Member Spotlight: Donna Hewlett

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? Writing helps me delve deeper into themes I struggle with, allowing me to explore meaning through story. It gives me space to reflect, question, and imagine new possibilities. Not just for my characters, but for myself. I believe writing connects us across time and culture. It allows us to step into someone else’s experience, to feel what they feel, and to understand life from a different perspective. In a world that often rushes toward the next thing, writing asks us to slow down and pay attention. Whether through fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or journalism, the written word opens the door to empathy, transformation, and truth.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? Sometimes the best thing I can do is step away from the page. A short walk or even a square of chocolate can reset my mind. Both bring a sense of peace and help me reenter the work with fresh perspective. That small shift is often enough to open space for new ideas. I also rely on discipline. If you don’t show up, you aren’t moving forward. I sit at the computer every morning, whether I feel inspired or not, and I write. My goal is three to five pages a day. Some days produce gold, while others only dross. But the only way to write is to write. I remind myself that the first draft doesn’t need to be perfect. Even on the slow days, momentum builds. Eventually, your novel appears.

What is your favorite time to write? Morning, always. When the world is still quiet and my mind feels fresh, the words seem more willing to be coaxed onto the page. There’s something sacred about those early hours, before distractions have mounted their daily attack on my creative flow and the day still feels full of promise. Of course, it all begins with the first cup of coffee.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? A mentor in my MFA program once told me to stay open to feedback but to remember that I am the author. That advice gave me the freedom to listen carefully to critique without feeling pressured to follow every suggestion. It reminded me that while others may offer valuable insights, I am the one responsible for the final shape of the story. Everyone might tell your story differently, but only you can tell it your way. That balance between humility and confidence has helped me navigate revision, rejection, and the winding road to publication.

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? Writers today have so many ways to connect with readers, with fellow writers, and with ideas. I love that we can engage directly with readers, sparking conversations and building real community around a story. I’m also grateful for how easy it is to research. With a few clicks, I can explore the history of a city, listen to a regional accent, or study cultural traditions. That kind of access helps bring authenticity and texture to the page. For me, setting is more than just a place. It shapes the story and characters in profound ways. Settings can challenge, comfort, and transform as the characters and readers move through them. There are certainly challenges as the publishing industry continues to evolve. But there will always be room for great storytelling that transports readers through place, theme, and emotional experience. Stories still have the power to move people, open hearts, and offer new ways of seeing the world.

Donna Hewlett’s Love Is All is out now with Old Fort Press.