WORD People

WORD Places

WORD Things

Free WORD

WORD Anti-Socials and
Anti-Salons

ICBWB

Backtalk WORD

WORD on Nicole Vollrath

Nicole Vollrath is quite the writer, and even though she prefers " keeping it on the downlow!" I am gonna give her some Word BOOM. She willingly complied to answer my questions thus ensuring herself some "media" coverage. Again, I say "poor Nicole Vollrath"—she may wish she had just smiled and nodded at me.

WORD - What Ink workshops, classes or events have you been wrangled to help as slave labour, er, I mean a "volunteer"?

First off, it is a labor of love – honestly. San Diego Writers Ink offers myriad opportunities to take inspiration and to connect with the writing community! Last week I helped organize a public reading of our Thursday Writers practice group at LeStats West. The first Monday of each month we have a salon where writers meet around a topic led by a guest lecturer. We have a new book club that examines not just the story, but the way it is told, which I’ve found very inspiring.

Periodically Judy Reeves runs day-long writing marathons which are both social and productive. I’ve taken workshops in comedy writing and led ones on flash fiction. The opportunity to learn never stops.
I personally host Room to Write the first and third Sunday of every month at the Ink Spot, our studio in the Art Center. (710 13th Avenue). SDW, Ink members can come write quietly between 1 and 5 p.m. It’s a productive environment free from the distractions of home, and eight hours I relish every month.

I also teach creative writing at UCSD Extension. I’m currently doing a six-week course called “Creating Unforgettable Characters” and this winter I’ll teach my favorite subject, the short story. I’ve started to require that my students attend at least one literary event each quarter because I am such an ardent believer in the importance of connecting with a community of writers. A famous author once said, “No one cares whether you write,” which is true, so you’ve got to find people who do care, who are fans of your efforts, and who hold you accountable for your goals.

WORD - Why did you get involved in the One Book One San Diego program?

Honestly, one of our goals at SDW, Ink is to collaborate with the literary community at large, and the question came up: What should we do for One Book One San Diego? I suggested a book discussion and naturally, was asked if I would to lead it! I wouldn’t agree until I had read the book and halfway through, I said, “Yes! I’ll do it.”

Three Cups of Tea was a great choice for us because it’s an inspirational, educational and timely story, and it is told in an unconventional way with David Olin Relin “reporting” Greg Mortenson’s experience. As writers, we had some fruitful discussions not only about the content, but the way the tale is told, its advantages and limitations.

WORD - What did you want to be when you grew up? What do you want to be now?

I actually wanted to be the next Charles Schultz and drew countless cartoons and comic books, but every art lesson I had in public school turned me off. Luckily my English teachers were more inspiring.

WORD - What are your goals and dreams as a writer? Do you feel being involved with San Diego Writers, Ink motivated you to do more as a writer?

One of my mantras, borrowed from Judy Reeves, is “A writer is someone who writes.” Using this definition, I want to always be able to call myself a writer. Of course everyone wants the validation of publication, too, but I have this quote by Chris Offutt taped above my workspace: “It is very easy to get published. The hard part is writing something good.” So my goal is always to write something good, and when I complete a story I think is good (and start the long process of submitting it), my new goal is to write another one.

Teaching, reading, and volunteering are not writing, so I have to strike a balance. Regularly attending Dime Stories Live, a monthly open mic for prose writers, helps a lot. Once the audience gets to know you, it sets up an expectation. The week before, I start planning: “I’d better polish a few pages to read.” That gets me engaged with stories I may be procrastinating on. Any time you can give yourself a deadline, real or artificial, helps you complete.

WORD - As a transplant from wet Seattle, how has living in Paradise changed you as a writer?

In drizzly, grey Seattle, everyone thinks they are a poet, even if they’ve never written a line, so I suppose there is a little less competition. Or people take your saying “I’m a writer” more seriously here in SD. Also, coffee is a total requirement for life under a nine-month raincloud, but it’s harder to type when your fingers are jittery from too many lattes.

WORD - What advice would you give aspiring writers in San Diego?

You live in an amazing place. Take advantage of it. There are so many creative, non-pretentious people here. I moved here from Boston where the literary scene is so exclusive, the players so well-established, it can be very intimidating. In San Diego, I find most writers are generous, supportive, non-competitive people. When someone is successful, we celebrate it and it gives us hope that our own work will find an audience, too. There is nothing I love more than learning former students of mine are forming read and critique groups to help each other grow. I don’t want to sound too Pollyanna here, but great things happen in accepting communities. I’m astounded by the amazing work I hear at an open mic like Dime Stories Live. The quality is on par with much of what I heard from fellow MFA students in New England.

WORD - When will your work be ready for publication?

I only write novels in November during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) when thousands of aspiring authors around the globe commit to penning a 50,000-word saga in 30 days. (Talk about expanding your supportive writing community! And giving yourself an ambitious deadline!)

Last year I led some local SDW, Ink programming around the event and plan to do the same this fall, as well as rewrite my own novel-in-progress. However, while the big money is in novels and memoir, I have come to accept that I am, at heart, a short story writer. It is the form I respect and adore the most.

Publication-wise, this past year I had more success with Flash Fiction. I had a short-short included on the CD First Friday: the Best of Year 3 , and took second place in City Beat’s Fiction 101 contest of stories that are exactly 101 words in length, for “First Time.”

WORD - What are your favorite San Diego writers hang-outs? Favorite on-line writing sites?

The Ink Spot during Room to Write, of course. I frequent some stellar coffeehouses like LeStat’s, which actively supports the literary community, but I get the most work done there.

On-line, The Big List Of Literary Magazines is indispensable for investigating places to submit short fiction, and Agent Query tells you everything anyone needs to know about finding an agent.
 

>>Back to top<<