Even though February was technically shorter than March, this month has flown by. This is partly due to the fact that my coaching job has started again, so I have more on my plate now.
I started the month by running my storytelling workshop for a group of Central and South American adoptees. I taught them a simple framework for writing their own stories. It was a wonderful experience, and based on some of the feedback I received, it seems like they got a lot from it.
On the writing front, I've been working on a series of blog posts detailing my Story Circle framework, which I taught during the workshop. The posts are turning out to be longer than expected, but I hope to publish this in the coming weeks. I'm keen on making this information publicly available so that anyone can use my framework in their writing.
I've also been gearing up for a big conference in May called The Muse & The Marketplace. I signed up to get direct feedback about my book from a literary agent, so I've been polishing my pitch materials for that.
Finally, as I mentioned in my last update, I recently had a big idea for the next draft of the book. While it's not a major change in terms of the story's content, it will be a shift in tone and style. Over the past couple of weeks, I've been talking with several early readers about this new direction and getting their feedback about it. Overall, I think the concept will work, and I'm looking forward to telling you more in my next newsletter.
I recently finished Yellowface, which is an interesting novel that critiques the publishing world and social media. It's loosely based on the 2020 controversy surrounding the release of the book American Dirt.
I don't want to go into too much detail about it because a friend on this list is reading it for her book club, and I don't want to spoil anything. What I will say is that I really enjoyed it and the questions it raises about equity, diversity, and representation in publishing.
If you are interested in learning more about this topic and the challenges that BIPOC writers face, I highly recommend watching Jeanine Cummins: American Dirt, Part 1, Oprah’s Book Club on Apple TV+.
The ultimate frisbee season kicks into high gear in April, so that will take most of my time. However, I will continue working on my story circle posts and try my best to send out an author update.
Also, part 1 of the BBC audio documentary about Pro-Búsqueda, for which my mother, Margaret E. Ward, and I were interviewed, will be airing on April 10th at 4:30 pm EST. If you don't live in the UK, you can stream it from their website or listen to the archive the following day. Part 2 will be available the following week.
I hope you have a wonderful month.
Sincerely,
Nelson/Roberto
Throughout most of January, I participated in the Under the Volcano writing residency in Tepoztlán, Mexico, which was an unforgettable experience that I will reflect on for some time. The remarkable people I met there inspired me to continue developing my craft.
This past month has been a good one. I was able to get some writing done and have finished seven chapters of my magical realism rewrite. I also started working on one of the new historical fiction scenes, and have been preparing for my writer’s retreat in Mexico.
This month’s update will be shorter, as most of November was occupied by my fall coaching job. Despite the hectic end of the season, I was able to get some writing done and prepare for my trip to Tepotzlán, Mexico.
