**I had plenty of stories from my own life. I could pick one, break two or three of its bones, keep the feelings I remembered, but hang them on a different skeleton**
Also, I thoroughly enjoyed the seminar yesterday with Darien and yourself and felt like I'd given a huge treat to myself. Please keep doing what you do and hope you are feeling stronger each day xo
Haha! A woman with my own illogical far-ranging taste from punk rock to Klezmer! I share your tastes and experience …except my dogs are not slightly concerned, they have accepted the fact I am that “naughty woman” and nuts, and just shake their heads and roll their eyes, and dance with me.
‘Tell it truthfully, and we find clarity. Clarity is comfort.’
I love this! Honesty in writing can feel so vulnerable at times and yet that’s what helps build a connection to readers. They may see themselves in our words and find them relatable.
Your words feel like relief to me. I don’t have to be an expert or have it all figured out. That note you saw on the bus is the message I needed to hear. Thank you!
Now you’ve done it, Abigail. I am ruined for (at least) today. That kitchen dancing question opens the playlist of my secret, arm-waving, booty-shaking, absolutely inappropriate and aesthetically unacceptable addiction to Private Dancing. You are a delightfully naughty friend. Long may you wave.
I am 48, and I have wanted to write my whole life. It’s always been there, waiting quietly in the corner while I tended to everything else. I’ve begun with poetry; it feels safer somehow, a place to start. Reading your story of how you came to the page has been profoundly inspiring for me. I only discovered your work this summer, and already it has changed my life. Thank you.
I wasn’t sure which book to give to my friend first but now I think I will give her safekeeping. I had her reading some of your sub stacks and she said I wanna be like her. That’s pretty much what everyone says when I recommend your sub stack by the way. I hope there was buttercream frosting on that birthday cake. And I hope they double the recipe cause that’s the only way to do it.
I'm going to write about BigMom's icing, inspired by everyone. It was a great day, yesterday! I hope your friend will like Safekeeping, and thank you, Mira, for your brownie everythings. Best ever!
My library is starting some writers workshops that I plan to attend. I have written poetry since age 6 and have started writing more essays and completed a play script. I’m a 69 year old that would love to get something published. I never had children and I fear my relatives will toss it all after I’m gone even though I mostly write for myself.
So cheesy and so old school, “it’s a great day to be alive”; though I don’t have a beard or the capability of growing one, it makes me smile. Thank you for yesterday it was awesome.
Abigail, how did you know I so needed to read this today! I too operate from the Beginner’s mind when it comes to writing and life (which so think for you & me is one and the same). Writing keeps me sane too. And as you did with Safekeeping I reveal myself to myself as I write. Loved this especially: “I had plenty of stories from my own life. I could pick one, break two or three of its bones, keep the feelings I remembered, but hang them on a different skeleton.”
Abby- one of the reasons your work has resonated with me for so long is that you’re honest - not just about life but about your writing process. I always felt stupid because I didn’t know what a three act anything was or a denounement which I can’t spell or say . So thank you for that. I learned to trust myself.
Also yesterday was great! Inspiring! Gave me great ideas and also turned me back to my collection I’m working on.
So much to love about this!! Starting with the fact that you changed it and shared it again. Thank you for permission to do that.
And THIS --> I’m eighty-four now, and I am still a beginner every time I sit down to write. I have no idea what I’m doing.
My happiest kitchen dancing moment. As a pre-teen our youngest daughter was incredibly embarrassed to have something so mundane as a mother, much less one who liked to dance. When she was 21 she came up to me in the kitchen one day and asked me to dance with her. I don't remember the song but I still remember the dance.
**I had plenty of stories from my own life. I could pick one, break two or three of its bones, keep the feelings I remembered, but hang them on a different skeleton**
oh my gosh, that's a gorgeous sentence :)
Thank you. What a lovely thing to say.
"And the paint was now dry on the past."
Brilliant, this is.
Also, I thoroughly enjoyed the seminar yesterday with Darien and yourself and felt like I'd given a huge treat to myself. Please keep doing what you do and hope you are feeling stronger each day xo
Thank you very much, Sue. And yes, yesterday was a treat for all f us, I think. I loved it too.
And what do I dance to? Punk rock, klezmer or bad seventies. It matters not, to me or my slightly concerned dog lol
There was no bad music in the seventies!
Ha! You are right!!
Haha! A woman with my own illogical far-ranging taste from punk rock to Klezmer! I share your tastes and experience …except my dogs are not slightly concerned, they have accepted the fact I am that “naughty woman” and nuts, and just shake their heads and roll their eyes, and dance with me.
