Correction: Fight for Justice, Write in the Dark, in That Order

Originally Published June 2nd, 2020

Dear Writers,

The previous email from earlier today was a mistake. Whether due to Squarespace, Mailchimp, or me, I am not sure, but the newsletter that went out was the old one from March, when we first introduced Writing in the Dark. That feels like a lifetime ago. Since then, George Floyd was murdered in broad daylight in Minneapolis, where I live, and revolutionary, urgently important protests have erupted here in my city and around the country. The time for justice is now. The time for meaningful, long-term systemic change is now. The responsibility to make this happen is all of ours. My greatest wish is that we all, every one of us, participate in this call for change in the loudest, most potent ways that we can, including with our money, our time, our bodies, and our voices.

#justiceforgeorgefloyd

Meanwhile, if your creative soul needs some nurturing to keep engaging with this difficult world—which had already made indescribably stressful by the pandemic—I am offering a second session of my recent remote writing workshop—Writing in the Dark: Survival Strategies for Creating During Uncertain Times. The first session was helpful to many writers—several called it a lifeline, and many said it was the first writing they have managed in months, and all noted the relief in finally feeling creative again. So, I am offering another two sections of this 6-week salon-style course, and we still have a handful of openings in both the Wednesday and Thursday night groups.

This generative, no-pressure workshop is a gentle, open, and inspiring space in which to let creative energy back in, even if just a little, during this weird, paralyzing moment. The structure of the workshop is meant to facilitate opportunities to create with no expectation. This is about allowing, if possible, a soft surrender to creative energy and flow. Our aim is to approach the page like an open door, and be open to whatever we find there. Plus, to play with prompts that unlock new ideas and scatter interesting words and images loosely upon the page for our further consideration. This workshop is a celebration of what language can do, or at least, might do, even or especially when we most doubt it.

Writing in the Dark: Survival Strategies for Creating During Uncertain Times is offered at regular Elephant Rock tuition but also offers full scholarship for teaching assistants and a sliding fee scale down to zero for anyone who needs it, no questions asked. In other words, if you can afford to pay, please do. Your tuition keeps Elephant Rock viable until workshops and retreats are possible again. But only pay what you can actually afford with no hardship. This is clearly spelled out on the website. This workshop is meant to be completely accessible to all. If both sections fill and not everyone who wants a spot gets one, it will be offered again. If you read the webpage and still have questions, just let me know. This is a new, situation-specific offering and continues to be shaped as we speak. I hope to write with you.

Meanwhile, please take good care and fight for justice.

With love,

Jeannine