Introducing A Soft Resolution: 31 days of writing prompts and weekly workshops practicing presence in January.
An invitation to start your year in reflection and community.
I know we’re in the hustle of it being almost-Christmas, but I’m prepping for the new year, and maybe you’d like to add this offering to your Christmas list…
Here are my general feelings about intense New Years resolutions (in January, specifically): Wow, no thank you.
Where I live, the weather is at its crappiest, the daylight is at its darkest, the temperature is absolutely insulting, and I would like to cozy up like a little bear and eat soup, thank you very much. Becoming militant about a new habit or a new skill or giving up caffeine or red wine or swearing is of no interest to me.
However…
As a creative, who easily becomes unhinged from reality and can easily slip into the abyss of her own existential angst - especially in the cold, dark months of winter - having some structure, a project that turns my angst and wondering and wrestling into bite sized, manageable lily pads on which to delicately cross the proverbial pond has been a game changer. I’ve learned that creating the most flexible of containers has not only anchored me to this world, but has also helped my creativity to flourish.
Month-long projects with very little emphasis on outcome and production have proven to be a great tool for me in my work — I’ve previously challenged myself with a poem a day, many years over, and the same lesson is solidified each time: if I sit down to do the work, art will rise to meet me. Sometimes it feels like a visit from the Muse. Sometimes I write a goofy little poem that makes me think, “hmm we are perhaps coming a wee bit undone.” The point is that the intention leads me to walk through the world paying attention to anything that might spark creativity (must stock up ideas for tomorrow, the weekend, next week!). And I like who I am when I walk through the world like that.
May I invite you to this year’s A Soft Resolution: 31 days of writing prompts and weekly workshops practicing presence in January.
This offering includes:
31 daily reflections and writing prompts from me
A private Substack page for participants to interact and share their work
Four 2-hour writing workshops on Sundays at 7pm EST in January
Each morning, you’ll receive an email with a poem, a reflection, and prompt from me, and I’ll set up a private Substack for participants where you’re welcome to share your writing daily and read each other’s work.
On Sunday nights, we’ll gather on Zoom for a writing workshop, where you’ll receive and participate in feedback with each other, and get to really dive into the themes of the week.
The intention of this project is to spend some time in reflection on where we’re at, to start the year committing to our creative practice, without the intensity and militance that people sometimes approach resolutions, and to spend time in intentional community while we (maybe?) figure out what we’d like to get out of our year.
You can register for A Soft Resolution here.
Oh, one more thing for Founding Members.
If you’re a Substack Founding Member, this offering is included in your subscription, and you’ll automatically be registered!
(Founding Members get the VIP treatment around here, with 20% off all workshops—or in this case, 100% off— as well as seasonal snail mail, exclusive first-to-hear updates on my ever-weird career path, and my undying love… okay I love you all very deeply… but you get the picture.)
You can upgrade your subscription in the top right menu by clicking ‘manage subscription,’ and you’ll get this perk too!
Looking forward to welcoming in the new year together with ease and intention.
xo jess.
I’m looking forward to starting off a new year with this! Thank you, Jess!