One month away from returning to teaching, and I’m feeling okay with my accomplishments. I completed my chapbook manuscript. Here’s the synopsis:

Unraveling disentangles the strands of the narrator’s life in order to reveal a woman’s capacity to unknot pesky relationships and unsnarl nasty situations. As she unravels the troubling bits, she knits together a freshly-pressed fabric of hope, joy, and love.

And here’s the full list of stuff I did:

July

1. submitted VCEL article to Metropolitan Journal (7/7)
2. connected with writing group
3. compiled list of journals & deadlines
4. researched chapbook publishers

August

1. applied to artist residencies
2. read various essays, memoirs, and books re: writing
3. submitted “a rip in the fabric” (8/15)
4. began The Artist’s Way 12-week course (8/24)
5. submitted “Why I get up early” (8/31)

September

1. met with memoir chat group (9/6)
2. submitted three shorts: “black coffee,” “disorganized,” and “mouse” (9/9)
3. attended Creekside Arts residency in Eureka, California (9/21-9/28)
4. read three works (“Unraveling,” “Three Shorts,” & “Bubba”) @Creekside Arts (9/25)
5. published “Why I get up early” on Brevity Blog (9/26)
6. read various essays, memoirs, and books re: writing

October

1. met with memoir chat group (10/21)
2. submitted “a retreat to advance” (10/24)
3. received acceptance for “three shorts” from Rathalla Review (10/30)
4. read various essays, memoirs, and books re: writing
5. started Write Your Memoir Month 2022 self-guided class (10/31-11/25)

November

1. submitted Unraveling chapbook (11/11)
2. completed The Artist’s Way 12-week course (11/16)
3. submitted “cousins” (11/20)
4. outlined memoir, Fanning the Flame
5. drafted first chapter of memoir
6. completed Write Your Memoir Month 2022 self-guided class (11/22)
7. submitted “between” (11/22)

December

1. began weekly blog posts (12/9)
2. read various essays, memoirs, and books re: writing

Classes completed

1. Personal Essay (April)
2. The Artist’s Way (August – November)
3. Write Your Memoir Month (October – November)

Chapbook completed

Unraveling (November)

Essays published

1. Why I get up early – Brevity Blog
2. three shorts: black coffee, disorganized & mouse – forthcoming in Rathalla Review
3. a retreat to advance?
4. cousins?
5. between?

Residency attended

Creekside Arts (September)