Dogs don't complain much. You have very good dogs. Mine haven't learned to dance yet. But I love them anyway.
‘Tell it truthfully, and we find clarity. Clarity is comfort.’
I love this! Honesty in writing can feel so vulnerable at times and yet that’s what helps build a connection to readers. They may see themselves in our words and find them relatable.
Your words feel like relief to me. I don’t have to be an expert or have it all figured out. That note you saw on the bus is the message I needed to hear. Thank you!
Oh, you made me very happy. Thank you!
And the more vulnerable you allow yourself to be, the stronger you becomen
And only a sensual 83-year-old would rise to the bait of a naughty 84-year-old playmate.
Hahahahaha
Thank you.
Now you’ve done it, Abigail. I am ruined for (at least) today. That kitchen dancing question opens the playlist of my secret, arm-waving, booty-shaking, absolutely inappropriate and aesthetically unacceptable addiction to Private Dancing. You are a delightfully naughty friend. Long may you wave.
And long may you dance crazily in your kitchen, Susan. Thank you
Abigail,
I am 48, and I have wanted to write my whole life. It’s always been there, waiting quietly in the corner while I tended to everything else. I’ve begun with poetry; it feels safer somehow, a place to start. Reading your story of how you came to the page has been profoundly inspiring for me. I only discovered your work this summer, and already it has changed my life. Thank you.
Thank you very much. I love what you said, a writer couldn't ask for a better reason to keep writing, thank you again.
Love. I’m still buzzing from yesterday’s workshop with you and Darien, and now this! Thank you!
I buzzed until one-thirty in the morning, dogs got up at five. No longer buzzing, but yesterday was really great, I loved it too. Thank you.
Me too.Buzzing is a great way to explain it.🙏🏽❤️
Abigail, you keep my hope alive when I think I have nothing to write about. Thank you.
P.S. I'm 72. There's still time!
And there;s is never nothing to write about. Write about that. Start there.
I wasn’t sure which book to give to my friend first but now I think I will give her safekeeping. I had her reading some of your sub stacks and she said I wanna be like her. That’s pretty much what everyone says when I recommend your sub stack by the way. I hope there was buttercream frosting on that birthday cake. And I hope they double the recipe cause that’s the only way to do it.
I'm going to write about BigMom's icing, inspired by everyone. It was a great day, yesterday! I hope your friend will like Safekeeping, and thank you, Mira, for your brownie everythings. Best ever!
My library is starting some writers workshops that I plan to attend. I have written poetry since age 6 and have started writing more essays and completed a play script. I’m a 69 year old that would love to get something published. I never had children and I fear my relatives will toss it all after I’m gone even though I mostly write for myself.
That's how I write, too. The only way to get it all down. I'm glad you are writing.
Do you still have the poems you wrote when you were six? I would love to read them.
So cheesy and so old school, “it’s a great day to be alive”; though I don’t have a beard or the capability of growing one, it makes me smile. Thank you for yesterday it was awesome.
It really was, thank you!
Abigail, how did you know I so needed to read this today! I too operate from the Beginner’s mind when it comes to writing and life (which so think for you & me is one and the same). Writing keeps me sane too. And as you did with Safekeeping I reveal myself to myself as I write. Loved this especially: “I had plenty of stories from my own life. I could pick one, break two or three of its bones, keep the feelings I remembered, but hang them on a different skeleton.”
Abby- one of the reasons your work has resonated with me for so long is that you’re honest - not just about life but about your writing process. I always felt stupid because I didn’t know what a three act anything was or a denounement which I can’t spell or say . So thank you for that. I learned to trust myself.
Also yesterday was great! Inspiring! Gave me great ideas and also turned me back to my collection I’m working on.
And dance- Earth Wind and Fire!
So much to love about this!! Starting with the fact that you changed it and shared it again. Thank you for permission to do that.
And THIS --> I’m eighty-four now, and I am still a beginner every time I sit down to write. I have no idea what I’m doing.
My happiest kitchen dancing moment. As a pre-teen our youngest daughter was incredibly embarrassed to have something so mundane as a mother, much less one who liked to dance. When she was 21 she came up to me in the kitchen one day and asked me to dance with her. I don't remember the song but I still remember the dance.
Your words are like permission - permission to write the good, the bad, and even the ugly. Thank you.
Only way to do it. Thank you.
I started my memoir in a memoir class that used Bill’s book Writing Life Stories and it really helped me with the craft of writing.