Cleanse: March 2020, Part 1

To say this is a strange, difficult time would be an understatement. There are so many layers to what is happening right now, and I'm finding it baffling to have the world beneath my feet change faster than I can even know what I think or feel about it. I wish I could say something beautiful or elegant or even sensical; my brain is ravenous to synthesize the shards of thoughts flying around, but oh well--apparently now is not my moment to be coherent. What lies ahead promises to test our patience, our ability to live with uncertainty. I don't feel equipped, but here we are.

If you aren't writing now, welcome to the club. My attention is so shredded I can't do more than think a sentence and then watch it drift away. Or maybe you're getting a few things on an index card. Or maybe you are so unable to connect with this reality you have locked the door to your writing room and are immersing yourself in your work-in-progress or that stack of books that's been sitting around for awhile. If you can make space for something creative, something that's not worry but hope, go for it. If not, fret not. The world will rebalance in time.

And somewhere down the line, we will get a lot of great art about this time and experience. I was in NYC on September 11, 2001, and one of my favorite books about that era is Deborah Eisenberg's Twilight of the Superheroes. If you haven't read this book and are looking for some GREAT short stories, check it out.

I wanted to get this note out to you amid the chaos, to remind you--to remind myself--of the importance of art & creativity. What appears below is the plan as it stands right now, but it's subject to change. I will follow up with another newsletter later this month. Till then, take care and be in touch. It would be wonderful to hear from you.

Upcoming offerings
 

Before Coronavirus (BC), I was planning to offer a memoir class and a one-day retreat. I do not know yet if the ArtsCenter will cancel the memoir class (though I assume they will). If they do, I will still offer the class directly to those interested and teach it via videoconference, so that we can continue our engagement with writing from the safety of our own home. I will let you know as soon as I know.

One more note about the memoir class--in my last newsletter, I told you it would be on Thursdays, but the dates have changed. Now it's Tuesdays, starting Tuesday April 7, and running for 5 weeks (here's the link). Whatever happens, I am currently preparing for the class--coincidentally, I went to a great talk on teaching creative online at a writing conference, so I'm ready to go!

There is also a retreat scheduled for April 19. I will decide at some point if that should be canceled entirely or perhaps offered remotely. Boy does a month from now seem a long way away! Of course anybody already registered who wants a refund will get one. 

Lastly, there was an Art Party scheduled for March 28. I am waiting for final confirmation from my co-leaders, but consider this canceled.