Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Woo
Hi Nancy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I wrote my first poem as a Christmas gift to my 4th grade teacher when I was 8 years old. It was about elves. I wish I still had it. I was always an avid reader and I always had dreams of growing up to be a writer, but I didn’t know any writers in my early life, and I had no idea how that would even be possible. Still, the itch was there, and when I was a teenager, I found myself up late at night on my mom’s computer typing away into a message forum dedicated to teenagers who liked to write. At that time, poetry was a weird, secret thing that I liked to do.
It wasn’t until after college that I returned home to Southern California (Long Beach specifically) and discovered that there was a real, live mass of poets who roamed the streets, writing, talking, performing, and publishing. I was very lucky to have landed in a city with a formidable population of poets and naturally, I fell in with them and started attending readings and workshops, soaking up as much as I could. I published a chapbook, recorded a poetry and music CD, and went to every open mic I could find.
Then, in 2015 everything changed. That is when I received the PEN America Emerging Voices fellowship, which is a 7-month long professional development journey for writers who “lacked access” to the traditional literary publishing world to launch a professional writing career. Since then, the rest is history. A decade later, I’ve put my 10,000 hours in, and I am on top of the world, living my dream as a professional writer. Honestly, if not for the darkening shadow of fascism rapidly descending upon us, I’d be the happiest clam there ever was. But then, my work has always been based in social justice and so, I find that now is a time for the writers and artists to take up their pens and get to work, so at least I know I’ll never be bored.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Oh, too many to count. No path is easy. One of the biggest challenges was figuring out how to make money. After the PEN fellowship, I went on a self-directed career journey, asking all the writers around me how they made a living. I was earning my way as a copywriter at the time, but I knew I didn’t want to do that forever if I could help it. Eventually, I discovered that there was no singular path. Every artist paves her own. Now, if others are interested in learning how to make a living as a writer, you can buy my online course for $5,000. Just kidding. For me, it’s been a combination of many different revenue streams, such as teaching, editing, performing, and project grants. This would be a much longer conversation to go into all of them, but eventually I figured out how to leverage my particular strengths and skills in the marketplace to actually do what I love to do. A big part of that was just saying yes to everything I wanted to do without a capitalist expectation of immediate financial return, while learning how to value what I had to offer. That’s a really tricky balance, to get away from the dominant scarcity mindset and trust that it will all work out, while not neglecting the actual nitty gritty details of needing money to survive. Building strong relationships, doing good work, throwing my passion into everything I said yes to, and learning to say no to what didn’t excite me or provide a return on value were some of my guiding principles.
And then, of course, there’s the actual writing. Ernest Hemingway said, “What’s the hardest part about writing? Getting the words right.” After PEN, I tried for a while to put together my first full-length poetry manuscript, and floundered for enough years to eventually decide to invest in an MFA. It worked, and I learned how to do a book. My MFA thesis was accepted for publication four months after finishing. And now, since I’ve cracked the code on how to put a book together, I’m working on three more book projects simultaneously, one of which is out for publication right now. It’s quite a thrill.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I wear many hats, and I always have. I’m a project-based person, and I love coming up with big ideas, then making them happen. It’s such a joy. In addition to my own writing, I love to produce events, produce zines, facilitate groups, and inspire others’ creativity.
It’s hard to say what I’m most proud of. I’m proud of crafting a life that I love, healing from my own personal traumas, spreading love and imagination into the world, and connecting meaningfully with many wonderful people.
My projects change every year and right now, it’s a pleasure to be in the Leadership Circle with the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, where a small group of arts educators come together to expand access to the arts for youth across LA County. I’m also the Long Beach Youth Poet Laureate Fellow, and it’s my absolute delight to design the program and mentor a group of talented teen poets.
Right now, I’m very much focused on eco-poetry and environmental activism. The destruction of our natural world is the biggest threat facing our species, fueled by capitalism and the rise of right-wing authoritarianism all over the globe, and so these are the forces I consider my enemy. I want life to continue to thrive on this planet, and right now it’s not looking so good. The descent of our country into an oligarchical dictatorship is extremely depressing, but I can’t lose hope. I’ve dealt with enough depression that I know that’s not the way forward. I channel my high-energy emotions into action, and I’m currently leading a Stop Project 2025 working group to bring people together to participate in democratic actions (rather than sit at home and worry, doom-scroll, and fight on the Internet). I suppose one of my special skills is being able to form groups, provide a structure, and inspire people.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Say yes to everything that sparks a fire in your heart. Focus on the abundance around you, and it will lead to more. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. Be patient, and put in the practice. If you don’t apply for the thing, you’ll never get it, so keep putting your name in the ring for all the things you want!
Pricing:
- I offer editing and consultation for those who might be interested. Contact me for a project quote.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nancylyneewoo.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancifulnance/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancifulnance/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancywoo/
- Other: https://www.gasherpress.com/product-page/i-d-rather-be-lightning
