advance blurbs for The Write Life

Some delightful back cover blurbs have come in for my next nonfiction book, The Write Crowd:Literary Citizenship & The Writing Life, forthcoming in Dec ’14 from Bloomsbury:

"Lori A. May's The Write Crowd reminds us that writing need not be such a lonely life, solitary as it is. The literary universe provides limitless opportunities to help other writers, meet other writers, and support one another. Type an e-mail, review a book, start a reading series, form your own small press: help keep literature alive and strengthen your own connections and understanding. An indispensable book for those new to writing careers and a valuable reminder for those who've faced the blank page for years and years."
-- Dinty W. Moore, Professor and Director of Creative Writing, Ohio University, and author of The Mindful Writer

"A thoughtful, much-needed exploration of the relationship between the individual writing life and the larger community of writers and readers. Lori A. May draws from her own experience and that of many other writers and editors to offer a comprehensive view of the necessary phenomenon we only recently have come to call literary citizenship. The Write Crowd offers specific and authentic ways--some quick and simple, others a greater investment--through which writers can be strong literary citizens."
-- Anna Leahy, Associate Professor of English, Chapman University, and author of Constituents of Matter, editor of Power and Identity in the Creative Writing Classroom, and editor of TAB: The Journal of Poetry & Poetics

Available December 2014 from Bloomsbury
Pre-order on Amazon

For more info, visit www.loriamay.com/writecrowd.html

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The Write Crowd: Literary Citizenship & The Writing Life

I’m delighted to share this news: my next nonfiction book, The Write Crowd: Literary Citizenship & The Writing Life, is forthcoming in December from Bloomsbury!

Writing may be a solitary profession, but it is also one that relies on a strong sense of community. The Write Crowd offers practical tips and examples of how writers of all genres and experience levels contribute to the sustainability of the literary community, the success of others, and to their own well-rounded writing life. Through interviews and examples of established writers and community members, readers are encouraged to immerse themselves fully in the literary world and the community-at-large by engaging with literary journals, reading series and public workshops, advocacy and education programs, and more.

In contemporary publishing, the writer is expected to contribute outside of her own writing projects. Editors and publishers hope to see their writers active in the community, and the public benefits from a more personal interaction with authors. Yet the writer must balance time and resources between deadlines, day jobs, and other commitments. The Write Crowd demonstrates how writers may engage with peers and readers, and have a positive effect on the greater community, without sacrificing writing time.

See the Table of Contents and advance blurbs here: www.loriamay.com/writecrowd.html

Available December 2014 from Bloomsbury
Pre-order on Amazon

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another state (of mind)

photo credit: jsis.washington.edu

I’m behind with my blog (again), but for good reason. I’ve changed time zones with a recent move to the Pacific Northwest. Moving a household across 2500 miles is, to say the least, consuming: mentally, physically, financially, and socially.

We’re still settling in and unpacking. My office has boxes labeled documents, paper, journals and the like that made perfect sense when sorting—a month or so ago—and have proven little effectiveness in determining what documents, which journals. Every day holds a new discovery in revealing pieces of my former life. Things that seemed of importance in an open immediately state no longer seem a priority. Instead, I am focused on finding a butter dish and some stamps, neither of which seem to exist anywhere. Rather, I keep finding items that are most certainly get-to-laters.

Although I’ve been consumed with this life adjustment, I am trying to keep in touch with everyone via social media. I can at least do that and feel a sense of familiarity even as I make yet another wrong turn and end up driving down a ramp to some unknown freeway, adding miles to my day’s errand run. This, too, can pack some surprises. Finding the unexpected cupcake shop or coming upon a scenic view of Mount Rainier isn’t so bad.

I’ve somehow kept up the writing life even in the mess of organizing our lives. During this month of transition, I’ve had a few bits of good news. Some more major bits will come in time, but for now I’m happy to share a new book review in Colorado Review; you’ll find my review of Renée Ashley’s Because I Am the Shore I Want to Be the Sea here. I also had a micro twitter essay published in Creative Nonfiction, Issue 52. And, coming later this year, you’ll find my essay, “The Comfort of Ignorance,” in the fall 2014 issue of Border Crossing, housed at Lake Superior State University.

Mostly, I’m just unpacking: boxes, life, thoughts, and ideas. I’m getting there. One box at a time. 

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in with the new PQ

If we’re connected via social media, you may have noticed that I recently stepped down from my role at Poets’ Quarterly. First, I wish to offer thanks to those who have reached out to thank and congratulate me on my time at PQ. I started the journal five years ago and every single issue meant a great deal to me. Working with so many talented editors and contributors was a joy, day in and day out. I also want to acknowledge and thank Leslie Nielsen for stepping up as the new publisher and editor of PQ. Leslie has a long history with the journal and I am proud to have her take over the job.

Some have asked why I would step down from PQ, especially since the journal seems to be gaining more readers every month, adding to the already thousands of readers we know and love. It’s simple, really. I both want to see PQ grow beyond me—and hence it needs new blood for that to happen—and I also want to make sure I balance all of my lit community commitments. I happily have my hand in a lot of pots and in order to best serve each of those ventures, a shift in focus was required. I have given five years to PQ, hopefully five good years, and I know with Leslie in the captain’s chair the journal will continue to thrive and grow well into the future.

Thank you to all who have read, shared, and/or contributed to PQ in some way. Your enthusiasm has made it possible for PQ to shine on and I encourage you to keep up with the latest issue each quarter and lend a hand to Leslie in whatever way you can.

As for me, keep in touch. I have many exciting projects around the corner and it’s because of this incredible community of which I feel a part that I know there’s yet unidentified fun in the cards for me, too.

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on the road, again

January is a busy month! I’ve been on the road most of the month and continue to be until that very last week. I’m living in and out of suitcases.

Part of my earlier travels included visiting the students of Arcadia University’s low-residency MFA program. I chatted about social media and websites, the art of book reviewing, and the ever-important business chat about contracts, agents, and taxes. apart from a few travel-related glitches, it was a great time and I’m honored to have met some truly engaged and eager students pursuing their dreams.

Me at the Maslow Reading Series

The bulk of January, thus far, was spent at the Wilkes University low-residency MFA program. Here, I worked with faculty and students on their social media and website development and presented a plenary session on using social media as part of one’s overall platform development. I was also honored to be included in the Maslow Reading Series. I read poems from my new book, Square Feet, including this little poem about baggage, which I thought was fitting, considering my month of travels: 

I’m now enjoying some time in Toronto, Ontario, as part of the University of King’s College (Halifax) creative nonfiction MFA program. I’m one of the CNF mentors in the program and this winter we’re spending quality time in Toronto meeting with nonfiction editors from Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster, touring the Kobo offices, and much more in this publishing epicenter.

Later this week, I’ll also be a guest for the Toronto Wordsmiths writing group. I look forward to meeting a great group of young and emerging writers and sharing their enthusiasm for this creative life.

So, packing and unpacking. On the road and off. It’s a busy month and I’m so excited to be a part of all this literary action, across the country and beyond borders. Stay tuned for more news, travels, and reports from the road.

Write on.