Featured Writer: Melanie Schnell
On creating space to write and writing advice.
Welcome to Women Writing! In today’s feature, Melanie identifies the worst piece of advice she received as “only write what you know.” What is the worst advice you received?
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About the author…
Melanie Schnell is an award-winning author and Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at the University of Regina. Her first novel, While the Sun is Above Us, won the Saskatchewan First Book Award and the City of Regina Award in 2013, and was shortlisted for the Saskatchewan Fiction Award and Book of the Year award. It has been listed as part of the Saskatchewan high school curriculum in both public and Catholic schools. Melanie has written for television, and has published poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. The Chorus Beneath Our Feet is her second novel.
On a writing routine …
My writing routine consists solely of an intention: endeavouring to stay tethered to the world of the story I'm currently inhabiting. I do this by delving into it first thing in the morning, which, depending on the day, could be anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 hour. Sometimes I only get time to think about it, other times I can get down to writing. Then, when I get longer periods of time (weekends, holidays, sabbaticals!) I take more time to immerse.
On writing spaces …
I often write in my home office, but I prefer writing in coffee shops. It 's hard to get away from my home office because not only are there things that always need tending to at home (laundry! Feeding the child!) but at certain stages of writing I print everything out, or I have stacks of research that need referencing, so staying in my home office is essential. Otherwise, I try to find a coffee shop and put ambient noise in my earphones and dig in, either long hand writing in a journal, or typing on my laptop, depending on where I am in the process. The typing is for the later stages. My home office is pretty cluttered but there is a really cool tree outside my window I tend to look at often, especially if I'm stuck. And my cat snuggles my feet, which is nice.
Exploration in writing is paramount. I think we all need to trust each other more and allow more failure so we can grow and expand in our art, and evolve in our humanity.
On writing communities …
I have belonged to a few writing groups over the years. They've always been helpful because you have a responsibility to meet a deadline to submit your work to your cohorts, and that requires an immersion in your own work, to be developing the world of it. I love getting feedback from other writers, but I find I don't have a lot of time to be involved in a writing group, as you are also beholden to give feedback to several others. I think what would work for me in future would be to find a sweet, flexible little triad, where there is maybe just three of us who are all at a similar level of development and output, so it doesn't become overwhelming.
On challenges …
For my first novel, I had all the time in the world (I realize this now, of course) but I procrastinated due to lack of confidence. For my second novel, I had a job in academia, I was a full-time single mom of a little boy, and later I was diagnosed with Lyme disease and chronic fatigue. Due to poor health I couldn't even read, let alone write, for years. Finding the space—especially within my own body, for writing—has been a massive struggle.
On the best writing advice …
The best piece of writing advice came from an ex-boyfriend, who was an actor. He told me that he loved all the characters he played, especially the villains. I never forgot that. Human beings are so flawed and desperate, usually, even if they don't show it. Perhaps especially then. I make it a point to love my characters, and if I can't love the villains, then I at least try to understand a part of them. To my mind, a huge gift of literature is the compassion necessary to be engaged in the story, and by placing ourselves in role of The Other some kind of awareness or change happens within. This magical formula that literature and story provide cannot be done through exclusion and hatred.
On the worst writing advice …
"Only write what you know." I can't think of a more muzzling, imprisoning way to be in the world. You can't get it right until you get it wrong. Exploration in writing is paramount. I think we all need to trust each other more and allow more failure so we can grow and expand in our art, and evolve in our humanity. That writing advice made me stop writing for a long time. Then I finally got brave and started writing again. I try now to think of the line from Beckett's Westward Ho: "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail better." Though in the novella it wasn't meant as motivation, I still find comfort in it.
On advice from personal experiences …
The world needs your voice. Write within the mess of your lives. There will never be a perfect day for writing (probably). Write anyway.
On rekindling creativity …
Walking and being out in nature. Or having a day where I don't do anything and I don't look at any devices. Then the ideas start to pour in. (this rarely happens!)
On a recent publication …
My second novel, The Chorus Beneath Our Feet, will be available this October (2025). It's a story that explores buried secrets, and the human desire for healing and connection. I have started working on my third novel, but I am a bit superstitious so I don't want to say anything about it yet. :-)
Melanie’s online spaces …
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Happy writing!
So excited to see this novel is now out in the world Melanie! Definitely on my TBR.
This was an excellent article, Melanie, uplifting and encouraging. I’m so astonished by what you’ve accomplished. Congratulations for persevering through all the challenges including Lyme’s disease which I know about first-hand through family. You are a brave and talented woman, dedicated to her family, career and writing. I’m sending you best wishes for the future and I marked your book TBR for 2026.