Jonathan, I was just sitting quietly for a bit talking to the Lord about how to generate a community around poetry and the writing I do on Substack, but there was a niggling dis -ease in my spirit about the question. Reading your reflections here are a great corrective for me, and perfectly timed, especially these lines:
"You can’t always love your readers directly, but you can love the things you love, you can tend to your business, you can use the gifts and pursue your interests and longings and speak in the voice that is uniquely yours, trusting that somebody is going to need what you bring."
I love the idea that uniting artistic work with the reader is like setting a table or hosting a party... introducing one friend to another.
Such a great image!
This idea of setting a table and hosting a party through the stories I write is such a happy and homey thought!
All of this was such helpful advice, thank you!
Ooof, this is so timely! Thank you!
Jonathan, I was just sitting quietly for a bit talking to the Lord about how to generate a community around poetry and the writing I do on Substack, but there was a niggling dis -ease in my spirit about the question. Reading your reflections here are a great corrective for me, and perfectly timed, especially these lines:
"You can’t always love your readers directly, but you can love the things you love, you can tend to your business, you can use the gifts and pursue your interests and longings and speak in the voice that is uniquely yours, trusting that somebody is going to need what you bring."
I look forward to the new class!
Thank you. Again.