Susan Muaddi Darraj's Blog

Lately, every time I open my Facebook feed or my Instagram timeline, it feels like I’m bombarded with pictures of and short video reels by writer friends who are doing that most writerly of activities: attending a retreat. Maybe they got accepted to Yaddo, the Highlights Foundation, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Hedgebrook, or some other beautiful, scenic, calm and quiet retreat space. 

Their job while they are there is to simply write. To create. To allow their imagination to match up with their discipline and to produce pages. Some retreat centers will even deliver meals to your door so you can write uninterrupted.

If you’re not a writer, you might think this sounds like some kind of indulgence, especially when you hop online and view the scenic places where these retreats are held. I’m talking little cottages, fireplaces, front porches, rocking chairs! 

I’ve only heard about it because I’ve never attended one of these myself. The reason is simple: I’m a mother of three children, and I have a full-time job. There’s no conceivable way I could escape my life for two weeks or more to attend something like this.

Writers are surprised when they hear this because I’ve been quite productive the past twenty years:  two short story collections, a novel, and a children’s book series, among many other published essays and work-for-hire books. I often tell people that my strategy is simple: since I cannot be in a place where people will not interrupt me, I instead write during the times when nobody can – and that means early in the morning. That is not feasible or even desirable for a lot of people, which is understandable. And I do believe it’s not an indulgence to get away from your life for two weeks to write. I do think it’s a necessity.

But for those of us for whom it is impossible, what do we do? Over the past few years, I have developed a system of creating my own retreat. I first started to do this during the pandemic, when I heard that hotels were so desperate for customers, they were renting rooms out by the day. The Marriott close to me, for example, rented out a room with a desk and Wi-Fi and a TV by the day for something like $60. It could be an office away from your house, so why not book a space like that to go and write? 

My immediate thought was that it was a tremendous waste of money, but the fact is, I cannot sit at home and write throughout the day. In addition to the risk of being interrupted to drive someone to baseball practice, pick up a prescription, or attending a parent-teacher meeting, there are too many distractions in my way: there’s laundry to be done, there are the dishes in the sink, there are papers waiting to be filed, and bills screaming at me to pay them. Perhaps going to one of these hotels for a day or two would be a good idea, and during the pandemic when I was worried about safety, it seemed relatively safe as well.

In fact, it worked so well that, ever since, I have made it a point to create a little hotel writing residency for myself several times a year. Call it the Marriott or Hilton Garden Inn Writer-in-Residence program, or whatever you like. There is something about having a room to myself that is clean and empty and devoid of all distractions. I will sit at the desk for hours, breaking only to eat, or go to the gym (another plus!) or to take a brisk walk. The amount of work I produce during this time is amazing and satisfying. My last novel, Behind You Is the Sea, underwent two full edits while I was at the Marriott Residence In for a week. 

Below are some tips for you if you would like to create your own hotel getaway residency. 

Have a specific project on which you want to work. I only book a hotel when I have a draft to revise, or I’m trying to complete a first draft of something. This will give your residency some structure and a clear goal. Bring your favorite drinks and snacks with you. Most hotel rooms will have a small refrigerator if not a small kitchenette. Bring snacks and food with you so that you are not tempted to leave the hotel to go get food from the outside. It’s not just the cost, but also the time away from writing that will be expensive.Hold yourself accountable. Write down the goal that you have in mind and put it up above your writing space. Create different zones in the hotel room. Maybe you can sit on the bed to read your drafts, sit at the desk to type out revisions, or sit on the couch to work on your outlines every day. Hotels often have several lovely spaces you can often find, such as outdoor benches, big tables in the breakfast areas, or comfortable chairs in the lobby. Use these spaces so you don’t feel tired just sitting in your room all day long.Print out everything that you write using the hotel’s business center, if they have one. I like to end my day with a stack of pages that I have just printed, so that I feel like I have tangible proof of what I accomplished during the day. Sign up for the hotel’s reward point systems that you can collect points during your stay. I often will cash in my points to add extra days to my stay. Try to stay at least two nights if possible. The longer the better, but two nights is a minimum. You will need the first night to organize yourself and lay out your laptop and papers. If childcare is an issue, try to find a local event nearby where you can drop off your child. For example, whenever my son must join me, I find a local baseball clinic where I can take him. Win-win.Attempt to make it a true residency. Let people know that you will be away for a few days. Nobody has to know why. Set your work email with an auto response that you were out of the office until a certain date and then try to really stick to that. You are here to work on your novel and not to work at your job away from home. If you are able to use vacation time from work, use it, or at least some of it. If your job gives you a week’s vacation every year, maybe two days of that can be used for your own writer’s retreat.

The post Creating your own writer’s retreat appeared first on Susan Muaddi Darraj.

Author Kirstie Myvett resides in the rich cultural city of New Orleans with her family. She is a cofounder of KidLit in Color and believes that representation matters in all places and spaces, especially in the pages of books. She is a frequent contributor to Black New Orleans Mom blog, and her work has been featured in Country Roads Magazine. Her debut picture book, Praline Lady, was published in November 2020 by Pelican Publishing. Find her online at Instagram!

1. Tell me about your latest project. How did you get the idea? How long did it take to work on it? Did you hit any stumbling blocks along the way?

My latest project is a middle-grade story I started fifteen years ago! The idea came to me after researching 19th century Blacks in New York. I stumbled upon a historical event that literally would not let go of me, and vice versa. I spent close to a year researching and filling a binder with information to help me draft the book. 

