Are you feeling isolated in your writing? Longing for another writer to exchange work with? Delving into a particular genre—historical fiction, memoir, poetry—for which you could use an extra pair of eyes? Seeking someone with a shared literary sensibility?
Well, you’ve come to the right place! This, Dear Fellow Writers, is our literary matchmaking thread!
Please feel free to post what you’re working on, its stage of development—’I don’t have a clue’ is a perfectly legitimate response—and what you’re hoping to find in a writing exchange partner or group.
Let’s build our own networks here—for camaraderie, feedback, and support!
Hello, all! I"m currently working with Pub Site to put together my author website. Once it's up and running, my agent, Jill Marr of the Sandra Dijkstra Agency, is sending my alternative history novel, Life After Eleanor, out on submission to editors, some of whom I first met at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. As part of the submission package, Jill had me write a fiction book proposal and asked me to get blurbs from published writers with whom I've worked on this novel. I'd never thought about needing an author website or gathering blurbs BEFORE a book deal, but I think it's a brilliant idea.
In case any of you are interested, here are the blurbs that I've included in the book proposal:
Life After Eleanor is a tender, witty and wildly original novel about two iconic women in love and on the run toward uncompromising happiness. You won't soon forget Beltran's Eleanor and Hick. --De'Shawn Charles Winslow, author of In West Mills, a New York Times’ Editor’s Choice
Beltran’s deliciously inventive novel reimagines Eleanor Roosevelt faking her death (she’s got Kennedy’s help!), in order to hide in plain sight with her lover Hick and live a life of love. But is love enough? And can someone as iconic as Eleanor be content away from a spotlight? So, so smart, funny, warm and heartbreaking and filled with celebrity cameos, this is a wonderful book about who people think we are, who we think we are, and the deepest truth: who we really can become.-- Caroline Leavitt, New York Times Bestselling author of Pictures of You and With or Without You
This novel is utterly original and audacious. I love the imaginative premise as well as the execution.--Matthew Lansburgh, author of Outside Is the Ocean, Winner of the Iowa Short Fiction Award and finalist for the 30th annual Lambda Literary Award, and the 2018 Ferro-Grumley Award for LGBQ Fiction
Life After Eleanor is a charming and invigorating alternate herstory of one of the most iconic American couples. Beltran takes Eleanor and Hick out of the closet and into a wonderfully nuanced life together. A clever concept fleshed out with heart and hilarity. --Jill Dearman, author of The Great Bravura, Bang the Keys, and Feminism: The March Towards Equal Rights for Women.
The funniest thing I’ve ever read!—Adair Lara, author of Hold Me Close, Let Me Go and Naked, Drunk, and Writing
Suppose Eleanor Roosevelt didn’t die. Suppose the canny Kennedys plotted a way to spring her from a dreary life of boredom and public obligation to one of love and liberty. Suppose Eleanor’s escape companion was her secret lover, former Associated Press correspondent Lorena Hickok. Will they live happily ever after? Fantasy collides with destiny in Genevieve Beltran’s whimsical winner, Life After Eleanor. -- Antoinette May, author of Witness to War, Pilate’s Wife and The Determined Heart.
Beltran’s witty debut immerses us in Eleanor Roosevelt’s second-life fantasy with her lover, Lorena Hickock, in a novel brimming with smart dialogue and an ingenious plot. --Lucy Sanna, author of The Cherry Harvest
Eleanor Roosevelt, that much lauded and mythologized American icon, enjoys new life in Beltran’s generous and wonderfully inventive, LIFE AFTER ELEANOR. What if Eleanor faked her own death? What if she fled with her lover, seeking an anonymous and relatively modest life in the west? In LIFE AFTER ELEANOR, Beltran uses extensive biographical research as a jumping off point for a delightful work of fiction.--Mary Volmer, author of Reliance, Illinois and Crown of Dust
Hola! And thank you, Cristina! I'm also working on historical fiction focusing on Cuba in the mid-20th century. I would be interested in trading pages or forming a small critique group. I'm in the midst of completing a second full draft of my novel. It would be great to have input from thoughtful readers as I'm working through this new material, and of course, I'm happy to reciprocate!
Hi everyone! Thanks for this opportunity, Cristina! I'm a nonfiction writer and I find myself focused most on environmental writing, ranging from a hybrid of personal essay and reportage, as well as memoir. I've recently completed the most recent draft of my memoir. I'm flexible, but for the sake of specificity, I'd be interested in a nonfiction exchange/group, for individual pieces or even full-length manuscripts.
