Oh, hi! Remember me? I was the girl who was going to send out helpful writing tips and opportunities so you could stay tethered to your writing practice every month. Your “writing ritual” if you will. If you’re a constant reader, you already know why you haven’t gotten one of these emails in just over a year, (if you don’t, there’s a recap here and here) and I’m not even sure I’m back to regular posting. But there are a few things coming up that I wanted you to know about and they are below.
But let me just take a minute to let you know that, even when I wasn’t posting about classes and workshops, I was writing. I have always maintained—as early as the thesis for my master’s degree in 2002—that writing is a healing and cathartic way to process our lived experiences. I’m not the first person to say this—and I won’t be the last. But, as the last two years have proven to me, I don’t think I would have made it without writing.
Or the writing groups that I am a part of. I am the facilitator of the three groups I currently run, but that doesn’t keep me from benefitting from their wisdom and generosity. I am so lucky to be in the presence of the writers in all of these groups, not the least of which is because they keep me writing.
And the thing I come to over and over, whether I stop publishing newsletters or quit developing classes or figure out my next book project (I have some ideas . . .) is that I’m always going to keep writing—how could I stop? And I urge you to do the same. You don’t need a Work-in-Progress (WIP) to keep writing. You don’t even need to have a project at all—just a journal or a Word document or the Notes app on your phone. Keep writing, even if it’s just a few words at a time. Write in the minutes, the margins, the stoplights. Your words are the documentation of a lived life and that’s where we find the meaning. I’ll always believe that.
xo
Cindy
Writing Groups
The Saturday AM Writing group continues to meet regularly from 10-11:30am 3 Saturdays a month. If you’re interested in the Sat. AM group, click this button:
Writing Through Grief - In person 2nd & 4th Tuesdays. This workshop is held in Southbury, CT at the Vicinanza Studios & Gallery. It’s open to new members, too, if you’re in the area and would like to join us, click below. Or message me with any questions.
Writing Through Grief - via Zoom - 1st & 3rd Tuesdays. Similar to the in-person group, this one will meet via Zoom and follow a similar format. Please don’t hesitate to ask me your questions.
This form has both options listed—just choose which one works for you.
The information is always available on my website:
A couple of places I’ll be in the next few months
The Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop is an exciting conference to attend. This year, I’m also going to be on the faculty and teaching a workshop there on Friday and Saturday mornings! I’m just a little over the moon about it and I can’t wait for this experience. I’ve only been in person once, (the 1st one I attended was virtual due to COVID) and it was enough to make me a fan for life. The conference is full now, but they have a wait list if you’re interested. And of course I’ll let you know all about it afterwards!
In April, I am honored to be included in the Palace Theater’s second presentation of Tragedy to Triumph, a moderated panel offering hopeful stories of moving forward after overcoming great tragedies in life. If you’re interested in attending this event, the link is below. The inaugural event was sold out, so its return will undoubtedly be equally as popular as well.
And, this isn’t exactly a place I’ll “be”, but virtually, it kind of is. In February, I am going to start putting prompts on my Cindy Eastman - Author Facebook page. I’ve had a note to myself to start doing it for months and then in my email this morning I got at least three emails that had something to do with writing prompts, so I guess it’s an idea whose time has come. If you’ve ever been to any of my workshops, you know my prompts are very simple—I like to keep them that way so the writer can take their words in any direction they feel. Because, as one writer once put it . . .
Since you’re here, and if you don’t mind, if you have read either True Confessions of an Ambivalent Caregiver or Grief Like Yours, would you consider leaving a comment or review on the site of your choice? If you click on the books below, you’ll be brought to a site where you can leave any remarks or comments. The number of reviews and comments contribute to how easily the books are made available to readers searching for similar topics. It doesn’t have to be a lengthy review—a few sentences about what you thought of it will work! Thanks!
Still have questions, suggestions or comments?
OR Comment here . . .
And finally, thank you—all of you—for your support & love. I appreciate all of it and couldn’t do it without you.
xo
Cindy
Glad you're back!