I’ve had many stumbling blocks along the way. When I started this book, I had a toddler and two school-age children that required most of my time, so it was always on the sidelines or, honestly, forgotten while life and living happened. There were also stumbling blocks related to the writing itself. I collected lots of quotes and later realized many didn’t apply because it was outside the timeframe I chose for the story. 

2. Tell me about your creative process. Do you write every day? In spurts? Take me from an idea to a first draft to a finished product

I do not write every day. I write most days, but every day isn’t doable for me. When I get an idea, I pick one of my many notebooks and write it down. Then I research because 98% of my stories require research before I’m ready to start writing. I add historical information to the notebook in labeled sections: main characters, location, quotes, etc.

More recently, I’ve created outlines of chapters with a sentence or two describing what might happen in each chapter. I follow that loosely because once I start writing, sometimes my characters go in different directions or they make new discoveries. 

Once I finish the first draft, I let it sit for a week or longer. During this time, I usually write in my notebook holes I need to fill or questions I need answers to. The second draft is just me going through it with a colorful pen and noting things that don’t work or more questions I may have. I do multiple drafts before I share with a critique partner. (No one ever sees a first, second, or third draft from me.) Once I get feedback, I go through the manuscript again and usually by now it’s ready to be sent to my agent. I have a hard time letting go in my quest for perfection so I probably stay with a project longer than I should.

3. What are the things in your life that keep you busy and that potentially take you away from writing?

When my kids were younger, I didn’t have as much time to devote to writing. They are older now and no longer what keeps me away from writing, but other things pop up to take their place. 

For example, last year I resigned from a demanding position and that certainly kept me away from writing, as I had very long hours coupled with having to write and be creative in my position. This resulted in me not having any energy to devote to my own projects. 

Nowadays, I take breaks for my own mental well-being. I need space to let projects germinate in my mind and sometimes that means I don’t write at all for weeks at a time, and I’m okay with that.

I don’t write on a schedule, but I write most days and think about writing projects every day, and in my opinion, it all counts. 

4. What specific tools do you consider essential in your writing career? They could be aps, technology, even specific stationery items.

I have several lineless notebooks for each project I’m working on where I can fill with all my ideas and thoughts. Technology wise I really appreciate ProWritingAid and thesaurus.com. Google docs, post-it notes… basic writing tools. But I also LIVE on Google Books where you can access books, journals, and magazines in the public domain for free (publications 100 years and older). Since most of what I write is historical fiction, this is an invaluable resource for me as is chroniclingamerica.loc.gov where you can access historic newspapers for free. Both are essential to my writing projects.

5. Do you have a specific place you write? An office? Coffee shop? Or do you write wherever you are?

I usually write at home at my kitchen table or at a small desk in my bedroom. 

6. How do you handle a writing slump or the dreaded “writer’s block”?

When my creative juices aren’t flowing, I take that as an opportunity to do other things. I read more during this time also because reading is always inspiring and sometimes is just what I need to clear the blockage. 

7. Do you have any specific rituals related to your writing?

No, unless you count making a cup of coffee, hot chocolate, or tea before I get started in the mornings. If I’m lucky, I’ll have a danish or sweet treat, but really the only ritual is a warm beverage must be nearby.

8. Do you ever get overwhelmed or drained between your writing career and other responsibilities? How do you handle this feeling?

Yes, of course. But I’m really big on self-awareness and recognizing when I need to slow down, breathe, go for a walk and just pause. We’re expected to exist on a spinning hamster wheel in our society and plagued with feelings of guilt when we’re not, but that isn’t sustainable. Feeling drained or overwhelmed is a sure sign you need to slow down. The Nap Ministry helped reinforce my thinking about this rat race life we live in America. Resting is vital to restoring your energy so you can do the work you’re here to do.

9. How would you advise someone beginning their writing career to stay on task, persevere, and be productive?

Writing is a solitary and sometimes lonesome endeavor. We have to be purposeful in creating community so that we’re not alone and discouraged. I encourage writers to find your community and tap into the resources and support that will encourage you to keep going through the good and difficult times.

The post “Restoring Your Energy”: An Interview with Kirstie Myvett appeared first on Susan Muaddi Darraj.

I love hearing about which apps writers use to be productive. I’ve learned about and tried many of them in order to be as efficient as possible in managing my writing career. 

Again, I offer this list in the context of: I work full-time and manage a writing career part-time, while raising three children. Here is what works for me. Some of these may not work for you, while others may change your work habits and your life!

1. Google Docs (Purpose: Writing!): I admit that I spent years wondering what the cloud was and why everybody wanted to store stuff in it. However, Google Docs has changed my workflow and my work habits for the better. I keep all my active working documents – novels, stories, query letters – in Google Docs open in active browser tabs so that I can jump across from one to the other. I can also hop on to my phone using the Google Drive app and do some outlining or light editing that way. I use the spreadsheets in Google Drive to keep track of things such as where I’ve sent my stories, articles, and pitches, as well as my expenses and income. I pay an extra fee to Google every month, just a $1.99 to access extra storage. 

2. CamScan (Purpose: Scanning): This is a scanning app that allows me to snap a picture of any paper document and save it as a pdf. I can send the newly created pdf right from my phone as an email, a text, or other message with just a few more taps on my phone screen. There are other scanning apps that can work, but CamScan is free and quick, and it also saves all your pdfs for future reference, so I can recycle the paper document. This particular app is such a tremendous time saver: When I am invited to do a reading or speaking event, there is often a lot of paperwork involved, and so I can save time by scanning my signed contracts or W9s. It also helps with my editing: when I am editing a story or essay for a friend or student, I prefer to mark up the page in pen, then use CamScan to scan and return their manuscripts.

