Kimberly O'Connor

Hello!

Today in celebration of Women’s History Month and celebration of awesome women writers, I am happy to introduce you to Mathangi Subnamanian and Moon Rabbit Writing Studio.

Moon Rabbit Writing Studio is a writing studio designed everyone–and especially for BIPOC, queer, neurodivergent, and otherwise marginalized creatives. Mathangi Subramanian is an award winning writer, author, and educator.

And, let me say this: Mathangi writes the funniest and most engaging newsletters of all time. She writes about her own life experience and tells us it’s okay if we’re not writing when the world is exploding in slow motion–all while gently telling us also, it’s okay to write when the world is exploding in slow motion.

Mathangi kindly agreed to answer a few questions about her studio and work:

Can you remind me how Moon Rabbit Writing Studio got its name? 

Yes! I got the name for the studio from my favorite story from the Jakata Tales, which are Buddhist folktales. In the story, four animals form an unlikely friendship: a monkey, an otter, a jackal, and a rabbit. Tara (the female version of Buddha) hears about them and doesn’t believe that all these creatures could possibly be friends without eating each other, so she decides to visit them. She shows up as an old lady (as Asian gods do) and asks for food. The monkey gathers her some fruit. The otter catches her some fish. The jackal steals her some curd setting on someone’s windowsill (the Asian equivalent of stealing an apple pie). The rabbit doesn’t know what to give Tara, so she panics and offers to throw herself into the fire. Luckily, Tara saves her, and tells her that she should never sacrifice her whole self for someone else. Then Tara puts the lucky rabbit on the moon, where, to this day, she’s hanging out and playing and doing whatever she wants whenever she wants.

So often, writers are asked to sacrifice who they are to make art. Maybe that means putting their trauma on the page for everyone to consume. Maybe that means giving up time they’d spend with their family, or with a fulfilling job. Or maybe that means that writers are told they’re inadequate just because they’re not dedicating their entire souls to their art. I wanted Moon Rabbit writing studio to be a place where all writers could bring their whole selves to the table. I wanted them to be able to play without thinking they had to be someone that they’re not.

Also, I really like rabbits and the moon. And I founded the studio during the Year of the Rabbit! But really the folktale was the main inspiration.

What’s a favorite teaching moment for you?

My favorite teaching moments usually happen after class is over, when students form lasting relationships. One of the major goals of my teaching is always to build community, so when I see friendships forming, I feel like I’ve done my job. Recently, I taught a six week online class through the Center for Fiction. A month or two after class ended, a bunch of the students sent me a picture of themselves at a bar, hanging out together and becoming friends. Around that same time, I got a message from a student who had moved to a new city. The first person she contacted there was someone she’d met in one of my asynchronous classes. They became close friends, and now they’re neighbors who write together! 

The other moment that comes to mind was when I illegally taught sex ed to my high school science students in Texas right after the state passed an abstinence education only law, and would’ve gotten fired if I hadn’t resigned first…but that’s a longer story for another time.

How are you navigating life in 2025?

Not well!!! When times get tough, I throw myself into my work and kind of neglect everything else. Luckily, being a parent means that I can’t disappear down the rabbit hole (see what I did there?) forever – every day, when I pick up my kid, I have to emerge from whatever vortex work sucked me into. I’m trying to watch the news every day so I know what’s going on, but also to cut myself off after 20-30 minutes so I don’t get overwhelmed. I am writing a lot, so that’s a plus!

Anything else you want to add?

Thank you, Kim, for supporting me and giving me a chance to introduce myself! And thank you, Kim’s readers, for reading this – if you’re a writer looking for coaching or classes, I’d love to work with you.

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Even if you’re not a writer, you should sign up for these newsletters because they are funny and delightful. And if you ARE a writer, as many of my readers are, you should ALSO take a class, sign up for coaching, or download some self-paced workshops.

In fact, if you’re not a writer, you should also do all of those things. Everyone can write.

Last but not least–here’s something to try–Free Write Fridays!

In March and April, every Friday, Mathangi will send out a poem, essay, piece of flash fiction, or other writerly gem that inspires us. She’ll include a few thoughts about why this particular gem is so damn good. She’ll include a link to purchasing the gem in question, if appropriate. (Support marginalized writers!)PAID SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: She’ll provide a writing prompt based on the aforementioned gem. Try the exercise and post whatever you write in the comments. She and other paid subscribers will shower you with praise!!! I’m gonna try it out! Join me?