MENTORSHIP RECIPIENT

Mentorship Recipient: Locks Unlocked

Mentor Commentary:
Laura Maylene Walter

On the Revision Process for "Locks Unlocked"

by ​​Tiffany Mi

I experimented with the initial writing stage for “Locks Unlocked,” my first published CNF piece, in much the same way my dad experimented with his hair: a bit of this and that, then some gel, then a trim, each time getting closer to my voice by way of its versatility. But as my story grew, so did the responsibility of grounding it with control. Most noteworthy was the ending, which Laura brought to my attention with incredible insight. Her guiding questions helped me clarify how exactly I intended the piece to bear the weight of its own meaning. What was my vision for the end, and what kinds of structural choices would honor it? In other words, Laura pointed me toward my own direction, or its crystallization. This was a little “meta” and a lot of fun.
 
The editing process was not only collaborative but also compassionate, built on the kind of creative trust that begets itself. In our exchanges, Laura took the time to "get to know" the message behind subtle sentences as if it were a person, and her guidance was constructive in a way that afforded me space to explore on my own. I was humbled to find that feedback and revision, and the thought that goes into each of them, are more dynamic than I’d previously believed.
 
The place where the writer and editor meet in the middle—where that “middle” aligns with the piece’s spirit—is magical. I am so grateful for this editorial mentorship with Gordon Square Review and can’t wait to see where it’ll take the next starry-eyed writer.

Tiffany Mi

Tiffany Mi is an emerging writer hailing from greater Dallas, TX. She recently received her B.A. from Pomona College and was a Fulbright recipient in Spain. Her work is published in Careless Magazine. 
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