i write erotic fiction for over a decade. my poetry abounds with the erotic. my current long poem in progress is all about desire. and i am so hoping to take part in this intensive. i savour the sensual nature of life. thank you as always Jeannine for your vivacious energy and creativity and your willingness to share it.
"and we have learned to shield ourselves from the language of the body"
Wow! Just one phrase of many that hits home. Looking forward to the next intensive. There's a few from the Joy and Sorrow that I haven't put pen to paper for yet, but they still linger (I had some objects in our home "talk" to me today which I think was an exercise from this intensive. I had the two objects chosen weeks ago and today they "spoke" to me while a third surprised me by sneaking in a cameo appearance). All of that to say, I love this space and the assurance of "never too late and always enough" and well isnt that just a lovely way to look at life and how we show up in it (especially the late bloomers amongst us - yes that would include me). Thankyou Jeannine, Billy Oh, and everyone who makes WITD such a safe, encouraging, and alive writing and living space. And just because I can (and I haven't hit my English word count for today) I would love to share the joy that today my husband spoke of feeling a catharsis about his very wounded childhood and that there has been a lot of healing. That is joy joy joy where there has often been sorrow. And that is a delight to me. 🧚♀️
I can't wait to do this and really focus on it every week. I so enjoyed the panel - of all the panels I went to, this was the most alive! You could say that was because of the topic, but I don't think so. It was because of the way Jeannine organized it, before, during, and after, her attention to structure and constraint, and the fact that every panelist knew exactly what to expect and could soar because of it. Jeannine creates excellent containers - what will happen and what will not. I so enjoyed meeting you in person, if only for a minute.
WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW thank you so so so so so so much!!! If only the stupid tech had worked; I really also wanted you all to be able to see the excerpts as we read and spoke, for the craft access, but it just would not behave. However, I did assemble all those readings with the best of intentions. I really appreciate your noticing the container I built, it means A LOT to me because I work at that with a lot of intention. Thank you thank you thank you!!!
You know, Jeannine, sometimes stupid tech g;itches are synchronicity. We wouldn’t have been able to see the sentences anyway. There were too many words on the screen and we were too far away. I was kinda glad when you had to move the open laptop which was covering half of your face. It was thrilling to sit back and have those incredible writers read, and let it just wash over me. Each writer took such a different approach. I’m still thinking about what it means for my own writing. It was perfect, just the way it went.
I am so thrilled about this writing intensive. As a woman who experienced sexual trauma in several forms--not to mention that the mere existence of being a female means I have been dismissed/minimized/ignored/overlooked many times in my life--I have discovered that moving toward healing is exactly as you stated here. It's about embodiment. It's about attuning myself to the signals inside my body and to what's happening in this moment, in this space and time.
Also, the way you described your panel presentation sounds fascinating. I wonder if you have a way to allow us to either access it or purchase it (those of us who were not present at AWP)? Also, how did you gather the other women writers to present this panel with you, since you mentioned you drafted the outline? (Kudos to that, by the way.)
It's so evident that your compassionate and sensitive personality contributed to the way in which you were able to speak into this subject so concisely, Jeannine. I am so grateful to have found you on Substack and be connected with you here.
I could send you the reading excerpts, plus my outline and notes. The brief comments we made before/after our readings were just from notes, and I only have mine, and then there was a short Q & A which is not recorded (the live, in-person sessions at AWP are not recorded), but I can send you what I have if you like. And thank you for your kind worlds, Jeannie. I am grateful to be writing with you.
I’m excited for this intensive, because I’ve always marveled at the involuntary system that makes our bodies do and express things beyond our control—how our own bodies can surprise us so much!—and the magic of practices like breathwork, where we commandeer what are ordinarily autonomic functions and thereby gain a sense of safety in the world, in moments when we think we can control ourselves. Um, I also think it’s time to interrogate why I’ve been celibate so long, when I love sex and could easily connect with opportunities… Writing about pleasure might rekindle desire and might help me process trauma.
I think it might help rekindle desire and process trauma, yes. No guarantees, but I do think that's part of the process of welcoming and noting pleasure! xoxo
i write erotic fiction for over a decade. my poetry abounds with the erotic. my current long poem in progress is all about desire. and i am so hoping to take part in this intensive. i savour the sensual nature of life. thank you as always Jeannine for your vivacious energy and creativity and your willingness to share it.
