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Recently, I had the great pleasure to speak with Literary Titan about my writing path, what inspired me to write my latest poetry book, what I hope readers will take away from my work, and what I’m most recently working on.
Path of Discovery Interview at Literary Titan Clickety-Click!
Looking for a riveting read and a great holiday gift for the readers in your life? Copies of Does It Look Like Her? are available now at Amazon or for signed copies, check out my Write Path Productions Etsy page.
Thrilled to announce that my poem. “Legacy,” was published today in Dulcet! My poem is on page 44. The theme is “Moonglades: A Reflective Issue.”
It’s also a great joy to be publication twins with my talented friend, Terri McCord; check out her amazing poem, “the world turns pointillist,” on page 21!
Dulcet is open for submissions. Check out their theme calls and submission guidelines at: clickety-click.
Photo courtesy of Camille Brodard at Unsplash.com.
Splendid news! I’m excited that my craft article, “Build Better Beginnings: from Throat-Clearing to Motor-Running Fiction,” was published today as part of the WOW! Women on Writing Market Newsletter.
Also, check out the amazing interview with Paula Munier (by Donna Judith Essner), the literary markets actively seeking submissions of writing, and so many more literary resources to spark your writing.
I also had the chance to contribute two seasonal photos to the article, including this one.
Here’s a fun excerpt. “First drafts of narratives frequently gain momentum a few pages or a chapter in, but readers must be entertained from the start or else they don’t continue reading. Let’s take a few looks at some splendid, sure-fire ideas for building beginnings that reel in readers.
Don’t hold off. Want, want, want, immediately! Unmet desires and needs give the protagonist something to act on and to react against from the get-go. Instead of leading up slowly to the protagonist’s struggle, show the character already struggling in the first scene. Even better if they struggle from the first page.
Limit your number of characters in the first pages. A deeper dive into one character—rather than a slower, cocktail-party-style, round-robin introduction—gives your readers a chance to shadow your protagonist and to feel firmly situated into their life and limitations before meeting the entire cast of characters. It’s great to introduce the antagonist early, though, as pushback motivates the protagonist’s need to act.“
Read the rest at: the WOW! Market Newsletter. 🎃
I recently had the joy of meeting fellow fictionist and flash writer Jason Brick for a delightful conversation we shared via messages about this art form we love.
Read on for a few excerpts of our lively conversation about flash fiction—including the coolest place Jason’s newsletter has gone and Jason’s bio. Then, check out his newsletter and submit your flash fiction.
Also, my In a Flash craft book from Vine Leaves Press is the perfect holiday gift for yourself and your writer friends for the upcoming holidays! Buy In a Flash! Writing & Publishing Dynamic Flash Prose by Melanie at: Vine Leaves Press website
or at: Amazon
Or, for signed copies, Melanie’s Etsy page
Without further ado, the discussion about flash fiction:
Q: What drew you to flash fiction?
Jason: It’s the variety. For the reader and the writer, you’re not committing to a long narrative, so you get to play with genres, styles, crossovers, characters, languages, tropes you otherwise wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pencil.
Melanie: Flash is super flexible—it combines the narrative and action elements of fiction with attention to poetic language. It’s also compact and helps writers learn compression (which I always need!), integrating language like dynamic verbs and precise imagery, which I find exciting.
Q: What makes flash special or stand out from other literary genres?
Jason: Sort of what I mentioned above. It’s super-short, so there’s more room for variety and creativity than with other lengths of fiction.
Melanie: It combines the best elements of fiction and poetry and yet brings its own special qualities to the table, including a variety of formats and styles.
Q: Tell us about your book in a sentence or two, as if it were a birthday present you were describing.
Jason: Flash in a Flash is just the coolest gift, because I get to open it twice a week! It’s a literary newsletter that puts a super short story - under 1,000 words - in my mailbox every Monday and Thursday! All kinds of genres. All kinds of styles.
And it gets better! I’m a writer, and they’re seeking submissions. So with a little luck I can have my own micro-stories get out into the world. They’re a paying market, too!
