Virtual Retreat, New Reading Series, other BB Updates 2/23 - 3/1
BBs:
There was a blizzard last night and into this morning. Here in western MA, it didn’t get too crazy, but I see you Boston and NYC — sounds like it got real wild. I hope you’re all doing OK.
Here’s what’s up for this last week of February (2/23 - 3/1).
Feedback Group Submission Schedules!
IRL Group Wednesdays @ beautyland 6:30-8:30: Next meeting is March 4 Genna and Chris have pages due on Wednesday February 25.
Noon Crew Thursdays 12pm - 1:30: The next meeting is March 5 and Ezra will have the floor then with pages due on February 26th.
Weirdlings Wednesdays 12pm - 1:30: We meet again on March 4 and Elizabeth has the floor with pages due on February 25.
Kool Kids Thursdays at 7pm - 8:30: Our next meeting is February 26 and Rebecca will have the floor with pages due on February 19 (she’s already sent them!). We will also welcome a new Book Buddy to Kool Kids that day, Elli!
OG Crew Thursdays at 7:30pm - 9: The next meeting is on March 5,Garth and Kristina will have the floor pages due February 26.
Saturday besties 12:30pm - 2: The next meeting is February 28 and Ali and Georgia have the floor. Pages due ASAP.
Book Buddies Being a Big Deal
You all are doing so many cool things lately.
Send you your cool announcements!
March 15 Virtual Retreat Coming For You
Most of you know that I am on the hunt for a new space to do in person retreats. In the interim, I’m offering a short 5 hour virtual retreat on Sunday March 15 from 12-5pmEST (on zoom). It’s just $60 with the option to add on a 30 minute coaching sesh if you want. Here’s the schedule:
We’ll meet on zoom at noon and share our work plans for the day with each other. (12-12:30ish)
Write, write, write. Camera off. If you sign up for an additional 30 minute coaching session we’ll do that during the window. (12:30ish - 4:15/4:30 depending on size of group!)
We’ll report out on how it went, then make a plan for the next leg of work on your project. (4:30 -5)
No sharing and feedback like we do in gen writing/in person retreats. This is a get it done and process talk sort of scene, ideal for folks who have been itching to get a full day of uninterrupted writing in but also want to spend a day in cozy clothes.
Gen Writing Prompt for this Week:
I’m using a repeat of last week’s prompt this week because we only had one round of Gen writing on Saturday and only a few of you could make it. However, it sounds to me like the prompt was exciting to a lot of you, so let’s work with it for one more full week.
February 21, 23, and 28 2026
Odes to your beloved art
Folks, we’re only meeting for Gen Writing once this week because on Tuesday we’ll have book club instead. We’ll talk about Rick Rubin’s book The Creative Act: A Way of Being. I thought after this deep dive into Rick Rubin’s philosophy around how to live a creative life, it might be a good week for us to do something different and write deeply reflective missives about the art of others that have moved us and even shaped our lives. If you’re game let’s do it like this:
Make a list of ten songs, books, movies, TV shows, visual art pieces, or poems (you don’t have to choose one category, you can have some from each) that have been important to you at any point throughout your life from childhood to right this moment. Now, for each item on the list, write in as much detail as you can about what’s great about it. You might start with answering some or all of the following questions:
Describe it. What does it sound like, what does it look like, what does it feel like to the touch etc. What is it concerned with emotionally, ie. what is it discussing, what story is it telling, what is it about?
What do you think it meant to the person who made it? What do you think they were thinking?
How do you think it works? For literary work you can use craft language — what’s up with the narrator, describe the plot, how would you characterize the prose? Do the same for other genres — in visual art, how is the artist working with color? What are the qualities of the lines? Etc.
What meaning does it have in your life? Does it have sentimental value? Why? How did you discover it? What role has it played in your life? Ie. is one of these songs emblematic of the beginning or ending of a relationship? Did one of these things help you in a hard time?
How does it feel for you to interact with it? Where does it take you emotionally?
What intellectual questions does it raise for you?
What flaws in the piece do you see?
Anything else you want to say about it.
More soon. Keep it going, Book Buddies. I feel so lucky to be your #1 fan.
Your Bestie —
Kate
