#322 The Hunger Within with Denne Michele Norris

This week, we're running a takeover in collaboration with Electric Literature's Editor-in-Chief, Denne Michele Norris. This contest’s winner will not only be awarded $250 — they’ll also receive a special bonus prize: personal feedback from Denne herself! Here's what she has to say about her takeover:

How was your summer? Restful, I hope? My debut novel was published this spring, and then four months later, an anthology I edited was also published. In the span of just a few months, I’ve gone from being a writer and Electric Literature’s Editor-in-Chief, to also being a twice-published author.

While gearing up to continue promoting both books through the end of this year, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be ambitious. To have hopes and dreams and desires, all for outcomes beyond what I can control. And I’ve also been thinking about what it means to achieve one’s goals. I grew up playing classical music in youth orchestras and chamber ensembles, and I also grew up as a competitive figure skater. But I had no control over how my efforts were viewed by other people — judges — with opinions; I only had control over the execution of my performances. How close to perfect could I be, under pressure, when it mattered most?

I remember watching the 1998 Olympics, specifically the figure skating competition which was a veritable showdown between Michelle Kwan and Tara Lipinski. I loved Kwan’s artistry, her fluid movement, her grace. When she won the silver medal, I was only a bit disappointed — because I felt she’d outskated Lipinski — but mostly, I reveled in the brilliance of the competition. However, the next season, Kwan seemingly struggled to stay motivated in the sport because of what she’d achieved. Her drive, for a time, faltered.

For this week, I’ve chosen writing prompts related to ambition. Why does it exist, and where can it be found? Does it really serve you? How much ambition is actually healthy? It’s easy to spot greed — in figure skating, one need only to point to the Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan scandal — but at what point does ambition turn? We need some drive to keep us striving towards our goals. But we also need boundaries in place, so that our goals don't lead us down the wrong path.

What are your ambitions, and where do they lead you?

Special Update: The Results 🏆

Denne's top pick for her takeover was "The Last Soldier" by Caroline Moore. Here's what she had to say about it:

I chose "The Last Soldier" as the winner of this contest because I was blown away by the beauty of the writing — it somehow felt spare and full at the same time. There is an atmospheric quality to this story. It enveloped me, taking over my entire world as I read it. I found Soldier to be incredibly compelling, at once distinctly individual, and a perfect composite. And the end of the story absolutely floored me, filled with regret and wisdom. Wonderful, evocative, heartbreaking writing.

Congratulations to contest winner Caroline Moore and the runners-up, James Scott and Sabrina Lee!