The Creativity Corner: Winter 2018

/ saraletourneau

Happy Spring, everyone! Who else is looking forward to the weather getting warmer, the flowers to start blooming, and the world to soon turn green and lush and vibrant again? 😀

OK, maybe I was being overexuberant. But spring is my favorite season, after all, and after a super-productive winter on the creative front, I’m looking forward to carrying that momentum into the next season. Plus, I have exciting news to share on two of my writing projects! (No, the current manuscript isn’t done yet, but it’s getting there. *wink*) So, without further ado, let’s dive into this edition of the Creativity Corner.

What I’ve Been Writing

Storm (YA / College-Age Magical Realism)

Winter might not be my favorite season in terms of weather, but WOW was it a productive time for novel-writing. I added over 24,000 words to Storm, so by the end of the season its total word count grew to 88+K. At this rate, I’ll overshoot my goal for a 100K first draft. Then again, my previous manuscript’s first draft was over 132K when I finished it. So it’s par for the course, I guess. (*lol*)

Either way, maybe the first draft might be almost done when I post my next Creativity Corner around the first day of summer? Or maybe even DONE? Let’s call that a “nice-to-have” milestone rather than an actual deadline, though. But the thought of getting closer to finishing this draft sends a rush of adrenaline – and added motivation – through me.

You know what else amazes me about this story’s progress so far? The idea for Storm first came to me around this time last year. Which means that, in one year’s time, I’ve written over 88,000 words of a novel. That’s… just… staggering. To me, at least. With my previous manuscript, it took me over a year and a half to reach the same word count. 😮 I already know a few reasons why Storm is working up faster, though. Maybe I’ll share them in a blog post after the first draft is complete. What do you think?

Aside from progress, I’ve continued doing more research. In addition to having two characters with mental illness (one has anxiety / panic disorder, and the other has depression), a third character (the protagonist’s college roommate) was born in Haiti. Oddly enough, one of my closest friends offline is originally from Haiti and has a stepson (also Haitian) who’s in college. So along with reading articles and watching YouTube videos, I’ve taken up my friend’s offer to ask her questions about Haitian and black culture. She’s been incredibly generous and helpful so far, and I hope I can accurately – and sensitively – reflect what I’ve learned through my character.

Also, my friend and I did a research-related “trip” in February, and I’m planning to talk about it in next week’s What’s Making Me Happy post. Stay tuned for that!

Apart from that… I can’t think of more to say. Except that I’ve shared the main premise of Storm (which you can find here) with more people, including a friend who’s been struggling with stress-related anxiety. And the more I talk about this story with other people, the more… inspired? Encouraged? Empowered? Validated? It’s hard to find the right word that describes how their feedback makes me feel. I just know that every time it happens, the sense of purpose that this story gives me keeps growing stronger.

Poetry

So here’s the news I hinted at earlier: One of my poems has been accepted for publication!!

I don’t want to share too many details yet, since it will be a few months before the poem makes its print debut. But it’s a piece I’ve been working on since last fall, and its home will be an online literary journal that focuses on nature and environmental poetry. And you bet I’ll share the link here when it’s available!

Along with the acceptance, I’ve submitted new batches of poems to a second literary journal and two contests, as well as consideration for the U35 reading series sponsored by Mass Poetry. I also received rejections for the two submissions I sent over the fall; and while it hurt to get those “no’s,” they gave me the chance to practice the “bounce-back” perspective I blogged about two weeks ago. So now as I’m waiting for more responses, I’ll continue writing, revising, and editing poems, and looking for more places that might be good homes for them.

The plan to take a night off from Storm every 1,000 words to focus on poetry has worked out for the most part. I wrote some new poems over the winter, and revised / edited older ones. I also attended three monthly open mic nights at a local bookstore to read some of my poems. It’s been fantastic to get back into the “performance” swing, but the best part has been meeting other writers and musicians as well as people who appreciate our art. I feel like I’m reconnecting with the local writing community – and who knows what other good that will lead to. 🙂

Btw, if you’re interested in seeing one of my readings, the bookstore live-streamed its most recent open mic night on Facebook. Yay! Click here to watch it (my reading begins around the 1 hour 3 minute mark and goes for 15 minutes). If you have trouble accessing the video, click here instead to “like” An Unlikely Story’s page and then scroll down its feed to find the video on March 22nd.

