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You’re Invited! Post-Election Call for Community with Poetry

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Social Justice Poetry
Thursday, November 14, 2024
12pm – 1pm PT
SIGN UP HERE
Zoom link provided upon registration

Poetry gets at the truth more so than any other form of the written and spoken word. And, of course, it is those poetic truth-tellers who help us see and hear what is so often hidden from us and what we must know. This event is timed and designed to be on the other side of the election, after what is likely to be a brutal political season, when we will need social justice poets and their vital truths, more than ever. Hope you can join us for this special night of community!

Featuring poetry by Zoë Flowers, Christopher Marmolejo, Granddaughter Crow (Dr. Joy Gray), and Joan Gelfand!

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!


Join Us! Early Bird Special for Pitch-O-Rama 2025 & Upcoming November Events

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Virtual Pitch-O-Rama 2025
Saturday, April 5, 2025
8AM to 1 PM PDT
SIGN UP HERE
Zoom link provided upon registration

Are you developing a concept for a new book? Do you have a manuscript in progress? Have you always wanted to publish that book you’ve been working on for years? If this sounds like you, we would love to invite you to Pitch-O-Rama 2025!

We are happy to announce we will be hosting the next Pitch-O-Rama as a virtual event on April 5th, 2025, where writers will be given the opportunity to pitch their works to agents and editors for publication.

Everyone is welcome to participate!

Register below to pitch your book idea to agents and publishers!

New to Pitch-O-Rama? Pitch-O-Rama is an annual event where we bring in a set of publishing professionals to share their knowledge of the publishing industry. During the event, you will be able to practice your pitch with coaches and fellow writers, and then share that pitch with an expert who will provide advice on taking your writing project to the next level.

A chance like this is an invaluable learning experience that could put you on the path to publication. We hope to see you there!

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

Social Justice Poetry Event
Thursday, November 14, 2024
12pm – 1pm PT
Zoom link provided upon registration

Poetry gets at the truth more so than any other form of the written and spoken word. And, of course, it is those poetic truth-tellers who help us see and hear what is so often hidden from us and what we must know. This event is timed and designed to be on the other side of the election, after what is likely to be a brutal political season, when we will need social justice poets and their vital truths, more than ever. Hope you can join us for this special night of community!

Featuring poetry by Zoë Flowers, Christopher Marmalejo, Granddaughter Crow (Dr. Joy Gray), and Joan Gelfand!

To register, please visit the event page!

 

 

Holiday Storytelling Fest: True Stories of Grace and Gratitude
Thursday, November 21, 2024
5pm – 6pm PT
Zoom link provided upon registration

All are welcome to the WNBA-SF Chapter’s virtual storytelling fest to celebrate the holidays as only book women writers can! Five brilliant, talented writers will share their personal stories of grace and gratitude to bring us cheer during this wonderful season of thanksgiving and joy.

After our five presenters tell their true stories, we’ll open it up to our virtual audience—that’s you! We want to encourage the sharing of stories during the holidays with friends and family in the spirit of deep gratitude this year.

Celebrate with us in sharing joy and gratitude with stories for the holidays. Bring a glass of wine or cup of tea and gather ‘round our virtual fire. Bring a friend!

Featured storytellers include Karen Wang Diggs, Kate Farrell, Mary Mackey, Ellen McBarnette, and Sheila Smith McKoy!

To register, please visit the event page!


Sign Up Now for Pitch-O-Rama 2025!

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Virtual Pitch-O-Rama 2025
8AM to 1 PM PDT on Saturday, April 5, 2025
SIGN UP HERE (Zoom link provided upon registration)

Are you developing a concept for a new book? Do you have a manuscript in progress? Have you always wanted to publish that book you’ve been working on for years? If this sounds like you, we would love to invite you to Pitch-O-Rama 2025!

We are happy to announce we will be hosting the next Pitch-O-Rama as a virtual event on April 5th, 2025, where writers will be given the opportunity to pitch their works to agents and editors for publication.

Everyone is welcome to participate!