3. Square (Purpose: Taking payments): When you are at a book event, you need a selling app on your phone to handle on-site sales. I use Square, which allows me to take credit card payments. It’s also useful because it has an invoice feature, so if someone orders a book from me online, I can send them an invoice via email, right from Square, and they can make their payment at their convenience. Square also runs reports on sales for me, which I can use for tax purposes. 

4. Toggl Track (Purpose: Timer): There are any number of iterations of this concept – an app to set a timer that will help you stay on track when you write. I use Toggl Track, which allows me to have a Pomodoro-style timer. I set it for 15 minutes, during which I write without interruption, and then give myself a 5-minute break before doing it again.

5. Otter (Purpose: Dictation): I use the dictation function on my MacBook Air for a lot of this, but I also have a separate dictation app on my phone. It’s called Otter, which is free and works quite well. There’s another app that I’ve tried, Dragon, but I find it too expensive for my purposes. I also sometimes use the good old voice to text function on my cell phone. I use dictation a LOT – mostly to dictate ideas into notes for story ideas, blog post ideas, and emails.

6. WordPress (Purpose: Marketing): This website is hosted on WordPress, and I use the app to check messages, upload blog posts, etc. 

7. Libby (Purpose: Audio book listening): When you’re being productive, it’s important to fill the well. When you start exercising, you need to also increase your intake of water. Similarly, when you start writing more, you should increase your reading to fill the creative well, and audiobooks are an easy and intriguing way to do that (esp. when books are narrated by the authors or talented actors). 

8. Social Media (Purpose: Communication and Marketing): Ok, I’m cheating because this category encompasses at least 3 apps. I will be writing a forthcoming post on using social media to enhance your writing career, but I have a true love for it. It really connects me to readers, as well as to my editors and people in the publishing world. It also helps me build relationships with other writers in order to build a strong community online. The three important social media apps that I use daily are Facebook, Instagram, and, of course, Twitter. I have also dived more recently into LinkedIn (I’ve always had an account with them, but only recently have I been playing around with their platform).

9. Mile IQ (Purpose: Track mileage): When you do any kind of travel for your work (driving to a reading or meeting with your editing group, for example), you can deduct those miles as part of your expenses. An app like Mile IQ (there are many others) make it easy to track which miles are for personal business and which are related to your writing career so that you have an accurate record.

The post 9 Essential Apps for My Writing Career (Productivity Tools for the Busy Writer – Part II) appeared first on Susan Muaddi Darraj.

Rosalia Scalia is the author of the story collection, Stumbling Toward Grace (Unsolicited Press, November 2021) and a second, forthcoming collection.  Her fiction has appeared in numerous literary magazines, including Notre Dame Review, North Atlantic Review, The Portland Review, Oklahoma Review, and many others. She works a full-time job in public relations, while also managing a busy writing career. I’ve long been impressed by her ability to manage her time, and she was generous enough to share her thoughts with me about getting the writing done! Check out her website: www.RosaliaScalia.com or find her on Twitter @RScalia and Instagram @CityGirlRo.

Tell me about your latest project. How did you get the idea? How long did it take to work on it? Did you hit any stumbling blocks along the way?

I have several projects in the works, which is typical for me. I started working on a father/daughter story in Jan 2021 and it was going to explore the impact of misinformation on an older white man—the father. The original idea began with the conflict between them centering on the mask and other misinformation. Then my mom became infected with COVID-19 and died and the entire story changed. It stopped being something that lived in my imagination to something that transformed the way I experienced and viewed a death from covid. This changed the story and I ended up dropping the political aspects of the original idea.

A second project is a novel-in progress with a cast of characters I have been working on for awhile. Both projects hit stumbling blocks. The short story with the father/daughter duo took me months to reimagine. The novel-in-progress: I printed the entire work out and read it and decided a different character needed to be the main character. The existing main character was causing the point of view to collapse into itself because this character lacked the experience and depth to tell the story the way it needed to be told. So back to the drawing board and this time, I am taking a different approach to the work.

Both projects are the ones that I am currently focusing on, though there are several others waiting in the wings.

Tell me about your creative process. Do you write every day? In spurts? Take me from an idea to a first draft to a finished product.

I try to write daily. Admittedly, just after my mom died, it took months for me to regain my footing but now I am back on track with the daily discipline. When words do not come, I had been doing writing exercises that tackle the story from a different perspective.

I had been writing at night, after a full day of writing at work, but now I am writing in the mornings before work.

This is not to say that every day yields great words and wonderful sentences. It means that I am showing up for the work, even if I end up deleting whatever I wrote. Every day of showing up is progress, albeit small steps. Each story is different in the process. 

Some stories just want to be born and come forth in nearly a finished, polished way. Other stories require hard labor and they exact a pint of blood. They key is to keep working on those stories that demand hard labor. They end up being the best stories. 

What are the things in your life that keep you busy and that potentially take you away from writing? How do you manage your time between this and your writing?

I have children and grandchildren, extended family, and a full-time job. All of that keeps me busy and all of it provides the potential to take me away from writing time. In the past, I had to guard writing time, no matter when I wrote. Daily discipline is a commitment. It takes commitment to write, regardless of the designed writing time, and that means making time to write, despite the distractions. I write in the mornings before work. 

What specific tools do you consider essential in your writing career?

Necessities: my laptop, Word, connection to the web to research items for the story. Books remain an important tool. I can’t say enough about reading—everything!  I do use Scrivener to compile books but I write in Word. 

