Hello all,
Welcome to the 27th edition of Women Writing! I spent the first few days of the March Break in Montreal with my husband Mike and adult daughter Mia. We stumbled upon Librairie Bertrand on Rue Saint-Pierre as we wandered the streets of Old Montreal. The bookstore was a little gem with both English and French titles companionably displayed. My favourite was the Local Authors section, probably because that’s where my books are displayed in my local bookstore and I always love to check out the writers in the areas I visit. Along with a host of other authors, I was surprised to see Leonard Cohen and Mordecai Richler. I mean, I shouldn’t be surprised. They’re from Montreal, after all. It reminded me that all authors, however well known or unknown, are Local Authors and it’s something to be proud of. I certainly am, but I don’t think my image will ever grace the side of a building!
About the author…
Dr. Nora Gold is the prize-winning author of five books and the editor of the prestigious online literary journal Jewish Fiction which has readers in 140 countries. Gold’s first book, Marrow and Other Stories, won a Vine Canadian Jewish Book Award and was praised by Alice Munro. Fields of Exile won the inaugural Canadian Jewish Literary Award for best novel and was acclaimed by Irwin Cotler. The Dead Man was honoured with a Canada Council for the Arts translation grant and was published in Hebrew. 18: Jewish Stories Translated from 18 Languages, an anthology of translated works, was praised by Publishers Weekly and Cynthia Ozick. Gold’s fifth book, coming out on March 1, 2024 with Guernica, is In Sickness and In Health/Yom Kippur in a Gym (two novellas). For more details about Nora, visit www.noragold.com.
“I’d advise women writers to view other women writers as potential allies and as a great source of mutual support. Read books by other women writers, connect with them, cheer them on, do events together, and help each other in any way possible.”
On a writing routine …
Normally I write in the morning. This is when I’m freshest, so I try not to let anything interfere with this time that I’ve set aside for writing. I schedule all meetings (both work and social ones) for the afternoon or evening. But as I explain in Question 4, right now this usual routine of mine is temporarily disrupted.
On writing spaces …
In our backyard there is a one-room coach house, and this is where I write. I also do other kinds of work there, such as editing the stories I publish in Jewish Fiction, and usually it works well for all my different kinds of work. Occasionally, though, when I am at an intense stage of writing, I feel the need for a different space, one dedicated exclusively to writing, where I can immerse myself even more deeply. At these times I go to a place about ten minutes from my home so I can withdraw from everything and have something like my own private writing retreat. For a few weeks I spend twelve-hour days there in complete isolation and solitude, which is what I need at that point in the writing.
On writing communities …
I’m not a member of a writing group where people critique each other’s work, but I am a member of the Writers Union of Canada, and because of my activities in the literary community over the years – both in person (pre-Covid, I ran a reading series called Wonderful Women Writers) and virtually (I founded and edit the online literary journal, Jewish Fiction, through which I’m in touch with writers, translators, and publishers from around the world) – I experience myself as part of not only the local (Toronto and Canadian) literary community, but the international one, as well. This is important to me both in terms of my identity as a writer and for the mutual support and encouragement we offer each other, which helps to counteract the social isolation of a writing life.
![Book Cover Two Novellas Book Cover Two Novellas](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8876bf52-68fe-43d2-a8c2-fc5f8e10703b_1210x855.jpeg)
On challenges …
When I had a young child and was working fulltime as a social work professor, it was challenging to carve out time for (non-academic) writing. After trying various strategies, I left academia twenty-five years ago so I could write fiction fulltime, and generally this has worked out very well. Right now, though, it is challenging once again to find the time to write because four months ago, in October 2023, I had a book published – 18: Jewish Stories Translated From 18 Languages – and in just a few weeks, on March 1, 2024, I will have another book come out – In Sickness and In Health/Yom Kippur in a Gym (2 novellas). So I currently have many unusual distractions and demands on my time related to promoting these books, and this has put my writing on hold for the moment. I am fine with this temporary interruption because promoting one’s books is a necessary part of the publishing process, and I owe it both to my books and to my publishers to do this as well as I can. Still, it’s pretty crazy having two books come out within 4½ months! It is also exciting, of course, but I am really looking forward to being able to soon get back to writing and to my beloved writing life.
On the best writing advice …
The best piece of writing advice I received was to separate the editing process from the writing itself. In other words, don’t edit yourself as you go along; just write, let it flow, and then edit it later. Another helpful thing I was told is that only about 10% of what you write in a first draft is usually worth anything; the rest you’ll have to throw away. I’ve always found this quite liberating.
On the worst writing advice …
The worst piece of writing advice I received was to always be thinking about your audience and what they want or need. This made me feel like I was working in advertising or sales instead of fiction writing, so I ignored this suggestion. Obviously as writers we don’t write in a vacuum – we are not just talking to ourselves – but when I am in the process of writing, I am not oriented to trying to please any particular group, or anyone at all. I am following my story.
On advice from personal experiences …
In addition to my answer to Question 5, I’d advise women writers to view other women writers as potential allies and as a great source of mutual support. Read books by other women writers, connect with them, cheer them on, do events together, and help each other in any way possible.
Nora’s online spaces …
How can I help you?
Check out my book coaching services at www.liisakovalabookcoach.com or contact me if to book a free 30-minute call. Plus, there’s still space in my Spring Group Book Coaching sessions starting in April.
Here’s what my former group book coaching clients had to say:
“Liisa is a fantastic teacher who has a positive spin to whatever challenge you are facing as a writer. I appreciated her honest feedback and way to help you see what you're doing in different ways too help you make your writing the best it can be! She is very approachable and always ready to lend an ear as we work through our writing adventures. Thanks Liisa! ~ Amanda Maybee
“Liisa's workshop is like a shot of adrenaline. It kickstarted me back into writing and helped me focus. Not to be missed!” ~ Mat Del Papa
“I have a vision of growing my literary interests. Until I took this class I felt like I had no clear destination ... I was simply writing. My vision is more than that now.” ~ Annette Vermette
Happy writing!
Women Writing is a weekly newsletter featuring women who are doing the difficult work of writing. If you enjoyed reading the newsletter, please share it with a fellow writer. Let’s inspire each other!