Theo Pauline Nestor
Tag Archives: Writing
Monsters, Miss Americana, and Me: A Taylor Swift Fan’s Objection
As I listened in this crowded room to a discussion referencing the names we’ve come to associate with fan exodus–JK, Woody, Roman–a particular biography that is everywhere began to form a montage in my thoughts unbidden: the biography of Taylor Swift. A biography dear to me as a Swiftie who’s found great joy not only in the music of Taylor Swift but in the Swiftie TikTok community that admittedly relishes connecting the dots between her lyrics and what we know of her life. Like a whirring and clicking microfiche in a movie about a 1970s exposé, my inner filmstrip zoomed in and offered up grainy images of Taylor’s reported new love interest, Matty Healy, at her May 2023 concerts in Nashville and Philly followed by truncated clips of TikToks outlining the questionable quality of the character of this guy, lead singer of the band 1975 and a known “provocateur” (ugh!). Over the last day, the temperature of the conversation had escalated, and I’d seen TikToks allude to his harmful comments. I watched but didn’t investigate, perhaps because I didn’t want it to be true. Continue reading
Posted in More Stuff for Writers, Taylor Swift, What I'm Reading Now
Tagged Claire Dederer, New books, Taylor Swift, Writing
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5 Reasons You Need an Author Website Before the Book Deal
My best advice for writers wishing to sell their books: Act as if the book deal is already yours. If you can pretend it’s a done deal, you’ll be more motivated to do the work of building a platform. Besides … Continue reading
Posted in More Stuff for Writers, platform building
Tagged audience, author website, Memoir, platform building, websites, Writing
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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
Inspired by Taylor Swift: The Eras Writing Prompt
Last post I wrote about how Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert in Glendale last weekend made me think about the challenges of writing about our past selves. And that made me remember a writing prompt I created a while back … Continue reading
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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What I’m Digging Right Now #4
Alison Bechdel Right now I’m preparing to teach a new course called “Writing the Self” at Seattle University where I’ll be a visiting writer next winter. We’ll be examining the autobiographical impulse in multiple literary genres, including graphic novels. I … Continue reading
What I’m Digging Right Now
Daveed Diggs. I don’t have a ton of regrets, but I do rue the fact that I missed the chance to see Hamilton with its original cast. Last summer my daughters and I–along with millions of others–became obsessed with the … Continue reading
Posted in More Stuff for Writers, What I'm Digging Right Now
Tagged 13th, advice, ava duvernay, Clipping., contently, Daveed Diggs, Jane the Virgin, Netflix, snowshoes, Writing
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“I want to double down on me.”
I’ve been pretty obsessed with Jill Soloway’s series Transparent this winter break, which led me to reading Ariel Levy’s fabulous profile of Soloway in The New Yorker titled “Dolls and Feelings.” There are a dozen reason why any emerging writer should read this profile, but the juncture of Soloway’s story that keeps replaying in my head is the one at which her career was at its lowest point and she made the decision to “double down” on herself. Continue reading
Posted in Cheryl Strayed, More Stuff for Writers, Writing Tips
Tagged Cheryl Strayed, emerging writers, Jill Soloway, Memoir, Transparent, Writing
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Writing Is My Drink 