And once again I must comment on the artwork. Beautiful and very sensuous (is that a word?)
"and we have learned to shield ourselves from the language of the body"
Wow! Just one phrase of many that hits home. Looking forward to the next intensive. There's a few from the Joy and Sorrow that I haven't put pen to paper for yet, but they still linger (I had some objects in our home "talk" to me today which I think was an exercise from this intensive. I had the two objects chosen weeks ago and today they "spoke" to me while a third surprised me by sneaking in a cameo appearance). All of that to say, I love this space and the assurance of "never too late and always enough" and well isnt that just a lovely way to look at life and how we show up in it (especially the late bloomers amongst us - yes that would include me). Thankyou Jeannine, Billy Oh, and everyone who makes WITD such a safe, encouraging, and alive writing and living space. And just because I can (and I haven't hit my English word count for today) I would love to share the joy that today my husband spoke of feeling a catharsis about his very wounded childhood and that there has been a lot of healing. That is joy joy joy where there has often been sorrow. And that is a delight to me. 🧚♀️
I can't wait to do this and really focus on it every week. I so enjoyed the panel - of all the panels I went to, this was the most alive! You could say that was because of the topic, but I don't think so. It was because of the way Jeannine organized it, before, during, and after, her attention to structure and constraint, and the fact that every panelist knew exactly what to expect and could soar because of it. Jeannine creates excellent containers - what will happen and what will not. I so enjoyed meeting you in person, if only for a minute.
WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW thank you so so so so so so much!!! If only the stupid tech had worked; I really also wanted you all to be able to see the excerpts as we read and spoke, for the craft access, but it just would not behave. However, I did assemble all those readings with the best of intentions. I really appreciate your noticing the container I built, it means A LOT to me because I work at that with a lot of intention. Thank you thank you thank you!!!
You know, Jeannine, sometimes stupid tech g;itches are synchronicity. We wouldn’t have been able to see the sentences anyway. There were too many words on the screen and we were too far away. I was kinda glad when you had to move the open laptop which was covering half of your face. It was thrilling to sit back and have those incredible writers read, and let it just wash over me. Each writer took such a different approach. I’m still thinking about what it means for my own writing. It was perfect, just the way it went.
Well good! That's affirming to hear!
Jeannine,
I am so thrilled about this writing intensive. As a woman who experienced sexual trauma in several forms--not to mention that the mere existence of being a female means I have been dismissed/minimized/ignored/overlooked many times in my life--I have discovered that moving toward healing is exactly as you stated here. It's about embodiment. It's about attuning myself to the signals inside my body and to what's happening in this moment, in this space and time.
Also, the way you described your panel presentation sounds fascinating. I wonder if you have a way to allow us to either access it or purchase it (those of us who were not present at AWP)? Also, how did you gather the other women writers to present this panel with you, since you mentioned you drafted the outline? (Kudos to that, by the way.)
It's so evident that your compassionate and sensitive personality contributed to the way in which you were able to speak into this subject so concisely, Jeannine. I am so grateful to have found you on Substack and be connected with you here.
I could send you the reading excerpts, plus my outline and notes. The brief comments we made before/after our readings were just from notes, and I only have mine, and then there was a short Q & A which is not recorded (the live, in-person sessions at AWP are not recorded), but I can send you what I have if you like. And thank you for your kind worlds, Jeannie. I am grateful to be writing with you.
Wow, that would be very generous of you to share these, Jeannine! Thank you!
I’m excited for this intensive, because I’ve always marveled at the involuntary system that makes our bodies do and express things beyond our control—how our own bodies can surprise us so much!—and the magic of practices like breathwork, where we commandeer what are ordinarily autonomic functions and thereby gain a sense of safety in the world, in moments when we think we can control ourselves. Um, I also think it’s time to interrogate why I’ve been celibate so long, when I love sex and could easily connect with opportunities… Writing about pleasure might rekindle desire and might help me process trauma.
I think it might help rekindle desire and process trauma, yes. No guarantees, but I do think that's part of the process of welcoming and noting pleasure! xoxo
Thank you for a phenomenal panel!
Ahh!! Thank you’re for coming!!!