Melanie: Very cool. Always great to learn about writing markets, especially those which pay. My book, In a Flash, sizzles the pen and sparks a thunderstorm of dazzly new ideas that have never crossed your mind before and will continue to deliver awesome exercises and fabulous flash examples that you can return to again and again, at any season of your writing life ahead. You’ll want to keep it handy and gift a friend interested in the genre. 😊
Q: What’s the coolest or wackiest place(s) your book has been read OR where would you like your book to be read?
Jason: The easy answer is that many people tell me, because of the short time commitment, they keep and read their copy in the bathroom. Besides that, I compiled the first volume in the series while living in Malaysia, so I read several of the submissions while on a boat in a river in Borneo.
Melanie: Wow! Malaysia and a boat in Borneo—so awesome! My favorite place readers have told me my book has traveled is in a gift bag to encourage a friend who has hit writer’s block or who isn’t familiar yet with the joys of flash. Writers are incredibly supportive and kind friends, and I love hearing that my book resonated with a reader so much that they want to gift it to a friend.
Q: Does your book contain exercises for writers? If so, what’s your favorite one that you’d like to share now?
Jason: Not exactly, but anybody can submit…and there is no better writing exercise that finishing a story and submitting it.
Melanie: I love what you say about finishing a story and submitting it. Very encouraging! My book contains a bunch of exercises that writers can use on days when they’re not sure what to write and how to even begin. I love hearing that someone used my exercises to draft a story, submit it for publication, and subsequently received an acceptance letter.
Q: What’s your favorite flash story? Or a flash story that you remember reading and being excited about exploring more in your own writing?
Jason: As of this writing, my favorite remains “The Apocalypse According to Dogs” from my first anthology. It just tickles me.
Melanie: I look forward to checking out that story you mention. The first flash I remember reading and thinking about how amazing it was and wanting to explore more in my own writing was the one often attributed to Hemingway: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” That just hits me in the gut. As a poet as well, the imagery just says it all. That so very much emotions could be contained in six short words is super inspiring and challenging. Every time I read it, I both get the chills AND want to write something that eloquent and that compact.
Bio:
Jason Brick is the skipper at Flash in a Flash, a biweekly newsletter delivering fiction to mailboxes all over the world. When not writing and editing, he travels, cooks, practices martial arts, and spoils his wife and two sons. He lives in Oregon.
Connect with Jason:
https://www.facebook.com/brickcommajason
Contact Jason: brickcommajason@gmail.com
So pleased to announce that I was recently interviewed by super talented @gilliancourtneypoetry about my poetry and writing experiences and will be featured this week, along with poetry, at @theporchswingpoetry on Instagram!
Check out the first part of our interview today and return later this week for poems by yours truly. 😊
Read more work at this amazing new poetry venue and return often for inspiring poems, interviews, and posts by many talented poets. 🍁
Courtesy of WOW! Women on Writing
Super excited that my article with tips for getting unstuck from a creative slump was published today at Women on Writing Markets Newsletter . Read an excerpt (below), and then clicky to check out amazing literary markets for your latest projects!
My beautiful buttons. 💗
Seek the Superb Small: Years ago, I wrote a poem about a glass jar of buttons I deeply regretted not buying after they were sold. I shared that poem at readings and found that the seemingly effortless poem about the buttons was the one readers connected with most and even asked about later. What is it about the buttons that inspired? It’s sensory: we’d all worn (and lost) buttons, touched their worn or burnished surfaces. The buttons expressed bigger themes of family, care, childhood, regret, hindsight, loss, and much more. Small items carry big resonance. It’s the same reason “Bus Stop” by The Hollies with its umbrella imagery is such a timeless lyric. Take a walk through an antique shop or look through your kitchen junk drawer or boxes in the garage and spot the many ordinary treasures you could write about today. P.S. All’s well that ends well: last week, a canning jar of blue and green beauties entered my writing life via a local consignment shop.
Seek Creative Community. Attending readings, taking classes or workshops, scheduling a lunch out at a coffeehouse with a creative pal to free-write and then sharing: all encourage your muse to get active, pronto. You’re giving the muse a deadline as well as offering it the supportive presence of another maker. Win-win.
