Beginning July 11: Join Us for Write Right Now

It is my hope that this blog can help build a community of writers. To test the theory I will hold a monthly Zoom meeting for any writer who wants to participate called “Write Right Now.” Everyone is invited to attend. No cost. Sign up and I'll send you the Zoom link. Simple. The first Write Right Now will be Sunday July 11, from 1:30 to 3:00 pm EST.

Send an email request to the Artful Life, or post a comment with your own email address and I'll connect with you.

Limited to 25 participants. July 11, August 8, September 12, October 10, and November 14 after which we'll take a time out for winter holidays during the month of December 2021. All of the Zoom meetings will be from 1:30 to 3:00 PM EST on the second Sunday of each month. I hope you'll join in on the fun.

The idea for this came from Natalie Goldberg's book, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within (1986); a book on writing that I highly recommend. A few years later than that up until today, the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning in Lexington, KY has sponsored a free class based upon this book.

Every Friday at Noon, Laverne Zabielsky convened a group in the basement to do free writing. A quote, a word, or a phrase would be tossed out and everyone would write. Pens to paper and write continuously until time was up—one minute or two, maybe five. And at the end of the time those who wished to would read what they'd written. No comments were made about the writing—either good or bad. Participants would read or they wouldn't. Then other group members could throw out words or phrases from the piece that resonated with them. Afterwards the next prompt was given and the process was repeated until the ninety minutes was up.

The reason for the lack of comments was that, as the subtitle of Ms. Goldberg's said, the exercise was intended to “Free the Writer Within.” Simply putting something on paper—good or bad—without self censorship is the purpose of the exercise.

The Carnegie Center still offers this class, still on Fridays. Check it out on their website, as well as their other classes and opportunities: https://carnegiecenterlex.org/classes.

But if you'd like to participate via Zoom in the free Write Right Now I will be convening July 11th 1:30 – 3:00 pm EST, sign up today!