Robin Mayer Stein is one of the authors featured in the 2023 volume of the Fiddlehead Folio! Her story, Make a Wish, is a thoughtful day-in-a-life story that you will enjoy cozying up to. We asked her a few questions about her story. Want to learn more about Robin? Her website is robinsteincreative.com.
What inspired you to write the story? I wanted to capture a day in the life of a young woman and show how she was torn in many directions. I wanted to show her self-awareness and how she navigated her day with grace and humor.
What was the hardest part of writing this story? Finding a balance between events that had really happened in my life and fictional aspects of the story was the hardest part for me. I hope it will be easier for my next story. This time, I had a sensitive, talented editor who showed me how to let the story find its flow. I learned alot from the process.
What was your first thought after submitting to Folio? And after being accepted? When I hit submit, I felt like a judge on the TV show, The Voice, hitting the buzzer, a major decision!! I felt empowered when I sent my story out into the world. When it was accepted, I felt grateful that someone had understood my vision and now, more people would hear my voice and hopefully, recognize something of themselves in my story.
What are you writing next? I am working on a series of short memoir/creative nonfiction pieces and plan to curate a collection and publish it next year!
How has the Guild helped? What is the value of a writing community?
Writing is a solitary act but a writing community encourages, supports and enlivens each of us. The Metrowest Writers’ Guild offers courses, writing sprints and valuable information to all of us at whatever stage of our writing journey. Through the pandemic and beyond, the Guild has given me a platform, support and confidence to write and submit. The Guild provides an antidote to loneliness in a difficult time in the world.
I have met people from diverse backgrounds and found common ground with them. I am very grateful for this community with dedicated members and Kyra Wilson Cook, our intrepid leader.
The launch of the Fiddlehead Folio will take place at the Literary Extravaganza and Book Bazaar on Saturday, December 2nd from 10am-3pm at the Writers’ Loft in Hudson, MA. If you live in Massachusetts, we would love to see you and share the Folio (along with so many other books on sale that day!) with you! Planning to join us? Let us know on Facebook or Eventbrite!