Seek a Prompt. Arriving blank to the blank screen can be intimidating; prompts set you up for success. Choices abound: lines from your favorite song or poem, a movie scene, or a quote you find online, such as at Brainy Quote. Or have friends send quotes or photos they like. I’ve also used paintings and figurines as prompts. Respond directly to the prompt—or don’t. You’re allowed to go with first thoughts; veer in any direction you wish. Prompts launch you to where you will do your best work. No need to keep it all. Write now; sculpt later.
Seek Another Medium. My writing has immensely deepened with my photography and drawing practices. Dabbling in other arts has taught me a ton about myself as a creative thinker. Try painting, hand-making paper, or puppetry. Pottery, dance, stained-glass making, or create music. Return to collage or scrapbooking. Start a YouTube channel. Cross-stitch, design a mural, or get an inexpensive sketchbook to fill. Or try a few. Investments in creating in any media enrich our writing and encourage fun and growth.
If you’d like to have fun creating in another medium, check out my new online course that begins Friday, August 2nd. I’d love to work with you and a friend. Art Making for Authors—clickety-click!
Super excited to share my new article that was published today at Women on Writing! Check it out. 🥳
3 Exciting Ways Creating Art Enhances Writing
By Melanie Faith
Have you always wanted to try (or get back to) painting, drawing, making videos or music or fiber arts, dancing, sculpting, photographing, making jewelry, making hybrid work, pottery, or another art form but felt like it was out of your reach, you didn’t have enough time or the right skill level? This article is for you! You have great company. Including me.
As a creative writing teacher and author, I didn’t consider myself a visual artist and I didn’t allow myself the time until recently to explore, dabble, and create the other things I really wanted to make.
It took me a lot of years to realize one of the reasons. Art class in sixth grade was required for all students. How I loved noodling around with the supplies and chatting to classmates at our art tables, making jokes and attaching feathers and sticks and other items to our mobile projects, getting charcoal smears on our hands as we tried our hands at drawing of a vase of flowers and then our classmates’ profiles. It was just like elementary-school art, only better, because the lessons were more challenging and covered diverse types of art. Then something unfortunate happened.
Seventh grade art was an invitation-only club. And I didn’t get an invitation to join. I’m pretty sure that’s the point at which I stopped even trying to just make things for the fun of making them. The exclusion of it settled: art-making is for others.
So for years, I carried cameras and photographed all matter of artsy things without calling myself a photographer or trying to get published. I visited museums and student art shows and doodled in margins of journals but never showed anyone. I never talked about it (like I told oodles of people about my writing), and I never took classes. Sometimes, I grabbed scissors and glue and made collages from old magazines that I put on my door to amuse myself, but I never considered just how happy it made me to create these things, just how contented and relaxed I was in the making process, because I didn’t think I was talented at it.
Eventually, I started to take baby steps. I started to share my photography, first with friends and then submitting to magazines. A few years ago I treated myself to a “real” sketchbook where I could stretch out across the page and make bigger marks. I gave myself more space to make, and it enhanced my writing life.
I’d love to encourage you to explore whatever arts appeal to you as well. Don’t wait for permission or until you feel it’s comparable to a famous artist or even to the quality of something you’ve seen a friend do. Begin now. See what you can do. No stakes, no pressure.
Let’s take a look at how practicing an art—any art—can deepen and inspire your writing process.
It boosts play and discovery.
I’ve long been a fan of serial cartoons, one-panel comics, and graphic novels. I love the multitude of options for telling a visual story well. As a young kid, I devoured Cathy, Frank and Ernest, Peanuts, Hägar the Horrible, and Garfield in their daily installments in my parents’ newspapers (and made a scrapbook of them one year), and once I started teaching and graphic novels became part of the high-school curriculum, I discovered afresh the amazing story and character possibilities in comics through Persepolis, Maus, and Scott McCloud’s craft book, Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. I began doodling a little caricature of my face and my waving hand that I enjoyed adding to cards for friends and my nieces. This year, I finally gave myself a fun new challenge—to write a 3-page comic I called “I Could Have Been Veronica.”
