Stephani E.D. McDow

Well… that escalated quickly.
Apparently when you are a chronic illness girlie, a regular run of the mill virus sometimes decides to unlock the upgraded version. So here I am, making an unexpected hospital appearance.
A friend we lost last year and I used to call going to the hospital “going to the resort.” He and I were admitted so often that it became our running joke. Miss you, Byron.
The good news is I will be just fine. My body just needed a little extra support and a reminder that rest is not optional.
Will she go home today? Tomorrow? Or will the resort keep her a little longer?�Find out on the next episode of “Damn, Steph!”
Grateful for good doctors, good care, and the nurses who pretend not to notice when I start narrating my own hospital stay like a reality show.
Back on my feet soon.
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Lately I’ve been spending time in the space between drafts.
I’m slowly working my way through revisions on the next version of my novel while also shaping the first craft course I’ll share with my cohort. Both feel big in different ways. One asks me to return to the page when my body allows and listen carefully for what the story still needs. The other asks me to step back and think about how to talk about the work. How to share the lessons about craft, patience, and endurance that other writers once shared with me.
I’ll admit I’m a little nervous. Teaching always carries a certain weight for me because I take the responsibility seriously. But I’m also excited. Helping other writers strengthen their voices and deepen their work feels like a natural extension of the love that keeps pulling me back to the page.
Coming off the energy of AWP last week, being surrounded by writers who are all trying to tell the truest stories they can, I feel especially grateful to be part of this community.
Still learning and revising and growing into the writer I hope to become. And trusting that the stories meant for me will arrive when I am able to meet them, returning to the page whenever life and health make room for it.

I just finished my work exchange shift at registration for the conference in Baltimore! If you saw me there, let’s connect! If you see me around, don’t forget to stop and say “Hi” - Happy conference, everybody!