Trust Your Smallest Stories

With a personal spin and a universal takeaway, they'll resonate with readers.

June 1, 2024

Dear Writers,

First, a shout-out to my friend Tanya Ward Goodman, whose essay “Have I Told You How Much I Love Charlotte’s Web” published on The Artist’s Survival Guide reminds me to stay present and “find the radiance. Rest in it. Let it carry us through another day.”

And I so appreciate Robin Finn’s powerful new piece for Jane Friedman’s blog, Is Your Story "Big Enough" to Write About? | Jane Friedman.

In it, Finn writes:

“So I examined my beliefs about writing and worthiness by writing down each belief. Mine looked like this:

·         Only young, hip people have something to say.

·         I am too old to write.

·         It is too late.”

Okay, Melissa again.

Ah, people, it’s NEVER too late! And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Honor your stories by writing them down and launching them into the world!

When my husband and I noticed, six weeks ago, that a single female quail had taken up with our neighborhood gang of turkeys, I could have thought, “So what?” Instead, I began interviewing ornithologists to figure out why such a diminutive bird would hang out all day, every day, with five birds 30 times her size.

I could have stopped there and thought, “Nobody cares about a bird or an idea this small.” But I couldn’t possibly be the only person in the world interested in this lone quail and its bizarre search for community. I added a personal spin and a universal takeaway, trusting my material, and the piece got picked up by The Los Angeles Times: Opinion: What a quail taught me about grief by joining a flock of turkeys - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com) accompanied by my husband’s stunning photo of said birds. (If you hit a paywall, open the piece in Firefox.)

All this to say, trust your stories. They’re big enough to write about, especially if you can make a universal connection to the topic and to readers. (This quail’s turning out to be a hellion, by the way—she’s been chasing all the female turkeys away from her man. I’m sensing a hybrid natural history/romance piece for Romanceaholic Magazine.

What I’m Publishing

After a decade of excuses, I’m thrilled to release a 13-lesson online course on “How to Write Personal Essays for Magazines and Newspapers.” It’s thirteen short videos and handouts packed with book recommendations, short assignments, essay writing tips, and links to dozens of published personal essays by a diverse roster of writers.

For the month of June, I’m offering the entire course for just $50. After that, I need to raise the price significantly. You can preview it here, and sign up for it on that same site or simply register here. (My apologies for the fly that tortured me for a minute during one of the videos; I’ll have you know that I did not swat it after all, but gently escorted it outside.)

I’ve got essays forthcoming in Dame Magazine and Good Beer Hunting, and a fascinating story about female firetower employees in McCall Life. I’ll send links ASAP.

I’m recruiting reviewers to write short testimonials for my forthcoming book Down Syndrome Out Loud: 20-Plus Stories to Change your Mind about Disability (Sourcebooks, 2025). If you know someone with Down syndrome or someone affiliated with the demographic, send them my way!

Where I’ll Be Soon

July 12-13th, 2024—I’m teaching—yes, teaching—at the Oregon Country Fair, specifically on the Spoken Word stage. More details soon. Will I wear fairy wings and cat ears and a tail? You can count on it!

August 29th-Sept. 1st, 2024—I’m thrilled to be partnering with Chanticleer Inn in Ashland, Oregon to teach a four-day workshop on personal essay writing. We’ll share writing and meals and a play at Oregon Shakespeare Festival . . . it’s going to be a lovely, inspiring long weekend full of new, exciting friendships and writing!

Want me to keynote and/or teach at your conference, school, library, or decades-old hippie fair? I’d be thrilled! See my website for information on what I teach or ask me to teach something else!

A Few Cool Resources for Writers

·        Until June 15th, you can learn the craft of short fiction courtesy of writer Jo Gatford right here: Smash Your Flash - The Craft of Short (Short) Fiction (substack.com)

·        After you’ve learned to write flash fiction, take a look at this gorgeous piece of flash nonfiction by Brad Aaron Modlin from Brevity Magazine: Hungry Because This World Is So Very Full | Brevity: A Journal of Concise Literary Nonfiction (brevitymag.com)

·        Inspired? Brevity’s editors are always on the lookout for creative nonfiction and craft essays capped at 750 words. Here are submission guidelines: Submissions | Brevity: A Journal of Concise Literary Nonfiction (brevitymag.com)

·        I appreciate the useful wisdom in Angie Isaacs’ article for Jane Friedman’s blog: 3 Book Marketing Misconceptions and What to Do Instead | Jane Friedman . Here’s a tantalizing quote: “Authors hate what they think marketing is. Like most writers, I was not initially thrilled with marketing. But the more I learned, the more my feelings about marketing shifted. Not only is my marketing more successful now, I also enjoy it!” (I wonder how Angie would feel about me in a hazmat suit & cat mask, shearing poison oak at arm’s length on my recent TikTok.)

·        Finally, it’s time for summer reading! Here’s an article to help you choose your next favorite book on the craft of writing: 9 Books to Spark Your Creativity - Electric Literature

Conferences, Residencies, Fellowships, & Calls for Submissions

·        Need time and space to write? Check out 25+ Incredible Writers Retreats to Attend in 2024 (thewritelife.com)

·        I adore this organization, and not just because they published my first essay on feral turkeys. Check out their call for submissions: Submission Guidelines | Center for Humans & Nature (humansandnature.org)

·        Surely, you have a short personal essay about your cat, your dog, or your grandma. If so, check out these submission guidelines! Possible Book Topics | Chicken Soup for the Soul

·      Here’s a wealth of opportunities for writers over 50, from publications to fellowships! Opportunities for Older Writers – WordMothers – for women writers & women’s writing

·        What a fabulous lineup of speakers at the Chuckanut Writers Conference | Return to Your Senses... in Bellingham, Washington at the end of June. There’s still time to get in on the fun!

·       Write stories and get a paycheck? Yes, please! Where to Sell Short Stories: 7 Places That Pay (makealivingwriting.com)

Okay, that’s all for now. Let me know if you want me to include any writing resources in my July issue, and I’ll do so!

Much gratitude,

Melissa

P.S. This is me in a dog costume, supporting my friend Lisa at her debut for her Hound Nose Bakery. I mean, I wasn’t using my dignity anyway . . .