I worked for about a month, from conceiving the story to hand drawing the panels, to revising the story and drafting twice before the third, final, draft. And had the best time! Is it professional? Nope! I’ve got some (okay, many) slanting lines, and I redrew more times than I’d like to admit (here’s looking at you, waving hand that looked gnarled and pair of tap shoes that were a terror to draw in scale), but did that ultimately matter? Not one jot. I spent many pleasant afternoon and evening breaks with my colored pencils, pens, and notebook, adding to the three-pager until it was time to share at my blog.
It halts perfectionism, the inner editor, and the competition-fair mindset.
The important thing was never that the comic should be perfect or professional quality. The goal was to get lost in the joy of seeing how I would create this three-page comic. To evolve and stretch the limits of what I could draw and say within the tiny frames. To relish the moment of creating for prolonged, short bursts. That is, the goal was not to compare it to anything I’ve read and adored in graphic novels, comic strips, and cartoons, but to make my own something. A pure, untainted, joyous flow of creativity. Making art for the sake of making it. Very satisfying.
It facilitates joy. (Who couldn’t use more of that?!)
It matters less and less that I’m not naturally talented in the visual arts I’ve chosen to enjoy (I will pick up what I need to know through making things, exploring, reading about them) or that I wasn’t seen long ago as a good candidate for art club (that was so 7th grade!). I like to make things now, want to make more in the future, and that’s enough. Whatever I make will encourage my perceptions, challenge and inspire me, and engage the side of myself that likes to reflect and dream. Refreshing.
Join me for my August Art Making for Authors class, which begins August 2nd. You’ll get a chance to break out some supplies and practice the kind of projects you’ve been wanting to make. You can pick any form of art you fancy for each assignment, and we’re not looking for perfection or comparison—we’re looking to savor the making process. Learn more and sign up at: clickety-click.
Excited to share this interview with Bold Journey! A bit about the magazine: “Bold Journey is a space to share stories and learn from each other's experiences.”
Melanie, we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?
I’m a professor, tutor, freelance editor, and writer. I absolutely love being surrounded by motivated writers through my teaching and freelancing.
I’m also an introvert. A big part of being verbally connective for hours at a time and sharing what I know in support of others’ writing journeys is also maintaining ways to care for myself to ensure that I bring my best to personalize my responses to students and writers and to connect with my students, friends, and family in meaningful ways.
One of my doodles—another way I rejuvenate. ✍️
A big part of my self-care routine in the past four years has been to support myself in taking breaks. Freelancers tend to work morning, noon, and evening, so I make a point most days to take at least two small breaks. Making mint tea (my favorite), reading a novel, sending my sister a funny meme or gif, or watching a few minutes of a streaming show or movie are all good, quick rejuvenators mid-day or at day’s end.
I’m certainly not perfect, and some days I only get one break…or none at all. I had a day this week with no break. In that case, the next day, I take a whole hour or two off (in the morning or early afternoon, to ensure that I work it into the day) to doodle, write, read, or take a nap to make sure I don’t burn out. The times I’ve gotten very close to burn-out have been disconcerting enough that I want to do all I can to ensure that I have the energy to support my own well-being so that I can give more support to others as well.
I’ve also gotten better over the years at telling myself what I would tell a friend, “You’ll actually have more energy and focus if you give yourself this break. Go for it!” 99% of the time, I’m amazed that, returning from even a 10- or 20-minute break, my thinking is clearer and my outlook is refreshed.
Taking walks, listening to music, and my writing practice are also huge parts of my self-care routine.
A shadow self-portrait I took one day for the fun of making something new. 📸
So is something like painting my nails a bright color or taking my camera out to capture some photos. As an introvert who is also communicative, these little, personal breaks to create something (which gives me renewed energy) often act as springboards to work I wish to share later. There are other times when I write or draw or photograph something just for the sheer joy of expression. Sometimes, I think we put too much pressure on being good at an art rather than practicing it just for our own fulfillment, and I want to tell everyone who is reading this that learning an art or a craft or a sport you always wanted to learn can be a great part of self-care and encourage your path–as well as a lot of fun.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I have been a published author and an educator for over 20 years, and I’ve been a writer since I was a child. I love to challenge and motivate myself to try various forms of creative expression, from writing narrative poems to autofiction and a Regency novella to film photography and drawing.