Alison Walsh’s A Literary Tea Party (Cookbook Introduction)

Last fall I shared that Alison Walsh (founder of the food blog Alison’s Wonderland Recipes) invited me to write the introduction to her upcoming cookbook, A Literary Tea Party: Blends and Treats for Alice, Bilbo, Dorothy, Jo, and Book Lovers Everywhere. Well, the cookbook is now available for pre-order! You can find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Indie Bound, and you can also add it to your Goodreads shelf. (I think ARCs of the cookbook have been circulating, too, but I’m not 100% sure about that.) Alison’s editor was also kind enough to send me a PDF of a recent proof a few weeks ago, and it looks GORGEOUS! I can’t wait to have a final copy in my hands. 😀

I have to admit, though: I was stunned when I saw the latest cover art, and again when I grabbed the Amazon link for this post. Because… um, well, do you see whose name is shown under Alison’s? And whose name is also Amazon-searchable now?

What I’ve Been Listening to While Writing

The playlist for Storm continues to become more varied and more interesting. Here are some of the songs I listened to over the winter while working on the manuscript:

What I’ve Been Reading

Winter was a strange season for reading. I finished 14 books since the year began (including two I sadly DNFed); and while I enjoyed most of what I read, I liked more books than loved them. There were a few standouts, though, and I’ll share them below. Unfortunately I’ve been too pressed for time lately to write reviews at Goodreads. So I’ll do my best to ensure the paragraphs that follow are as persuasive as can be. 😉

  • The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden: This sequel to The Bear and the Nightingale follows Vasya as she pursues a life of adventure in the wild and wintry countryside. When she reunites with her older siblings in a fictional version of medieval Moscow, Russia… well, let’s just say things get magical, interesting, and dangerous. 😉 The world-building and writing that made the first book irresistible is just as strong here. And with the benefit of improved pacing and more excitement overall… dare I say that Arden’s second novel is better than her first?
  • Into the Bright Unknown by Rae Carson: What a brilliant (no pun intended) ending to a precious series! I was curious to see what else Rae Carson would throw at her gold-sensing heroine Leah, considering that all the loose ends appeared to be tied up at the end of Like a River Glorious. But once the final conflict became clear, I snuggled into this finale where Leah and her friends try to outsmart a billionaire businessman to both reclaim and save what’s rightfully theirs.
  • A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan: I borrowed this book from a friend, and it was so. Much. FUN!! It’s the first in a series of fictional memoirs by Lady Isabella Trent, the world’s leading dragon naturalist; and it follows Isabella from her childhood to her first foreign expedition to study dragons. Brennan’s narrative voice for Isabella is intelligent and passionate, with occasional dry humor and a willingness to “break the fourth wall.” Plus, the world in which Isabella lives features not just one species of dragons, but MANY. 😀
  • Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce: Set in Tamora Pierce’s Tortall universe, Tempests and Slaughter is about a young mage’s magical training at an imperial university and his knack for attracting the attention of the realm’s gods, in both amazing and troublesome ways. This is the first YA epic fantasy novel that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed in a while; and as a fan of Pierce’s Song of the Lioness Quartet, it’s so good to see her continuing to write excellent stories. She may be best known for her heroines, but Arram in T&S is endearing in his own way.
  • A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle: Why wasn’t I assigned A Wrinkle In Time when I was in school?? Seriously! This children’s science fiction classic is fun, inventive, and timeless in its exploration of love, family, and courage. I also found bits of my teenage self in the heroine Meg and her friend Calvin, so that helped me connect with both characters quickly.

Looking Forward to Spring, and Not Just for Creative Reasons

Am I allowed to dance and cheer now that my favorite season is here? (Hey, that rhymes!) The weather here might still be unpredictable for a few more weeks (April snowstorms do happen in Massachusetts – blech), but I swear I feel flowers of joy blooming inside just by thinking about the next couple months. The Massachusetts Poetry Festival in May, more open mic nights, more literary journals that have caught my eye – and, of course, more books to read, and more poems and Storm chapters to write. I’m also looking forward to spending more time outside once the weather improves, and planning more outings with friends or to places I’ve been meaning to visit.

