It is hard to believe it is almost three years since I met a handful of women in a bookstore and began with them the Women's Writing Circle.
Throughout this time, I try never to forget the spiritual nature of this work and of the Circle; a container which provides a safe haven for us to break the silence and find our voices as women and as writers.
With exquisite grace, women tell their stories, transform and illuminate. To quote Anais Nin: "We write to taste life twice, in the moment, and in retrospection."
Some writing groups of late have forgotten that they were conceived to bring women together through readings, critique, fast writes or writing prompts. Instead, the emphasis has become top heavy with weekend events and fairs skewed toward finding literary agents, or learning how to wend your way through the labyrinth of traditional versus self-publishing options. While this is of keen interest to many writers, the Women's Writing Circle is a community; a place to take that risk ... that leap of faith onto the blank page. We find, too, in the Circle, the fun and the joy of meeting new people and making new friends.
I invited them to read their work ... and the "signing" became a read-around - more than an apt reminder, it seemed to me, of the spirituality of this work. As each woman finds her voice, there is a ripple effect. Her voice encourages another voice and another and another ....
Join us on Saturday, October 13 for our monthly read-around.
For more information: http://www.susanweidener.com/p/circle-read-arounds.html
1 comment:
Susan, Thank you for bringing The Women's Writing Circle even more alive on the page through this lovely tribute and photo gallery. In the midst of all the chaos of today's publishing environment, it seems like a haven where stories are shared and honored so that true voices can emerge.
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