Living and Blogging in Distressing Times

 

Each of us is an individual. Most of us have a devoted family. We have close friends. We belong to groups and organizations that we love. Personally, at the family level in the last two years, I have lost the three people closest to me which has been heartrending and leaves me with no one whom I can talk to at any minute I so choose. At the friendship level, I am in a book club that I started with a friend several decades ago. Our group, which has been meeting on Zoom since the Covid lockdown, is an intimate and supportive group of women. We all know each other’s life stories and have known each other’s partners and children as well. For this group who loves to read and discuss literature, I am thankful. I am in another women’s group in which one year we host and the following year we present a paper. The papers expand my knowledge into areas that are often unknown to me. As a professional, I have participated in several organizations. Thus, I have a strong professional network of individuals that I can trust and talk to about many different issues.

 Currently, I am a member of the Boulder Writers Alliance which provides around ten different activities for members each month. The group is fascinating in that the age span of men and women involved varies from the twenties to the eighties. We have a book discussion group, a meet for drinks and dinner to continue the discussion group, a poetry group, a happy hour group, several critique groups, and several silent writing groups. Participating in groups that have a focus on writing is a fulfilling activity for me as I learn so much from the others.

Family, friends, and professional colleagues are a delight in happy times. They provide inspiration, collaboration, and support. Our small and large networks of reliable and likable people are essential to our well-being. Participation and sharing build our skills and our sense of belonging. Remember this, and rely on your, as the French say, “semblables” during the stressful days and months that our nation is encountering as I write this blog.

My Writing Goals for 2025

1.  Continue to develop my poetry and connections with other poets: I forgot to log on to Bardic Trails in February and thus missed the presentation by Wendy Videlock who is the Western Slope Poet Laureate, however, I did read her books. The Colorado Poetry Center monthly readings which feature a poet, have an open mike, and take place at the Boulder Bookstore have been enjoyable. The Boulder Writers Alliance Poetry Circle featured Abigail Seber who has published three full-length books of poetry. Abigail combines physics, painting, and poetry. As for my poetry project goals, I have managed to write one poem each week so far in 2025.

2.  Finish my first novel and query agents (IW): I met with my critique group and presented a new section.

3.  Finish my second novel, (G): I did not work on this novel this month.

4.  Continue to work on my third novel, (PW): I did not work on this novel this month.

5.  Continue to develop a network of kindred spirits in the world of writing and publishing:

a.  Boulder Writers Alliance:  I attended BWA’s Writers Who Read discussion, led by Gary Alan McBride, of Good Material by Dolly Alderton. The critical content of the discussion was quite knowledgeable. Our January BWA Happy Hour was entertaining. I did not attend a silent writing session this month. I organized the BWA Poetry Circle for both January (which featured Abigail Seber) and February which will feature Brenda Wildrick.

b.  Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers:  I read the newsletter and various emails.

c. Women Writing the West: I read the newsletter and attended our critique group.

6. Document my writing progress through my blog and post it on the seventh day of each month, one blog per month in 2025:

Today is February 7, 2025. I am posting my second blog for this year. My original positive outlook for 2025 has been squelched by shocking political events over the last few weeks. As I try to remain calm so that I can focus on my writing, I feel compelled to follow the national news. My advice is: Writers Unite; Take Up the Fight!—but find your compatriots in writers who write for democracy.

Some Lines from the Poem Bibliography by Nikki Giovanni (1943–2024)

There is a bat

In Chile named

Micronyteris giovanniae

Dr. Robert Baker named it

After me. He discovered it

While studying bats

And thought the big ears

Were just like me

Maybe if the bat wrote

She would be

A poet