Finding Our Writing Stride: Alissa Johnson

In an effort to find other writers in my small mountain community, I decided to venture outside my comfort zone and put a small ad in our local paper. To my surprise, a couple local writers, including Alissa Johnson, responded.

When Alissa first contacted me, I knew I'd hit writer resource gold. At the time, Alissa was an editor with the Crested Butte newspaper; she has her MFA in Creative Nonfiction, and has won accolades and awards for her writing. I was also immediately intimidated. But after meeting her, I tossed aside any fears of inadequacy. 

As our writing friendship grows, I am grateful to glean from her experience and appreciate her friendly, welcoming personality. She is an experienced and gifted writer whose passion is helping other writers grow and succeed. Towards this end, Alissa has developed WritingStrides, an online resource for writers offering advice, inspiration, coaching and classes. Her blog officially launches April 15th. Of course in eager anticipation, I already have it listed on my blog roll and am looking forward to the doses of insights and inspiration I know I will find there. 

Please welcome Alissa Johnson to the writing community. I know she'll be a source of encouragement to you as well. 

Looking for Inspiration

Last week I went to a reading at my local book store in Crested Butte, Colorado. Two authors were slated to read from their novels about women in the west, and I went because I've been looking for a good read. Plus, I needed to feel inspired. I'm in the final two weeks of my day job before freelancing full time and running my own business as a writing coach.

I'd spent the day developing my newsletter and pondering how to let people know I exist. Things have started to fall into place in unexpected ways since I gave my notice at the newspaper, but with all the time and energy that goes into a successful launch (and figuring out what the heck that even means) I felt very far away from my writing. The vision of a young 12-year-old girl in Minnesota (the place of my roots) recently came to me. She feels very passionately about the new wolf hunt there, and I know her story is my job to tell. But at the moment, I can't see when I'll be able to do it and I've been wondering--can I write a book about Minnesota when I now live in Colorado?

I was the first to arrive at Townie Books. I often forget that in this little mountain town being "on time" means showing up 15 minutes late. So even though I am a "sit in the back" kind of gal, I took the bright red easy chair in the very front row. 

The authors sat on a couch in front of me. I had never read their work and didn't know their names. But underneath their silk scarves, dangling earrings, and crisp jeans they wore fashionable yet solid leather boots, and I felt instantly at home. I learned that they both hail from Utah and and are started editing businesses because they--like me--are ready for change. 

More guests eventually arrived, but as soon as they started reading from their books, I felt like these women were speaking to me. Jana Richman wrote The Oridnary Truth through the voices of four different women, switching at each chapter as a way to explore the difficult issues of water in the west. I'd been thinking lately that my book needs to be told in three voices. I'd been wishing for books to study--examples to light my way. 

Barbara K Richardson wrote Tributary, an historical novel about a young woman who arrives in Utah just as polygamy becomes openly accepted. It draws on Barbara's own roots. She began her book 18 years ago, and admitted (while laughing) that she had to move away from Utah for a good ten years to find the perspective she needed to write about something so closely tied to her ancestors. 

I was so riveted that I bought both books, and when I placed them in the basket of my bike at the end of the evening, they seemed to me like lifelines. Small pieces of wisdom that would carry me one step farther on my journey into writing a novel. 

I don't go to many readings these days, and I never sit in the front row. I'm a Midwestern introvert, after all. I certainly never thought I'd actually write a novel or start my own business. Yet that reading had been exactly what I needed: a little peace of mind. I recalled a mentor who once told me that in life, you are exactly where you need to be when you need to get there. I'm beginning to think the same is true for writing. 

Alissa Johnson lives and writes from 9,000 feet above sea level in Crested Butte, Co. She moved there from Minnesota and now believes that reinvention is always possible--in life and in writing. She's gone from being a desk bound flatlander to a mountain biker and rock climber. The thing she loves most about writing is the ability to take big risks without the need for a helmet. You can follow her thoughts on writing at WritingStrides.

Keep Writing,

Julie