Register below to pitch your book idea to agents and publishers!

New to Pitch-O-Rama? Pitch-O-Rama is an annual event where we bring in a set of publishing professionals to share their knowledge of the publishing industry. During the event, you will be able to practice your pitch with coaches and fellow writers, and then share that pitch with an expert who will provide advice on taking your writing project to the next level.

A chance like this is an invaluable learning experience that could put you on the path to publication. We hope to see you there!

$75 for WNBA-SF members, $115 for non-members, with the Early Bird Special of $10 OFF for WNBA-SF Members and non-members using the code POR 2025, which expires 12/31/2024.

After 12/31/2024, registration is $85 for WNBA-SF members, $125 for non-members.

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

 

Cooking & Food Writing Panel
Thursday, September 19, 2024
12 to 1 PM PDT
Zoom link provided upon registration

Join WNBA-San Francisco for an upcoming food and cookbook writing panel, where writers/podcasters/food professionals will delve into the art of blending culinary expertise with captivating storytelling. This includes articles, cookbooks, and social media.

During this Lunch N Learn, you will:

  • Explore how to craft irresistible recipes that resonate with audiences online
  • Gain valuable tips on creating engaging content that goes beyond the plate
  • Make new food-loving friends

Whether you’re an aspiring writer, seasoned chef, or food enthusiast, this virtual event is your gateway to the intersection of food, writing, and social media. Join us and our panel—Katie Chin, Dianne Jacob, Faith Kramer, and Amy Kritzer Becker.

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

How to Get a Book Deal
Thursday, September 26, 2024
12 to 1 PM PDT
Zoom link provided upon registration

GET A BOOK DEAL WITH A PUBLISHER
There’s the book you want to write and the book a publisher – and readers – will buy: Are they the same book?

Literary agents receive 1500+ manuscripts a month. Publishers receive 10,000+ manuscripts a year. If you want to get a publishing deal and more readers, you’ve got to know what publishers (and readers) buy and how to make your book stand out from the pack.

Publishing coach, Randy Peyser, pitches books to agents and publishers after her company edits or ghostwrites them through her company, Author One Stop, Inc.
(www.AuthorOneStop.com)

Randy will tell you exactly what you need to know to get an agent or publisher to offer you a contract.

You will find out:

  • What topics are hot and what’s not.
  • The most essential sales tool you need in order to sell a manuscript to a publisher.
  • The quickest way to get an agent or publisher to stop in their tracks.
  • The 1 thing to absolutely not do if you are serious about getting a publishing contract.
  • How to get cover endorsements when you don’t know anybody who’s famous.
  • The biggest mistakes authors make.
  • The things you absolutely must do to make your book stand out.
  • Details about your writing that publishers always look for.
  • The biggest questions publishers ask before they make a buying decision.
  • How to title your book to maximize your sales potential
  • The pros and cons of traditional publishing versus self-publishing
  • Converting a book to a screenplay that actually gets considered

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

 

You’re Invited! Early Bird Discount for Pitch-O-Rama 2025 & Other Fabulous Fall Events

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Virtual Pitch-O-Rama 2025
Saturday, April 5, 2025
8AM to 1 PM PDT
SIGN UP HERE
Zoom link provided upon registration

Are you developing a concept for a new book? Do you have a manuscript in progress? Have you always wanted to publish that book you’ve been working on for years? If this sounds like you, we would love to invite you to Pitch-O-Rama 2025!

We are happy to announce we will be hosting the next Pitch-O-Rama as a virtual event on April 5th, 2025, where writers will be given the opportunity to pitch their works to agents and editors for publication.

Everyone is welcome to participate!

Register below to pitch your book idea to agents and publishers!

New to Pitch-O-Rama? Pitch-O-Rama is an annual event where we bring in a set of publishing professionals to share their knowledge of the publishing industry. During the event, you will be able to practice your pitch with coaches and fellow writers, and then share that pitch with an expert who will provide advice on taking your writing project to the next level.

A chance like this is an invaluable learning experience that could put you on the path to publication. We hope to see you there!

