Artist Initiative

I was able to finish a book-length collection of short fiction, I had one story, WataPark, published, and three others are on submission. I exceeded my expectations for the amount of work (both editing and generating new stories) that I would be able to get done during the grant period. I collaborated with nine other Minnesota fiction writers in readings I arranged at Magers and Quinn in Minneapolis and The Contented Cow in Northfield. We not only got a chance to listen and respond to each other's work, but also to give each other feedback. I received very positive feedback from both the other fiction writers (especially for a story called Craigslist Posts) and audience members. Since many of my stories use humor, it's extremely helpful to learn if and when people will laugh. I discussed promotion strategies and book publishing with Paper Darts editors/founders (Jamie Millard and Meghan Murphy), and I hired a graphic designer, Heather Musil, to create a website. I organized two readings (Magers and Quinn and The Contented Cow) and ran two workshops in Minnesota (one at Metro State for Ed Bok Lee's Advanced Writing Short Fiction and Journal Publication course and another at Center for Hmong Arts and Talent in St. Paul); in addition, my story WataPark was selected to be read at the Vita.mn Summer Story Contest event on The Union Rooftop in Minneapolis. Over two hundred people attended the readings and workshops. I increased my Facebook presence not only by promoting these events, but by enlisting nine other Minnesota fiction writers to do so as well (since they, too, were reading at these events): John Jodzio, Sarah Askari, Dennis Cass, Maggie Ryan Sandford, Matt Mauch, Matt Ryan, William Alexander, and Mary Logue. My website is being designed by Heather Musil at Little Bird Designs (a Minnesota company). Once the website is up and running, I will be able to engage even more Minnesotans.