Since I’m publishing this on March 4th, I added the subtitle above: March forth. (I have heard “May the Fourth be with you” but this is the first time I’ve heard this one.) I thought it was a nice little nudge for this time of year to essay to make some writing goals. Get it? Essay? The picture above is Michel de Montaigne, who is credited as being the father of the modern essay and whose birthday was a few days ago on February 28th. When I updated my memory about him via Wikipedia, a sentence popped out at me about his work: Montaigne's stated goal was to describe humans, and especially himself, with utter frankness. I think that’s my goal too, with my Silver Linings essays. I am trying to be open with my human experience as a way to create community. I like that the word essay comes from the French word essayer—to try. With each essay I write, I try to know myself better, know my world better, and know my writing better. This is all making a lovely little synchronicitous sense to me, by the way.
(I’m not the only one thinking about Michel, by the way…Austin Kleon draws him regularly!
Anyway . . . this is the time of the month where I share writing stuff, reading stuff and workshops and classes. I hope you find something you like or can use. If not, please consider me a resource and drop me a line and tell me what you need. I’ll see what I can do.
Writing Groups & Classes
My ongoing Sat. AM class continues this month with a “bonus” day on March 30th. That means if you sign up for the monthly 3 on/1 off schedule, the 4th Saturday is no-charge. This group is meant to be flexible, but also provide the accountability one needs to stay committed to their writing projects. There’s also a “try-before-you-buy” option each month if you’d like to drop in and see if it works for you. And—as always—if you have any questions, drop them in the comments or email me.
Everything current is right here: Cindy’s Writual website
I added a class for March—for those of you who have a story, but just don’t know what to do with it. Yet. We’ll explore the ways in this 2-hour workshop.
I’m excited to be on the schedule at WOW! Women on Writing this April. Here’s the link—more info to come next month!
April 25th - We Can Write About Hard Things - zoom workshop
Other Writing Opportunities
I’m always happy to share Brooke Warner and Linda Joy Myers’ writing workshops—here are two:
Show Up & Write with Brooke - an accountability group
The Evolution of Memoir - with Brooke and Joy
Faith Vicinanza has officially opened her new studio and gallery. I am happy to be holding a writing group there, but you should check out her calendar! Art, painting, Argentinian dance, poetry, spoken word, tarot—there is something there for everyone.
And finally, I want to share that in the coming weeks, you’ll be hearing more about the publication of my 2nd book, True Confessions of an Ambivalent Caregiver. One of the blurbs I got was from one of my longtime favorite authors—I still can’t believe she did it—Elinor Lipman. I was so excited. I was in the middle of reading her latest book and I want to share my review. If you need a new book, here’s one for you! (The picture is the link!)
Thanks, all, for supporting my work in whatever way you can. Whether it’s clicking the links, buying the books, leaving a comment, subscribing or sharing my posts, it means a lot to me that you’re out there cheering me on. I appreciate that.
See you next month! (or in one of my classes? ;)
xo
Cindy