writing community

An Interview with Julia Halprin Jackson

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Julia Halprin Jackson, smiling in a striped shirt

I first met Julia Halprin Jackson in the spring of 2005 in Granada, Spain. We were both in college and enrolled in a study abroad program, and spent the next five months learning about this beautiful city and country, as explorers and writers. Julia has a very generous spirit, which I can see clearly in her writing (And she actually writes about Spain! Now I’m wondering why I never really did…). Though I haven’t seen her in many years, I’ve always felt a connection to her through our shared love of creative writing. We are so excited to have Julia as December’s featured Plume writer.

Plume: When did you know you were a writer?

Julia Halprin Jackson: I’ve loved writing ever since I could hold a pencil. I’ll always love Thursdays because in second grade, Mrs. Stroeve made them “creative writing” days.

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Writing Outside Your Genre

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White, red-headed woman with sleeve tattoo writing in a notebook in front of a full bookcase

What’s All the Fuss About Genres?

The word “genre” gets thrown around a lot.  Sometimes it’s in the phrase “genre writing”, meaning writing that fits into a specialized category such as romance, science fiction, or horror. Another way we see this term applied is when referring to different styles of writing, such as fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. When I went to graduate school, The Powers That Be asked us to each pick a primary genre to apply to the program with and then write in once we arrived (though some resisted this and turned in some pretty kick-ass hybrid dissertations). I chose fiction because I was excited about it and because it was all I knew how to write.

But over the years, another genre has been creeping into my life.

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An Interview with Samantha Tetangco

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Samantha Tetangco, smiling and looking into the distance with a waterway behind her

Hello, friends! Today’s interview is with Samantha Tetangco, Plume’s upcoming featured writer for November. I met Samantha (or Sam, as she tends to go by when not publishing) at the beginning of my MFA program in the fall of 2007. Right away I knew I had met a kindred writing spirit. Sam is such a … Read more

An Interview with Judy Reeves

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Judy Reeves in jeans and white long-sleeved blouse, standing in front of all wall so it looks like she has white angel wings

Plume’s upcoming August/September mailing will feature Judy Reeves, a dynamic writer, teacher, and writing practice provocateur. Judy has been a delight to work with, and we’re so excited to share her writing with you! Check out our interview with her to find out why she’s a writer you don’t want to miss! Plume: When did … Read more

My First Creative Writing Class

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The first creative writing class I ever took was back in the 90s. I’d been living in Chicago and was back home in San Diego visiting.  My friend Karin invited me to join her at a writing class at a place called The Writing Center in the part of downtown that was long ago Chinatown, and still a little sketchy.   The teacher, Judy Reeves, doled out writing prompts like hors d’ouvres at a cocktail party. The format was simple:  Judy shared a writing prompt, set the timer, and we wrote.  Furiously. It’s like we were all drunk on the creativity that was in the air.  I was terrified.  Sure, I’d been writing, but I wasn’t a WRITER.  Everyone else in the group, however–  well they just blew me away with their talent.   For one prompt, Judy asked us each to write down a secret–fact or fiction and place it in the basket. Then we each drew one.   I don’t remember what secret I shared, only the one I got:  “She slept naked.”  I was surprised and pleased with what I wrote (It’s probably in a notebook in a box in my basement).  One woman, however astounded me.  For some reason I am remembering her name as Mimette. She pulled the secret “He had webbed hands.”  While the timer ticked away, Mimette wrote a complete story (with a beginning, a middle and an end) about a man who had become a monk so he could hide his webbed hands in his long-sleeved cassock.

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Writing Alone, Writing Together

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women writing together

With a hat tip to one of my writing mentors, Judy Reeves, I thought I’d write about writing groups….

image- writing alone writing together book by Judy ReevesThe first writing group I ever attended was a half-day workshop facilitated by Judy Reeves, author of A Writer’s Book of Days, and Writing Alone, Writing Together (and More!) .  It was in 19- 90-something hosted by the first iteration of the San Diego Writing Center.  The 4th Street building was once part of  San Diego’s Chinatown around the turn of the century, a detail that irrelevant, but interesting.  My best friend Karin had invited me…

Judy shared writing prompts and set the timer.  The rules were simple–to keep the pen moving.  We wrote, and wrote, and wrote.  And we shared.  I still remember one prompt: we each wrote a secret, real or fiction,onto a small scrap of paper and put it into a basket from which we chose at random.  One woman, had drawn the secret “He had webbed hands…”  She wrote a story of a monk, who chose the monastic life not for some calling to god, but because of the robes.  He could hide his hands… 

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