“Art is a wound turned into light.”- Georges Braque

Lately, Dickens Haunts Me

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present period that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."—Charles Dickens, the opening paragraph of A Tale of Two Cities.

Given current events, perhaps Dickens should be elevated to status of Seer, Prophet, One Insightful Dude. All I know for sure is that nearly everyone I speak to these days feels anxious, lost, afraid. Many of my clients and writer friends say they are unable to work during such an uncertain time.

Though I may well be accused of sticking my head in the proverbial sand, I made a crucial decision on November 7 (November 6, I was comatose with fear and grief). I decided to heed Toni Morrison’s famous advice to a friend who couldn’t write in the face of societal tumult: “This is precisely the time when artists go to work—not when everything is fine, but in times of dread. That’s our job!”

Since then, I have approached my work with singular focus, completing a major rewrite on my novel-in-progress and finishing a revision of the rewrite. Next week, I’ll begin a revision of that revision. Partly due to my renewed focus and because I have, for various reasons, discovered unexpected freedom in my art, the book is opening up. It is, my friends, in serious bloom.

Art changes the world. We know that. And we must live by what we know. I doubt there is a single person reading this post whose life was not changed by stories.

Books saved my life. The library saved my life. Teachers who encouraged me to read saved my life. My sister who read to me saved my life.

The book, essay, memoir, story that you are writing won’t save anyone’s life if you don’t finish it. Our work, your work, is more important today than ever before. Believe.

And:

Use your wounds. Use your fear. Use your hope. Use your wisdom. Because when you breathe your life onto the page, light happens.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Connie

2025 InkBlossom Offerings

You can find out more about all of these InkBlossom events at our website. Please note: The Whole Novel Project includes all book-length prose projects and the deadline to apply is coming up: February 17. Also, we have a waiting list for the Rome conference.

What We’ve Been Up To

Since the last newsletter, we’ve met in Santa Fe for the fabulous and first annual InkBlossom Santa Fe Writing Retreat and Workshops. It was a magical time. We all learned from each other and developed a deeper understanding of our work. We left renewed and eager to stay focused on our writing. Most importantly, our beautiful community of writers grew.

We also held our first annual BookBrain: Plan your 2025 Writing Life. We discussed obstacles and developed strategies for overcoming them. We created plans and renewed intentions. We explored the holistic connections between art, craft, and procrastination. Each participant received a 2025 BookBrain Planner, which acts as calendar, diary, and accountability buddy.

Blooming InkBlossoms

The Poetry Box is publishing Flavian Mark Lupinetti’s debut poetry collection, The Pronunciation Part, which was the 2024 winner of The Poetry Box Chapbook Prize and is slated for release on February 8, 2025. The poems are based on Mark’s 35 years as a cardiothoracic surgeon and explore the triumphs and tragedies of modern medicine. The press is offering The Pronunciation Part for a special, pre-order discount through January 1 during which time you can pre-order the book for $12 and be one of the first to receive your copy in early February. You can learn more about The Pronunciation Part and order it here.

Rhonda Zimlich’s wonderful debut novel, Raising Panic, is just out from Steel Toe Press.

Marty Ross-Dolen’s searing debut memoir, Always There, Always Gone, published by She Writes Press, is available for pre-order now.

Mark Routhier’s essays are showing up everywhere. Here’s his debut publication "A Pound of Brie."

Please send your good news to inkblossomwriters@gmail.com so I can include it in a future newsletter.

Cool Gifts for Writers

Sometimes nothing soothes a writer’s savage soul more than a well-timed, perfectly crafted zinger. This poster will inspire even the nicest writer to hone their worst impulses. 🤣

Do you have a writer in your life who needs a literary lift? Perhaps an InkBlossom workshop, conference, retreat, or private mentoring is what they need. Email me and we’ll set it up!

“I’ve been working with Connie for four years, since I got my MFA from Vermont College. I credit her with facilitating so much of my growth as a writer. A lover of the word and writing, with a broad understanding of the ‘human situation’ we're all in, she is a talented and versatile mentor, as adept at identifying thematic issues and underlying structural problems, as she is at sentence-level editing. An amazing mix of intelligence, acumen, and empathy, her advice has both encouraged me and helped me master how to “go deeper” in my personal essays and the memoir I am writing. It’s a privilege to work with her.” ~ Judy Padow, Memoirist and Essayist