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

Mechanics Institute Library 2nd-floor

Stranger Fiction: The Art of Crafting Speculative Fiction and World-Building With Words
Thursday, September 12, 2024
6-7:30PM PDT
Mechanics’ Institute Library
57 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94104
4th Floor, Chess Room

The Women’s National Book Association San Francisco Chapter is thrilled to present this exciting member panel at the Mechanics Institute Library! As our home planet Earth grows ever hotter, crowded and more polluted, we look to other realms for new hope and relief from our terran concerns. Thankfully, brilliant minds and bold thinkers have already created places and spaces to which we can journey in books and take armchair travels to new worlds beyond our wildest imagining. These creative writers—Ellen McBarnette, Mary Mackey, Sheila Smith McKoy, and Vanessa MacLaren-Wray—will discuss their craft and the art of world-building through fiction.

To register, please visit the event page!

Cooking & Food Writing Panel
Thursday, September 19, 2024
12 to 1 PM PDT
Zoom link provided upon registration

Join WNBA-San Francisco for an upcoming food and cookbook writing panel, where writers/podcasters/food professionals will delve into the art of blending culinary expertise with captivating storytelling. This includes articles, cookbooks, and social media.

During this Lunch N Learn, you will:

  • Explore how to craft irresistible recipes that resonate with audiences online
  • Gain valuable tips on creating engaging content that goes beyond the plate
  • Make new food-loving friends

Whether you’re an aspiring writer, seasoned chef, or food enthusiast, this virtual event is your gateway to the intersection of food, writing, and social media. Join us and our panel—Katie Chin, Dianne Jacob, Faith Kramer, and Amy Kritzer Becker.

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

How to Get a Book Deal
Thursday, September 26, 2024
12 to 1 PM PDT
Zoom link provided upon registration

GET A BOOK DEAL WITH A PUBLISHER
There’s the book you want to write and the book a publisher – and readers – will buy: Are they the same book?

Literary agents receive 1500+ manuscripts a month. Publishers receive 10,000+ manuscripts a year. If you want to get a publishing deal and more readers, you’ve got to know what publishers (and readers) buy and how to make your book stand out from the pack.

Publishing coach, Randy Peyser, pitches books to agents and publishers after her company edits or ghostwrites them through her company, Author One Stop, Inc.
(www.AuthorOneStop.com)

Randy will tell you exactly what you need to know to get an agent or publisher to offer you a contract.

You will find out:

  • What topics are hot and what’s not.
  • The most essential sales tool you need in order to sell a manuscript to a publisher.
  • The quickest way to get an agent or publisher to stop in their tracks.
  • The 1 thing to absolutely not do if you are serious about getting a publishing contract.
  • How to get cover endorsements when you don’t know anybody who’s famous.
  • The biggest mistakes authors make.
  • The things you absolutely must do to make your book stand out.
  • Details about your writing that publishers always look for.
  • The biggest questions publishers ask before they make a buying decision.
  • How to title your book to maximize your sales potential
  • The pros and cons of traditional publishing versus self-publishing
  • Converting a book to a screenplay that actually gets considered

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!


The 43rd Annual Northern California Book Awards

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43rd Annual Northern California Book Awards
Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 2 PM
Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Main Library,
100 Larkin Street, Civic Center, San Francisco
Free admission

Northern California’s vibrant literary scene is celebrated annually at the Northern California Book Awards, this year honoring published works of 2023 by Northern California authors and California translators. The Awards are selected by the Northern California Book Reviewers, and presented by Poetry Flash (http://poetryflash.org), the San Francisco Public Library, and our community partners Mechanics’ Institute Library and Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter. Nominated books will be available for sale and signing. A reception at the Library’s Latino/Hispanic Community Room will follow the ceremony. 

Awards will be presented in Fiction, General Nonfiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Translation, and Children’s Literature. 

