NEWSLETTER
The Memoirist News: Birthday Stories, New Prompt, & The Boost Program
June 2023
Memoirists,
Can you believe June is here already? Weren’t we just doing crappy Valentine’s Day writing prompts? Warm summer breezes, kids are out of school, and family vacations ensue; writing tends to slow down during these warmer months, but make sure to take some breaks from the sun and relieve your need for creativity every so often. Bring your iPad outside and get some reading in while basking in the warm sunshine.
If you are a new writer here at The Memoirist, welcome! Please feel free to introduce yourself in the comments so others can get to know you. We always enjoy getting to know the work of our newest members.
If you are not yet a writer for The Memoirist and would like to be, please request via our submission form.
As I say in all of our newsletters, our editorial team is here to help. If you have any questions about your work, navigating how to use Medium, or anything else, please leave a private note on your story submission.
That said, I’d like to welcome our newest Memoirist editor, All My Little Words. You’ll find Dana as helpful and warm as the rest of our crew.
Check out Dana’s Memoirist piece I Helped My Best Friend Meet Duran Duran — it’s a good one!
We have a fun new prompt this month! We’re looking for stories about your worst job, ridiculous happenings, bad bosses, the whole shebang. I know there are going to be some amazing stories that come out of this one!
Check out my prompt post for all the details and guidelines:
The Medium Boost Nomination Pilot
I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve joined Christopher Robin as a Boost Nominator in the new program. Our publications — Memoirist and her sister pubs Black Bear and Age of Empathy — will now have another set of eyes watching for exceptional pieces to nominate for boosting. Currently, we have quite a few stories that have been boosted — too many for me to go and hunt down—so if you are one of those lucky writers from May, please feel free to leave the link to your story in the comments…and congrats!
Kristina God has written a great piece about what the program is looking for:
In her post, she links to a YouTube interview she did with Ariel, Medium’s new Director of Publisher Growth, about the program. Check it out!
That One Birthday—Story Spotlights
Let’s take a look at all of the great Birthday prompt stories that came in throughout May!
- The Patron Saint of Losers by KiKi Walter
- Alone, I Set Myself on Fire by Amy Annan (she/her/they)
- A Solemn End to Childhood Birthday Parties by Rebecca Morton
- A Slumber Party With My Comatose Dad by Julie Hall
- Made It to 597 Candles by Rodrigo S-C
- My Wonderful Birthday Tradition Is Being Questioned by KL Simmons
- Birthday Wishes and a Chocolate Cake by Jessica Lucia
- The Best Part of Turning 19 Was the Hat by Barbara Carter
- They Say It’s Your Birthday! It’s My Birthday Too, Yeah! by Eddie Biggins
- My 22nd Birthday Was the Day I Remembered How to Feel by Meg Vardy
- The First Birthday I Spent With the Love of My Life by Rachella Angel Page
- I Hid From My Own 19th Birthday Party by Rebecca Morton
- This Sweet Sixteen Party Almost Turned Into Disaster by Marie A. Rebelle
- My 17th Birthday Went Out With a Bang, Literally by Emmaline Swallow
- That Time My Mom Cancelled My Birthday by Victor Cardenas
- When I Stepped Into the Limelight by Meaghan Ward
- My Boyfriend Ignored My Birthday But Celebrated His Coworker’s by *Missy*
- A Walk In the Woods by A. S. McHugh
Meet Our Editors
Every month, we have an onslaught of new memoirists, so I like to reintroduce our editorial team so you know who is working behind the scenes and partnering with you on your stories. Here’s the gang and their latest stories (in any publication):
All My Little Words
Latest story: How Did Your Music Journey Begin? (Mine Was With Journey)
Mastodon: https://me.dm/@allmylittlewords
Arpad Nagy
Latest story: The Other Boy by M.G. Hennessey — A Book Review
Twitter: arpad56nagy
Becca CO 🌵
Latest story: June: Pride Month and National PTSD
Twitter: beccacollora
Bernice P.
Latest story: Today I Learned That a Movie About a Cat From Outer Space Exists
Twitter: ber_p72
Bob Merckel
Latest story: Six Bubble Gum Bangers that Will Keep you Boppin’ through Your Heartbroken Codependence
Twitter: bobzyeruncle
Ilona Goanos
Latest story: From High School Ugly Duckling to Granny Runway Model
Twitter: igoanos
kasey sparks
(editor for Age of Empathy)
Latest story: Titles That Are Clear and Informative Get More Reads
Twitter: kaseysparks_8
Kendra Sparkles
Latest story: He Had Kind Eyes and a Briefcase — and Shattered My Perception of Strangers
Marketa Zvelebil
Latest story: Memories of My Brother
Twitter: mjajmz
Michele Maize
Latest story: He Put Up With My Shit and Stuck Around for 20 Years
Twitter: yogi_sober
Michelle A. Cmarik
Latest story: He Grabbed at Me on an Empty Beach
Twitter: MichelleCmarik
Preeti Ramachandran
Latest story: She’s Back with a Slow Swag, a Huge Smile, and the Intention of Stealing My Soul
Twitter: Preeti_WIP
Sally Prag
Latest story: Today, I Stopped Being a Teacher and Remain Merely a Guide
Twitter: SallyPrag
Suzanne Pisano
Latest story: Another Tragic Mass Booking
Twitter: SuzannePisano
Yana Bostongirl
Latest story: I’m Scared My Depression is Coming Back
Twitter: YBostongirl
Christopher Robin
Latest story: How I Detached from My Wife and Learned What Real Love Is
Twitter: chris_robin79
KiKi Walter
Latest story: The Unbearable Heaviness of Being
Twitter: kikiwalter
The Unfocused Writer
The Unfocused Writer is back from break! In our latest episode, Chris and I talk about Medium and the Boost program. Listen and subscribe to us on your favorite podcast platform.
Listen To the Latest Episode of The Unfocused Writer on Spotify
Thank you to an amazing team. We’re not just a team, we’re a family — and I’m so very grateful for each one of you.
Looking forward to your awful job stories this month! In the meantime, I’d love for you to share a quick tidbit in the comments! What was your worst job?
xo — Ki