Oh, yes. It’s going to be a wonderful spring. 🙂

How are your writing projects going? What books have you read lately? Or any music artists or albums you’ve been listening to? Finally, what are you looking forward to now that spring is here and the weather will start improving soon?

26 thoughts on “The Creativity Corner: Winter 2018”

    • Thank you, Tiana! I’m excited beyond words about the poem. I would have done a dance the night I got the acceptance on it – if it hadn’t been 15 minutes before I went to bed, and if I hadn’t been so tired. *lol*

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  2. Wow, so much exciting news in one post! Congrats on all your recent accomplishments. I have to say the one I’m excited about the most is the Literary Tea Party book with your name on the cover!! Super cool😁

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. Lol yup! You’re totally Amazon searchable now 😄 I’m excited and happy for you and all you’ve accomplished. It’s good to reflect on your progress and just appreciate how far you’ve come. It’s awesome!
    I need to read Natural History of Dragons and Girl in the Tower. And me too can’t wait for Spring. I love the blossoming plants and warmer weather though I’ll probably be miserable due to itchy throat n watery eyes from allergies, but the sunshine and soft rain will cheer me up.

    Like

    Reply

  4. Huge congratulations on the amazing progress you’ve made with ‘Storm’:). Like the others – I’m very intrigued about this one – your wordcount is impressive. And I’m also delighted about having your poem accepted well done! All in all, you have done really well, Sara.

    I also like your book selection… I haven’t yet got hold of the series by Katherine Arden, but it sounds fabulous. I’m so glad you loved The Natural History of Dragons – it is such fun, isn’t it. I haven’t read ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ but I recently watched the film and was very impressed by the performance by the youngsters. Have a very happy Easter, Sarax

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • You mean, the word count is mushrooming like crazy, right? *lol* It’s like I keep saying, though: My first drafts are always too long. But I feel confident enough in my editing and revising skills to eventually get Storm down to a more ideal (and less intimidating) word count in future drafts. And thank you regarding the poetry news! I’m still feeling giddy about it. 🙂

      I think you’d really enjoy Katherine Arden’s books, Sara. Definitely start at the beginning with that series, though. The events of The Girl in the Tower will make more sense if you read The Bear and the Nightingale first. And re: A Natural History of Dragons – I already told the friend I borrowed it from that as soon as he finishes reading the sequel, he needs to let me borrow it. XD

      Sorry it’s taken me a while to respond, btw. April has been a much busier month than I’d expected it to be, for both good and not-so-good reasons….

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • Sorry to hear about the not-so-good reasons – I hope you hang in there…x

        As regards the wordcount – everyone has their own writing rhythms – most authors either over or underwrite and then either cut or add during the rewrites and edits. So I really wouldn’t worry about it – it’s just a question of learning to compensate and for what it’s worth, it’s far easier to cut than add:)).

        I’m a bit stacked out at present – but I have promised myself to get hold of this series as soon as I’ve got a bit more of a handle on my TBR pile – thank you for the recommendation!

        Liked by 1 person

  5. So much good news in this post, Sara. Forgive me if I forget to comment on some of it. You’re making amazing progress on Storm and I’d love to read a post about what was different for you in the writing of this one. Excellent news about your acceptance, and even that you’ve submitted others, regardless of the outcome. I think it’s wonderful that you’ve been performing your pieces as well, and that you wrote some new ones. I’ve been writing a ridiculous amount of poetry. I’m putting together a bunch of poems to celebrate National Poetry Month (only a few days away). It’s going to be more than I’ve ever posted. I’ve come out of the project with a handful of poems that I’ve pulled to submit. Getting around to submitting them may take a bit of prodding though.
    And how awesome to see your name on the cover of the cookbook!
    Just the thought of spring coming has me excited. I’ve been so productive the last week. The problem here is that it snows every May, so I’m still a few months out from getting to enjoy nicer weather. We’ll get little glimpses of it though from here on out. Spring flowers are starting to come up (foolish little flowers) they’ll be buried in snow in no time. And planting doesn’t really start until June 1st. But it’s coming and I’m very excited.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • *lol* I know, this a chockful Creativity Corner, wasn’t it? 🙂

      Thank you so much for all comments / compliments / good wishes, Mandie. I’m still especially excited about the poetry news. I’m fidgeting in my chair just by thinking about it!

