LitHabits for Writers

How to Stand Up for Your Work: A Conversation with Author Sophfronia Scott

Author Sophfronia Scott's latest novel is Unforgivable Love, a vivid reimagining of the French classic Les Liaisons Dangereuses. She’s also the author of an essay collection, Love’s Long Line, from Ohio State University Press’s Mad Creek Books and a memoir, This Child of Faith: Raising a Spiritual Child in a Secular World, co-written with her son Tain, from Paraclete Press.

Her essays, short stories, and articles have appeared in Killens Review of Arts & Letters, Saranac Review, Ruminate, Barnstorm Literary Journal, Sleet Magazine, NewYorkTimes.com, and O, The Oprah Magazine. Her essay “Why I Didn’t Go to the Firehouse” is listed among the Notables in Best American Essays 2017.

It was so cool to talk to her about the importance of taking our work seriously, because, as you'll see in this interview, there's a lot at stake when you're called to creative work.

Sophfronia is a paragon of consistency and devotion to her craft as a writer. It was so cool to talk to her about the importance of taking our work seriously, because, as you'll see in this interview, there's a lot at stake when you're called to creative work.

In this interview, we talk about:

what to do when essay or story ideas come to you in the shower
how to breathe new life into a classic tale
steps you can take to honor your writing life
the importance of non-writing writing and what she calls "creativity play dates"
how being a "project-oriented" writer can ease overwhelm so you can show up and do the work

Plus, Sophfronia offers a kick-in-the-butt pep-talk for writers at the very end, so you'll want to watch all the way through.

The Writing Life, The Science of Habit, Spiritual Writing, InterviewsRenee LongAugust 20, 2019Comment

Poet Melissa Reeser Poulin on Stewarding Community, Deleting Social Media, and Letting Go of "Should"

Melissa Reeser Poulin is the author of Rupture, Light from Finishing Line Press and co-editor of the anthology Winged: New Writing on Bees. Her poems and essays can be found in Relief Journal, Entropy Magazine, Writers Resist, Ruminate Magazine, Hip Mama, Coffee + Crumbs, among other journals. She writes a newsletter and blogs at melissareeserpoulin.com.

For any of you who have struggled to integrate your writing life into daily life, family life, and your other creative interests, this interview is for YOU. Melissa Reeser Poulin is one of the most curious, creative, and nurturing people I know, and you'll see from this interview she has a lot more going on than just writing poems. She is the epitome of a life-long learner––diving into biology, acupuncture, community development––and it all informs her creative process. In this interview, we talk about

How it's okay to "write less" and let go of the guilt of not writing "enough."
How we writers need to ditch our "should" and be kinder to ourselves.
We talked about how she deleted ALL of her social media accounts while remaining a fierce advocate for the benefits of community.
And you'll learn how to create a narrative arch out of a collection of poems
And so much more!

Interviews, The Writing Life, Spiritual WritingRenee LongAugust 15, 2019Comment

Writers: Wake Up and Stop Wasting Time

A few weeks ago, I was shaken to my core when I learned that a writer I dearly loved–– someone who'd impacted me and millions of others through her work––passed away suddenly at 37 years old. Though she left us too soon, her good works will continue to ripple out and change lives for years to come. And that's what we're talking about on this week's broadcast. News of her passing was a violent wake up call: We don't have time to waste!

The Writing Life, Spiritual Writing, Writing RoutinesRenee LongJuly 3, 2019Comment

My Winter Wish

*Sung in the voice of Kermit & the Muppets*: There's only one more sleep 'til Christmas!

I love Christmas Eve. Growing up in New Jersey, we'd occasionally get a white Christmas. Before bed on Christmas Eve, I'd sneak outside in my onesie pajamas, look up at the stars, and listen for sleigh bells in the snow. There's a special, deep kind of quiet unlike any other night of the year. The quiet anticipation of miracles.

Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, this season is hectic and often loud. The winter solstice is intended for quiet reflection, and we often spend it in a blur of business. With all that needs to get done, it's tough to get quiet and open to miracles.

This year, I'm setting an intention to listen.

Spiritual Writing, The Writing LifeRenee LongDecember 24, 2018Comment

The Answer To The Question: “Will People Read My Writing?”

"Will people read my writing?"

"Will anyone care?"

If you’re like me, these questions run through your head every time you sit down at the writing desk. It’s taken me a long time to get to the short answer. . . .

Spiritual Writing, The Writing LifeRenee LongNovember 22, 2018Comment

Reconciling Humility And Self-Worth In The Age Of Ego [Ruminate Blog]

Recently, I had to reframe my ideas around humility. To me, humility was connected to the “fallen” trope we’re told as Christians in both Catholic and Evangelical circles. We are broken. We come into the world broken, marked by original sin. We have fallen. We are inherently disposed toward evil. We need fixing. Jesus needs to fix us. I no longer believe this idea defines the true meaning of humility.

The Writing Life, Spiritual WritingRenee LongAugust 9, 2018Ruminate Magazine, humility, self-worthComment