When a friend told me Frida Kahlo attended her only solo gallery show in her bed, I had to research it. I knew Frida created lying down because chronic pain is a blight, but never fancied the possibility of such a bold move. Many disabled and neurodivergent artists must create lying down at some point in their lives. But, most of us would never attend something in bed.
"At first it seemed that Kahlo would be too ill to attend, but she sent her richly decorated fourposter bed ahead of her, arrived by ambulance, and was carried into the gallery on a stretcher."
Frida completely embraced her most authentic self in that moment. Who would go, not only to an event in bed, but elaborately deck out the damn bed?! There was no passing up her once-in-a-lifetime chance to see something she worked her ass off for, and there was absolutely no timid apology.
~*~
I'm one of those chronic-pain crips who is also fat (I know Frida wasn't). Most of my days are spent in bed. My studio/writing space/crafting station is a mattress on the floor.
I don't talk about certain aspects of my life much because of judgement. Most people who find out how I live just assume I'm a "lazy fatty" who ruined her body with "smothering lard". They didn't see toddler me crying herself to sleep because of back and hip pain in the late 1980's. They only know what they want to know.
Would I ever be brave enough to attend an award ceremony, reading, or other event lying down? Doubtful. Did it change something inside of me to know Frida did? Definitely.
Friday, May 22, 2020
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
2020 Mentee Applications are Open!
We are open to mentee applications until June 27th! You can find our application when you click here. Please check all eligibility requirements. We have expanded the pool for who can apply to ensure more people benefit from the program.
The list of mentors can be found by clicking here.
There are a few differences in our program this year:
1. We have a mentor for teens (me), but I could possibly "roll in" if we get an absolute deluge from 18+ applicants.
2. Having an advanced degree no longer disqualifies you from applying (there are a few slight restrictions, though).
3. You may still submit to a mentor if you have one or two traditionally-published books if the genre you're applying to is newer for you. If you're a journalist just dipping a toe into fiction, you're welcome to apply to a mentor for the genre. If you wrote story collections but have little experience in poetry, you can pitch to a poetry mentor. Please be honest about your past publication experience.
As always, please contact me with any questions:
handyuncappedpen[at]gmail[dot]com
@HandUnPen on Twitter
Or, you can comment on this post.
The list of mentors can be found by clicking here.
There are a few differences in our program this year:
1. We have a mentor for teens (me), but I could possibly "roll in" if we get an absolute deluge from 18+ applicants.
2. Having an advanced degree no longer disqualifies you from applying (there are a few slight restrictions, though).
3. You may still submit to a mentor if you have one or two traditionally-published books if the genre you're applying to is newer for you. If you're a journalist just dipping a toe into fiction, you're welcome to apply to a mentor for the genre. If you wrote story collections but have little experience in poetry, you can pitch to a poetry mentor. Please be honest about your past publication experience.
As always, please contact me with any questions:
handyuncappedpen[at]gmail[dot]com
@HandUnPen on Twitter
Or, you can comment on this post.
Friday, May 1, 2020
Meet the Mentors for 2020
Carey Link - Poetry (editing, submitting, offering feedback, query letters)
Carey Link is from Huntsville, Alabama. In 2017, she retired from a 16 year civil service career. Carey is currently in graduate school pursuing a degree in counseling. After she completes her studies, Carey wants to work with clients living with life-altering illnesses and conditions.
Carey has been writing poetry since she was a teenager. She has published two poetry collections, Awakening to Holes in the Arc of Sun (Mule on a Ferris Wheel) and What it Means to Climb a Tree (Finishing Line Press). Her poetic sequence, I Walk a Tightrope Without a Safety Net was a finalist in the 2019 Blue Light Press Chapbook Contest. Carey's poems have appeared in Poem, The Birmingham Arts Journal, Birmingham Poetry Review, WLRH Sundial Writers Corner, Hospital Drive, and elsewhere.
Methods of correspondence: Email
~*~
Ann Stewart McBee - Short fiction/flash fiction/poetry (story development, putting a chapbook together, submitting, query letters)
Note: Her emphasis is flash fiction.
Ann Stewart McBee was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She obtained her PhD in creative writing at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She has published fiction and poetry in Ellipsis, Untamed Ink, The Pinch, and Citron Review among others. Her short story collection titled How Rabbit Went Down and Other Mishaps is available from Hoot-n-Waddle Press. She now teaches English at Des Moines Area Community College, and lives outside Des Moines, Iowa. The limited use of her hands due to Rheumatoid Arthritis does not prevent her from writing in the same way that living in heavy air pollution does not prevent one from breathing.
Methods of correspondence: Email
~*~
Note: She really enjoys speculative fiction.
Sarah Krenicki writes short speculative fiction and has made attempts at poetry. Her fiction has been published in Syntax and Salt, Gemini Magazine, and Lumina. She studied English and Creative Writing in college and after a brief stint in insurance marketing, found her way to the nonprofit world. She lives in a yellow house with her husband and two noisy black cats, and she overthinks everything, including/especially this bio. Pisces/Slytherin/INFP, for those who want to optimize compatibility.
