April 2023 Treasure Hunt
Silk and Sonder has posted its April socials on Eventbrite.
I signed up for two new newsletters. I find receiving those initially is a little less of an attempt to drink from the hose of an entire website.
My Jewish Learning - When I was in high school, I had to come up with a semester project one year. I decided to go to all the religious services I could for a month and write about what I learned. Sort of compare and contrast. To say I loved it is a massive understatement. I still remember it! I’ve recently returned to this love and have signed up for a lot of religious teachings. It’s just fascinating to me. Judaism has to be the hardest, am I right? I’m not keeping up at all, but I am enjoying it.
I’m still enjoying Rabbi John Carrier’s channel (he hasn’t posted recently) about Jewish things (in my resolution this year to learn religion-y things.)
And 4K Relaxation channel to take my mind off all this religious stuff. Ha!
If you are a writer, I revisited a couple of fun links:
Women on Writing and Writer’s Digest (both have been around for years, but I had…er…forgotten). I paid $10 for a digital version of Writing a Book in 30 Days. I know there are a slew of these on the Internet, so much so that it feels like a scam. But this particular one had some worksheets that, if nothing else, will be FUN to fill out.
Lauren Sapala is doing her Silent Writing Sessions every month this year, I believe. In her book Firefly Magic, Lauren Sapala says, “I want to share my stories with the whole world. At the same time, I don’t want anyone to look at me.” This spoke directly to me as an INFJ personality. I know that’s why Silent Writing works so well for me, as opposed to the very popular prompt, share, critique, talk, talk, talk groups.
The Willa Cather Foundation in Red Cloud, Nebraska, is offering a residency for the first time!! I made a specific stop to the “museum” in 2011 when I traveled from Indiana to Colorado for the first time, and I fell in love with the small town’s energy and hard work honoring Willa. I especially love the description of the artist this is meant for: In a nod to the long road that Willa Cather traveled before she became free to focus on her own writing—a road that included freelancing, teaching, editing, and managing a national magazine—the Willa Cather Residency welcomes writers who are struggling to transition from a hectic career to a life in art. While open to all, our purpose is to assist such artists. The deadline to apply is April 15th.
“When people ask me if it has been a hard or easy road, I always answer with the same quotation, the end is nothing, the road is all.” ~Willa Cather
“Begin. I don't care what it is, but begin. Whether it is reading a book or writing a book. Whether it is singing a song or listening to one. Whether it is gazing at a painting or picking up the brush. Whether it is writing down your goals/dreams or taking the first, tentative steps to see them to fruition. Whether it is hustling toward excellence or giving your body/brain the rest it needs (also a form of excellence). Begin something.... Today.” ~Author Kelli Stuart
“Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.” ~D Elton Trueblood
My Christmas present feeling this month was considering the Inaugural Willa Cather Residency Program.