The Metaworker Podcast

026 | The Draft I Buried: Nancy Noelke & Bryce Painter

Episode Description: Elena, Mel, and Cerid speak with Nancy Noelke and Bryce Painter about unfinished work—those ‘buried’ drafts. They talk about how an idea develops, sometimes over years, and how they decide when a piece is finished or whether it should stay a draft. The group also discusses the vulnerability of sharing unfinished work and how it provides insight into one’s development as a writer.  Author Bios: Nancy Noelke’s work has appeared in The Physician Executive, HR Magazine, Spirituality and Health Magazine, Global Advances in Health and Medicine, Coulee Region Women’s Magazine and Essential Inklings. Newly retired from a career in higher education and healthcare, Nancy is devoting more time to writing poetry, including a soon to be published chapbook. Bryce Painter is a percussionist in the indie, folk-rock duo Verdeant and a writer of speculative fiction currently working to record more original songs and complete his MFA at West Virginia Wesleyan College.  Referenced in this episode:  Not Done Yet by Nancy Noelke [https://themetaworker.com/2024/05/27/not-done-yet-by-nancy-noelke/] on The Metaworker website Join our Discord writing group [https://discord.com/invite/w2rTsQk] Poets that Nancy admires: Marie Howe [https://www.mariehowe.com/], New York poet Laureate (2012-16): writing in letter format and writing “all the things you don’t know on a topic” Joy Sullivan and her Sustenance writing workshop [https://joysullivanpoet.com/sustenance]: “Find the ache and name it.” Annie Lamot [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anne-Lamott] and the “shitty first draft” Nancy’s chapbook of poems “What We Keep” [https://www.amazon.com/What-We-Keep-Nancy-Noelke/dp/B0DFN11PWP] Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets [https://www.wfop.org/] Wisconsin Writers Association [https://wiwrite.org/] Get involved in your local, regional, state, and national writing groups! Immediate Fiction by Jerry Cleaver [https://bookshop.org/p/books/immediate-fiction-a-complete-writing-course-jerry-cleaver/7e9269319a49d60f?ean=9780312302764&next=t] The Art of Fiction by John Gardner [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-art-of-fiction-notes-on-craft-for-young-writers-john-gardner/c06adb1000e6fb7c?ean=9780679734031&next=t] Refuse to be Done by Matt Bell [https://bookshop.org/p/books/refuse-to-be-done-how-to-write-and-rewrite-a-novel-in-three-drafts-matt-bell/f42974238f04fbd5?ean=9781641293419&next=t] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/metaworker] Listen to the podcast on The Metaworker's website! [https://themetaworker.com/archives/the-metaworker-podcast/]

025 | The Draft I Buried: Kathryn Temple & Matthew Smallwood

Episode Description: Elena, Mel, and Cerid speak with Kathryn Temple and Matthew Smallwood about unfinished work—those ‘buried’ drafts—and what they do with them. Kathryn reads two unfinished poems, “The Lawyer Reads Yeats” and “Dis: A Dictionary Entry” while Matthew explains why he deletes all of his unfinished and unwanted drafts. The five go on to discuss different approaches to works in progress, the potential of the written “junk pile” vs the value of starting fresh, as well as the role of perfectionism in art. Author Bios: Kathryn D. Temple teaches and writes at Georgetown University. Her latest work has appeared in Streetlight, Fauxmoir, Delmarva Review, and 3Elements, among others. She was a funded finalist for the Lori White Nonfiction Fellowship in 2023. In addition to her creative work, she has published two academic books on law & emotions and many essays in academic journals. Find her on the Chesapeake Bay or at https://georgetown.academia.edu/KathrynTemple and https://medium.com/@templek [https://medium.com/@templek] Matthew Smallwood is a 43 year old horror author living in West Virginia. He has a collection of tuxedo cats and has been published in numerous anthologies. His first novel Immortal Again is available on Amazon.  Referenced in this episode:  Numbers by Kathryn D. Temple [https://themetaworker.com/2024/11/04/numbers-by-kathryn-d-temple/] on The Metaworker website Amongst the Clouds by Matthew Smallwood [https://themetaworker.com/2023/10/31/fright-write-halloween-stories-writing-group/] on The Metaworker website Explanation about The Grind [https://rosswhite.com/2012/04/09/why-we-grind-part-one/] writers group About Robert Louis Stevenson’s writing—and burning of the first draft—of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Case_of_Dr_Jekyll_and_Mr_Hyde] Keith Haring [https://www.haring.com], “Art is for Everybody” Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/metaworker] Listen to the podcast on The Metaworker's website! [https://themetaworker.com/archives/the-metaworker-podcast/]

