Morgan Spatola

Morgan Spatola lives in Phoenix and is a performer, photographer and writer.

What do a tourism writer from Albuquerque, New Mexico; a Glendale life coach; and a burlesque performer and creative from the Valley have in common?

They're all engaging in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) along with writers around the world who just passed the halfway mark this November.

Lynne Sturtevant

Lynne Sturtevant is a nonfiction and fiction writer who lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

On this episode of "Word," we'll find out how some in the Southwest are coping and keep on truckin’ to the finish line: 50,000 words by the end of the month.

Lynne Sturtevant is a nonfiction and fiction writer who joins us from Albuquerque. This is her first year taking the NaNo challenge.

We talk about her foray into the fantasy genre.

Plus, Melissa Figueroa from Glendale is in her eighth year engaging in NaNo, but started out writing poetry when she was young.

Figueroa is also exploring the fantasy genre, but her story is rooted in real life and adds an element of sci-fi.

Melissa Figueroa

Melissa Figueroa is a life coach and writer from Glendale.

Finally, Morgan Spatola has a broad creative background as a burlesque performer, photographer and writer. Spatola, a fellow podcaster, hosts “Wet Hot American Moon Juice: A NaNoWriMo Podcast,” and has been participating in NaNo seriously for three years.

We discuss how the pandemic has affected life as a creative, and Spatola’s motivation for this year’s competition.

Portions of “Word” have been nominated for an Edward R. Murrow award.

Thanks for supporting the literary arts in Arizona and the region!