Spring, So Far

lots of reading and writing and I'm not mad about it

I went to the Festival of Faith and Writing last month which always proves to be a hearty good time. I was thrilled to be able to read at the Whitworth Writers Workshop MFA reception, although in this photo it looks like I’m utterly disgusted with what I wrote.

It was fun to read but it was a delight to talk with other writers and see my classmates. After one of us read, the Program Director said, “I feel like I’ve been through something.” Those words capture my MFA experience. It’s not a bad thing, but it’s a thing that’s hard to describe. It was good to be in a room with several others who’ve had this same felt experience.

If you’re looking for some good reads, here are some titles from some of the authors that were there:

Howard Schaap: Brooding Upon the Waters

Jessica Gigot: A Little Bit of Land

Shemaiah Gonzalez: Undaunted Joy

Mischa Willet: This Gift Card Has Already Been Redeemed

Callie Feyen (Do you know her? Up and coming, this one!): When We Swung From Church Bells

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I had a grand time co-teaching a reading and writing workshop with my friend Xan Morgan. We called it “Our Story,” and it was a great time of sharing stories. I got to guide people through writing prompts in an effort to create something from rather sharp fragments of their lives and also to set them down and move forward. It was the first time in a long time that I felt like I was being put to use.

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I’m finishing up a workshop called “Ink + Graphite: From Hope to Belief” at my church. I developed this with the Youth Pastor, and it has been a fun and fulfilling project. Teenagers are crazy and so much fun.

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There was a book party.

My friends and family are the best. Thank you to all who came out to celebrate with me, and thank you to my friend Lisa who decorated and planned the whole night even when I said, “I don’t think anyone will show up.” Also, thank you to my friend Jaime who took tons of photos of the evening. This group (so many who are not pictured) is the million trillion billion lottery ticket of friends.