      I noticed you’ve been posting a new poem almost every day for National Poetry Month. That’s amazing! Hopefully I’ll find some time to read them soon. Life offline has been crazy lately, so I might have to take a couple weeks off from blogging in April just to catch up on comments…

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • Thank you. And I know what you mean. I’ve been having trouble keeping up with the things myself. Posting a poem a day takes up some good time. I don’t know how people who blog everyday do it. Luckily, I’m just doing it for one month. 🙂
        You should be excited about the poetry news! That’s wonderful! Congrats again.

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Congrats on your poem being accepted!!! And on getting so much of Storm written!
    Sadly my short story did not win a place in the contest I’d entered, and I’m a bit down about that, but it’s all part of the writer life.
    You’ve convinced me to move The Bear and Nightingale up in my TBR! And I’m so intrigued by that Natural History of Dragons… Is there a lot of artwork in the book?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thank you!! It’s so hard to sit still just thinking about it. Plus, the story of this poem’s route to publication is an interesting one, so I’m looking forward to sharing that down the road. 😉

      Sorry to hear about the short story contest. I know the feeling. Just remember to keep writing, keep revising, and keep submitting. Don’t give up, no matter what – you’ll get good news eventually.

      I think you’d enjoy The Bear and the Nightingale a lot. And yes, A Natural History of Dragons includes sketches of various dragon species from the story’s world, as well as a couple of locations and a portrait of the main character’s husband. It’s a nice artistic touch to an engaging and memorable story.

      Like

      Reply

  7. Pingback: What’s Making Me Happy: February and March 2018 | Sara Letourneau's Official Website & Blog

  8. Yay for lots of progress in Storm! It sounds like it’s going really well! I also have an interview with someone from Haiti going up next month on the blog if you’d like to get a different perspective. ^ ^ Happy spring!

    storitorigrace.blogspot.com

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. This is all so excellent Sara! I’m sorry for falling off the face of the planet lately but I’m glad to be catching up now so I can cheer you on as you persevere! Congrats on the upcoming publication! That’s so exciting ❤️
    And what amazing progress on Storm! I know I am highly excited to find out more about your story. After years of not having any success with one story, it’s the personal one I wrote for NaNo in 2015 that is finally showing results for me. Those stories that inspire us, those are the ones that will shine brightest. At least, that’s what I’ve begun to believe!
    Here’s to your success ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • No worries, Faith. I actually disappeared from the blogosphere for a little bit as well. Life has thrown some unexpected curveballs this year…

      On a happier note: Thank you!! I’m still excited to the point of giddiness about the poetry news, even weeks later. I’m really looking forward to sharing it with everyone soon. 🙂

      Oooh? Success with one of your stories?? Do tell! Or have you blogged recently with more details?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  10. Pingback: The Creativity Corner: Spring 2018 | Sara Letourneau's Official Website & Blog

  11. Pingback: My Favorite Fiction Reads of Summer 2018 | Sara Letourneau's Official Website & Blog

  12. I’m here to remind you of all the spring happenings! And a new spring is coming soon(ish). I recall you mentioning a bit of a struggle, so I hope going back to this post will provide some smiles.
    Also, congratulations on your acceptance! I’m glad you found a way to deal with rejections – if you think about writing for being published, they never go away. Last year, I had 40 rejections for just 1 acceptance – it’s just the part of the “game”.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Ha ha! If only spring was less than 5 months away…

      It’s funny that I’m reading your reply today. I got another rejection from a literary journal yesterday. :/ But it’s OK. Those poems will find other homes elsewhere. Now I can turn my attention to two other journals I’ve been planning on submitting to. Like you said, it’s all part of the game.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • Rejections are probably the only thing that is guaranteed in publishing. I’m way past a 100 for this year.
        And yes, they’ll find home elsewhere, and even if they don’t, they do mark your progress as a writer and a poet. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.