Kathleen, I don't know if you've ever gone, but I think you would love the Bread Loaf Environmental Writers' Conference. I went in 2018 and it was wonderful.
Genevieve, thanks so much for this. Wanna hear something crazy? I was there in 2018!! I don’t think we met, but it’s so good to connect now! I was in Deirdra Herken’s workshop (she brought the wine to the reception). What about you? I loved it!
That is crazy! I was in Luis Alberto Urrea's fiction workshop at BL Environmental. I also went to Bread Loaf Sicily in 2015 and 2016 and the original Bread Loaf in 2017 and 2019. I still hope to go to BL Translators when the conference goes back to in person. By the way, Deirdra's wine was SO good! Wasn't it from her own winery?
We are leading parallel lives. Yes, Luis is incredible! He was the reason I applied to BL Environmental in the first place. I really wanted the chance to work and learn from him. I am so envious that you get to work with him for far longer than I did. Lol
Hi! I'm working on an interconnected short story collection set in modern times in Paris and New York. Some stories are yet to be drafted. It would be great to have another pair of eyes on it and of course, I'd reciprocate. I've had former classmates reach out to me to read their work for feedback in a variety of genres (fiction, screenplay, play, criticism) so I'm pretty comfortable reading and giving feedback. Hope everyone is doing well and fully inspired by spring!
Hi! Thank you Cristina for doing this, it sounds like a great idea. I'm currently working on finishing the first draft, a story about my grandmother who was an indigenous woman from Oaxaca. There's also have a small collection of short stories that I would like to grow. The genres I usually write in are realistic fiction (I love history!), creative nonfiction, and I would love to write a story using magical realism one day. Looking forward to reading what everyone else is working on and hopefully forming a writing group where we can all help each other :)
What a great idea. I work with poetry and fiction. I would like to hear what others are thinking of doing. Right now, I am exchanging my work with communities I've established over the years, but I am also open to joining a new group.
I look forward to learning about what others hope to find and what the possibilities may be of us working together.
UPDATE: I'm delighted to see so many connections and coincidences happening here! Please let me know if I can help with contact information, or if you feel comfortable doing that on this thread. Abrazos, Cristina
Hello, all! I"m currently working with Pub Site to put together my author website. Once it's up and running, my agent, Jill Marr of the Sandra Dijkstra Agency, is sending my alternative history novel, Life After Eleanor, out on submission to editors, some of whom I first met at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. As part of the submission package, Jill had me write a fiction book proposal and asked me to get blurbs from published writers with whom I've worked on this novel. I'd never thought about needing an author website or gathering blurbs BEFORE a book deal, but I think it's a brilliant idea.
In case any of you are interested, here are the blurbs that I've included in the book proposal:
Life After Eleanor is a tender, witty and wildly original novel about two iconic women in love and on the run toward uncompromising happiness. You won't soon forget Beltran's Eleanor and Hick. --De'Shawn Charles Winslow, author of In West Mills, a New York Times’ Editor’s Choice
Beltran’s deliciously inventive novel reimagines Eleanor Roosevelt faking her death (she’s got Kennedy’s help!), in order to hide in plain sight with her lover Hick and live a life of love. But is love enough? And can someone as iconic as Eleanor be content away from a spotlight? So, so smart, funny, warm and heartbreaking and filled with celebrity cameos, this is a wonderful book about who people think we are, who we think we are, and the deepest truth: who we really can become.-- Caroline Leavitt, New York Times Bestselling author of Pictures of You and With or Without You
This novel is utterly original and audacious. I love the imaginative premise as well as the execution.--Matthew Lansburgh, author of Outside Is the Ocean, Winner of the Iowa Short Fiction Award and finalist for the 30th annual Lambda Literary Award, and the 2018 Ferro-Grumley Award for LGBQ Fiction
Life After Eleanor is a charming and invigorating alternate herstory of one of the most iconic American couples. Beltran takes Eleanor and Hick out of the closet and into a wonderfully nuanced life together. A clever concept fleshed out with heart and hilarity. --Jill Dearman, author of The Great Bravura, Bang the Keys, and Feminism: The March Towards Equal Rights for Women.
