We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melissa Martini-morales a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Melissa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process?

I’ve been writing since childhood, eventually pursuing both English and Creative Writing in my undergraduate and graduate studies. My time at Seton Hall University was particularly impactful, as the courses I took there truly taught me to view writing as a craft. This understanding has significantly enhanced my role as Editor-in-Chief, allowing me to appreciate writing as an art form and recognize the kind of quality work we seek to publish in our magazine.

In addition to honing my writing skills, I also took several publishing courses during graduate school and gained hands-on experience working on the college literary magazine. This experience was invaluable, as I learned the ins and outs of running a literary magazine under the guidance of Professor Cara Blue Adams, the former co-editor of The Southern Review.

Looking back, I realize I could have accelerated my learning process by taking writing courses sooner, if circumstances had allowed, and by approaching my work on school literary magazines with even more seriousness. While I certainly took my responsibilities seriously at the time, I had no idea that this would one day become my career!

What skills do you think were most essential?

Patience, the dedication to learning the art and craft of creative writing, and an innate love for sharing creativity with fellow creatives have been the most essential skills for me.

What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

The biggest obstacle was money. If I had more financial resources, I would have taken more writing and publishing courses to further my education and development.

Melissa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Melissa Martini-Morales (she/her), and I am a short fiction writer and proud Capricorn from New Jersey. With a Bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing and a Master’s in English with a focus on Creative Writing and Fiction from Seton Hall University, I have dedicated years to honing my craft.

I am the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Moss Puppy Magazine, where we focus on publishing unique and powerful voices in the literary world. My work often delves into themes of transformation, identity, and the uncanny, striving to create stories that resonate deeply with readers.

My debut chapbook of short stories, Faded Fur & Stripped Skin, was released by Bottlecap Press. This collection explores themes of change and identity through a surreal lens, blending the ordinary with the extraordinary. From body horror to sexuality and relationships, Faded Fur & Stripped Skin tackles the perks and pains of animal transformation, capturing moments when fur sprouting from your skin leaves you itchy, booze seems better than blood, and seals wash up on the Jersey Shore.

My second chapbook, Clowning Around, is now available through JAKE, continuing my exploration of the strange and the familiar. Clowning Around invites readers into a whimsical world filled with eccentric characters and unique relationships. This collection of five short stories delves into the lives of clowns and those entwined with them, captivating with its whimsy and emotional depth.

What sets me apart is my deep commitment to storytelling as both an art and a craft. I am passionate about fostering creativity in others and providing a platform for emerging voices. My work is driven by a love for the strange and the beautiful, and I am dedicated to bringing those elements to life in every piece I write. I’m most proud of the community we’ve built through Moss Puppy Magazine—a space where creativity, uniqueness, and literary innovation are celebrated.

Moss Puppy Magazine is an independent literary and visual arts magazine I founded in July 2021. We publish biannual themed issues in the Spring and Autumn, featuring literature and artwork that defies norms, challenges conventions, and embraces the unsettlingly beautiful and oddly innovative.

We are committed to supporting emerging writers and artists by providing a nurturing space that fosters creativity and community while amplifying diverse and marginalized voices. Since our founding in 2021, we have grown into a vibrant community of readers, writers, artists, and other creatives, all exploring the expanding world of Moss Puppy, her story, and lore.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

We need to start by dismantling the outdated notion that the arts aren’t valuable. When I told people I wanted to study writing, many dismissed it as useless, but the truth is, the arts are everywhere. Everything we consume—culinary arts, acting, movies, television, books, newspapers, even the candles we buy—is a form of art. Art is essential to our humanity and our society. The first step society can take is to stop undervaluing art. Fun colors, beautiful words, poetry, music—none of these are a waste of time; they’re crucial to our lives.

Next, it’s about sharing our creations and supporting others in doing the same. Create whatever inspires you, as long as it’s not harmful, and share it with the world. But don’t stop there—promote and celebrate the creativity of others too. Even if you can’t afford to buy every book or magazine, you can still make a difference by sharing links and spreading the word. If a friend publishes a chapbook and you can’t purchase it, sharing it with others is just as valuable.

Art and creativity aren’t purely transactional like capitalist work. Some of the most meaningful responses to my writing have been people telling me they relate to it or enjoyed reading it. Of course, financial support is important, but there are so many other ways to contribute to a thriving creative ecosystem. Compliment an artist on what resonates with you in their work, engage with their creations, and share what you love about them. Supporting artists isn’t just about money; it’s about recognizing, celebrating, and amplifying each other’s creativity. That’s how we keep a creative ecosystem alive and thriving.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that I had to do everything on my own—that asking for help was somehow a weakness. I’ve always been very pro-community, so I realized it was actually anti-community not to reach out when I needed support.

The backstory is that I’ve struggled with my mental health my entire life, but the past few years have been especially tough. I started Moss Puppy after hitting a breaking point, but that was just one step in a much longer journey. There was a particular moment when I felt like I was letting everyone down—myself, my team, and the entire community—because I was having such a hard time completing an issue. I had promised contributors that they would have their proofs by a certain date, but it became clear that I wasn’t going to meet that deadline.

Instead of crumbling under the pressure and risking both my well-being and the quality of the issue, I decided to ask for help. I reached out to my partner, my team, friends, and even pushed back my own deadline. I was transparent with the contributors about needing more time, and to my surprise, they were incredibly supportive. Some even offered to help. When I finally sent out the issue proof, many of them went beyond just reviewing their own pieces—they reviewed the entire issue. I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the support I received.

That experience taught me how valuable it is to ask for help. As an only child, I was used to doing things on my own, even if it meant struggling, but now I understand that asking for help is not only okay, it’s necessary. We’re all human, and my Moss Puppy community is full of kind-hearted people who are there for each other. Today, I feel more on top of things than ever, and I’m incredibly thankful for the wonderful team and contributors who helped me get here.

Contact Info:

• Website: mosspuppymag.com // melibeans.wixsite.com/home
• Instagram: @mosspuppymag // @mossmiele
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mosspuppymag
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/moss-puppy-magazine // https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissamartini/
• Twitter: @mosspuppymag // @mossmiele
• Other: https://duotrope.com/listing/33219/moss-puppy-mag
  https://chillsubs.com/magazine/moss-puppy-magazine

Image Credits

Kathryn Davis