FRED CODY AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT & SERVICE
Jane Hirshfield
The Asking: New and Selected Poems, Knopf
Poet, essayist, and “one of American poetry’s central spokespersons for the biosphere”

NCBA GROUNDBREAKER AWARD
Transit Books
A nonprofit publisher of international and American literature, committed to the discovery and promotion of enduring works that carry readers across borders and communities.

NCBA RECOGNITION AWARD
Dear California: The Golden State in Diaries and Letters, edited by David Kipen, Redwood Press

NOMINEES

POETRY
Light and Clay: New and Selected Poems, Maxine Chernoff, Madhat Press
In the Cities of Sleep, Elizabeth C. Herron, Fernwood Press
Eggtooth, Jesse Nathan, Unbound Edition Press
The Disordered Alphabet, Cintia Santana, Four Way Books
Leviathan, Michael Shewmaker, Louisiana State University Press
Songbirds of the Nine Rivers, Joseph Zaccardi, Sixteen Rivers Press

FICTION
North Woods, Daniel Mason, Random House
The Dog of the North, Elizabeth McKenzie, Penguin Press
Wildflowers, Beverly Parayno, PAWA Press/Philippine American Writers and Artists
Forget I Told You This, Hilary Zaid, University of Nebraska Press
Land of Milk and Honey, C Pam Zhang, Riverhead Books

CREATIVE NONFICTION
What You Don’t Know Will Make a Whole New World, Dorothy Lazard, Heyday
Secret Harvests: A Hidden Story of Separation and the Resilience of a Family Farm, David Mas Masumoto, Artwork by Patricia Wakida, Red Hen Press
Starstruck: A Memoir of Astrophysics and Finding Light in the Dark, Sarafina El-Badry Nance, Dutton
Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World’s Ugliest Sweater, Peggy Orenstein, Harper
Most Delicious Poison: The Story of Nature’s Toxins—From Spices to Vices, Noah Whiteman, Little, Brown Spark

GENERAL NONFICTION
Inflamed: Abandonment, Heroism, and Outrage in Wine Country’s Deadliest Firestorm, Anne E. Belden, Paul Gullixson, Lauren A. Spates, Permuted Press
Immeasurable Outcomes: Teaching Shakespeare in the Age of the Algorithm, Gayle Greene, Johns Hopkins University Press
The Hungry Season: A Journey of War, Love, and Survival, Lisa M. Hamilton, Little, Brown and Company
Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon, Michael Lewis, W.W. Norton
Freedom to Win: A Cold War Story of the Courageous Hockey Team That Fought the Soviets for the Soul of Its People—And Olympic Gold, Ethan Scheiner, Pegasus Books

CALIFORNIA TRANSLATION
California Translation in Poetry
A Cha Chaan Teng That Does Not Exist, Derek Chung, translated from Chinese by May Huang, Zephyr Press
Through the Walls of Solitude, Álamo Oliveira, translated from Portuguese by Diniz Borges, Letras Lavadas Edições/Bruma Publications
Whoever Drowned Here, Max Sessner, translated from German by Francesca Bell, Red Hen Press
Columns, Nikolai Zabolotsky, translated from Russian by Dmitri Manin, ARC Publications

California Translation in Prose
The Short End of the Sonnenallee, Thomas Brussig, translated from German by Jonathan Franzen and Jenny Watson, Picador
Blue Hunger, Viola Di Grado, translated from Italian by Jamie Richards, Bloomsbury Publishing
Whale, Cheon Myeong-kwan, translated from Korean by Chi-Young Kim, Archipelago Books

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
Younger Readers
How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?, Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen, Candlewick Press
To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights, Angela Dalton, illustrated by Lauren Semmer, Harper
The Shape of You, Mượn Thị Văn, illustrated by Miko Sato, Kids Can Press

Middle Grade
The Eyes and the Impossible, Dave Eggers, illustrated by Shawn Harris, published simultaneously by Knopf Books for Young Readers and McSweeney’s
Farther Than the Moon, Lindsay Lackey, Roaring Brook Press
Boomi’s Boombox, Shanthi Sekaran, Katherine Tegan Books

Young Adult
The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent, Ann Jacobus, Carolrhoda Lab
All the Yellow Suns, Malavika Kannan, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed, Dashka Slater, Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers

Northern California reviewers and editors, members of Northern California Book Reviewers, select the awards. Membership is open to all eligible Northern California reviewers and editors. All nominated books, the Recommended Reading List, will be acknowledged and celebrated at the ceremony. Juror statements will be available in the event program and on the NCBA page at https://poetryflash.org/programs/?p=ncba_2024. This event is sponsored by the Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter.

