Happy New Year everyone! I know it isn’t THAT new year but the beginning of September always feels new to me even though I’m no longer sending kids back to school. Maybe it’s the crisp air.
I hope you all had a wonderful, restful, and creative summer. Mine was great but at times I felt a bit like a candle in the wind. When I was young my grandmother used to play a game with us on the last night of the year. She would put a candle in a walnut shell boat, light it and float it in a large bowl of water. Around the circumference of the bowl were fortunes written on paper, which was rolled into thin batons, taped to the side, leaning out over the water reaching for the flame. We launched our boat and agitated the water to direct it toward a paper stick that would reveal our future. If the boat didn’t tip and it made its way to a paper tip setting it alight, we would blow out the scroll, unroll the flame chosen prophecy, and see what the new year would bring. At the time I loved the game and resurrected it for my kids. Years later the New Year finds my children doing the same with their kids. It’s fun. On the other hand, that little boat had very little control of its destiny, pushed by every current. Much of my summer I felt like that little half walnut. My lake was often turbulent, my boat in danger of swamping and at any given moment the whole thing could go up in flames. It made for exciting times, always an adventure but I often felt ungrounded.
Ungrounded is how I often feel if I don’t write, maybe not every day but often. When I look back at the weeks from June until now, I am not going to say I haven’t written anything but not nearly enough to keep me on an even keel. Writing with a group keeps me focused and generally allows me to write even on days we’re not together. Groups also allow those in my life who stir my watery bowl to think of me as ‘working’ and they are a bit more respectful of my time. The obvious answer is call on you to join me to get my writing moving and if you have had a summer like mine, to get yours back on track too.
This fall I will have two in person groups so if you are in St. Marys or the area, email me. I will also have online afternoon and evening groups. If you think you have nothing to write, please remember that writing begets writing. It’s possible the muse doesn’t take us seriously if we aren’t doing the work but once we start, ideas and projects begin to form. Join me to check out that theory. Come with a project in mind or let the muse find you. See you soon.
Groups
Monday in Person, Memoir 2 – September 23, 1-3pm – Nov 11 In-person (Excepting Monday 14 and 21) – St Marys Register Here
Wednesday in Person – Write Your Life 1 1:30 – 3:30 – St Marys Friendship Centre – Sept 24 – Nov 13 (excepting Oct 9, and 16th) Register here. https://anc.ca.apm.activecommunities.com/townofstmarys/activity/search?onlineSiteId=0&activity_select_param=2&activity_keyword=write%20your%20life&viewMode=list
On-line:
Wednesday Evening/7-9pm – Write Away – Zoom- Sept 24-Oct 30 ($100) (Excepting Oct 9 and 16th)
Thursday Afternoon/ 1:30 to 3:30pm – Write Away – Zoom Sept 25- Oct 31 ($100) (Accepting Oct 10 and 24)
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