Welcome to Write at the Edge

A newsletter dedicated to the craft of writing.

Welcome!

Thanks for tuning in to Write at the Edge, a newsletter dedicated to the craft of writing. I’m Mallary Tenore Tarpley, a professor, journalist, and author whose debut nonfiction book, SLIP, will be published by Simon & Schuster’s Simon Element imprint in 2025. Through a mix of personal narrative and journalistic exploration, the book blends my own lived experience with anorexia and my quest to understand the cultural, scientific, and genetic factors that contribute to eating disorders and recovery from them.

I started publishing personal essays about my eating disorder in my early twenties, with hopes of one day writing a book. I loved sharing my story and hearing from readers who said my essays helped them feel less alone. But by my late-twenties, I began to feel as though I was writing variations of the same personal essay over and over again. I had found a storyline that seemed safe to share and easy to write, and it was hard for me to stray from it. I also had trouble finding time to hone my craft — so much so that there were stretches when I hardly wrote at all. As someone who identified as a writer but wasn’t writing, I felt like a fraud.

To jumpstart my creativity (and write a book), I needed to step up to the edge of my discomfort. I needed to challenge myself to go deeper, explore new themes, and experiment with different forms. As a working mother of two young children, I also needed to figure out how to fit writing into my daily routine. For me, that meant writing in the early-morning edges of the day — when the house was silent and my time was my own.

Along the way, I’ve been inspired by other writers’ work and wisdom. This newsletter’s title, “Write at the Edge” is a nod to the following advice:

—"Write at the edges of the day.” ~Toni Morrison. As a single mother of two boys, Morrison knew what it was like to have to squeeze in writing time whenever she could.

— “Where is an edge — a dangerous edge — and where is the trail to the edge and the strength to climb it?” ~Annie Dillard. In her book The Writing Life, Dillard encourages writers to consider this question.

With this newsletter, I want to help you find time to write in the edges of the day (wherever they may be). And I want to help you brush up against, and then push past, the edge of what you think is possible. On Thursdays, I’ll send you related tips and best practices. Though I’ll mostly draw upon my experience in nonfiction, my tips will be relatable to writers across genres.

I’ll tackle a variety of topics that will unfold along the way. Here’s a sneak peek at some of them:

• How to make more time for writing

• How handle procrastination and writer’s block

• How to be your own best editor

• How to get better at receiving, and giving, writing-related feedback

• How to handle rejections

• How to capture dialogue and details

• How to read like a writer

• How to make your writing less wordy 

• How to tune your writing voice

• How to find a focus

• How to develop strategies for outlining and structuring stories/articles/book chapters

• How to corroborate memory and fact-check details

• How to incorporate source materials (interviews, records, journal entries, etc.) into your writing

• How to write sensitively about mental health issues

• How to care for yourself when writing about heavy topics

I’ll also share occasional updates on my forthcoming book, including behind-the-scenes tips for those who want to learn more about the publishing process.

On Fridays, I’ll invite you to join me in a discussion forum, where we’ll unpack writing-related questions as a community. Writing is often deemed a solitary act, but it doesn’t have to be. Together, we’ll build a community of support where we can develop our craft, find inspiration, and write at the edge.

Whether you’re a longtime writer or an aspiring one, I hope you’ll join me. It’s free to subscribe, but if you’d like to support my work, you can become a paid subscriber for $5/month. Later this fall, I’ll announce a more formal paid subscription model that will include additional perks and resources for paid subscribers. You can also show your support by spreading the word with others who you think would find this newsletter interesting/helpful.

I’m so glad you’re here!

~Mallary

Photo by Lizzie Chen