Featured Member Interview – Christina Vo

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How would you describe your writing style? Tell us about who you are as an author/writer. 

(CV): My writing style is introspective and evocative, weaving together personal narratives with broader cultural and historical contexts. I strive to create a deep connection with readers by sharing raw and honest reflections on my experiences. As an author, I am dedicated to exploring the complexities of identity, memory, and healing, often drawing from my own life to illuminate universal themes. 

What is the message/meaning behind your memoir The Veil Between Two Worlds: A Memoir of Silence, Loss, and Finding Home? Are there any personal stories you would like to share? 

(CV): The Veil Between Two Worlds delves into the profound journey of navigating silence, loss, and the search for a sense of belonging. The memoir captures a very specific period of my life — turning forty — and realizing how unhappy I was with the life that I had created in San Francisco. There’s a lot of backstory in the book and reflections about the early loss of my mother. While there isn’t one specific story I would like to share, I would recommend it to women who are at a turning point and seeking solace and healing in their lives—this is what I delve into in this memoir, the paths that I ventured down to find healing. The memoir is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of facing one’s deepest fears and wounds.  

 

I noticed you co-wrote a second book My Vietnam, Your Vietnam with your father. How was the process and experience collaborating with him?

(CV): Collaborating with my father on My Vietnam, Your Vietnam was an incredibly enriching and emotional experience. But interestingly enough, the nature of my relationship with my father is that we actually don’t speak very much, although there’s a deep bond and respect between us. Interestingly, the process didn’t involve much communication, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t a lot of healing, particularly when I spoke about the book at events, mostly on the West Coast. I wove my father’s writing with my own and created a book that tells two stories of Vietnam.  

Many of the themes within your work surround loss, healing, intergenerational trauma, and the meaning of home. What inspired you to write about these themes in particular? 

(CV): These themes have been central to my life and personal journey. Growing up as a Vietnamese American, I experienced the lingering effects of war, displacement, and cultural disconnection. Writing about loss and healing became a way for me to process my own trauma and make sense of the world around me. Intergenerational trauma is a crucial aspect of my work, as it highlights the silent burdens carried by families and the importance of breaking cycles through understanding and compassion. The concept of home is also deeply personal, representing both a physical place and a state of being where one feels truly accepted and whole. 

Do you have any tips or practices in regard to writing/healing? 

(CV): Writing can be a powerful tool for healing. Here are a few tips and practices that have helped me: 

  • Journaling: Regularly writing down thoughts and feelings can help process emotions and gain clarity. 
  • Mindfulness and Meditation: These practices can ground you and create a calm space for reflection and creativity. 
  • Authenticity: Write from the heart and be true to your experiences. Authenticity resonates with readers and fosters deeper connections. 
  • Storytelling: Share your stories with others. Writing groups or workshops can provide support and different perspectives. 
  • Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself throughout the writing process. Healing takes time, and it’s okay to feel vulnerable. 

Tell us about your hobbies aside from your writing journey. 

(CV): Outside of writing, I love doing anything creative. For some time, when I wasn’t writing I delved into floral design—and that was really rewarding as well. I also love walking, which I try to do as often as possible during the week. Walking and writing go hand-in-hand to me. I find that walking helps me think through many of my ideas. I also love to explore various coffee shops and restaurants, and spending time with loved ones.  

Is there anything you would like to add or things we can look forward to in the future? 

(CV): I hope to share more personal stories and insights that can inspire and empower readers. While I am not currently working on anything right now, I honestly can’t wait to delve into the writing process again—I am truly my best self when writing!  

