I wish I had known you back in the day, Alexander. This writer’s advice is gold, even for an older writer like me. How to Write an Autobiographical Novel influenced me so much. Thank you.
Thank you so much for writing this!!! And thank you for talking about being spiritually prepared for the reality of writing workshops. I'm currently in an M.F.A program (super super SUPER part time lol), but I'm always thinking about the purpose and role of workshop. I took a bunch in my early 20s, and I really did need them because I literally didn't know what I was doing. But now that I understand myself as a writer, I find that workshops have much less weight? Like, it's really support and scaffolding for a writing process I've spent years building rather than The Answer to the lack of a writing process. Anyway, I agree that it's necessary to enter into workshops with a level of self-knowledge and confidence because sometimes people give great feedback but sometimes....they're wrong!!!! And you're allowed to not take it. Even from a professor. I once had a disagreement over how one of my stories should end with one of favorite professors ever and, at 21, I might've changed the ending I loved. My favorite thing you've said is this: "You're already giving that institution too much power. You will save you." New writers are so primed to give their power away! Yes, it's so important to allow people into your work, but nobody sees your vision as sharply as you do, this doesn't mean they can't help you refine it, but walking into workshop with no vision for your piece can make you feel even more lost than before. Thank you for saying all of this.
I had no idea that you wrote for OUT/LOOK. That journal – I have no words. I saved every copy and carted them around for years. For me, even though magazines like semiotexte and other academic journals had begun publishing queer studies, etc., OUT/LOOK marked a new era. Thank you.
Good comments. One more; jobs as bus boy, shipping clerk, and library technician as well as data entry, paid some bills, brought me in contact with people, possible characters for plays, poems, stories. Kept writing, rejections collected that became wall paper and collected dust. No claim to fame. Write out of necessity to discover…
Yes. I’ve written about my jobs as night manager to a seafood restaurant and a cater waiter, a steak house waiter… haven’t written about being a gogo boy yet but there’s time.
Thank you, Alexander. This is the kind of course I really needed in my MFA nearly 15 years ago now. Of course, I also needed effective trauma therapy before I could make any kinds of practical moves in a writing career, or even a writing practice. And I did absolutely turn to an MFA hoping it would save me! You're right, it didn't work. Though I did expand and grow in useful ways both in my writing and my experience. But that aside, one of my fave profs at my MFA did want to offer such a course, or even a short series of talks on how to build a career, so few of us actually continue writing or at making after an MFA, but she was unfortunately roadblocked at the time, for reasons I can't quite fathom. I remember hearing "we're a process-based program, not a product-based program." :/
I'd love more discussions about how self-publishing essays, poems, stories whether here on Substack or another blog-like space or even self-publishing books, can lead to a literary glow up re: community, connection, and publishing projects and opportunities.
Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Alexander. I saw this in my Substack digest email and recognized your name--you taught a course on graphic novels during your residency at Amherst College. I'm not sure I would have written and illustrated my own graphic story this year if I hadn't taken that course. Thank you!
William! I’m so happy to hear from you and to read comics by you. Thank you. I’m getting shades of Asterios Polyp in that one from April on your newsletter. Congratulations and I look forward to reading more.
I come from a different professional world, so breaking into the writing world is daunting. I’m starting to learn about which magazines accept short fiction, and how to get the writing out into the universe. It’s strange when you come from outside the academic world and are lacking community, which of course brings me here! This was helpful! Thanks
This is so helpful. I have considered an MFA before as I thought it was a prerequisite to becoming a writer, but have always felt that grad school is so inaccessible. It's helpful to know that it's not the only way to become a writer (but practice and submitting is necessary). This is the advice and push I needed, thank you.
'Low overheads' means you may feel left out in the short term, but win in the long term (saving up for a house deposit, overpaying a mortgage, etc).
A job that doesn't come home with you: remember life before emails/ mobile phones? I could work like a dog, come home, shower and then the time was my own. 'Better' jobs meant people emailing me or phoning me in the evenings/ weekends/ early mornings: my mind was cluttered.
This is just such wonderful advice. I love how you encourage us to take upon ourselves the responsibility of creating a sustaining literary community, and opportunities to engage with writers on a regular basis. It’s an ongoing struggle for me all the way out here in Hong Kong, but you’ve given me some interesting new ideas to think about. Thank you so very much!
I wish more writers and programs talked about practical paths for writers. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, I’m so glad. Yes, more of these stories. We need to share them.
Yes yes yes! I wish I knew even half of this during graduate school. But better late than never. Thank you!
I wish I had known you back in the day, Alexander. This writer’s advice is gold, even for an older writer like me. How to Write an Autobiographical Novel influenced me so much. Thank you.