My most recent meaningful adventure was learning how to design my own book cover and self-publish my latest collection of poetry, called Does It Look Like Her?, about a painter, her teaching journey, and her son. I also love writing craft books about various writing topics, from writing flash fiction and poetry to the publishing process and photography, and Vine Leaves Press has published six of my craft books where I share tips and anecdotes of my writing journey with fellow writers. Motivating and supporting others in their path to creativity and personal expression has been an important part of my journey as a teacher, artist, writer, and friend, and I value and appreciate the writers I get a chance to meet and to share this writing path with as I develop my own art.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
As a writer, perseverance, hope, and determination keep me rolling ever onward on my path. A sense of humor and the camaraderie of fellow authors certainly help as well.
Developing a support network as you practice an art, launch a small business, change careers, or any other venture in life is very helpful and often sustains our creative work as well as a feeling of connection in the literary community. Being a supportive, listening ear to others is also meaningful and a wonderful way to develop as an artist, writer, friend, and/or educator.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The number one obstacle I face and which my fellow writers and students often mention is time. Our lives are so packed with activities that having empty pockets of time has become a luxury. At the same time, to make art or a good novel draft or other worthwhile parts of life, we need time to daydream, to dawdle, to plan, and to relax. It’s a real challenge and something that doesn’t seem to get easier to solve over time. Squeezing those self-care breaks into each day or a few times a week seems to work best. So does trying new hobbies or even new foods. Reading a book about something new energizes me as well, even if I can only dip into a few pages each day.
Stopping to have gratitude for the small moment and the little things we appreciate each day is also an energizer and helps to combat the frustration of our overly packed schedules.
One of the many meaningful parts of publishing a new book is reading the reviews. Much appreciation to readers and fellow writers who take the time to leave a review.
Stay tuned for some great reviews of my latest book as well as some tips for leaving reviews for your favorite authors. Please check out the hotlinks and support the social media and books of the mentioned authors—they are super talented, riveting writers. 😊
Also, if I’ve inadvertently missed anyone’s post or review: my sincerest thanks for your time and effort on behalf of my writing—writers rock and are so generous!
These awesome reviews might give you inspiration for the many easy ways you can spread the word about your favorite writers as well as the many fun, articulate ways you can describe their books. 😊
Excerpts from What Readers Are Saying about Does It Look Like Her?:
From Martha Engber Reads Reviews:
“Melanie Faith’s Does It Look Like Her? is a narrative poetry book that reads like a novel. But rather than rely on a lot of words as novels do, each of the 26 poems in the three-part fictional story of Alix is a brushstroke like the kind used by a renown artist to render her likeness into fame…
Image Courtesy of Martha Engber.
If you’re new to poetry, this book should be your entry. It’s accessible, but not simple, beautiful, but not “cute.” Best of all, each poem’s ending packs an insightful punch that caused me to think about, and find, new angles to my own life, rendering me to murmur, ‘Ah.’”
Amazon and Goodreads feedback:
From Carolyn R Russell’s review:
“With each reading, forwards or backwards, my connection to this examined life, this character, and the language of this stunning little book intensified. Certain narrative threads receded while others popped. Linguistic phrases seemed to leap at me with new significance as context for them deepened.”
From Laurie’s @lauriemiller2015 [Instagram]’s review:
“This collection is passionate, melancholy, loving, and to me, an homage to artists who may struggle with their writing, painting, or creating their art. My favorite pieces were the three in which Alix’s son, Sam, speaks about a famous portrait of his mother—the first at age eight, the second at age 20, and the third at age 39. Through those three poems, the reader sees Sam’s perspective, and his relationship with and understanding of his mother, evolve. As the mother of a grown son, I related to the changes in their relationship, and it was beautiful.”
From an Etsy review by Janessa Haley @janessahaleyauthor [Instagram]:
“Melanie's book is so inspiring! This lovely book of poems has been added to the special place on my bookshelf full of Melanie's other books :) If you love beautiful words and poems that tell a story, this book is a must for all poetry lovers!”
From an Etsy review by Jessie Carty:
“So excited to read Melanie's newest poetry book!”