 

You’re Invited! Free Book Publishing Lunch N Learn Events in August

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Ask a Publisher AMA with Peter Rubie
Thursday, August 1
12 PM PDT
Zoom link provided upon registration

As everyone probably knows, you or your agent needs to get your book or proposal into the hands of an interested editor; that’s the first hurdle.

A well-crafted proposal, an agent with good relationships, and choosing the right editors to approach are the first steps.

What most would-be authors don’t know is that the editor has to turn around and sell you to an editorial board. The sales management, more often than not, makes the decisions. 

If sales and marketing think they can sell your book, then you’ve got a wonderful chance of getting published.

So, how do you sell your book to a publisher?

If it’s your first book, you have no Nielsen Bookscan number to get in the way. That can be a blessing, but you have to prove that you are an “influencer” that can sell your book and provide the publisher’s sales force with the ammo they need to go out to the trade.

Publishing veteran Peter Rubie will help you navigate the rapids of book publishing so you can find the perfect home for your books. Bring all your questions about book publishing so you can learn from some of the best in the business!

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

Fall Back Into Your Projects Mixer
Thursday, August 22
12 – 1 PM PDT
Zoom link provided upon registration

Need motivation to get back on track with your writing projects? Ready to take on the rest of 2024? Join WNBA-San Francisco for our August Share and Tell Mixer.

During this mixer, everyone will have a few minutes to:

  • Share: Who You Are & Your Biggest Summer Wins
  • Tell: What You Are Working on and How Our Community Can Help You Reach your 2024 Goals. This can be a service you are offering or seeking, reviews or editing for your book, questions about next steps, etc. Be sure to sign the virtual guest book and share your contact info.

As our networking ambassador, Debra Eckerling says: “You can’t reach your goals on your own. You need your peeps!” Our growing community of writers and publishing professionals are the key to making these connections happen.

It’s a MIXER, so share this post and bring a literary friend or two to join the virtual fun! We appreciate our members! We’d love for you to join us so we can hear about how this year went for you, and your hopes for the fall to come. 

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!


Featured Member Interview – B. Lynn Goodwin

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B. Lynn Goodwin is the owner of Writer Advice, www.writeradvice.com. She’s written You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers, Talent, Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62, and her latest novel, Disrupted. Talent was short-listed for a Literary Lightbox Award, won a bronze medal in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, and was a finalist for a Sarton Women’s Book Award, while Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62 won a National Indie Excellence Award and was a finalist elsewhere. She is a reviewer and teacher at Story Circle Network, and she is a manuscript coach at Writer Advice.

I’d like to start by discussing your background in theater. Who or what sparked your passion for the stage? How does that background factor into your writing?

(BLG): My mother sparked my interest. She’d wanted to be an actress and I cast her in a couple of my shows when I was directing community theater. At that time there weren’t as many opportunities to explore what you wanted to be, or if there were, I didn’t know about them. I loved teaching high school and college theatre because I enjoyed coaching actors and watching them transform into the characters they were supposed to be. I also loved showing them ways to tap into their creativity and analytical skills. Little did I know it would lead to writing.

Here’s a key tip: Every character in a play or a piece of literature wants something. Identify what the character wants, what s/he can do to get it, and what is in her/his way. Whether you’re acting from a script, performing in a commercial, or writing fiction, memoir, or even self help, these principles will give you three-dimensional characters.

Tell me a little bit about the writing process and inspiration for your latest novel, Disrupted.

(BLG): Disrupted was inspired by the what ifs that lurk in my mind. What if the long-predicted earthquake on the Hayward Fault actually happened? What’s the aftermath of losing a sibling in the war? For that matter, what’s the aftermath of being displaced? And what can you pull off in terms of constructive contributions when you’re young, optimistic, and eager to make the world work as it should?

First drafts provide clay. They give you the material to sculpt. You can add clay, remove clay, and reshape it. Revision empowers writers. You get to see what you can do with the words on the page.

