Some of you may have noticed that there was no “April at Writual” and most of you probably know why, since those of you who subscribe here also subscribe to my Silver Linings section. My daughter Annie died on April 2nd and the month since has been a time and space that is new to me—do I keep writing? Offering classes? Do anything but try and gather up all the memories and stories of her to keep close in my brain and in my heart?
I’ve decided to keep my writing groups going and the Writing Through Grief group that meets in person twice a month in Southbury, CT. At some point I’ll begin scheduling classes and workshops again and I’ll certainly let you know when that is. I also want to bring back my “Day of Her Own-Women’s Writing Retreat” which I’ve held several times and look forward to offering again.
Annie left a manuscript—her memoir. It is incomplete, but it is my intention to pull together her work, our work together and other writings she loved and bring her book into the world. I am certain that she’d want that to happen.
As for me, one thing is for certain—I will keep writing. If I know nothing else—I know this: writing is a way to make meaning from our experiences. So I’ll just keep on plugging away and I hope you will join me when you can.
Writing Groups & Classes
Currently, the Saturday AM Writing group is meeting regularly from 10-11:30am 3 Saturdays a month. If you’re interested in the Sat. AM group, click this button:
I continue to hold the Writing Through Grief workshop in Southbury, CT. It’s open to new members, too, if you’re in the area and would like to join us. More info at the link below—
If you’d like to be on the list to be notified when anything else comes up, email me and I’ll include you on the list. I don’t send out too many emails, so your inbox is relatively safe from me. :)
Other Writing Opportunities
I only have one other writing opportunity this month, but it’s a good one! It is this Sunday, so check it out soon. It’s likely to fill up!
From the description: Along with an open dialogue and a Q&A session, our writing workshop will be devoted to writing letters to our mothers, our children, and ourselves about the mothers we are, wish we had, wish we were or could have been. Letters about the faces and choices of motherhood.
And, finally, amidst all the sadness and grief, some good news is that I would like to share that my book on caregiving is available for pre-order. When I was a caregiver, I thought that was going to be the hardest thing I ever did and I wrote about it to keep a record of what it was like. It’s being published by She Writes Press and distributed by Simon and Schuster and I’m excited and kind of overwhelmed to share it with you now.
Thanks to all of you for your messages, your support, your love. I honestly couldn’t do any of this without you.
xo
Cindy