Meghan…I want you to know you are making a tremendous difference with your words. You have created a beautiful space here and it is because of you…that I have started my own Substack page. I launched it 2 weeks ago and I was so excited. And then …. I haven’t posted another thing. I’ve been struggling with posting. I too wonder if it’s the weather? So I almost laughed when I read your post today beginning with the weather. I’ve been a professional artist and art teacher for almost 30 years. I’ve been writing for about 6 years but haven’t shared my words. I want to write about my disability and how being in a wheelchair has changed my life and my art. The good and the bad. But then I think of all of the people with disabilities that are far worse than mine and so many are living in poverty? and how can I talk about art?? I am privileged to live the life I do so how can I help others when I am so fortunate? My mind goes into those same places as you and I am glad I am not alone. Meghan I owe you a big thank you. Please send me good vibes so I have the courage to do my 2nd Substack post.
First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I am honoured to hear that my actions have made even a little difference for you. If I've learned anything in my 20 years as a professional writer it's that we will never know the full impact of our words. It means a lot to me to know that even one person is reading, let alone feeling moved in some way. I mention this because a lot of people worry about publishing something and putting it out in the world when the problem often ends up being the reverse: we do publish it and then we mostly hear crickets, and it leaves us wondering whether or not people are reading. This process has led me to write for myself, and if someone gets something out of it, it's a real bonus. So I do hope you find the courage to write your next Substack. Do it artfully and intentionally, as I'm sure you would anyway, so that whatever is "out there" is the best you can muster. But this is not to see if our best is good enough; I think as an artist you'll know what I mean. Let me know when you publish. And THANK YOU!
Thank you! I will let you know when I post! I just need to get a few more of those thoughts together…I feel it coming. Thank goodness there are so many great writers like yourself…guiding our way!
I'm teaching two classes of writers online, and I notice we're all struggling with the truth. The war in Ukraine and the murders of children in Gaza are devastating, and day after day I don't recover from what I see. I think we will sponsor a family to escape. The small effort helps me continue to look and speak, and be with other writers struggling. Thank you for writing of this difficult moment.
Thank you for taking the time to comment, Sonya. As a writer I've found that I've long had a 'second brain' that's constantly processing information and trying to articulate it. Call it truth seeking. I wonder if this is what's also happening to your collective of writers. Are we hardwired this way and that's part of what makes us a writer or draws us to the craft of writing? And is it the craft itself that encourages us to see the world differently, to look for deeper meaning, and bring thought into the world?
I've had Together Rising on my mind lately as another means of support people 'on the ground.' I'd love to hear more suggestions from our community here of meaningful ways we can make even a small difference. Sponsoring a family will no doubt have a massive impact for those individuals, even if it's only one family.
Yes, to all of this.
Meghan…I want you to know you are making a tremendous difference with your words. You have created a beautiful space here and it is because of you…that I have started my own Substack page. I launched it 2 weeks ago and I was so excited. And then …. I haven’t posted another thing. I’ve been struggling with posting. I too wonder if it’s the weather? So I almost laughed when I read your post today beginning with the weather. I’ve been a professional artist and art teacher for almost 30 years. I’ve been writing for about 6 years but haven’t shared my words. I want to write about my disability and how being in a wheelchair has changed my life and my art. The good and the bad. But then I think of all of the people with disabilities that are far worse than mine and so many are living in poverty? and how can I talk about art?? I am privileged to live the life I do so how can I help others when I am so fortunate? My mind goes into those same places as you and I am glad I am not alone. Meghan I owe you a big thank you. Please send me good vibes so I have the courage to do my 2nd Substack post.
Dear Caprice,
First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I am honoured to hear that my actions have made even a little difference for you. If I've learned anything in my 20 years as a professional writer it's that we will never know the full impact of our words. It means a lot to me to know that even one person is reading, let alone feeling moved in some way. I mention this because a lot of people worry about publishing something and putting it out in the world when the problem often ends up being the reverse: we do publish it and then we mostly hear crickets, and it leaves us wondering whether or not people are reading. This process has led me to write for myself, and if someone gets something out of it, it's a real bonus. So I do hope you find the courage to write your next Substack. Do it artfully and intentionally, as I'm sure you would anyway, so that whatever is "out there" is the best you can muster. But this is not to see if our best is good enough; I think as an artist you'll know what I mean. Let me know when you publish. And THANK YOU!
Thank you! I will let you know when I post! I just need to get a few more of those thoughts together…I feel it coming. Thank goodness there are so many great writers like yourself…guiding our way!
I'm teaching two classes of writers online, and I notice we're all struggling with the truth. The war in Ukraine and the murders of children in Gaza are devastating, and day after day I don't recover from what I see. I think we will sponsor a family to escape. The small effort helps me continue to look and speak, and be with other writers struggling. Thank you for writing of this difficult moment.
Thank you for taking the time to comment, Sonya. As a writer I've found that I've long had a 'second brain' that's constantly processing information and trying to articulate it. Call it truth seeking. I wonder if this is what's also happening to your collective of writers. Are we hardwired this way and that's part of what makes us a writer or draws us to the craft of writing? And is it the craft itself that encourages us to see the world differently, to look for deeper meaning, and bring thought into the world?
I've had Together Rising on my mind lately as another means of support people 'on the ground.' I'd love to hear more suggestions from our community here of meaningful ways we can make even a small difference. Sponsoring a family will no doubt have a massive impact for those individuals, even if it's only one family.
https://togetherrising.org/