Do you have a specific place you write? Or do you write wherever you are? 

I have an office, but if I have quiet time and a quiet place, where there are no people to distract me, I can write.

How do you handle a writing slump or the dreaded “writer’s block”? 

Writing exercises. Word prompts. Mimicking the work of writers I admire.

Do you have any specific rituals related to your writing? 

I have my water bottle handy and also hot tea. My ritual is that no matter where I ended the day before, I must start at the beginning and read the entire story til I get to the part where I ended so that I can continue. I know that everyone always says not to revise when you are getting down a first draft, but I can’t help myself. 

Do you ever get overwhelmed or drained between your writing career and other responsibilities? How do you handle this feeling? 

There is always a tremendous burden when other responsibilities interfere with writing, It is as if a siren call is sounding and I must answer it. The feeling is always telling me I must get back to work and that is what I do, even if I write two sentences. 

How would you advise someone beginning their writing career to stay on task, persevere, and be productive?

Set deadlines and word counts to achieve in a day’s work. 

Set a specific time to write and stick to it. This may mean saying NO to many invitations. I have declined a lot of invitations to social gatherings but I never say why. I just say, I have a previous commitment at that time. 

Form a writing group or community. Writing is solitary so other writers are important. It’s important to create your own tribe of scribes, of like- minded friends and colleagues. 

Persevere. Accept that every rejection is one step closer to an acceptance.

The post “Showing Up for the Work”: An Interview with Fiction Writer Rosalia Scalia appeared first on Susan Muaddi Darraj.

One of my long-time hobbies is thrift shopping, because of the cool treasures I can find to contribute to (what I imagine is) my eclectic style. I have found everything from designer handbags to silk dresses to hand painted wine glasses. Recently, I scored an incredible leather bag that – no exaggeration – changed my life. 

I do admit that I have several beautiful bags and purses, and at some point I’m sure I thought each of them had “changed my life,” but this one truly did.

It’s a 100% leather briefcase tote; it’s slim with plenty of pockets and a sturdy but attractive handle. Best of all, it carries all of my key productivity tools so that I have them with me at all times. 

Like you, I’m a busy person who finds time in the cracks of my day to manage a writing career. I write while waiting for baseball practice to finish, while I am waiting for a meeting to begin, and while I am on hold with the insurance company. The cracks appear in my day unexpectedly, so I have to be ready. That means that I need to have my productivity tools with me at all times. This bag has accomplished that for me.

What do these productivity tools include? 

I will be writing a series about productivity tools, including software programs, apps, and other essentials. This is part #1, focused on the tools that I carry with me at all times (in my gorgeous leather tote!). They help me to stay productive throughout the day. 

Laptop An essential laptop, for me, is one small enough to fit in my bag. I have a 13″ MacBook Air, protected by a hard shell case. It is a truly powerful machine with many helpful and time-saving functions. For example, I deliver virtual presentations using this laptop, and the camera and mic are excellent. It has a dictation function which I use to dictate emails and memos. And it has a terrific capacity for memory, which I use to store lots of photos and content to maintain my blog.

The size of this laptop is important to me. Sometimes, I find a few spare minutes to work, so I want to edit an essay or send an email to an editor. I can pull this laptop out of my bag easily (I always keep it charged) and get to work, knocking an important task off my list. 

Headphones I keep a pair of standard headphones in my bag so that, no matter where I find time to work, I can block out noise. Ear buds, Air Pods… whatever you use, have something that you can pull out of your bag easily and quickly.

Cell phone Make sure your phone has a great camera so that you can take pictures to spruce up your social media posts and your blog.  I will freely admit that, while I have a Mac laptop, I have an Android cell phone, and I’m very content with my double life. The screen is quite large, which makes the phone convenient to type emails on and even work on documents. 

Hotspot  Whether you have a hotspot as part of your cell phone plan, or a separate device that you carry with you, make sure you have one. Many times I have had to log into a meeting or do some work on my laptop while I’m traveling, and having a reliable hotspot is essential. Those times I mentioned, where I pull out my laptop while waiting for baseball practice to finish? I need that hotspot. It’s also a good backup for times when you think you have reliable WiFi, but are surprised. I have checked into hotel rooms, unpacked my bag, and set up my work station only to find that the signal is weak and therefore unusable. Having a strong backup on my cell phone is an essential service for me.

Backup Battery Pack You need one to charge your phone and laptop. It can be a lifesaver. Period.

Journal  Can anyone truly call themselves a writer if they’re not carrying a journal? I actually have 2 journals that I keep in my bag at all times: a bullet journal (which I will be doing a separate post about) and a writing journal. Let me speak here about the writing journal, which is a place to keep all my ideas and perhaps even begin writing out the beginnings of stories or essays. If I find myself with a crack in my schedule, but do not want to take out my laptop, I pull out the writing journal. For example, if my team takes a long break during a meeting, or my students are working on an essay, I suddenly have 15 minutes available to me, so I spend it with my journal, writing, outlining, or brainstorming. 

Writing Instrument  Do not underestimate the power of a good pen or pencil. The productivity experts would call it, like the journal, an “analog tool.” Whatever you call it, having a pen that you like is essential. It is a terrific pleasure to write with a beautiful pen. You can be inspired to write simply by the feel and sound of your pen moving across the page. Don’t stick with only one: Sometimes I’m hooked on mechanical pencils, sometimes a good old Ticonderoga is essential, but my most trusted writing instrument is a good fountain pen. I keep extra cartridges with me at all times so I never run out of ink. If you have never tried writing with a fountain pen, get an inexpensive one and try it. 

