Fear, anger and uncertainty are escalating, and lately, I find myself caught between extremes of being scared shitless, profoundly sad, and trying to hold onto enough courage to stay present, listen, and take action. But this I am certain of: Abusers and misogynists and bigots count on our silence. They count on our fear. In … Read more
(in response to the mass shooting in Orlando, Sunday morning, June 12th, 2016) This is who we are: WE are thousands lined up to give our blood to the wounded. WE are first responders, grief counselors, doctors, nurses and friends who carried dying friends and lovers out of a bloody nightclub. WE are millions of … Read more
trust your writing. even if you don’t want to go there even if you don’t know where the beginning is or the middle or the end even if it’s hard because there will be days when it’s fucking hard that thing you want to censor? don’t that’s where your art … Read more
dear sweet writer who recently dipped your pen back into the word waters and joined a writing group—i know you were nervous because it was your first writing group ever…i know you were worried about your grammar and that your 8th grade English teacher with her BIG FAT RED pen still loomed large on … Read more
When I first laid bare my personal writing in workshops, I puked before and after each meeting. I’m not talking about exposing my nature poems or opinions on the current state of education—I’m talking about writing with a truth stake driven through its heart. I puked before the meeting, because I had no idea how … Read more