Popcorn led me to Literary Mama. The story begins in an elementary school cafeteria. My husband and I volunteered to pop popcorn for the annual sock hop at my son’s school. While wearing plastic gloves and stuffing popcorn into red and white paper bags, I met another mom there volunteering — Christina Consolino, a former […]
Observe. Listen. There is value in every writer’s words, seasoned or novice. There aren’t stupid questions so ask them. Knowledge equals growth. Act on the afforded understanding, follow the path, and seize the opportunities even if they differ from your vision. Be humble. Accept all work offered because it leads to more opportunities. Write at […]
My dream to be a published author developed at nine years old when I devoured one Babysitter’s Club book after another. I wanted to create my own characters and stories and let them live dramatic lives underneath beautiful book covers. Now in my early 30s, I’m still aspiring to that “published” part – in the […]
Welcome back to our monthly social media writing prompt series, #MamaAnd. We loved reading your contributions to “Mama And Back to School” for September! Here are a few of our favorites. Our prompt for October is: Mama And Mystery Whether it’s flash fiction, micro-story, drabble, found or short poetry, or even art, each prompt will […]
The Literary Reflections Department of Literary Mama is seeking submissions for our January/February 2023 issue. We are looking for original first-person essays focused on the intersection of motherhood and the creative process. More specifically, we want to know your hopes/resolutions for writing or reading in the new year. We are also interested in possible obstacles […]
I have, technically, been a writer my entire life. A diary when I was a kid. Terrible poetry in middle school. Short stories in college that managed to find a home in the school’s literary journal. And then I became an English teacher and taught young people to write. When I left full-time teaching and […]
When I struggle with writing, I say to myself: write from where you are. It’s a reminder to accept where I am in my writing life and let go of frustration over not being somewhere — or someone — else. When you feel the same way, think about where you are and be there. Feeling […]
Welcome back to our monthly social media writing prompt series, #MamaAnd! Whether it’s flash fiction, micro-story, drabble, found or short poetry, or even art, each prompt will be an invitation to share a unique take on the motherhood experience. Literary Mama staff will select favorite contributions to share at the end of each month. Our prompt for […]
TW: suicide/mental health Since 2003, September 10 has been recognized around the world as World Suicide Prevention Day. We mourn with all those who have lost loved ones to suicide and mental health struggles. Over the years, mama writers have been brave in sharing their stories about mental health with Literary Mama readers. We went […]
A friend recently asked me how to make disjointed memories come together when writing about her grandmother, who died when my friend was twenty. “What question are you trying to answer about your grandmother?” I asked. When crafting creative nonfiction, it’s common to begin with vivid glimpses of memory that compel us to the page. […]
Take a digital writing detox every so often. Using pen and paper forces you to slow down, to consider the words you are using. It’s an act of mindfulness in our busy, instant, electronic world—no distracting notifications jump from a page. Pen and paper are markers of time, memory makers and re-connectors. Remember how they […]