Stay tuned for the next part in the series, focused on digital tools, such as apps and software programs essential for the busy writer.

The post Productivity Tools for the Busy Writer (Part I) appeared first on Susan Muaddi Darraj.

 As a young girl, who lived in a rowhouse in South Philadelphia and played Wiffle ball in the street, I loved no book more than Anne of Green Gables. Anne was an orphan who was adopted by a pair of siblings who initially had wanted a boy to help them manage their farm. Instead, they got a spunky, red-haired, intelligent girl who stole their hearts. Though she was poor, Anne roamed through the woods and ran through the green fields of Prince Edward Island, a place that was far more beautiful than the paved streets and narrow alleyways of South Philadelphia.

As the daughter of immigrants, who often felt isolated among her American friends, I connected with Anne who was also an outsider in the town of Avonlea; people tended to think the worst of her because she was an orphan, and she dealt with their judgement fiercely. And her imagination and her loneliness often combined in ways that brought tears to my eyes, such as this sad moment when she faces being returned to the orphanage: “I’ve just been imagining that it was really me you wanted after all and that I was to stay here forever and ever. It was a great comfort while it lasted. But the worst of imagining things is that the time comes when you have to stop and that hurts.”

  I’ll say that later, as an older child, I realized that all the books I was reading starred white children; that bothered me more and more, because I could imagine myself in anyone’s shoes [that’s the power of readings, after all], but couldn’t there be a book that met me halfway? A book that, while I stretched my imagination to connect with it, simultaneously reached out to me?

Therefore, when I finally decided to write a children’s book, I wanted to carefully craft it so that it would reflect my values and my ideals. Therefore, I decided four things:

First, my main character would be a Palestinian American girl. Like me. Like my own daughter. It would be an #ownvoices book. I named my protagonist Farah [which means “joy” in Arabic] and gave her some fun traits — she’s funny, she’s smart, she’s curious, and she can be stubborn. She speaks Arabic at home with her parents and English at school with her teachers and friends, and I included a glossary of Arabic terms in the back of the book.

Second, Farah would be working class. This was very important to me, because many times, the characters we see in #kidlit books tend to be privileged kids. Money is never discussed because the reader is supposed to assume the character is financially comfortable. Farah’s family, however, struggles financially — her parents work hard, but they’re always pinching their pennies, and like any lower-income kid, Farah is acutely aware of this. It’s a testament to my own upbringing; I was raised in a family that was often short on money but had an abundance of love and affection.

Third, this book would be the first in a series. For example, as a kid myself, I read Anne of Green Gables several times before I saw, in a Scholastic flyer, that there was …  a second Anne novel? Indeed, Anne was a character who spanned an entire series:  Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, and more. The story didn’t end at the closing of the first novel. I realized, with a thrill, that I never had to lose Anne. At its core, this is the appeal of the book series: the joy of finding a good book and realizing there’s a whole bookshelf at the library or bookstore with the Boxcar Children, Ramona Quimby, the Sweet Valley High twins, Nancy Drew, and the Hardy Boys. Later, I became a big Agatha Christie fan and followed Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes.

The fourth thing was that Farah’s story would be a chapter book. I didn’t want to write a picture book, nor did I want to pen a novel for older, more advanced readers. I wanted kids in the younger grades as well as older kids who were still emerging readers to meet Farah Rocks. This was a deliberate decision because very little attention is given to the chapter book, one of the hardest-working genres in children’s literature. A chapter book, loosely defined, is a book targeted towards readers who have graduated from picture books [although, in my opinion, nobody should ever “graduate” from picture books] but who are not yet ready for novels. The chapter book is a happy medium — a long story, broken up into shorter chapters, lightly illustrated throughout.

The chapter book is a victory for the emerging reader. It’s a “real book”, as my own kids used to say, with just enough pictures to break up the text but not so many that the prose is de-emphasized. Finishing a chapter book makes a young reader feel like a big kid, and it creates a positive vibe around the experience of reading independently.

I’m excited to see where Farah goes on her adventures, but no matter what, I’m glad that she, and the series, reflect my values and my commitment to my readers.

The post Crafting a Chapter Book Series appeared first on Susan Muaddi Darraj.

I used to envy writers who were independently wealthy, who did not have to get up to go to a mundane job to pay the mortgage and keep the heat on. I imagined a glamorous  and indulgent life in which I could spend my days writing, reading, and having business lunches with my agent.

The truth is that life was impossible for me, as it is for most people. I am raising three children, and I have always had to work full-time because of pesky little things like buying groceries and having health insurance. I knew that if I would be successful, I’d have to find another way. 

Hard, focused work produces results – this was something I knew. Octavia Butler’s words are taped above my desk: “First, forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not.” I was already disciplined as a writer – at least I had been,  until I became a mother. When my children were infants, my good habits suddenly devolved into chaos –  I was scribbling in a notebook while sitting at the pediatrician’s office and dictating into my phone while cooking dinner. 

My “writing time” became so erratic that it was stressing me out, so I finally accepted that I would have to use the mornings.  This was not an easy decision. In fact, I prided myself on being a “night owl,” a person who could write only when the house was dark and quiet. But the presence of babies in the home meant that I was too exhausted to stay up late to write. Besides, who knew what the night would bring? A colicky baby? An infant who was suddenly hungry at 2am?

It would have to be 5:00am. 

For almost sixteen years, I have been waking up at 4:50, making a pot of coffee, and sitting down to do the hard work of writing. In this way, in the dark hours of the morning, I have written over 12 books, including two award-winning short story collections and a successful chapter book series. Below, I will describe some tips and techniques that have helped me perfect a productive and fulfilling early morning routine. 

