We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lara Tupper a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lara, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
I keep a lot of balls in the air at once. As a writer, I have a few open files on my laptop at any given time: a new novel, a new flash fiction, a new Substack. I let myself be drawn to one and stay there until I need a break. Breaks consist of feeding my chickens, drinking more tea, going for walks, listening to podcasts, reading a chapter by a favorite author. (Abigail Thomas is a favorite right now.) Something to stir up new ideas and get myself out of my own head for a bit.
I also perform as a vocalist. Singing is the opposite of writing for me. It’s immediate. The audience lets you know if they like it (or not) right away. It helps to have that outlet.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m the author of three books: Amphibians (Leapfrog Global Fiction Prize), a short story collection, Off Island (finalist, Housatonic Book Award), a novel, and A Thousand and One Nights, a novel. My writing has been anthologized in collections such as the just-released Maine Character Energy, a charity work to support Everytown for Gun Safety. I just completed a novel, At the Center, which imagines a world without paper and a black market press committed to preserving printed books. It’s my antidote to the sway of AI.
I’ve taught creative writing for over 20 years at universities and retreat centers. I founded Swift Ink Stories because I wanted to create a supportive space (in person and online) for guided freewriting practice, workplace wellness sessions and the development of writing projects. I lead workshops in libraries, schools, community centers and offer professional development in office spaces. It’s a privilege to guide writers and help them articulate their stories, whether in a group setting or one on one. I also serve as a book coach for writers working to finish or polish a manuscript.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Swift Ink Stories is a service that relies on compassion, commitment and collaboration.
As a teacher, I thrive when discussing the writing process with students. It’s exciting to pinpoint what works and what needs work in each piece of writing in a compassionate manner. I work with novelists, short story writers, memoirists, bloggers, historians. Some want to publish their work. Some want to record family stories. Some have years of experience; some are just starting out. It’s thrilling to see how they progress and commit to their own voices over time. It’s a collaborative process. I listen to their intentions and guide them accordingly. I do this in a friendly, supportive manner. I believe in kindness and exacting critiques. This combination makes Swift Ink Stories unique. It’s a creative platform that elicits the best story possible from the writer in a way that doesn’t belittle or discourage.
As a writer myself, I know the ups and downs of the creative process and the discipline needed to sustain a writing life. I provide a framework for others to create. I give deadlines and homework. I provide accountability. I was lucky to have wonderful mentors who did the same for me while earning my MFA (Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College) and beyond. They believed in me. So, I’m paying forward.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
It’s hard to choose just one. Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones offers a no-nonsense approach to getting the words on the page. It’s easy to censor ourselves when writing. In my workshops, we quiet the internal censor and allow ourselves to be messy at first. It’s a cliché but we all have stories to tell. I believe this. But we can stop ourselves before we even start. As Natalie Goldberg says, “There’s no magic, honey. Just pick up the pen.”
If you want to write, I also suggest reading. A lot. Pay attention to books that excite you and ask yourself why. And don’t be afraid to write your story. It’s yours.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.laratupper.com/
- Instagram: @swiftinkstories
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaraTupperAuthor/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laratupper
- Twitter: @laratupper
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyia4szfsRYR2CJ2M4AKEjg
- Other: https://www.swiftinkstories.com/ https://www.facebook.com/swiftinkstories/
Image Credits
Lynnette Lucy Najimy (photos 1 and 2)
