Friends and comrades,

I’m seeking financial assistance to fund an important relocation/pilgrimage. I’ve been awarded a fellowship to the legendary Iowa Writers Workshop, a place I have been hearing about my whole life.

School starts in September. Right now, my bank account is at zero. Like many longtime, long-form journalists, I am in financial duress. I am hoping this GoFundMe will cover moving costs. (For those wondering, the piano is going to Garfield High.)

Recently, I’ve been working intermittent contracts for AI as a “Creative Writing Expert," a jarring, dystopian experience that paid well for a bit. But the work dried up. Word is, it will come back. The wages for Experts keep falling. Seems there are too many of us scrambling for work.

At 60, I have finally realized that if I don’t write fiction or literary work, it is hard for me to bear the pressures of reality. As you all know, I have broken down a few times. At this point, after the too-early death of my epic friend AJ, I need to figure out how the machine of my soul works so I can keep it running.

I think of Iowa as the church of Denis Johnson because he studied there during a formative time.

From his story “DunDun”

“All the false visions had been erased.”

Thank you for helping me with this mid-late life pilgrimage.

Love, Emily

PS for the curious, here's a short story from my Iowa submission