Theo Pauline Nestor
Tag Archives: writing advice
Why I Brought a Film Camera to Rome
I packed an aged Pentax with a heft of approximately 1.5 pounds to lug up ancient staircases. I did this not because I believed the film photographs would be superior to those I could take with my phone. I did this so I wouldn’t go all the way to Rome and miss it. I carried this camera so I would do what one would hope would be natural and automatic: To see. Continue reading
The Thing You Least Want to Write About
In a June 2017 Fresh Air interview, Roxane Gay shared that her book, Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body, “felt necessary to write because it was the book I wanted to write the least.” She goes onto explain: “When I was thinking about what to do next in terms of nonfiction just before Bad Feminist came out, I thought You know, I’d really never want to write about fatness. And in that moment I knew that’s something I have to write about.” Continue reading
Is My Manuscript Ready to Send Out?
One of the questions I get asked quite often: Is my book (or book proposal) ready to go out to agents and editors? Unless it’s clear the writer is jumping the gun, this is a tricky question to answer. True benefits abound from jetting out into the world, even prematurely. Most significantly: If the work is circulating, air is getting in and often giving life new ideas, leads, and connections.The downsides are obvious–chiefly, a half-baked project blowing your shot with someone you value and self-recrimination for overeagerness raining down shortly after rejection’s sting. Here are some questions you could ask yourself if you are on the verge of clicking “Send.” And hopefully, your answers will bring you to the right decision–or at least a bit closer. Continue reading
What I Learned at a Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Concert
And as Taylor S rapid cycled from a Speak Now era youthful romantic in a pink Cinderella gown to a Reputation era bad bitch clad in black and red to an Evermore cottage fairy, I found myself thinking about how the entire magical show was a giant lesson in self-acceptance and reclaiming the disowned parts of ourselves. And, how that reclaiming of disowned selves is 90 percent of why most who’ve tried it will agree that writing a memoir can be, um, hard. Like, brutally. Continue reading
Posted in Memoirists, More Stuff for Writers, Taylor Swift, Writing Tips
Tagged finding your voice, writing advice
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What I’m Digging Right Now #5
I love this time of year! My two yearlong classes* have wrapped up, and while I’m still coaching and teaching a few classes, I’m mostly reading, writing, getting my yard under control, and hanging out with friends and family. So, … Continue reading
How to Write a Memoir Book Proposal (That Stands a Chance)
Learn how to write a memoir book proposal. Continue reading
Posted in Memoirists, More Stuff for Writers, Publishing, Webinars, Writing Tips
Tagged advice, book proposals, literary agents, Memoir, Publishing, Writing, writing advice
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Last-day-of-School Advice for Writers
My two yearlong classes met for their final class meetings this week. We still have our class readings ahead (Many thanks to University Bookstore and Elliott Bay Book Company), but the classroom work is officially behind us. A number of … Continue reading
Posted in Emerging Writers' Series, lists, More Stuff for Writers, Writing Tips
Tagged comfort, curiosity, deadlines, productivity, Writing, writing advice
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Two Good Reasons to Read Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit
I first learned of Twyla Tharp’s book The Creative Habit from Claire Dederer, author of Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses, when she quoted Tharp during a guest lecture for my memoir class. The quote? “You don’t really have … Continue reading
Posted in More Stuff for Writers, What I'm Reading Now, Writing Tips
Tagged writing activities, writing advice
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How to Write a Modern Love (That Stands a Chance)
Update November 22, 2022: Hello Readers! In 2015 I hosted the How to Write a Modern Love Teleseminar with guest speakers New York Times Modern Love Editor Dan Jones and six Modern Love writers (You can see the original post … Continue reading
Getting Past “Write Every Day” Writing Advice
When I was in my 20s and 30s and wanting to be a writer (and yet not quite, um, writing), the only type of writing advice that seemed to come my way was some version of Hemingway’s credo “You must … Continue reading
Writing Is My Drink 