I have lately had the desire to write about my trip visiting my family's homeland of Ecuador... but I've never tackled that story before except when people ask me about it. I keep on telling myself that I just need to get it out--sound and voice doesn't matter in this draft--but I'm cringing so much that my motivation is waning. How do y'all get the VERY FIRST first draft out? How do you psych yourselves out of the idea of needing it to be a particular way in order to be motivated to write it? I know I should just keep my head down and continue... but another part of me is questioning how on earth can I do that when (1) my memory of these events, people, and emotions are vague and (2) it's hard to clarify & dwell on these vague memories? It's not a story based on trauma which is something I'm also not used to doing in craft... it's rather one about finding home, family, and joy in another place. This also adds to my worries that I''m blaspheming my heritage if I don't get it right on the first try...

Hi all. I'm venturing into the world of personal essays after mostly writing in another genre. I'd love to start thinking about places to submit things for publication, because it helps me be motivated to finish writing. 😅 What are your favorite publications (online or print) that publish personal essays, especially those about disability?

As a community welcoming to authors living with limitations, I'd love to start a conversation about your limitations and how you've developed your writing, editing, and publishing processes in collaboration with those limitations. I say "in collaboration" because I've witnessed so many authors, in the several years I've worked for author communities, go through cycles of being challenged by their limitations, and then positively collaborating with them to create the work that is most meaningful to them. So... let's talk about limitations and your processes!

Y’all, I alluded to this in another thread, but I need help with releasing my work to a publisher. With all my intersectional identities, I am very wary that I would get what I wanted in a traditional process, but I keep seeing similar (but whiter, maler, straighter, and more abler) so ok, not similar besides our nerdy interest (in this case urban planning) getting deals. I appreciate any and all encouragement. And yes, I do plan to join the academy as soon as I can scrape some extra funds because I know it will help me just like this space, but in a deep way.

Anyone want to share what song/playlist they're jamming to while they write (or try to!) I've been listening to a lot of Studio Ghibli recently. Also discovery the work of Ryuichi Sakamoto not too long ago. This is an amazing rendition of one of my favorite pieces by him, Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.