So many opportunities! You are an inspiration. My problem is picking one or two. I do have to say conferences are a great avenue. At last year's 2023 Frost Farm Conference I met the former poetry editor of the Journal of Christian Nursing and I now have 3 poems published in their current issue!
Diane! That is amazing. Congratulations on your upcoming publications! Please let me know when they are out. I would love to share links or whatever else you may have with the people who read my humble projects.
Excellent advice, Zina. In the long transition to writing from a corporate job as an editor, I missed colleagues with an ache that cut deep. Substack has been my virtual water cooler.
Beautiful essay Zina. My heart resonates with everything you have written here. I feel as though I have started to discover my community through the people here. Thanks for sharing yourself and your journey with us. I am glad to be a part of it.
I definitely agree with everything you said. When I started writing a couple years ago, I started by writing out an idea and editing it myself. Then I found some online classes, but I was disappointed at the lack of feedback that I was getting from classmates. I joined The Habit, an online writing community with Jonathan Rogers. He teaches classes, gives writing prompts, and there are forums for people engaged in all sorts of writing. Some people write letters and work in ministry. Some are published authors with lots of books to their names. Some are self published. Everyone has been so supportive. I went to my first writing conference this Spring, which was a great experience. It helped me get past (well, mostly past) my imposter syndrome and let me view myself as a writer. Habit members encouraged me to start a Substack. Community is such a blessing.
I really enjoyed this piece. I don’t really think of myself as an artist unless podcasting counts. However, in the depth of my soul maybe I aspire to be one. I love art, all kinds. Thank you for sharing this piece and allowing me to sit and ponder this idea.
I have the distinct pleasure of spending time each week with Zina in our online classes for the MFA at St. Thomas, Houston. I’d always thought that it seemed like Zina knows everybody — and this piece proves that my hunch was right.
To the theme of her essay, my father often said, “Show me your friends, and I’ll tell you who you are.”
Thanks, Zina, for putting this all in such good order.
So many opportunities! You are an inspiration. My problem is picking one or two. I do have to say conferences are a great avenue. At last year's 2023 Frost Farm Conference I met the former poetry editor of the Journal of Christian Nursing and I now have 3 poems published in their current issue!
Diane! That is amazing. Congratulations on your upcoming publications! Please let me know when they are out. I would love to share links or whatever else you may have with the people who read my humble projects.
Excellent advice, Zina. In the long transition to writing from a corporate job as an editor, I missed colleagues with an ache that cut deep. Substack has been my virtual water cooler.
Beautiful essay Zina. My heart resonates with everything you have written here. I feel as though I have started to discover my community through the people here. Thanks for sharing yourself and your journey with us. I am glad to be a part of it.
This was good to be reminded, Zina. Thanks!
I definitely agree with everything you said. When I started writing a couple years ago, I started by writing out an idea and editing it myself. Then I found some online classes, but I was disappointed at the lack of feedback that I was getting from classmates. I joined The Habit, an online writing community with Jonathan Rogers. He teaches classes, gives writing prompts, and there are forums for people engaged in all sorts of writing. Some people write letters and work in ministry. Some are published authors with lots of books to their names. Some are self published. Everyone has been so supportive. I went to my first writing conference this Spring, which was a great experience. It helped me get past (well, mostly past) my imposter syndrome and let me view myself as a writer. Habit members encouraged me to start a Substack. Community is such a blessing.
I really enjoyed this piece. I don’t really think of myself as an artist unless podcasting counts. However, in the depth of my soul maybe I aspire to be one. I love art, all kinds. Thank you for sharing this piece and allowing me to sit and ponder this idea.
I have the distinct pleasure of spending time each week with Zina in our online classes for the MFA at St. Thomas, Houston. I’d always thought that it seemed like Zina knows everybody — and this piece proves that my hunch was right.
To the theme of her essay, my father often said, “Show me your friends, and I’ll tell you who you are.”
Thanks, Zina, for putting this all in such good order.
Chris
An excellent essay, Zina. Lots of great advice. Thank you.
Thank you!🙏