In this episode of On Creative Writing, award-winning author and University of Regina professor Melanie Schnell presents a detailed and impressive audio essay on finding deeper, capital T truths, in fiction. Melanie also discusses the inspiration, research for, and writing of her second novel, The Chorus Beneath our Feet, (Radiant Press, 2025), which won the City of Regina Award and was shortlisted for The Saskatchewan Book of the Year Award, the Fiction Award, and the Publishing Award.

She delves into the historical context of her novel, which centers on the British Home Children—youth sent from the UK to Canada between 1869 and 1948—and the complex intersections with Indigenous histories and generational trauma. Melanie explains how she wove these threads together to create a narrative that is both historically grounded and emotionally resonant.

She answers a range of thought-provoking questions all writers ask when working on a big and meaningful writing project. She discusses researching sensitive topics, the challenges of balancing historical accuracy with fictional storytelling, and the ways in which her own experiences—including her battle with Lyme disease—informed her characters’ emotional landscapes.

Melanie shares her strategies for developing authentic voices and perspectives, especially when writing across cultures and time periods. She also addresses the importance of confronting uncomfortable truths in fiction and how writers can responsibly engage with histories that are not their own.

Listeners will hear Melanie reflect on the long, sometimes meandering process of drafting and revising a novel, including moments of doubt and discovery. She talks about the role of intuition in writing, the necessity of patience, and the value of letting a story evolve organically over time.

Melanie offers practical advice for writers, emphasizing the need to move beyond surface-level storytelling by immersing oneself in deep research, imaginative exploration, and honest self-reflection. She encourages writers to trust their instincts, embrace vulnerability, and seek out the essential truths that lie beneath the surface of their narratives.

By the end of the episode, you will have insight into the creative and emotional work behind The Chorus Beneath Our Feet, as well as inspiration to pursue your own truths and stories with courage, curiosity, and depth.

Find the print version of Melanie's audio essay here.