What do you do if you have no ideas? Write anyway. Make a list of what you need to do or the things you’ve already done this week. Let one idea lead to the next and don’t worry about structure. You’re just getting ideas on the page.

What do you do if your first draft is perfect and you need no revision? Check your ego. Read looking for what’s missing. Have a peer read it to you and notice where she hesitates and when his forehead crunches because he’s puzzled. Ask him what he likes and what trips him up. Listen to responses. Don’t hesitate to do one more draft, even if you’ve already revised it 9 times.

How will you know when it’s ready to submit? Put it away for a month or so. When you take it out, you may see places to improve. Trust the distance of time and space as well as your instincts.

On that note, let’s talk about your influences in general. What inspires you, as a reader and as a writer?

(BLG): Although I’m not a skilled marketer, I like helping other writers by acknowledging what’s right in their work. The desire to do that influences me. I’m inspired by authors who write character driven novels that share insights into the workings and motivations of people in clear, well-written prose. I love a psychological thriller, a well-written mystery, most memoirs, lots of book club selections, and almost every book sent to me for review. I’m a fan of good, character-driven, contemporary YA and coming of age as well.

You’ve mentioned that reviewing plays an important role in the writing community, connecting and empowering writers. Can you elaborate a little bit on that idea? Was Writer Advice born out of that desire to connect and empower writers?

(BLG): Nobody likes to feel stuck. A good, non-judgmental writing community can help a writer to move forward. I love it when I’m working with a writer who writes back to tell me how useful my ideas are. I like triggering new ideas in their mind as much as I like explaining the basics to those who’ve never learned them but have a passion for telling their story.

I originally created Writer Advice, www.writeradvice.com, because I wanted to learn the secrets of published authors and if they took the time to answer my questions, I thought I should share their ideas. The idea was to give them publicity and spread the word. Writer Advice has grown and changed and so have I. I hope it has something valuable to offer you, and I’m always open to your questions and suggestions as well as editing work.

Finally, as a published author yourself, is there any advice that you’d like to share with aspiring writers?

(BLG):
Write daily for at least 20 minutes.
Let one idea lead to another. You can edit later.
Read widely.
Review the books of others. You’re giving back to the community.
Edit carefully, asking yourself what you intended to convey.
Keep writing.
Find a writing community.
Don’t try to do it all in one day.
Look for the joys in life.
There are stories all around us, but no two people see them in the same way. What’s your version?

Writing Brings Comfort While Grieving: A Letter to My Mother

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by Emily Thiroux Threatt

My Parents were married on Mother’s Day 80 years ago, so my thoughts keep drifting toward them. I facilitate The Grief and Happiness Alliance gatherings every week where we get together on Zoom, do some writing and sharing and learn happiness practices, and one of their favorite exercises is to write letters, so I decided to write a letter to my Mother in celebration of her wedding and anniversary. I haven’t written a letter like this to my Mother before, and there are so many things I could say. I’ve been thinking about ideas to focus on. Here are a few:

  • I could pick out a few memories and reminisce with her, like the time when we were cleaning out her garage together, we found her mother’s love letters to her first husband who died young.
  • Or how when I was writing my book, she would sit in a chair behind me so she could watch me write over my shoulder. She was fascinated by my computer which was a new thing at that time.
  • Or how we shopped together to buy blue sotted Swiss fabric for my bridesmaid’s dresses, then we shopped together again to buy the ivory raw silk for my daughter’s wedding dress. And how I made all those dresses.
  • I could write to her about how I discovered how much she must have loved me as a baby when I was rocking my infant son in the middle of the night feeling overwhelmed by my love for him, She wasn’t one to express emotions, but at that moment, I knew how she must have felt when she held me.
  • I could thank her for what she did for me throughout my life remembering how hard she worked to help me get into college, and how hard it must have been to let her 18-year-old daughter to move so far away.
  • Or I could write about how she let my best friend move into my bedroom when her new husband was sent off to Vietnam.
  • And I would write for sure to tell her how grateful I am that she chose to come live with us during her last year and all the amazing adventures we had during that precious time.