The funniest thing I’ve ever read!—Adair Lara, author of Hold Me Close, Let Me Go and Naked, Drunk, and Writing
Suppose Eleanor Roosevelt didn’t die. Suppose the canny Kennedys plotted a way to spring her from a dreary life of boredom and public obligation to one of love and liberty. Suppose Eleanor’s escape companion was her secret lover, former Associated Press correspondent Lorena Hickok. Will they live happily ever after? Fantasy collides with destiny in Genevieve Beltran’s whimsical winner, Life After Eleanor. -- Antoinette May, author of Witness to War, Pilate’s Wife and The Determined Heart.
Beltran’s witty debut immerses us in Eleanor Roosevelt’s second-life fantasy with her lover, Lorena Hickock, in a novel brimming with smart dialogue and an ingenious plot. --Lucy Sanna, author of The Cherry Harvest
Eleanor Roosevelt, that much lauded and mythologized American icon, enjoys new life in Beltran’s generous and wonderfully inventive, LIFE AFTER ELEANOR. What if Eleanor faked her own death? What if she fled with her lover, seeking an anonymous and relatively modest life in the west? In LIFE AFTER ELEANOR, Beltran uses extensive biographical research as a jumping off point for a delightful work of fiction.--Mary Volmer, author of Reliance, Illinois and Crown of Dust
This is awesome! Congratulations!
Thank you, Esperanza! It is!
Sounds great! Publication is on its way.....
Thanks, Adela! I do hope so. :)
Hola! And thank you, Cristina! I'm also working on historical fiction focusing on Cuba in the mid-20th century. I would be interested in trading pages or forming a small critique group. I'm in the midst of completing a second full draft of my novel. It would be great to have input from thoughtful readers as I'm working through this new material, and of course, I'm happy to reciprocate!
Denise, your novel sounds wonderful.
Thanks, Genevieve!
You're welcome, Denise!
Hi Denise! I'm already interested: Cuba in the mid 20th century! 🧡
Thanks, Esperanza!
Hi everyone! Thanks for this opportunity, Cristina! I'm a nonfiction writer and I find myself focused most on environmental writing, ranging from a hybrid of personal essay and reportage, as well as memoir. I've recently completed the most recent draft of my memoir. I'm flexible, but for the sake of specificity, I'd be interested in a nonfiction exchange/group, for individual pieces or even full-length manuscripts.
Kathleen, I don't know if you've ever gone, but I think you would love the Bread Loaf Environmental Writers' Conference. I went in 2018 and it was wonderful.
Genevieve, thanks so much for this. Wanna hear something crazy? I was there in 2018!! I don’t think we met, but it’s so good to connect now! I was in Deirdra Herken’s workshop (she brought the wine to the reception). What about you? I loved it!
That is crazy! I was in Luis Alberto Urrea's fiction workshop at BL Environmental. I also went to Bread Loaf Sicily in 2015 and 2016 and the original Bread Loaf in 2017 and 2019. I still hope to go to BL Translators when the conference goes back to in person. By the way, Deirdra's wine was SO good! Wasn't it from her own winery?
So another connection — Luis is my dissertation director at UIC. Isn’t he amazing? And yes, Deidre’s wine! So good!!
We are leading parallel lives. Yes, Luis is incredible! He was the reason I applied to BL Environmental in the first place. I really wanted the chance to work and learn from him. I am so envious that you get to work with him for far longer than I did. Lol
Hi! I'm working on an interconnected short story collection set in modern times in Paris and New York. Some stories are yet to be drafted. It would be great to have another pair of eyes on it and of course, I'd reciprocate. I've had former classmates reach out to me to read their work for feedback in a variety of genres (fiction, screenplay, play, criticism) so I'm pretty comfortable reading and giving feedback. Hope everyone is doing well and fully inspired by spring!
You had me at Paris!
Thank you!
Hi! Thank you Cristina for doing this, it sounds like a great idea. I'm currently working on finishing the first draft, a story about my grandmother who was an indigenous woman from Oaxaca. There's also have a small collection of short stories that I would like to grow. The genres I usually write in are realistic fiction (I love history!), creative nonfiction, and I would love to write a story using magical realism one day. Looking forward to reading what everyone else is working on and hopefully forming a writing group where we can all help each other :)
What a great idea. I work with poetry and fiction. I would like to hear what others are thinking of doing. Right now, I am exchanging my work with communities I've established over the years, but I am also open to joining a new group.
I look forward to learning about what others hope to find and what the possibilities may be of us working together.
This all sounds wonderful, Adela. I love that you are drawn to both poetry and fiction.
UPDATE: I'm delighted to see so many connections and coincidences happening here! Please let me know if I can help with contact information, or if you feel comfortable doing that on this thread. Abrazos, Cristina