For 12 years now I have been
teaching at the Hobart Festival of Women Writers,
an unusual festival antithetical
to most places I have taught where Writer Teachers
are capitalized and words are sacred.
Here we are all together without the insane
hierarchy of sentences. At Hobart
everyone who comes writes good sentences.
The festival was started by two lively sisters
Breena and Cheryle Clarke, accomplished
authors who have excellent senses of humor
(an unusual writing festival trait) and mince no words.
Three of us formed on an online writing group
meeting every Monday at 4 on zoom
since it became pandemic impossible
for our group to drink live martinis at a good bar.
I’ve suggested many projects. Cheryl generally
says no and Breena says maybe.
Together we made a journal called NOW
of the strong writings of Hobart teachers.
None of them write as though they are Trying Hard
for one prize or another. They write from the heart,
with the energy that comes from practice,
and from caring deeply about life.
You can hear them all for free
on Monday August 1 at 7 PM and then
you can join us in a beautiful book village of 300
people and six used book stores where you too
will write your own provocative surprising words.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-live-reading-by-contributors-to-the-online-literary-magazine-now-3-tickets-390157269897?aff=esfb&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-source=fb&utm-term=checkoutwidget&fbclid=IwAR3XhzL7GEoiNfZp266xWVo5oSOB3wOKh2nqG7-CH4w9Tp6u8kG_AgG2xGU
I can hardly wait for our reading and for the Festival. Many thanks to the incomparable Esther Cohen for helping to shape this event.
Say hello to Cheryl and Breena from me! I’m going to get there one day