HEY FRIENDS! So remember when I went to Texas? Way back in March, I was lucky enough to get a scholarship that enabled me to attend the 2018 Rainbow Intensive at my new favorite retreat spot, The Writing Barn. Today I have the honor of being featured as a Success Story! You can read the full interview on the Writing Barn site:
SUCCESS STORY SPOTLIGHT WITH RYAN LA SALA
I really loved this interview, because it gave me a chance to talk about the intersection of REVERIE, queer readers, and working with other queer writers. Here’s a question/response I’ve been thinking a lot about lately, that sums up what my experience at The Writing Barn gave to me:
What is a takeaway you will carry with you far beyond this good news as you continue to build an develop your career?
I won’t have control over who reads my work after its published, but for a brief weekend I was surrounded by the people who my writing seeks to center. There’s a purity to that sort of utopia that I tune towards every time I open up a manuscript, which wouldn’t exist if I couldn’t regularly envision a world of readers who really do want joyous stories about queer youth winning. I try to recreate that excitement in myself whenever I become intimidated by the dream of the writer I want to become, or daunted by the writing I want to produce, because that excitement proves that people are waiting for me to show up and get my work done.
There’s a ton more in this interview that I love, including me referring to myself as a microwave dinner, so check it out if you want! And also, make sure to check out the 2019 application for the same Rainbow Intensive! Don’t be intimidated by the price tag — the amazing staff/faculty are doing everything they can to offer even more scholarships to those that need them to attend. I suggest applying, making your needs known, and seeing what comes of it.
xoxox~