We love sharing news like this!

Quickies! and Creative Writing I instructor Mary Hamilton has recently won the Rose Metal Press Fourth Annual Short Short Chapbook contest. The folks at Rose Metal wrote a nice blog about Mary and her submission. And of course, we’re supremely proud of her.

In addition to writing and teaching and working...Mary is also one of the founders of the Quickie! reading series. All the stories are four minutes or less. Amazing.

Congratulations to Mary!

Congratulations to Coaching and First Pages student Vicky Tesmer who has finished the first draft of her manuscript!

The semi-autobiographical piece, A Thousand Beautiful Things, addresses issues of science, faith, politics, world travel, and love. Vicky experimented with the prose, including poems alongside the stories. It was a fascinating process for this longtime visual artist, learning to turn her images into words.

Here’s what Vicky says: “When I walked into StoryStudio on January 12th last year I didn’t have a precise goal - I just knew I had a lot in me to say.  It came out in a novel!

“I believe what I learned most about writing was that if you substitute paintbrushes, paints, a palette and a canvas for words, sentences, paragraphs and chapters you can ‘paint’ a novel.  I feel my book is a painting - perhaps a ‘Pop Art’ painting - as if you stepped into an Andy Warhol canvas.  It’s visual and surreal and current.  Looking back on the past year, I don’t believe I could have stayed on track nor organized my thoughts and words without Paige [StoryStudio Chicago Instructor/Coach Alyson Paige Warren].  She helped me stay focused, giving meaningful insight and direction to the chapters, the characters and the overall ‘picture’ of the story.”

Congratulations and best wishes on your redrafting process, Vicky!

The accomplishments of our Storystudio writers and staff are coming in fast and furious. The latest kudos goes to Lisa Katzenberger who had a short story included in the recently released 2009 Genre Wars Anthology. The book comes from the minds of three writers who run The Literary Lab website and decided to put their money where their mouths are. (Actually, the money from books sales are being donated.)

Lisa’s piece is in the “Literary” section and is titled, In Amsterdam. I haven’t yet had the pleasure of seeing it but she better be bringing in a copy for us to hang on the wall! In case you’re wondering, Lisa’s been in the Advanced Writers Workshop on and off for a couple years (currently on) and has also taken the Freelance Magazine Writing class. She is the studio’s Events Coordinator where she puts together member events, pubnights, readings, and crazy write-a-thons.

Congratulations Lisa!

If you’re a StoryStudio writer and have some exciting news, . We love to brag.

We are so delighted to announce that StoryStudio student Will Fletcher had his short story “Dear Life” published in the Chicago Reader’s tenth annual Fiction Issue. Will workshopped this story in our very own Advanced Fiction Workshop just last fall. This is Will’s first publication, and he hit it pretty big time, which is no surprise from those of us who had the opportunity to work with him!

You can read Will’s story online: here.

Congratulations Will!

We often complain about how hard it is to find time to write, and would it be lovely to have the time and physical space to be selfish and involved with only our characters?!

Well, in the world of writing, there are actually a lot of opportunities to take advantage of Residency Programs at locations around the country (around the world, really.) So how do you take advantage? Like everything else, it takes research, commitment and follow through. Here’s how one StoryStudio student found her way:
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By Lauren Whalen

It all started with a link.

My aunt, who lives in New Hampshire and knows that I am interested in (read: obsessed with) writing, emailed me a link to the MacDowell Colony, located not far from her home.  I had vaguely heard of “writers’ residencies” but hadn’t really thought much about the concept.  For one thing, I have a full-time day job to support my writing habit.  For another, I’ve only been writing fiction for about two and a half years, my blog is barely six months old, and I haven’t been published yet.  At least not on paper.

Still, I was intrigued by the idea of an artists’ colony.  I mean, the concept is very cool: a fairly out-of-the-way haven for writers, composers, dancers and visual artists to focus on creating new work.  These colonies are located throughout the country and vary in time-span and price.  Some even pay you.

Okay, I was hooked.  And that’s what vacation time’s for, right?

I did my research (how did we survive before Google?) and looked at what I could reasonably afford in terms of both time and money.  I probably couldn’t be away for more than two weeks, and I would need some sort of financial aid or stipend.  Also, I write YA fiction, and there was at least one colony I found who wasn’t as accepting of that.  Eventually, I narrowed it down to three--MacDowell (as a reach), Ragdale (located conveniently in Lake Forest), and Kimmel Harding Nelson in Nebraska (an author whose work I really liked had been a resident there).

Applying to be a writer-in-residence is a lot like applying for college.  Most places want either references or letters of recommendation from people who know you as a writer--not only to get a better idea of your work, but to ensure that you will actually WRITE during your time at the colony.  This is important, because most colonies trust you to structure your time while you are a resident.  Also, you often have to enclose a personal statement and writing resume.

Then there’s the writing sample.  Usually 20-30 pages for you to show your stuff as a writer.
By far the most daunting part of the application.

This is where StoryStudio came in.

Last January, I wrote a short story as part of Baird Harper’s Fiction I class.  The piece was workshopped and received such positive and helpful feedback, that I decided to extend it into a novel.  In the summer of 2009, I took Fiction II with Lee Strickland, and workshopped a new chapter of this same novel.  Thanks to the encouragement and critique, I was able to polish this piece and enclose it as my writing sample when I submitted my applications in September.

Last week, I received an offer for a two-week paid residency at Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts!  After I stopped screaming, I immediately notified Jill and Molly at StoryStudio.  Not only had Jill provided a reference and recommendation for me, but the Fiction I and II courses prompted me to create, polish, and feel confident in the story that got me the residency.

Thanks, StoryStudio!

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