I could write a whole book about her. I only wish I would have talked to her about so many things while I still could. We didn’t communicate well, and I am sure that’s one of the reasons I became a writer. I want to leave nothing left unsaid. In our writing group, after we write a letter to a loved one, we take a breath, then we write another letter from our loved ones back to us. When I wrote that letter to my Mom, I wrote a letter from her back to me. These letters aren’t planned. We just let whatever comes to us to flow out on to the page. We have received beautiful, meaningful answers.

I’m sure we could debate on where these answers come from; however, what matters most is the peace and joy those responses bring.

I encourage you today to write a letter to your mother, or maybe your grandmother. You may want to write it in your journal or find a special place to save what you write. Then you can go back and read it when you can use some mom time. And if your mom is still here, be sure to put that letter in the mail.

After the deaths of two husbands, as well as the many family members and friends, Emily Thiroux Threatt has much experience in the grieving process and has learned to face life with love, optimism, and joy.

Her books include Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief and The Grief and Happiness Handbook. She created The Grief and Happiness Cards and is the host of Grief and Happiness Podcast. She also hosts weekly online gatherings of the Grief and Happiness Alliance where people dealing with loss write together and learn happiness practices.

The Why Behind the Words: Discovering Purpose in Your Writing Journey

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by Christina Vo 

There are countless reasons why people write. Some individuals know from a very early age that they are destined to be writers. Others, like myself, might arrive at writing later in life, and not necessarily because we dreamed of becoming published authors. For me, writing was a way of understanding myself, the world around me, and my relationships with others. In my younger years, journaling in the morning became a method to grasp the thoughts and emotions swirling in my mind.

I believe it’s crucial for people to understand and reflect on why they write. If you’re determined to become a published author with one of the big five publishers, that’s an admirable and worthwhile goal. However, you might fall into another category where you enjoy writing but weren’t formally trained. Perhaps you used writing as a life tool and later decided to publish some of your works. Whatever your reason for writing, it’s important to remember that ‘why’ and let it be a guiding principle as you delve deeper into your craft.

For those like me, it’s also vital to understand that some of the rewards of writing are not solely external (e.g., publishing in a prestigious journal or securing a great book deal). Many rewards are internal, and these lessons are invaluable.

Let me share a personal example. Earlier this year, I published a book, My Vietnam, Your Vietnam, co-written with my father. It’s a dual-perspective memoir about Vietnam, with chapters alternating between my father’s story and mine. I crafted the book by pulling pieces from a book he published in 2000 and my earlier writings on Vietnam. Through this process, I gained a deeper understanding of my father’s story and the challenges he faced throughout his life. It brought me a newfound respect and compassion for his journey. While I was delighted to have the book published by Three Rooms Press, more importantly, I am pleased that it deepened my understanding of my father.

This is just one example of how writing has benefited me beyond publication. In many ways, writing can be an art of being present (and we know we could all use more presence in our lives). The benefits can simply lie in the process of writing, in getting your thoughts out on the page, and in developing a deeper understanding of the world around you.

It’s important to remember this so that we don’t get lost in the business of writing and publication. The joy of writing can be found in the moment, in the art and craft itself. And who knows — you might find that you do your best writing when there’s nothing at stake, and when you’re writing simply because you’re committed to it.

By keeping sight of your personal ‘why,’ you can maintain a balanced perspective on your writing journey, appreciating both the external achievements and the internal growth it brings. Remember to never lose sight of your ‘why’ and that ‘why’ might be different for all of us.

Christina Vo is a writer based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her work reflects her commitment to understanding and sharing the complexities of the human experience. Christina’s debut memoir, The Veil Between Two Worlds: A Memoir of Silence, Loss, and Finding Home, demonstrates her ability to weave personal experiences into broader narratives about identity, home, and belonging. Her second book, My Vietnam, Your Vietnam, an intergenerational memoir co-written with her father, was published in April 2024 and recently selected for the Ms. Magazine Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2024. She has worked internationally for UNICEF in Vietnam, the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, as well as served as a consultant for nonprofits.