57 Comments

Subscribed in December… do the assignments come to my inbox… I didn’t see it today???

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Welcome! And yes, the posts come out on Wednesdays. It’s coming …

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Hope you feel better soon. Didn’t mean to nag but was afraid I’d screwed up my membership.💕

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Not to worry!! It's a question that arises with every intensive!

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I am so excited to participate in this intensive! I go to Ross Gay's writings for guidance in joy, laughter, sorrow, life. I've just finished The Book of Delights, and can't wait to be guided through writing prompts in response. And the timing is perfect--my writing group is going to be meeting midday Wednesdays for cowriting sessions!

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Oh, that is so perfect!!

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Oh! I love Ross Gay! What a delightful focus!

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Oh this sounds wonderful. I've had one hell of a year and am looking forward to returning to regular writing in 2025, and this sounds like a wonderful way to reignite my deepest writer self! Heading to my calendar to schedule time for this right now!

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How do I sign up for the intensive

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Hi, BettyJoyce, if you’re a paid subscriber, you’re all set. If you want to participate in the open mics, salons, and write-ins, you’ll want to upgrade to founding. We look forward to writing with you!

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I’m new here and can’t wait to dive into this intensive! Just picked up the Ross Gay book yesterday - I’m ready!

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I’m looking forward to this! I loved the podcast episode ❤️

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I'm so glad to hear it!

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First of all, Jeannine, your poem "Firstborn" is beautiful. I've gone back to read it a couple times now.

Secondly, I've just finished listening to the Write-Minded podcast, and I'm flabbergasted that you quoted me twice! First about my comment on interiority and The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, and then my writing as discovery/writing as life comment in relation to my "Hold and Release" story that was accepted for publishing. I'm truly honoured that you thought of those examples (and on the day before my birthday). What a lovely birthday gift you didn't know you gave me! I appreciated the reminder of the daily noticing practice that I've let slip.

So looking forward to the next intensive and where it takes us all!

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Tracey, the honor was mine!! I was so so so happy that you had just shared those anecdotes with me when I saw, just the night before the interview, Brooke and Grant's questions asking for specific examples!!! And even though there are many, I would have been, in the moment, only able to sputter, sure, umm, umm, umm, but no, you had just handed me exactly what I needed, so thank you! And happy birthday!!

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Thank you!

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This intensive sounds like a wonderful way to start the year off, thank you! It speaks to me. 😊 I just ordered Ross's book.

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I too am excited for the intensive coming up in January. I checked out Gay’s book at the library and liked it so much I am going to purchase it! Your reading last night was simply precious. It was a refreshing get together and quite inspiring. Thank you!

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Thank you so so so so much, and I am so happy about the intensive, too! xoxo

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Just listened to your convo with Brooke and Grant. Your energy is electric! I felt every word. I’m so lucky to get to learn from you! And congrats on “Firstborn”. Your reading last night was beautiful! So great to see fellow WITD’ers there supporting you and all the poets!❤️

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Great idea! I have the book. I recently heard Ross Gay interviewed on the podcast We Can Do Hard Things. He is an amazing person with a great strategy for navigating this world as it is. His essay, Some Thoughts on Mercy, is one of my favorites ever and it lifted me up out of the gloom of the last Trump regime, giving me hope even as it makes me weep. https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/26728-some-thoughts-on-mercy

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Very much enjoyed the poetry reading. It cracked me open. To see such gifted folks reading their poems together, watching their reactions, and so on was a true privilege.

There is something so special, so powerful in witnessing a poet reading their own poetry. I feel blessed.

Jeannine, your poem was beautiful. It made me think of my firstborn daughter, Anita Marie, who I have not seen in over thirty years.

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I was so happy to see you there, Craig. Thank you so much for coming! I thought of all of our firstborns, near and far. How special that yours also shares that middle name.

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Wow- what a reading. What a night. I would not have known about it without you, and the evening would not have been the same without your crabapples and two shored sea. Get some good sleep when you come back to earth. 💜

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I loved that you were there, thank you so much for coming and staying so long despite the epic length of the reading!! It was so nice seeing WITD friendly faces. Truly.

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The whole thing was an experience and no way was I letting you face that without your home team! So thrilled for you. Truly. I wrote down names of poets new to me- you learn so much about someone from a reading! And I did it in my slippers without even going to awp! But one day i will put on real shoes and we will hang out at AWP. 💜

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AWP isn't for real shoes. It's just a thing that some of us have to do and most people hide in their hotel rooms, haha. Also, Kristie is our next guest at SCHOOL!

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Hahaha! That’s how to win AWP, now I know. Makes it seem more possible that way…? And excellent about Kristie!

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I am so excited with the focus of the next intensive. I just happened to purchase a copy of Ross Gay's book after hearing his interview recently on the "We Can Do Hard Things" podcast with Glennon Doyle (his second appearance) and now I am so excited to delve into his much-needed perspective through your always-exciting, ever-playful intensives. I find myself living these days in the in-between of joy and sorrow, beginnings and endings, belief in the possibility of love and our common humanity, and the heaviness of fear and despair. Much to explore in our writing together. I also very much enjoyed the Taylor Swift inspired reading tonight and thought your poem was so very lovely, Jeannine.

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It was so amazing! I may be talking in poet rhythm for several weeks ?!

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Thank you so much for coming, Amy! I saw you there! Grateful. And, yes, I think this is the perfect focus for our first intensive of 2025. I am glad it is resonating with others. ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

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Just now able to read this post what’s going on tonight?

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Hi, Denise, it was a reading for the Invisible Strings anthology, in which I have a poem! ❤️

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