog, like on the bad influence of cinematic narrative devices in video games, or the inherent ennui of using computers.
Essayic writing or not, I'm starting to find a better balance. I'm sure things will start to fall into place as I work more. The horizon is coming into view.
For one, of course, I need to finish my novel manuscript. It's been sort of slow going lately, which is a bit disheartening since I thought I had it "solved". Just got to keep my nose to the grindstone on it, so I've got a manuscript to pitch to an agent by the end of Summer.
Next, I'd like to start branching out to a more diverse set of literary journals with my critical writing. I've got a huge list of ones I read from and have submitted to, though I slowed down on sending out short fiction so far this year.
Third, I'd like to get back into the swing of writing and sending out short fiction, as just mentioned. I've been reading a ton of it, lately (more on this later), so I'm feeling a bit rejuvenated on the form. Not sure how that'll transfer into actually writing, though!
Fourth, try and land some pieces that aren't criticism. I'm getting pretty decent at reading a piece, thinking critically about it, and writing something explanatory, even though I've only done a handful of actually published pieces. However, the muscles are starting to take shape there. Where I've been (far, far) less successful is in pitching more essayic content.
It's strange, I'm sort of in a weird spot for a writer. I'm not a journalist; I can't really write about a local issue or cover an event (though I can do an interview). I don't really have the sort of life for the kind of first-person personal essay writing that's popular now. I'm still kind of looking for the home for the sorts of writing I did on my blog, like on the bad influence of cinematic narrative devices in video games, or the inherent ennui of using computers.
Essayic writing or not, I'm starting to find a better balance. I'm sure things will start to fall into place as I work more. The horizon is coming into view.
⁂
Short fiction is really an incredible form. It means something different to everyone. In both short fiction and the novel, there is nearly no limit on what can be expressed, conveyed, or the emotions shown. It's limitless.
(I wrote about this before, but if you missed it, here's the gist.)
I've been reading a lot of short fiction lately, on account of podcaster and cool dude Adam Juskewitch, whose post sharing Nathan Goldman's incredible story "The Octopus" has spawned a whole thread of recommendations and bloomed a garden of discussion.
It's been a wonderful, fascinating exercise. I'm a strong proponent of repetition and quantity, and reading some new short fiction every day and then thinking about what works, what doesn't and why, is about as good of a lesson in writing as you can ask for. Very thankful to Adam for putting in the work of finding all of these stories to share, as well as putting up with the responses I've got to them!
Reading all these stories makes me want to write stories more, like endless inspiration. Also makes me want to read stories to curate for my own online publication...
The most recent story we read was "A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain", by Robert Olen Butler (this link is a download of a PDF of the story). It moved me to tears to read this one. I'd never heard of Butler before, so I jumped on to Wikipedia before going to his own website to find out more. Turns out, he's a Pulitzer Prize winner, as well as a Professor of creative writing at Florida State University.
His website's bio also turned me on to a YouTube series he did, where he recorded and developed and wrote a story over 17 two-hour sessions. So cool. A writer friend of mine recently wrote about wanting to go behind the curtain more on process, as we primarily see finished works. I agree. It's a super long series of course, but I plan on trying to watch it over the next week or so. Maybe I'll take notes and share them with you.
(I wrote about this before, but if you missed it, here's the gist.)
I've been reading a lot of short fiction lately, on account of podcaster and cool dude Adam Juskewitch, whose post sharing Nathan Goldman's incredible story "The Octopus" has spawned a whole thread of recommendations and bloomed a garden of discussion.
It's been a wonderful, fascinating exercise. I'm a strong proponent of repetition and quantity, and reading some new short fiction every day and then thinking about what works, what doesn't and why, is about as good of a lesson in writing as you can ask for. Very thankful to Adam for putting in the work of finding all of these stories to share, as well as putting up with the responses I've got to them!
Reading all these stories makes me want to write stories more, like endless inspiration. Also makes me want to read stories to curate for my own online publication...
The most recent story we read was "A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain", by Robert Olen Butler (this link is a download of a PDF of the story). It moved me to tears to read this one. I'd never heard of Butler before, so I jumped on to Wikipedia before going to his own website to find out more. Turns out, he's a Pulitzer Prize winner, as well as a Professor of creative writing at Florida State University.
His website's bio also turned me on to a YouTube series he did, where he recorded and developed and wrote a story over 17 two-hour sessions. So cool. A writer friend of mine recently wrote about wanting to go behind the curtain more on process, as we primarily see finished works. I agree. It's a super long series of course, but I plan on trying to watch it over the next week or so. Maybe I'll take notes and share them with you.
⁂
Whew! This has been a writing-focused newsletter, hasn't it? I'd actually sat down with the intention to write about relief pitchers, but I guess that'll be for next week, if I remember.
⁂
Summer is still in the full swing of things, here in Chicago. We had a mercifully cool day around the mid-70F's yesterday, but now it's back up to the high 80s.
I've been trying to fall into the schedule of waking up at dawn to run at the day's coolest point, settling in to write fiction before most wake up, but so far have not been successful. Turns out, it's not really a schedule you "fall into", but rather one of discipline and conscious effort. Worked the past few years, but I guess this year I'll have to work harder at it.
It's nearly the hottest point in the day, but I am chomping at the bit to go for a run once I send this out to everyone.
I've been trying to fall into the schedule of waking up at dawn to run at the day's coolest point, settling in to write fiction before most wake up, but so far have not been successful. Turns out, it's not really a schedule you "fall into", but rather one of discipline and conscious effort. Worked the past few years, but I guess this year I'll have to work harder at it.
It's nearly the hottest point in the day, but I am chomping at the bit to go for a run once I send this out to everyone.
⁂
I love the art of fantasy and sci-fi novel covers. I picked many a book to read based on how cool the art was in my youth. I haven't read much sci-fi or fantasy yet this year, but I usually try and mix in one or two when I get burned out on literary fiction.
Some of my favorite art is of the setting, perhaps an important city or town from the work. I've been thinking a lot about architecture lately, and how even the most diverse architecture in the world is usually an intriguing building within the well-established city paradigm. Where are my layered cities built into a mountain face? The looming temples and palaces that stretch on forever?
Of course, much of what is depicted is impossible to accomplish; but not all of it. Will we see city design in the future as progressive and beautiful as the architectural and building design of today?
Some of my favorite art is of the setting, perhaps an important city or town from the work. I've been thinking a lot about architecture lately, and how even the most diverse architecture in the world is usually an intriguing building within the well-established city paradigm. Where are my layered cities built into a mountain face? The looming temples and palaces that stretch on forever?
Of course, much of what is depicted is impossible to accomplish; but not all of it. Will we see city design in the future as progressive and beautiful as the architectural and building design of today?
⁂
Thanks again for reading! I love compiling these essays, and I appreciate hearing they found you well, and you found them interesting. Feel free to send any comments or questions through the "reply" button!
If you want to help out, the best way is to forward this to a friend, or share on social media. If you received this from a friend, and want your own, subscribe here! Hope you all have a lovely and cool week ahead, and I'll see you all next week!
Your faithful commander,
— I
If you want to help out, the best way is to forward this to a friend, or share on social media. If you received this from a friend, and want your own, subscribe here! Hope you all have a lovely and cool week ahead, and I'll see you all next week!
Your faithful commander,
— I
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