Claim a space. It’s important to select one area in your home where you can write quietly (ideally a space that does not have a television). While a dedicated study or office space would be helpful, there’s no need for it to be a permanent space. For years, I wrote on a couch in my living room and carried around a bag containing my books, laptop, and pens. Now, I have a desk in the corner of my dining room, as well as a leather club chair that I call my “reading chair.” Between the two is a small bookshelf, where I keep my mentor texts (see below).

2. Prepare the space every evening. A good writing morning begins the prior evening. Before you go to bed, it’s vital to organize your space. Remember that you will be tired –  be kind to your future, sleepy self by having everything in place. Stack your books, charge your laptop, make sure you have your special pens. Make it inviting: put out a favorite blanket, get your favorite coffee mug ready, place a lamp on the table. 

3. Create a visual or sensory “trigger.” What will entice you to come to your space and write? What will pull you out of your bed? For me, it’s the coffee pot brewing (which I have loaded and set the night before, of course). For others, it’s the sacred act of lighting a candle and writing while it burns. 

4. Keep mentor texts nearby. Mentor texts are books whose style, themes, or language inspire you. They are the books you want to emulate. Keep them nearby and consider starting your morning routine by reading through a passage or two to put you in the proper mindset. 

5. Work in chunks of time. I use a version of the Pomodoro method. I will set my phone’s timer to 10-minute chunks, maybe 15-minute chunks if I feel good. When the timer goes off, I allow myself a few minutes to check Twitter (hello, #5amwritersclub) or re-read a passage from a mentor text that inspires me. Then I set the timer again and get back to work.

6. Stop in a good spot. This classic tip is attributed to Hemingway… when you’re in the middle of a great scene and you know what will happen next, stop there for the day. The next morning, you will be able to easily jump back into the writing again, thus avoiding a difficult return to the manuscript. 

7. Prepare a reset strategy. There will be moments when your attention and energy start to flag. Get ready for these moments and have a strategy for resetting your focus. What works for me is to get up, brew a fresh pot of coffee, and while I’m waiting, read aloud from my mentor texts. 

8. Honor the time. Let’s face it: you will have bad mornings. Your daughter’s softball game may have gone into extra innings the evening before. Maybe you were invited out to a celebratory dinner for a colleague. Maybe your child was up all night with a cough. The bottom line: you are exhausted, so the writing is not flowing. Don’t go back to bed! It’s important to honor that time. Going back to bed today means you’re more likely to do it again; instead, you must get to the end of your designated writing period. However, instead of trying to write, do those other things that all writers must do: Get out your mentor text, or a new book that was recently published, and read. Reading modern work – being familiar with the types of books you want to write –  is an important part of the professional life of a writer. Perhaps you can scan through the websites of potential magazines where you might send your work to preview potential markets (the directory at the clmp.org site is a great resource). The idea is to do something related to writing in order not to waste it.  

I hope these tips are useful! I’ll add more tips in the future. Follow me on Twitter/Insta to learn when I update them! @SusanDarraj

The post Creating A Solid Morning Writing Routine appeared first on Susan Muaddi Darraj.

April is Arab American Heritage Month! It’s been a joy to see that, every year, this month gets more and more media traction, lending more visibility to our community. I’m bringing back an article I wrote for Arab American Heritage Month for Baltimore Beat Magazine, where you can read my thoughts on what this month means as well as learning a quick and easy hummus recipe.

The post Arab American Heritage Month appeared first on Susan Muaddi Darraj.

Thanks for checking out my new website, which features my books for both adults and kids! I’ll be blogging occasionally to keep everyone updated about new articles, projects, and events!

The post New site! appeared first on Susan Muaddi Darraj.

* With a bonus section on Surviving the Lift

 

First, believe that it can be done. 

 

The odds are in your favor, given that Arabs love a party. And everyone is stunned that you’re finally getting married, so there’s that added excitement. 

 

Second, realize that it’s not actually your wedding. I know you want to have a good time, but nobody really cares whether or not you do. 

 

I mean, your name is on the invitation, and you’re probably paying for it, but your job is to make sure that they have a good time. And, to be perfectly honest, you owe them this. (You should be grateful they never gave up on you, Mr. “But I Wanted to Finish My MFA.”) 

 

Yeah, so, it’s not about you. At all. 

 

It’s also not about your spouse, who is merely an unwitting accomplice in all this. Your spouse can be Arab or not, by the way. Nobody really cares anymore. It’s not like back in 1978, when your cousin married an Irish guy from Trenton and his whole family showed up in kilts. No, it’s different now. The Aunties have decided to finally flex on the issue of marrying non-Arabs. It could have been the fact that your cousin and her Irish husband are happier than anyone else you know. I personally think it was My Big Fat Greek Wedding that finally made it cool. Either way, your spouse should have no problems blending in, as long as they greet the oldest person in the room first and can drink arak without dying. 

 

So what is it about, you ask? 

 

Haven’t you guessed already?  It’s about the Aunties, that army of older women that decides who lives and who dies in the gladiator battle that is your Arab American life. 

 

It’s about pleasing them. 

 

That’s right. Even the ones you’ve never met.

 

Remember Samiah, your father’s second cousin’s former schoolteacher? She’s the 90-year-old lady who lives in the village back home — no, not Cleveland-home, I mean home-home — and has twelve kids, but she’s a widow who still tends chickens and a goat? 

