Sometimes the best way to grow as a writer isn’t by sitting alone with my laptop, rearranging sentences until they hum. Sometimes, it’s best to stand beside other writers, listening and encouraging, as they discover their own voices. Helping others hone their skills and find joy in the process also stretches my own writing and allows me to see my craft more clearly.
Since February, I’ve been co-facilitating a year-long women’s writing program for 12 women who bring vastly different experiences, challenges, and dreams to each monthly session. I call them my mixed bouquet of writers because each one is blossoming on her own timeline and revealing distinct and beautiful talents. Some are just learning to trust their voice; others are refining stories that have lived inside them for years. Watching them open up on the page – and to one another – has been inspiring.
The lessons from that group now carry forward as I prepare to teach a new audience. This week, I’m shifting gears (and ages) to begin a short program with a group of 8 to 12-year-olds. It’s called Ink & Imagination, and we’ll explore the wonder of writing, one playful exercise at a time. I hope to ignite their imaginations and show them that they can invent whole worlds with nothing more than a simple writing tool and an idea.
Jumping into these teaching opportunities has also prompted me to examine my own creative practices more closely. Through a friend I’ve known for quite some time, I recently discovered a new strategy for journaling – something I’ve never enjoyed or carried out with success. My friend has been journaling for thirty years – yes, three-zero – and she has saved all her journals. Rather than face a blank page each day, she answers four questions:
It’s deceptively simple, yet profoundly revealing. Imagine the patterns, wisdom, and gratitude that could emerge over time. I’ve started adopting this as a practice myself. I’m not up to doing it every day (yet), but I’m curious to see what patterns emerge when I look back six months or a year from now.
Contributing to the vibrant and wonderful writing community that surrounds my home has become one of the most rewarding aspects of my creative life. The area is brimming with people who love words. They come together to share stories and poems, trade feedback, and cheer one another on. Each conversation, workshop, and open reading is a gentle reminder that, as much as writing is a solitary act, it is also a desire for connection.
Spending time with other writers, or those just beginning their journeys, reminds me that growth doesn’t arrive all at once. It unfolds softly, one word at a time. And, even when I’m alone with my laptop, I’m part of a much larger, ongoing conversation.