May 29, 2012

Hi friends & writers,

And there went May, and here it is summer again! Long bright days mean more time to write and to fill the corners of the afternoon with sensory overload (the good kind that comes from the actual senses, not from screens).

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PROCESS: THE BUDDY SYSTEM

It is a summer camp staple for keeping track of kids at swim: give each one a buddy and blow the whistle every five minutes. When the kids hear the whistle, they grab their buddies’ hands and hold them up high. If a kid is foundering, their buddy notices. Just like writing.

Try this: Collaborate with a trusted friend for a daily, weekly, or monthly check-in. Try different models, such as sending each other work at the week’s end, or touching base during the day to keep each other accountable. 

FEATURED VENUE: ORION

Like the night-blooming cereus that blooms only once a year for a single night, Orion Magazine accepts submissions for three short openings each year. One of those “blooms” takes place from June 1-16, so here’s what they want: essays, narrative nonfiction, interviews, and short fiction that are resonant with Orion’s focus on nature, culture, and place.

Submission guidelines here: http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/mag/guidelines_for_article_submissions/

PROMPT

“Lessons on how to bloom” (8min)