 

A day after your wedding, Auntie Samiah will sit down on her balcony, in her village on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. She will make a cup of black tea, stir in some sugar, and wrap a shawl around her shoulders. And then she will reach into the bodice of her thobe, pull out her iPhone, and watch your wedding video in short clips on her Facebook app. It’s about this moment, about making sure she nods and smiles and says, “Al-hamdulilah.” 

 

Dearly beloved, pleasing this Auntie — and all the Aunties —  is really your goal here. Yes, I know you’ve never met Samiah. But it doesn’t matter. 

 

Plus, it’s not about you, remember?

 

Ok, so finish your prayers (you’ll need them), and let’s plan this wedding.

 

The Venue: 

It’s not as important as you think.  Arabs can party under a tent at the park or they can party in the Hilton Grand Ballroom as long as nobody will come along to say “It’s 3am — time’s up, folks” (that person will be ignored, but still — awkward). Just make sure there’s a big sturdy dance floor: where there are Arabs, there will also be spirals and spirals of dabke.

 

The Wedding Party: 

 

To clarify: Your wedding party is NOT an assembly of your favorite people. It’s not a collection of friends who have been on “this journey” with you. This is not a Hallmark movie, people. There is no heartfelt dinner with your best friend, where you will pop the question: “Will you be my maid of honor?” 

 

The wedding party, you see,  is a representation — a United Nations of sorts — of all the branches of the family. Sure, you have 64 first cousins, but the Arab quota system requires you ask one cousin from each family to participate. So, accept that you’ll have 14 bridesmaids. Maybe three flower girls. That your photographer will have to arrange everyone like a football team and use the wide lens. 

 

Furthermore, your best man will be one of your brothers. Possibly all four of your brothers.

 

Your maid of honor will most likely be your cousin Seema, who resents you because Rami, the doctor’s son, danced with you, not her,  at the Arab Heritage Festival six years ago. But that doesn’t matter. The Aunties have decided that She Is The One. Try not to worry that, as you turn to say your vows, she will stick out a high-heeled shoe and trip you. 

 

It’s worth the family peace. Because Amo Rashid will simply not come if his daughter isn’t in it, and Auntie Fayrouz won’t dance if her son isn’t the ring bearer. She will sit like a stone at her seat and sniff, “How can I dance with a broken heart?” 

 

The Invitations:

 

Invite everyone.

 

Even people you are sure will say no. So you don’t think Auntie Randa in Jordan will attend? Because, you’ve reasoned, the flight alone will cost her $1,000? 

 

You’re totally right, by the way — she won’t come, but you better invite her anyway. Why? Because her daughter’s brother-in-law lives in your town (he’s your parents’ neighbor)  and if she’s not invited, then he’ll be forced to boycott. Really, you’d be leaving him no choice. 

 

A word about the invitations themselves: They must mention your parents’ names. And no matter who is footing the bill for this extravaganza, your parents’ names will be listed first. 

 

For example, the card will not read, “Maher and Gabrielle cordially invite you…” 

 

It will read, “Mr. Zaid and Mrs. Faten Omar cordially invite you to the wedding of their son, Maher….” 

 

Just so you know. 

 

RSVPs:

 

Monitor your RSVPs carefully. Three hundred will reply that they are coming. Expect that 340 will actually show up. Plan accordingly, because Lamia’s sister dropped in for a surprise visit from Rhode Island and, well, she couldn’t leave her at home, could she? By the way, she has three children and doesn’t know any babysitters in town, so she brought them along. They want the filet mignon. 

 

Seating Charts:

Remember that the tables at the front, closest to the wedding party, are prime real estate. Everyone will look to see who’s sitting there, especially Samiah. And if Khalo Jamil and his wife and four kids are not there, well, it was nice knowing you, habibi. 

 

Keep the chart as fluid as possible for those 40 people who will show up unannounced; Auntie Rosa didn’t tell you she was coming, but she will expect to sit near the front.

 

Non-Arabs:

 

They can attend. That’s who the tables at the back of the hall are for. And they won’t mind, because they’re happy to experience “your cultural traditions.” Warn them about the zaghareed so that they’re not startled when all the Aunties pierce the air with their ululations. Teach them a few dabke steps. They will love it and apply themselves enthusiastically to learning it. (Advise them not to jump to the front of the line, though. That spot is reserved for only the best dancers, and they will slow it all down.) 

 

Impress upon them to dress up like it’s the Oscars. Even if the reception is held in a tent near a creek, they must wear gowns and high heels. Otherwise, Samiah will wonder why they are insulting you by wearing flowered maxi dresses and gladiator sandals. 

 

The Booze:

 

If your family drinks, there needs to be an open bar. Period. If anyone feels like they have to pay for their own drinks, Auntie Fayrouz will have gained an ally in her boycott of the dance floor.

 

The Band: 

 

You need one. A kick-ass one. In fact, prioritize music in your budget. 

 

Wait, is your budget tight?  Too bad. Cut costs elsewhere. (The ring, maybe? I mean, who needs a diamond ring, anyway? Haven’t you seen Blood Diamond?)

 

And just so we’re clear, when I say music, I mean Arabic music. 

 

But wait, you say. My spouse is Italian-American. Fine, we can be flexible here; you can have an American DJ for an hour or so, but 80% of the night has to be a combination of Arabic songs and dabke. It’ll be fine. Your future in-laws will love it, especially if they are Italians. Italians are actually better at dancing to Arabic music than we are, honestly. (Puerto Ricans are the best, though. Just saying.) 

