I have a writing group!!!!

It was one of the things Jamie Cat Callan, the instructor of the writing seminar in France, told me was a must, must, MUST: that I absolutely had to break out of my solitary creative cocoon and find other writers to talk about writing with. Smart people to show my writing to. Kindred spirits to get support from.

And I have finally found my group!

(Stacks of papers, computers, prosecco, candles

and homegrown tomatoes...

all the necessities of writing meetings.)

One member lives right down the street from me, a many-times published memoirist and fiction author. We've run past each others' houses for years, we've said "hi" and waved as we've been unloading groceries or mowing the lawn. Finally, we decided it was high time to get together and talk shop, work the words, get into the craft. The other member is an instructor at Minnesota State University...teaching writing, of all things. Yeah. Smart, writers, kindred spirits. Check. 

I've been honored to be allowed into their stories. I've been moved to tears by their support and comments on my story. And we've just begun! I can't wait to read more of their writing and can't wait to share more of mine with them. And with their encouragement, I can't wait to write some more.Their comments have given me the freedom to write what I think, feel and know. A weight has been lifted. No more holding back. I'm going to let 'er rip. I have a four-day weekend ahead of me, by design, with only "WRITING" on my calendar. Bliss.