Methods of correspondence: Text, email, Facebook or Google Video chat
~*~
Note: This mentor will not read erotica or anything with killing of any kind. She is also not fond of "genre" work.
Su Zi is equal parts writer, artist, and badass eco-feminist. She holds an MA in English and has published in such places as Driving Digest, Exquisite Corpse, and Blue Heron Review (where she was nominated for The Pushcart Prize). She resides in Florida with her horses, dogs, cats, and turtles where she runs The Red Mare Chapbook Series. Her newest collection #100TPC (Alien Buddha Press) was published in March.
Methods of correspondence: Twitter DM (another method may be agreed upon later)
~*~
Mentor for teenagers:
Jennifer Ruth Jackson - Literary and speculative flash fiction and poetry (editing, chapbook organization, market research/resource help)
Note: Jennifer has more poetry published than fiction.
Jennifer Ruth Jackson is an award-winning poet and fiction writer whose work has appeared in Red Earth Review, Banshee, Strange Horizons, Star*Line, Apex Magazine, and more. Her literary chapbook Body: Blessed & Bitter is forthcoming from Dancing Girl Press. Blighted Feast, her short horror collection, is to be released by The Poet's Haven. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and is a wheelchair-user.
Methods of correspondence: Email, Twitter DM, Facebook Messenger
Carey Link is from Huntsville, Alabama. In 2017, she retired from a 16 year civil service career. Carey is currently in graduate school pursuing a degree in counseling. After she completes her studies, Carey wants to work with clients living with life-altering illnesses and conditions.Carey has been writing poetry since she was a teenager. She has published two poetry collections, Awakening to Holes in the Arc of Sun (Mule on a Ferris Wheel) and What it Means to Climb a Tree (Finishing Line Press). Her poetic sequence, I Walk a Tightrope Without a Safety Net was a finalist in the 2019 Blue Light Press Chapbook Contest. Carey's poems have appeared in Poem, The Birmingham Arts Journal, Birmingham Poetry Review, WLRH Sundial Writers Corner, Hospital Drive, and elsewhere.
Methods of correspondence: Email
~*~
Ann Stewart McBee - Short fiction/flash fiction/poetry (story development, putting a chapbook together, submitting, query letters)
Note: Her emphasis is flash fiction.
Ann Stewart McBee was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She obtained her PhD in creative writing at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She has published fiction and poetry in Ellipsis, Untamed Ink, The Pinch, and Citron Review among others. Her short story collection titled How Rabbit Went Down and Other Mishaps is available from Hoot-n-Waddle Press. She now teaches English at Des Moines Area Community College, and lives outside Des Moines, Iowa. The limited use of her hands due to Rheumatoid Arthritis does not prevent her from writing in the same way that living in heavy air pollution does not prevent one from breathing.Methods of correspondence: Email
~*~
Sarah Krenicki - Short/Flash fiction (submitting, writing/editing, identifying places to submit to)
Note: She really enjoys speculative fiction.Sarah Krenicki writes short speculative fiction and has made attempts at poetry. Her fiction has been published in Syntax and Salt, Gemini Magazine, and Lumina. She studied English and Creative Writing in college and after a brief stint in insurance marketing, found her way to the nonprofit world. She lives in a yellow house with her husband and two noisy black cats, and she overthinks everything, including/especially this bio. Pisces/Slytherin/INFP, for those who want to optimize compatibility.
Methods of correspondence: Text, email, Facebook or Google Video chat
~*~
Su Zi - Literary and academic writing in a variety of forms (editing, development, chapbook organization)
Note: This mentor will not read erotica or anything with killing of any kind. She is also not fond of "genre" work. Su Zi is equal parts writer, artist, and badass eco-feminist. She holds an MA in English and has published in such places as Driving Digest, Exquisite Corpse, and Blue Heron Review (where she was nominated for The Pushcart Prize). She resides in Florida with her horses, dogs, cats, and turtles where she runs The Red Mare Chapbook Series. Her newest collection #100TPC (Alien Buddha Press) was published in March.
Methods of correspondence: Twitter DM (another method may be agreed upon later)
~*~
Mentor for teenagers:
Jennifer Ruth Jackson - Literary and speculative flash fiction and poetry (editing, chapbook organization, market research/resource help)
Note: Jennifer has more poetry published than fiction.
Jennifer Ruth Jackson is an award-winning poet and fiction writer whose work has appeared in Red Earth Review, Banshee, Strange Horizons, Star*Line, Apex Magazine, and more. Her literary chapbook Body: Blessed & Bitter is forthcoming from Dancing Girl Press. Blighted Feast, her short horror collection, is to be released by The Poet's Haven. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and is a wheelchair-user.Methods of correspondence: Email, Twitter DM, Facebook Messenger