A few weeks ago, I went to the loveliest small press literary conference right here in Philly. It was a really nourishing (and simultaneously exhausting) day, and I wanted to share a few of my takeaways here.
Push aside the idea “good” writing. Focusing on writing being “good” shuts down rich avenues of exploration that make your writing unique and yours. Focus on making your drafts more of themselves, not “good” or “better.”
Stay in the messy beginning, refuse easy answers, lean into discovery. Prioritize intuition and creativity and generate messy drafts.
Our assumptions are usually wrong. Try things out, then you’ll know how they actually go. Experiments are for learning!
There are all kinds of unconventional ways to end up publishing books. You never know what opportunities might arise from putting yourself out there, connecting with creative community, applying for things, submitting, etc.
Try different things to mine your memory for writing scenes in creative nonfiction, like going back to the places where things happened, listening to music from that time in your life, sensory cues, etc. The more you dig, the more your memories will bubble up.
No one’s going to take your work seriously if you don’t. Stand for your work.
The background life of noise, the non extraordinary stuff, can absolutely be written about.
How is your creative practice going? Are you doing NaNoRiMo, essay camp, or anything else to invigorate your practice this month? What have you been paying attention to and learning recently? I’d love to hear in the comments.
With care,
Eryn
sounds so lovely eryn. i dont know if anyone else struggles with fear of technology and writing ? im so automatic in my 'shame/trauma/slope/lens' (although am certainly irrevocably rooting myself out of that!) that my knee-jerk always-response is to be too fearful to write anything anywhere at all, for fear it might be read... or judged... or just innevitable in a way that is so boring and egotistical? May as well not bother! Anyway! Trying to remember that actually, never feeling alone on the internet is a good thing!
always loved your writing and been so drawn to everything you put out eryn! X
love this - thank you for sharing! I want to attend a small press literary conference!