Hello all,
Happy New Year! Welcome to the 17th edition of Women Writing. It was a foggy Christmas here, but New Year’s Day brought a fresh layer of snow and a sheet of ice across the lake. That’s good news for Rekindle Creativity: Women’s Writing Retreat in Muskoka. The temperatures will remain below zero, and we’re expecting some snow, both perfect for enjoying winter activities in Huntsville.
Our retreat is only two weeks away. If you’ve been thinking about joining us, now is your time. Register at www.rekindlecreativity.com.
and I would be happy to have you.I’m sending you wishes for your writing dreams as this new year begins with all of its possibilities. I’m pleased to introduce (or reintroduce) you to my featured writer brit griffin, the author of The Wintermen Series.
About the author…
I live near the bush, right beside one of the most arsenic-contaminated sites in the Cobalt mining camp. I've written a trilogy of cli-fi novels, ran a magazine, and have done freelance for print and radio.
“To be forceful in making space and time to write, because men always are — to take up room, say what you think, trust your instincts and create narratives that challenge and refute the male gaze.”
On a writing routine …
The mornings are fine, quiet, dark in winter. There is I guess an ebb and flow to when and how much one writes. I write when I can and, when I can, I always feel better.
On writing spaces …
In the winter I write by the fire in the early morning, in the summer out on my porch. But I migrate depending on how much room I need, end up at the dining room table often when in the research phase, can see the birds and squirrels passing by. I like to have beautiful things — leavings like feathers, seed pods; photos of my daughters, — near by and it has to be orderly and quiet. And generally there is my dog and at least one cat nearby. Little muses. But I also write in my head a lot, when walking or driving, or I supposed that is when the characters work, when they come unbidden to show me things.
On writing communities …
No, for me writing is a very solitary pursuit.
On challenges …
Of course. The need for orderliness in a chaotic household. I have tried to become more flexible, letting go of the need to have things perfect before I write. Sometimes it works.
On the best writing advice …
When I very first told someone besides family that I wanted to be a writer — I was in university at the time — he asked me what i was going to write about. I said I wasn't sure. He said there was no point writing for writing sake if you didn't have something to say. I liked that then; still do.
On the worst writing advice …
An editor once told not to anthropomorphize. Since an important and evolving aspect of my writing is to blur the boundaries between human and more-than-human, I ignored the advice.
On advice from personal experiences …
To be forceful in making space and time to write, because men always are — to take up room, say what you think, trust your instincts and create narratives that challenge and refute the male gaze.
brit’s online spaces …
Author Website: www.britgriffin.ca
I believe the world needs more women’s stories. Are you ready to write yours?
I believe we all have a story to tell and I also believe we can learn how to write them. You can write that novel or memoir you’ve been dreaming about. And, I can help you believe in you, too. As an Author Accelerator Book Coach I work with writers at any stage of the writing journey, from the initial seed of an idea to pitching agents. We all have a story within us, waiting to be shared. I can help you tell yours. Let me show you how.
Are you getting ready to query? If so, download my free “20 Essential Querying Steps” checklist. Happy querying!
Attention teachers!
If you’re a teacher, I have something special just for you. Download a free copy of my workbook, Beyond the Blackboard: Empowering Teachers to Write Fiction. Stay tuned for upcoming teacher offerings in April 2024 to set you on the path to writing your novel. You have all the skills you need to learn how to write that book already.
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!