024 | Pushcart Prize Nominees, Part 2

Episode Description: In Part 2 of our Pushcart Prize Nomination podcast series, we review three pieces: one of poetry, one of creative nonfiction, and one of fiction. Our editors Elena, Mel, and Cerid share their reasons for nominating these pieces, and we hear each author's background and reason for writing, in their own words. Stories here include "Sharh on Sunan an-Nasa'i 736" by Reyzl Grace; "Rubies" by Carol E. Anderson; and "Ashmedai and the Hairdresser" by Allister Nelson. Part 1 can be found here. [https://themetaworker.com/2025/05/09/podcast-023-pushcart-part-1/] Featured Authors: Reyzl Grace is a writer, librarian, and translator whose work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and featured in Room, Rust & Moth, So to Speak, and other periodicals. Currently a poetry editor for Psaltery & Lyre, she lives as an expat in Minneapolis with her novelist girlfriend, arguing over which of them is the better writer. (It’s her girlfriend.) Find more of her at reyzlgrace.com [http://reyzlgrace.com] and on social media @reyzlgrace Nominated Poetry: "Sharh on Sunan an-Nasa'i 736" by Reyzl Grace [https://themetaworker.com/2024/09/20/sharh-on-sunan-an-nasai-736-by-reyzl-grace/] on the Metaworker website Carol E. Anderson is a life coach and former organizational consultant whose passions are writing, women’s empowerment and travel photography. She is the founder of Rebellious Dreamers, a twenty-five year strong non-profit organization that has helped women over thirty-five realize dreams they’d deferred and women of all ages come into their own. Carol holds a doctorate in spiritual studies, and master's degrees in organizational development, and creative nonfiction. She is the author of the award-winning memoir, You Can’t Buy Love Like That: Growing Up Gay in the Sixties. Her work has been published in The Metaworker, Across the Margin, Bending Genres, Hippocampus, Lit Break and others. Her goal at this stage is to live with a peaceful heart – a state regularly cultivated through walks in nature, meditation, and heartfelt conversation with friends. She lives with the love of her life and their sassy pup in a nature sanctuary in Ann Arbor, MI. Nominated Creative Nonfiction: "Rubies" by Carol E Anderson [https://themetaworker.com/2024/04/22/rubies-by-carol-e-anderson/] on the Metaworker website Allister Nelson is a technical writer who has been published in Apex Magazine, Eternal Haunted Summer, FunDead Publication’s Gothic Anthology, Sudden Denouement, the Showbear Family Circus, and more. Nominated Fiction: "Ashmedai and the Hairdresser" by Allister Nelson [https://themetaworker.com/2024/04/08/ashmedai-and-the-hairdresser-by-allister-nelson/] on the Metaworker website Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/metaworker] Listen to the podcast on The Metaworker's website! [https://themetaworker.com/archives/the-metaworker-podcast/]

023 | Pushcart Prize Nominees, Part 1

Episode Description: Elena, Mel, and Cerid review and discuss three of their nominees for the 2024 Pushcart Prize. Part 1 of this podcast includes readings of "Parteada por el Fuego/Twice Born" by E.N. Diaz, "December Rain" by Subarna Mohanty, and "Heavy" by Shaun Anthony McMichael. You’ll also hear reflections from each author on their piece, their craft, and what drives their creative process. Congrats to each of these three nominees! Featured Authors: E. N. Díaz (México, 1995) es poeta y cuentista. Sus escritos han aparecido en las revistas BULL Magazine, Letralia Tierra de Letras, Babab, The Café Irreal, Clarkesworld Magazine, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, y en el blog Jóvenes en la Revista de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. E. N. Díaz (México, 1995) is a bilingual poet and short story writer. Their writings have appeared in BULL Magazine, Letralia Tierra de Letras, The Café Irreal, Clarkesworld Magazine, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Revista Casapais, Revista Larus, Strange Horizons and others. You can find more of their work at Bluesky: @endiaaz.bsky.social  WordPress: https://endiaazblog.wordpress.com [https://endiaazblog.wordpress.com] Nominated Poetry: Parteada por el Fuego / Twice Born by E. N. Díaz [https://themetaworker.com/2024/09/09/parteada-por-el-fuego-twice-born-by-e-n-diaz/] on The Metaworker website Subarna Mohanty writes poetry and short stories that explore the intricacies of human relationships. An avid reader and movie enthusiast, she prefers fiction to reality and draws inspiration from the stories that surround her. Her work has been featured in Sparks Magazine and Alipore Poetry Post, among others. Through her writing, she aims to inspire readers to see the world from fresh perspectives, fostering empathy and a deeper connection to the human experience. Nominated Short Story: December Rain [https://themetaworker.com/2024/12/02/december-rain-by-subarna-mohanty/] on The Metaworker website Since 2007, Shaun Anthony McMichael has taught writing to students from around the world, in classrooms, juvenile detention halls, mental health treatment centers, and homeless youth drop-ins throughout the Seattle area. He is the editor of The Shadow Beside Me (2020) and The Story of My Heart (2021), anthologies of poetry by youth affected by trauma, mental illness, and instability. Over 85 of his works have been published, including the forthcoming short story collection The Wild Familiar (Fall, 2024; CJ Press). Keep up with him at shaunanthonymcmichael.com [http://shaunanthonymcmichael.com]. Nominated Poetry: Heavy [https://themetaworker.com/2024/07/08/heavy-by-shaun-anthony-mcmichael/] on The Metaworker website Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/metaworker] Listen to the podcast on The Metaworker's website! [https://themetaworker.com/archives/the-metaworker-podcast/]

022 | Creating Anthologies, Part 3

Elena, Mel, and Cerid are back with updates. Elena asks Mel how it feels now that River and Stone is out in the world, Cerid discusses the fun challenge of arranging the order of pieces in her anthology Artificial Sweetener, and the trio discuss the thought and care that goes into book design and illustration. Mel’s anthology, River and Stone, is now available for purchase as an e-book or physical book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Cerid’s anthology, Artificial Sweetener, will be available in November. Referenced in this episode: River and Stone Anthology, edited by Mel Reynolds, is available to purchase! Buy River and Stone in print or Ebook on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/River-Stone-Morgantown-Writers-Group/dp/B0DHWHK623/] Buy River and Stone in print from Barnes & Noble [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/river-and-stone-morgantown-writers-group/1146304663?ean=9798227285713] Buy River and Stone Ebook from Barnes & Noble [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/river-and-stone-morgantown-writers-group/1146304663?ean=2940180393968] Cerid’s project – Speculative Fiction New Zealand’s anthology, Artificial Sweetener [https://specfic.nz/anthology-home/] – will be out later this year! Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/metaworker] Listen to the podcast on The Metaworker's website! [https://themetaworker.com/archives/the-metaworker-podcast/]