A year ago, I submitted a book proposal to Bloomsbury Academic called “How to Write the Hard Stuff.� Because it is the academic arm of the press, based in London, the proposal was sent to leaders in the field. British field leaders, who I find daunting and foreign. The leaders in their field had concerns that I was not an expert in trauma, so where did my authority lie? I revised the proposal clarifying that I wasn’t writing a book about how writing is cathartic or therapeutic, but that writing is important and empowering because it allows you to take control of your narrative. I wasn’t planning on being the authority. I am just one writer who has chosen various and sundry techniques for telling my story that might help others shape their own. My authority is usually only in the personal narrative, which is why I write creative nonfiction and why I’m not a politician. I resubmitted the proposal, promising that I was no authority indeed.
The second version passed muster. Unfortunately, I learned this in May. The book would be due in September. My editor, Lucy, was sorry it took so long to get the contract together. She gave me a little extra time—September 30th instead of September 1st.
My former student went to see the Subhumans in Phoenix late last fall. I’ve loved this punk rock band since I was twelve-years-old. Their dark point of view satisfied me. Their song “The Cradl… Read moreImpossible individualism: Us fish must swim together
I didn’t mean to fall in love with Brine Shrimp. In 2017, for my birthday, my friend Angie gave me an ecosphere—an egg-shaped glass enclosure in which three brine shrimp swam among oxygenating… Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Brine shrimp
I have a confession to make. I adopted two new kittens. After Zane the cat got lost last April, I couldn’t stop missing him. Zane, half Maine Coon, half koala bear, was my person. He slept bet… Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Impossible Hospitals
On June 30th, I took a trip with my friend Beya and our youngest boys to Clear Creek Reservoir to paddleboard. The wind was strong. The water was murky. The sun was hot. We managed to make it … Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Impossible College
I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. The nouns in that sentence define nearly all of my writing. My hometown, paradoxically named, shaped my aesthetic. I write from a first-person point of view… Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: One and done
Newly elected governor Katie Hobbs, in her inauguration speech, vowed to repeal the universal vouchers, officially known as Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) â€� double-speak for if you’re… Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Boot Straps
It was precisely 97 minutes ago that we wrapped up Spring Semester 2022. By the time you’re reading this, it will be September 1 and Fall Semester 2022 will be well underway. They say there’s … Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: A wormhole summer
