Virgo Season Book Recommendation:

Meander, Spiral, Explode: Design and Pattern in Narrative by Jane Alison

One thing I think about a lot is the push and pull within the arts, and especially in writing, between the initial creative impulse (raw creativity) and the form and rules that art must fit into. With writing not only are there grammatical rules, but there are often genre-dependent rules that you’ve got to follow. And, beware! writer, if you don’t follow those rules!

(Of course, if you don’t show your writing to anyone, then you don’t need to pay attention to any of it. But if you want an audience, then you’ve got to follow the rules.)

Typically following the rules can make you a better writer, but it can also dull your creativity, or just make writing that much harder.

If you’re sick of trying to follow Save the Cat! orthe hero’s journey, I’m suggesting you take a look at Meander, Spiral, Explode.

What I really appreciate about Meander, Spiral, Explode is Alison looks at various types of fiction, much of it verging on the experimental, and shows you how the author created their non-traditional magic.

I mean, I’ve always thought there was something wild and genre-defying about Marguerite Duras’ The Lover, and Alison walks you through it all . . . among other writers, of course.

About that Glamour Magick workshop:

A few weeks ago, my friend Mary and I ran the Glamour Magick workshop, and it went so well! One friend of mine texted me a glowing recommendation: “it was so much fun! . . .I gained some lovely insights into my own tool kit of glamour magic . . . There’s some lovely meditations, some great practices that bring you in touch with parts of yourself that are waiting to be seen.”

If you missed it, I do have a replay link, so get in touch! (You can just email me: demelzachampagne@gmail.com) Mary and I are planning on extending the magick beyond just the workshop, and we’d love to have anyone interested in Glamour Magick to join us.

And if any of you who attended the Glamour Magick workshop would like to continue to connect, I run a (usually) weekly writing group called The Writing Coven (Mary is typically there too!). You can join us Tuesdays 3-5pm PST/6-8pm EST. Email me to get on the list: demelzachampagne@gmail.com

But don’t worry, there are plans for us all to continue to connect, so stay tuned!

Substack: If you can't get enough of me (haha), I am also on Substack where I am always planning to write more but never do. Maybe I'll finally get something out this month? We shall see. Connect with me here.

Office Hours: I'm still doing office hours (which is a free chat with me for 30 min), I offer a variety of times throughout the week, but if you can't find a time that works, feel free to email me! Fiction writers only, please! ​Link here.

Whew! You made it to the end!!
That's it for this month!!

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​Connect with me: on Instagram @foxandthestoryteller, on Facebook: Demelza Champagne, my website: alchemical-writing.com, and email: demelzachampagne@gmail.com