Thank you so much for writing this!!! And thank you for talking about being spiritually prepared for the reality of writing workshops. I'm currently in an M.F.A program (super super SUPER part time lol), but I'm always thinking about the purpose and role of workshop. I took a bunch in my early 20s, and I really did need them because I literally didn't know what I was doing. But now that I understand myself as a writer, I find that workshops have much less weight? Like, it's really support and scaffolding for a writing process I've spent years building rather than The Answer to the lack of a writing process. Anyway, I agree that it's necessary to enter into workshops with a level of self-knowledge and confidence because sometimes people give great feedback but sometimes....they're wrong!!!! And you're allowed to not take it. Even from a professor. I once had a disagreement over how one of my stories should end with one of favorite professors ever and, at 21, I might've changed the ending I loved. My favorite thing you've said is this: "You're already giving that institution too much power. You will save you." New writers are so primed to give their power away! Yes, it's so important to allow people into your work, but nobody sees your vision as sharply as you do, this doesn't mean they can't help you refine it, but walking into workshop with no vision for your piece can make you feel even more lost than before. Thank you for saying all of this.
While I’m still working up the courage to claim the dream of being a published writer, this post is so practical and helpful. Thank you.
I had no idea that you wrote for OUT/LOOK. That journal – I have no words. I saved every copy and carted them around for years. For me, even though magazines like semiotexte and other academic journals had begun publishing queer studies, etc., OUT/LOOK marked a new era. Thank you.
It was a life changing thing. Thank you.
I saved them all too. OUT/LOOK was terrific and I was deeply sorry to see it end.
I was too. It felt like a death.
Good comments. One more; jobs as bus boy, shipping clerk, and library technician as well as data entry, paid some bills, brought me in contact with people, possible characters for plays, poems, stories. Kept writing, rejections collected that became wall paper and collected dust. No claim to fame. Write out of necessity to discover…
Yes. I’ve written about my jobs as night manager to a seafood restaurant and a cater waiter, a steak house waiter… haven’t written about being a gogo boy yet but there’s time.
Thank you, Alexander. This is the kind of course I really needed in my MFA nearly 15 years ago now. Of course, I also needed effective trauma therapy before I could make any kinds of practical moves in a writing career, or even a writing practice. And I did absolutely turn to an MFA hoping it would save me! You're right, it didn't work. Though I did expand and grow in useful ways both in my writing and my experience. But that aside, one of my fave profs at my MFA did want to offer such a course, or even a short series of talks on how to build a career, so few of us actually continue writing or at making after an MFA, but she was unfortunately roadblocked at the time, for reasons I can't quite fathom. I remember hearing "we're a process-based program, not a product-based program." :/
I'd love more discussions about how self-publishing essays, poems, stories whether here on Substack or another blog-like space or even self-publishing books, can lead to a literary glow up re: community, connection, and publishing projects and opportunities.
Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Alexander. I saw this in my Substack digest email and recognized your name--you taught a course on graphic novels during your residency at Amherst College. I'm not sure I would have written and illustrated my own graphic story this year if I hadn't taken that course. Thank you!
William! I’m so happy to hear from you and to read comics by you. Thank you. I’m getting shades of Asterios Polyp in that one from April on your newsletter. Congratulations and I look forward to reading more.
Thanks so much for reading my work! Oh cool, I will check Asterios Polyp out.
I come from a different professional world, so breaking into the writing world is daunting. I’m starting to learn about which magazines accept short fiction, and how to get the writing out into the universe. It’s strange when you come from outside the academic world and are lacking community, which of course brings me here! This was helpful! Thanks
As always, thank you for sharing all your experience and insights with us!
Thanks so much for writing this.
Absolutely!
This is so helpful. I have considered an MFA before as I thought it was a prerequisite to becoming a writer, but have always felt that grad school is so inaccessible. It's helpful to know that it's not the only way to become a writer (but practice and submitting is necessary). This is the advice and push I needed, thank you.
You’re welcome! Good luck!
Thanks so much for this! It’s so practical - even for those of us outside the US and in smaller literary scenes it all basically applies.
Lots of great advice in here.
'Low overheads' means you may feel left out in the short term, but win in the long term (saving up for a house deposit, overpaying a mortgage, etc).
A job that doesn't come home with you: remember life before emails/ mobile phones? I could work like a dog, come home, shower and then the time was my own. 'Better' jobs meant people emailing me or phoning me in the evenings/ weekends/ early mornings: my mind was cluttered.
This is just such wonderful advice. I love how you encourage us to take upon ourselves the responsibility of creating a sustaining literary community, and opportunities to engage with writers on a regular basis. It’s an ongoing struggle for me all the way out here in Hong Kong, but you’ve given me some interesting new ideas to think about. Thank you so very much!
thank u so much!!! this kind of industry insight is so so valuable as a young writer 🌱