From an Instagram post by Ian M. Rogers:
“Psyched to get Melanie Faith’s new poetry collection, Does It Look Like Her?...If you haven’t already, check out her new innovative, story-based poetry book and her first foray into independent publishing, the latest of many new endeavors—she has signed copies available on her Etsy store (just Google Melanie Faith Etsy), or you can buy it from the Big A (Amazon). Here’s to more creative adventures, and I can’t wait to dive in!”
From a Goodreads review by Terri McCord:
“This book rings true as not only an inventive tribute to creativity and family, but also to the rich history of art and artists. Does It Look Like Her? is also a wonderful collaborative chat with art-makers, past and present, and shaped with such great care by this writer/poet, and art-maker herself. The language is musical, and the relationships are tender, and the portrait that emerges is well worth reading.”
***
If you’ve ever thought about reviewing anyone’s book, here are 5 helpful ideas:
*Don’t have much time right now? No problem—click on the number of stars you wish to give a book at Amazon, Goodreads, or another site. You can return later to write your review, and in the meantime, you have contributed to a better rating for the book. Win-win.
*Unlike formal reviews, you can literally leave just a sentence or two. [See “running short of time” above.]
*Not sure what to say? Here are a few options. Compliment:
characters you connect with
good pacing
funny passages or passages that made you think
a resonant line or two you liked
the conflict or main goal of the protagonist
how this book compares to others in the same genre (you can even name-drop a book or two it reminds you of)
your favorite chapter/poem/essay/line
what you like about the dialogue
POV or alternating POV in the book
what you like about this author’s writing style
*In addition to the book sites listed above, some writers (like myself) also sell their books through an Etsy shop or a personal website. Etsy, in particular, has a feedback box which is another great place to reach readers who are interested in the book.
* Post a few words about a book you love at your own socials and tag the author if you’d like.
*There were also many generous Facebook posts and Facebook replies that I deeply appreciate. Facebook and Facebook Groups can be a great place to share reviews.
To writing beautiful book reviews that make a difference to readers and authors alike!🥳
***
Would you like to read a copy of Does It Look Like Her?:
Signed copies of Does It Look Like Her? available at my Etsy store: clickety-click. Also, available (unsigned) through Amazon: clickety-click.
Cover design and photography by moi 😊
It’s been a hot minute since I shared some doodles, so I felt like a post would be in order.
I’m not above using erasers or cover-up tape to make my drawings better if the first try goes awry. 😉
For my birthday last year, my awesome sister got me a doodle journal. I’ve had lots of writing journals over the years, but never one specifically to encourage my development as a visual artist.
Each page has a prompt. They range from very broad and easy to interpret to real headscratchers that make me amp my creativity and test my sketching abilities, like the day it suggested drawing the final scene from a movie (gulp!).
I spend just ten to thirty minutes on each drawing (the shortest sketch was my Easter tulips), often in-between grading and making a snack or at the end of the day when I’m wide awake but too mentally tired to dig into a draft in-progress.
I find I care much less about whether the sketches are realistic enough to satisfy my inner censors and much more about the fun of using the art supplies.
The slowdown is very rejuvenating on my nervous system—almost like swimming, I can feel the languid time opening up. I was thinking about that a lot this week, as I paged through what I’ve doodled so far and treated myself to a box of soft oil pastels, which are new to me.
This has also given me a chance to practice doodling people, one of my weakest skills. I gave it a whirl on a doodle of a Jane Austen book cover as well as my version of The Bard.
I used a variety of colored pens, colored pencils, gel ink, whatever was handy on these sketches.
Sometimes, I accompanied the sketch with a short sentence or two reflection, almost like a journal, either in answer to the prompt or just a thought on my mind, such as the day it was 18 degrees outside.
Enjoy this medley of doodles from my sketchbook, and may you continue to find enjoyment and inspiration in your own writing and artistic journeys! Create on. 🥳
Thanks for taking a look at these sketches and for all of your support of my books and teaching. Signed copies of my latest poetry book, Does It Look Like Her? , available at my Etsy store: clickety-click. Also, available (unsigned) through Amazon: clickety-click. 📔
This prompt asked doodlers to draw a self-portrait of themselves from another era. I drew myself in an 1860s tintype. My 1860s self is not as smiley. 😁