A Quick Summer Update

A new role and a novel update

Hello all,

It’s been a minute! Over the past few months, I’ve finished a rather grueling school year, hopped in the recording studio with one of my bands, done quite a bit of traveling, got a new job as the Program Director for James River Writers, and have finally started revising my novel again. It’s the last two I thought I’d share about today.

I’m delighted to share that I’ve joined James River Writers, a literary arts nonprofit in Richmond, as their new Program Director! I’m working remotely while traveling for a bit, but upon my return to Richmond I’ll begin hosting events and will have the chance to connect with more of the JRW community. Check out our offerings at jamesriverwriters.org! There’s write-ins, socializing meet-ups, member celebrations, craft talks and panels, online Master Classes, and lots more. Check it all out! And, of course, there’s the JRW writing conference. This year’s is in September, and should be great. Check it out!

Here’s lil’ ol’ me.

I’ve also, though slowly, begun revising my novel again. I was expecting to be querying the third draft, but the forced hiatus brought about by teaching high school and playing in bands made it difficult to manage that sort of administrative task. And after a few months with it sitting on the shelf, I started to get ideas. A new tense, a slightly altered point of view and corresponding narrative voice. A different opening image. More cultural and mythological backstory. Meta text. So, it’s going to be a long process. Trying to cultivate a combination of diligence and patience.

I’ve gone back and forth feeling frustrated with a lack of progress (I’m traveling for a bit this summer, so there’s lots going on, plus the aforementioned new job, some teaching, and so forth) while also reminding myself that I’ve already done more work on the novel in the past month than I had basically the entire last school year. So I need to both kick my ass into gear and be kind to myself. As ever, a work in progress.

I’ll probably send some goofy travel stuff soon, but mostly just wanted to pop in with some news.

Check out James River Writers in you are interested!

Appreciate you reading, friends. Hang in there.

Ty