Jenn Givhan has an infectious, delightful personality. So much so, that sometimes I forget I’ve never actually met her in person! I feel like I have because she is such a force in her writing and in her online presence (and also because she helped me out and covered several of my classes when I left work to have a baby!). We are delighted to share some of Jenn’s singular … Read more
Looking Back on the 2010s You’ve probably noticed that everyone is doing all kinds of lists and best ofs for the past decade. We all love a good reason for a list, for marking time, for creating a little time capsule of a moment. I think a “best of” list can be a little disingenuous, though, especially when tastes are subjective and anyway, how could I possibly have read everything … Read more
I met Kate Mann when I was visiting Jill Badonsky at her Creativity Retreat in Taos (she does this once or twice a year and it’s a great way to get in touch with your most creative self. Kate performed at the retreat. I was pretty much mesmerized by her music. She offered CDs ona what-you-can-pay model and I think I had like $3 in my wallet. But I did … Read more
If you’re taking a break from NaNoWriMo to read this, give yourself a hug (or a cocktail, caffeinated drink, pedicure–whatever is your favorite way to pamper yourself)! Writing an entire novel in 30 days is no joke. I don’t think most people enter into this challenge lightly, and I personally did it years ago, so I feel like I should have a sense of what it entails, but getting into … Read more
Our featured writer for December is Dawn Sperber! I met Dawn in the MFA program at UNM back in 2007. She has such a warm and sweet energy about her, and her writing hums with magical assuredness. We are so very excited to share her unique work with you, and we couldn’t think of a better writer to go with Plume’s Solstice theme for December. Please enjoy this interview with … Read more
In 2011, I signed up for something I had never tried before: NaNoWriMo, a.k.a. National Novel Writing Month. This ambitious challenge is what it sounds like: You commit to write an entire novel (50k words) in the month of November. As the site explains, “Writing a novel alone can be difficult, even for seasoned writers. NaNoWriMo helps you track your progress, set milestones, connect with other writers in a vast … Read more
I don’t know Mercedez personally, but I know of her. She’s a superstar in the poetry slam community. One of our Plume subscribers, Michelle Jewett, responded to a call on our newsletter for suggestions for our “Women Who Write” column–our goal is to feature as many kinds of women writers as we can find. Michelle said, “I was at a writing retreat for women academics (via the Critical Race Studies … Read more
If you’ve clicked on this review, you have most likely read Carmen Maria Machado’s debut short story collection, Her Body and Other Parties. If you haven’t yet, run–don’t walk–RUN to your local bookstore or library and get yourself a copy (if you want a taste first, you can read the Law & Order: SVU-inpsired novella that is one of my favorite parts of the collection here). I was excited when … Read more
I (Jennifer) am thrilled to share Jill Badonsky. Before I really knew I was a writer, I was working as the executive director at the now defunct 101 artists’ colony in Encinitas, California, a coop of sorts for artists. Jill taught workshops there. In addition to the the Modern Day Muse class (before she published her book), I signed up for her six-week Performance Writing course, which culminated in a … Read more
Happy fall, Plumesters! As I tend to tell every person I encounter in the world, I adore this season. Cooler weather; cardigans, scarves, and boots; crunchy leaves; warm drinks (I’m currently drinking a hot apple toddy); the pumpkin patch; hot air balloons (in Albuquerque, anyway); Halloween; my birthday–what’s not to love? Another perk of autumn? So many literary journals are not only reopened for submissions after a summer hiatus, but … Read more
I got a major writing rejection this week. This was the kind that makes you feel like you’ve simultaneously been bludgeoned in the head and stabbed in the heart. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that if I want to put my writing out into the world, I have to learn to live with rejection. It’s Not Personal I always think of the scene in You’ve Got Mail where … Read more
When you’re working on a piece of writing, especially one that’s involved and/or long, it can be helpful to expand the way you think about it through different mediums. Sometimes this may involve making maps (hi, I’ve definitely done this), music playlists for your characters (also guilty), or mood boards. I didn’t know just what a mood board was until recently. It sounds like something a celebrity hangs in their … Read more