Why subscribe?

Writing well is hard. Writing true stories can be even harder. In addition to worrying about polishing your prose, you might also be struggling to capture a challenging experience on the page, grappling with how to write about others, or trying to figure out how much speculation is okay to include in a piece of personal nonfiction. You might also be wondering: can I really share this? Is writing this true story even worth it?

Truly Important provides a monthly dose of encouragement in your inbox to remind you of the excellent reasons for writing nonfiction, despite its challenges. On alternating months the newsletter contains:

• a note from me about the importance of the work you’re doing, or

• an introduction to the work of a fellow creative nonfiction (CNF) writer

All months include a curated list of CNF-related opportunities, including contests and submission requests from journals.

My goal is simply to help you keep doing what you’re doing. Because, nothing worthwhile is easy. And I believe the hard work of capturing your stories on the page is truly important.

Subscribe to get the monthly newsletter delivered directly to your inbox as well as access to the publication archives.

Who is this newsletter for?

Writers of memoir, personal essays, literary journalism, creative nonfiction, and diaries.

What’s your background?

I’m an essayist and novelist from Toronto who now lives in Texas. I also work as a creative nonfiction instructor, mentor, and freelance editor. You can read about my creative work here. And about the ways I support other writers here.