“My favorite teacher made me feel…” Seen. My fourth grade teacher-turned-pen pal believed in my writing. I still have Mrs. Vermilyea’s letters; her son kindly returned some of mine after her death in 2009. Thanks for the chance to remember Mrs. V, @womansworldmag.bsky.social!

In the age of AI that tends to gloss over the creative process in favor of output, the @lucasmuseum.bsky.social (opens Sept. 22) honors the behind-the-scenes work of storytellers across mediums. Of course you’ll see the Cinema exhibition, but don’t skip the Comics and Norman Rockwell rooms!

The week on Martha’s Vineyard flew by way too quickly. Thank you to the donors who made the Poet & Author Fellowship possible for writers like me. Honored to be part of the MVICW community that’s truly collaborative, not competitive.

More than 20 writers had us laughing (and crying) with their readings at #MVICW2026 Summer Writers’ Conference. Gotta bring some Kleenex for Part II tomorrow night.

Grateful for today’s gift of unstructured time. After a leisurely morning, I wrote for two hours before exploring Oak Bluffs. Ready to dive back into MVICW classes tomorrow! #memoirwriting #creativewriting #writersconference

Day 2 at MVICW covered some heavy topics. Lots to think about as we head into Day 3, which is a free day to explore Martha’s Vineyard (or write). #memoirwriting #creativewriting #MVICW2026

Day 1 at #MVICW2026 helped me rediscover the joyful parts of writing through both solo and collaborative sprints. Ready for Day 2! #memoirwriting

Flight delays and ferry cancellations couldn’t keep me from the opening reception of MVICW’s Summer Writers’ Conference. Ready for Day 1 of classes! #memoirwriting #writersconference

Spring cleaning uncovered this folder of short stories. I can’t help but laugh at my proclamation: “I, Amy Y. Chen, have an ambition of becoming a writer. At age 11, I realize it may not come true. But I still hope.” With my memoir DON’T TELL MA on submission again, I still hope. #memoirwriting

Grateful to the Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing for supporting my work with a Poet & Author Fellowship! I loved attending my first writing residency last summer. MVICW will be my first writers’ conference—any tips for a newbie? #writing #memoirwriting #writingconference

I’m leaving @the-vcca.bsky.social feeling greedy for more—more time and space, more candid advice from those who have gone through the publishing journey. As Robin Tewes used to tell her students: If it feels hard, you’re learning something. I must be learning a lot. #vccafellow #writingresidency

Six days ago, I arrived for my first writing residency at @the-vcca.bsky.social. Grateful to be part of this community that has shown me a different way of living and creating. #vccafellow #memoirwriting #writing #writingresidency

We're one month away from VCCA's next application deadline (May 15, 2025) — an opportune time for the VCCA Fellows Council to host another Artist Residency Application Primer (this Friday, April 18, at Noon ET)! RSVP and bring your questions: www.eventbrite.com/e/april-2025...

April 2025 Art Residency Application Primer: An Interactive Conversation

Get insider tips on applying to artist, writer and composer residencies straight from the Fellows and Staff of the VCCA!

eventbrite.com

Long before I landed @aliciabrooks.bsky.social as my agent, I applied to writing residencies. Every application required sample pages. What I churned out was rough, but at least the deadlines got me started. I’m delighted to say I’ll be heading to @the-vcca.bsky.social this summer as a #VCCAFellow!

“How did you start writing your book?” A year ago, I sat on these Adirondack chairs unaware that Bedford’s limp was due to bone cancer. I read in this chair while Bedford rested. When I finished my book, I started jotting down memories in the Notes app. Within months, Bedford would be gone.

I’ve attempted #Nanowrimo many times over the past decade and always stopped around 10K words. I logged back in last June and used the tracker to help me hit my goal of 50K words, then 60K. I stopped tracking after that, and my memoir ended up at more than 88K.

Eight months ago, I said goodbye to Bedford, my 11-year-old dog. I ended up channeling my grief into a memoir about my father who died in 2014. I recently stumbled on this “manuscript” from high school. My teenage self can’t believe I’m represented by Alicia Brooks at Martin Literary Management!

Thanks to @goldhouseco.bsky.social for inviting me to tonight’s reception honoring filmmaker Elizabeth Lo. Not only was it a treat to meet Elizabeth and the MISTRESS DISPELLER team, I loved hearing SFFilm’s Penelope Wong remind us why these voices matter now more than ever.

Every family has secrets. In my case, the headline in this Taipei Times article captures my initial disbelief after learning about my parents’ life and business in Taiwan about a decade before I was born:

What! Dad made a fortune selling English in Taiwan? - Taipei Times

Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan

taipeitimes.com

Kicking off 2025 by finishing my first MasterClass by the incomparable @amytan.bsky.social. She is why I believed that I could ever become a writer. I especially loved the part where she shared some rejection letters with the reminder that they aren’t “a rejection of who you are.”

Just finished @mjuhae.bsky.social ‘s brilliant memoir about her grandfather Lee Chul Ha who was imprisoned in 1929 for protesting Japan’s colonization of Korea; decades later, he was posthumously recognized as a patriot of S. Korea. Surreal to now see the headlines out of S. Korea over the last 24h…

It’s got a butterfly for a logo. If you really want to piss Musk off, name this thing Flitter.

Loved returning to Evanston for our 20th #NUReunion (and my first time on campus since graduating). From visiting our freshman dorm to chatting on the Lakefill, the weekend felt like old times. Grateful for lifelong friendships and all the doors opened by being a @medillschool.bsky.social alum!