The kitchen is bustling with activity as I sit down to write. Pearl's making himself breakfast while Mani embarks on a baking project. Aviva just whisked a mug of coffee back to her room. Chalupa's on her bed leaning against my right foot, closely monitoring the situation. Since it involves food, her attention is unwavering.
My attention, on the other hand, seems to be taking a walk in the park. "We're writing a newsletter," I tell it, as it tugs towards thoughts of other things – plans for the future, conversations from the past, the usual fare. I google "dogs sense of smell compared to humans" and learn that for every one scent receptor we have, dogs have 50. These are the random facts I end up learning when I'm trying to write but my monkey mind has other ideas.
All of this is, in fact, relevant to the main thing I want to tell you today. HEARTH: A 12-week writing group begins soon (January 18/19), and there is a seat waiting just for you.
Off all the reasons you might join, I'd say they're likely to boil down to one or more of these:
Now, these three words may not sound sexy and enticing at first blush. But – and this is surely the Capricorn in me speaking – they are the basis for all kinds of wonder and magic.
Why, you ask?
Because structure brings FREEDOM, accountability leads to ACCOMPLISHMENT, and community fosters CONNECTION. These qualities in turn result in gaining momentum, increasing confidence, and, week after week, month by month, experiencing yourself as the writer you want to be(come).
SO.
✨ If you keep wanting to develop a more consistent writing life but find it inordinately difficult to get your butt in the chair....
✨ Or you get your butt in the chair and then find yourself toggling between open tabs instead of writing...
✨ Or various ideas flit through your mind, but when the writing doesn't flow like manna from heaven, you get discouraged...
I hope you will say YES to 12 weeks of writing together.
You'll find all the details about HEARTH on my website (dates, times, cost, etc.). But the upshot is that a weekly prompt gives you a way to start, and our weekly zoom gatherings give you a reason to keep going.
It's simple by design.
We don't need bells and whistles. One bell will do: We just need to show up.
Mani's putting that baked pumpkin oatmeal into the oven now. Soon the kitchen will fill with delicious smells (which I know now Chupie will enjoy 100,000 times more than me!).
And soon – when you sign up for HEARTH – your pages will fill up with words, words that are just waiting to be written.
Shabbat Shalom & love,
Jena
p.s. As always, drop me a note if you have any questions. Rather have a quick conversation or explore working 1:1 with me? Hop over to my calendar to schedule a "meet and greet" call.