One of my writing groups meets every 3 weeks on Zoom. At last week's meeting we commented on a chapter submitted by a 93-year old member of the group. He is wise and brilliant and so loving in the portrayal of his characters. It feels like community to read his words and to support him in this creative endeavor even, or especially, when he talks about not knowing if he will "be around" next year and therefore feels the need to hurry and finish his novel.
Wow! I'm in awe of your 93-year-old group member. I'm so glad you are part of this precious and powerful group and that you can hold space for someone who truly understands that time is of the essence.
I love your newsletter, Lisa. Sharing about Samman's story and the increased self-esteem of the writers in the Challenge into Change event moved me. For me, it brought to mind the huge boost and pride students and community members experience when published in the community college literary/art journal at the college where I used to teach. Indeed, it boosted me to pen the forewords to those journals. To feel whole, writers need an audience, live or in print. The numbers don't matter: being heard: sharing, giving, receiving - does matter. The 2020 version of the literary journal, during a heated time of resistance, the editor/proofreader (the college librarian) questioned my language in the foreword to that journal. Would I consider being more circumspect, less controversial? I kindly rejected her suggestions.
Speaking up, having an authentic voice, getting it into print or digital byline matters, no matter how big or modest the circulation is. Having served time as a gatekeeper in the past, I know how hard it is for writers to get through. And the world is changing: we have so many more options. What matters is that we listen to each other.
Regarding your community nurturing suggestions: I want to walk a delicate line in the coming weeks between going inward in preparation for winter and going outward and celebrating community. Right now I am putting the Solstice poetry reading on my calendar and the December writers' association gathering. :-)
Thanks for reading, Laura. I want to highlight these lines: "The numbers don't matter: being heard: sharing, giving, receiving - does matter." Yes! They are the most important things, and yet as we progress in our writing lives we can easily forget this. Programs like Challenge into Change help us remember what's important.
Some of the ways publishing is changing will make this even more important. (See this week's podcast episode for more details).
I meet a writing buddy at a laid-back coffee shop on Monday mornings. We catch up, talk about our projects and how writing is going, and then we write, side by side. It’s fun, it’s soothing, and helps me be accountable to my writing.
One of my writing groups meets every 3 weeks on Zoom. At last week's meeting we commented on a chapter submitted by a 93-year old member of the group. He is wise and brilliant and so loving in the portrayal of his characters. It feels like community to read his words and to support him in this creative endeavor even, or especially, when he talks about not knowing if he will "be around" next year and therefore feels the need to hurry and finish his novel.
Wow! I'm in awe of your 93-year-old group member. I'm so glad you are part of this precious and powerful group and that you can hold space for someone who truly understands that time is of the essence.
Love it!
Thanks, Megan!
I love your newsletter, Lisa. Sharing about Samman's story and the increased self-esteem of the writers in the Challenge into Change event moved me. For me, it brought to mind the huge boost and pride students and community members experience when published in the community college literary/art journal at the college where I used to teach. Indeed, it boosted me to pen the forewords to those journals. To feel whole, writers need an audience, live or in print. The numbers don't matter: being heard: sharing, giving, receiving - does matter. The 2020 version of the literary journal, during a heated time of resistance, the editor/proofreader (the college librarian) questioned my language in the foreword to that journal. Would I consider being more circumspect, less controversial? I kindly rejected her suggestions.
Speaking up, having an authentic voice, getting it into print or digital byline matters, no matter how big or modest the circulation is. Having served time as a gatekeeper in the past, I know how hard it is for writers to get through. And the world is changing: we have so many more options. What matters is that we listen to each other.
Regarding your community nurturing suggestions: I want to walk a delicate line in the coming weeks between going inward in preparation for winter and going outward and celebrating community. Right now I am putting the Solstice poetry reading on my calendar and the December writers' association gathering. :-)
Thanks for reading, Laura. I want to highlight these lines: "The numbers don't matter: being heard: sharing, giving, receiving - does matter." Yes! They are the most important things, and yet as we progress in our writing lives we can easily forget this. Programs like Challenge into Change help us remember what's important.
Some of the ways publishing is changing will make this even more important. (See this week's podcast episode for more details).
I meet a writing buddy at a laid-back coffee shop on Monday mornings. We catch up, talk about our projects and how writing is going, and then we write, side by side. It’s fun, it’s soothing, and helps me be accountable to my writing.
What a beautiful practice, Carrie! I'm so glad you and your writing buddy do this.
I love the note idea! 💡
I plan to "plant" a few on our downtown mall this weekend. It will be interesting to see what springs from it. :)
Sent you mine!