 

Do your research. Visit the band’s other local events to verify how good they are. (Translation: Crash other Arab weddings and pretend you’re the groom’s cousin. There will be 600 people there — you will blend.) Observe the scene carefully. For example, are people actually sitting down and eating their dinner instead of dancing? Are people able to hold a conversation? If that’s the case, then YOU DON’T WANT THIS BAND.  No, you want the band that is still performing at 1:30 in the morning. You want the band whose lead singer ends up on someone’s shoulders, leading a sahjeh while swinging his tie around like a lasso. 

 

Watch the drummer: you want a guy whose drum is the size of a banquet table and who spends half his time airborne on the dance floor. It’ll look great on the video when Samiah sees it.

 

The Entrance:

 

Here is where you need that amazing band. Your entrance to the reception must be the Entrance to destroy all Entrances. The drummer will lead you in, and if all the singing and clapping and dancing goes well, it should take about two hours to actually enter. 

 

The Food:

 

Honestly, this is everything. 

 

If you’re thinking to have an afternoon reception, where you serve champagne and finger foods, then please do the right thing and elope. Your parents will get over that a lot faster than watching your Amo Fuad eat a crab cake off a freaking napkin.  (Back in the village, Samiah will wonder why you were too cheap to have plates.)

 

Don’t underestimate how much food you will need. Your wedding will require vast quantities.  

 

Especially meat. 

 

Ah, the meat. You may be tempted, since many of your guests are vegetarians or vegans, to serve the chef’s delectable “Curried Red Lentil on a Bed of Couscous with a side of Pepper Kale.” Don’t be led astray. The Aunties will wonder why you are serving addas at the biggest event of your life. Your parents will wonder why you listed their name first on the invitation if you planned to humiliate them. 

 

Bottom line: you need meat, and a lot of it. It’s about the family honor.

 

(Bonus Section) The Lift:

 

Let’s talk about this. It’s one of those big moments, like cutting the cake. The wedding can’t be over until two of your cousins suddenly grab you and put you up in the air. They’ll bounce you around. They might even hand you a cane or a handkerchief and expect you to wave it gracefully. While you try not to die, your spouse will be thrown up there too. So will your father and some of your uncles. Even your grandfather, if he’s game. (And he will be, because he really thought you’d never get married.)

 

The danger of The Lift is obvious: They might drop you. You could break your arm. Or your neck. Even if you use some mad American Ninja Warrior skills and remain up there, all the bouncing could cause a concussion.

 

 

How do you prevent that? Depends on whether you’re the bride or the groom.

 

If you’re the groom, it will happen this way: someone will come up behind you and scoop you up onto his shoulders. Your abs must be ready for this moment so you don’t flop back and smack your head on the ground. Maybe do sit-ups and lower-body curls for a few weeks before the wedding.

 

In addition, arrange ahead of time with your cousin Walid that he will be the one to lift you.  Walid played varsity football when he was a freshman because the dude is a tank. He can devour a whole tray of warak dawali by himself. Your other cousin Marwan will try to offer, but the most strenuous sport he played is chess, and let’s face it: your ass is on the line here. 

 

If you’re the bride, two men will lift you up in a chair, which presents its own unique dangers. You are more likely to be dropped than the groom, because Arab men cannot coordinate lifting something together. Studies show that most brides fall because, as two guys lift the chair from the sides, some fool comes to help and boosts the chair from the back. This unnecessary action thrusts the chair forward, and, in her satiny smooth dress, the bride slips right off like it’s a water slide at Six Flags. 

 

Therefore, before the reception, ensure that somewhere in the wedding venue, there is a chair with arms. Most catering and banquet halls have exclusively chairs without arms (ever notice that?), leaving nothing to hold onto. So get that freaking chair and make sure one of your bridesmaids (not Seema!) guards it with her life. Instruct her to smack anyone who approaches it with her bouquet. 

 

Halfway through the party, get out of your high heels and slip on flat shoes with treads. If you do fall off, you’ll land on your feet and not break an ankle. Next, recruit two football-player cousins as your accomplices; when the crowd chants for The Lift, they will retrieve the chair, stand on either side, and put you up. 

 

Make sure these men are of equal height. Balance is key. 

 

Your warrior-bridesmaid who guarded the chair? She should stand behind your two cousins, armed with the bouquet, swatting away anyone who attempts to lift from behind. 

 

Finally, hang on.  

 

While You’re Up There … 

 

… there will be a moment when you will gaze down at everyone below you. As the throng of family and friends claps to the drumbeat and sings to your happiness, you will be pleased that, though you’ve  been popping Xanax for weeks and are now bankrupt, at least they are having a blast. 

 

There’s Auntie Fayrouz, circling the floor with her handkerchiefs and belting out some zaghareed. Lamia’s kids, who enjoyed the filet mignon, run around, knocking down the photographer’s tripod. Your grandfather is leading the dabke like it’s his wedding. 

 

Meanwhile, Samiah is sleeping soundly back in the village, but she will wake in a few hours, ready to watch the video.

 

You may still wish that you’d eloped instead, under cover of night, to Aruba. You may wish that everyone would learn of your deception tomorrow on Facebook. 

 

And yet, you stuck it out. And look. You succeeded: Everyone is happy. 

 

Except you. 

 

But then, you look over. Your spouse is being lifted in the air and is now spinning like a Tilt-a-Whirl.

 

Your spouse is also not happy. 

 

Just like you. Inshallah, that will bond you together for a lifetime. 

 

Mabrouk. 

 

 

Please note: No Aunties were harmed in the writing of this humorous essay. All is well, alhamdulilah.