Melina Walling
BOYD’S STATION FELLOW - 2021 | STANFORD UNIVERSITY
I am deeply grateful for my experience as the Mary Withers Rural Writing Fellow. The unique flexibility of this program, the mentorship support it affords, and the opportunity to immerse myself in Harrison County were all gifts that had a life-changing impact on my career as a writer.
During my time at Boyd’s Station, I could pursue whatever projects I wanted. I had the time and space to think carefully about what kinds of work I wanted to produce. That meant showing up to farms, church services, family dinners, knitting club meetings and local government offices without having a preconceived idea of where any of those things would lead me. While doing community journalism, I made lasting friendships and cultivated a deliberate approach to long-form storytelling.
My writing mentors gave generously of their time, energy and support in service of the pieces I wanted to produce. Whenever I had questions, I knew I had an experienced and committed team of experts behind me. They gave me the space to explore while helping me hone my skills in a constructive setting. My housemates also fostered my creativity, encouraged me to expand my thinking, and made Boyd feel like home for the summer.
Immersed in nature and rural settings, I made friends with wolf spiders and salamanders, watched barn swallows arc across bubblegum sunsets, and noticed the bright purple and yellow ironweed bloom in late August. Along the way, I witnessed people’s deep connections to the land and came away with a heartfelt appreciation and respect for rural Kentucky.
