Author Q&A with Noelle Nori

This week’s Author Q&A features Noelle Nori. Noelle holds an MFA in Writing from the Naslund-Mann Graduate School of Writing at Spalding University. Her fiction has appeared in Crack the Spine and The Write Launch and she was longlisted for The Masters Review 2021 Novel Excerpt contest.

Her short fiction, “Let it Burn,” appears in our autumn issue and invites the reader into the intimate space of an exercise studio where one participant works through an intense class that conjures thoughts of loss and longing–heavy lifting that is as much mental as it is physical.

As we do with all authors, we took the opportunity to ask Noelle a few questions about her writing and writing life. She elected to share what the most difficult part of the artistic process is for her.

Letting myself sit with the discomfort and ambiguity of not knowing what comes next and trusting that I will eventually figure it out. This usually happens somewhere in the middle of a piece and is actually something I’ve been experiencing more and more lately, but I’m trying to take it as a good sign that I’m pushing myself to improve. If I knew exactly where a piece was going and how to get there, then I would know exactly how to write it, and where is the challenge or growth in that? Part of the magic of writing is figuring things out as you go along. You have to pull that rabbit out of the hat for yourself before you can do it for your reader!

In contrast, she also shared the part of the process is the most satisfying.

When I write the ending or last line of a piece and have a sense of ‘Yes, that’s it.’ It’s kind of like slotting the last puzzle piece into place – so satisfying! It doesn’t necessarily mean the piece is totally done (I likely still have editing to do), but it’s exciting to see that north star that I’ve been writing towards finally shining on the page.

That is a satisfying moment indeed! And we love the analogy of the North Star, as a navigation point that is leading the story (or writer) to its destination.

Of course, we always want to know what people think of when they hear the phrase “The Good Life.” Here’s how Noelle responded to the question…

The following words come to mind: comfort, meaning, ease, expansiveness, abundance, joy, family, friends, flow, purpose, fun, creativity, and love. The tangible representation or fulfillment of those words might look different at any given time. (‘Comfort’ can mean a hug when I’m feeling down or lounge pants after a long day!) But they all add up to that ‘good life’ feeling.

Thank you, Noelle, for being open to a little Q&A and for allowing us to publish your story. We wish you the best!

Cheers,
~The Good Life Review Team