What a treat to take this poetic journey with you Dian. What a rich life to have so many great teachers and mentors, to learn from them and then create your own work, which I so admire. You're are a model for so many women, myself included.
Love the photo. Your poems are an inspiration, and so are you. As an octogenarian currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing, I know for sure it's never too late.
I'm so glad I ran across your post in Notes. When I finish this comment, I'm going to subscribe. Your description of your journey is interesting and resonates in some ways. I was a poet in the 1970s & had the wondrous good fortune to study with Adrienne Rich for two years at Douglass College (Rutgers). From my 70-year-old life, I sometimes wish I had gone to grad school for writing back then, but it never occurred to me - it took me 7 years just to get a BA. Before I graduated, I was offered a job teaching writing workshops, and I did some version of that for the next ten years, though I gradually stopped writing and shifted instead to activism. I turned that into a nonprofit to make a living and stayed in that world until recently. At various points I also looked at becoming a therapist - partly for the same protection-against-ageism reason. Over the decades I'd play with poetry, fiction, and essays, at times in my 40s passionately wanting to go for an MFA, but my then-husband would throw a hissy fit any time I started to apply. I was afraid he'd leave me if I did, so I fumed instead - and then he left anyway. Eventually I got one year in an MA program, but then my daughters both moved to Portland, so I left to follow them. For the past few years I've studied with Corporeal Writers, especially Domi Shoemaker, whom I imagine you might know since they also were with the Dangerous Writers. I started on Substack in November as a way to get myself to *finish* things. I still write the occasional poem, but mostly I think of poetry as an element of my voice, so it comes out in my fiction and essays.
Your writing Dian, no matter what venue, subject, time or place is indescribably beautiful. The way you describe an experience takes me along with you no matter what place in time or where. I have read The Carlton Sisters twice for the soothing flow you write, and Forever Blackbirds again.
And this latest post was like a symphony to soul. I also felt like I just talked to my therapist! You are an amazing person and writer Dian.
I love this post so much, Dian. Learning about your journey in life and writing is so interesting here. I love the courage that comes through in living alone, moving alone, being a divorcee and figuring things out for yourself. Loved the photographs, too! Such a pretty lady.
What a treat to take this poetic journey with you Dian. What a rich life to have so many great teachers and mentors, to learn from them and then create your own work, which I so admire. You're are a model for so many women, myself included.
Love the photo. Your poems are an inspiration, and so are you. As an octogenarian currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing, I know for sure it's never too late.
I'm so glad I ran across your post in Notes. When I finish this comment, I'm going to subscribe. Your description of your journey is interesting and resonates in some ways. I was a poet in the 1970s & had the wondrous good fortune to study with Adrienne Rich for two years at Douglass College (Rutgers). From my 70-year-old life, I sometimes wish I had gone to grad school for writing back then, but it never occurred to me - it took me 7 years just to get a BA. Before I graduated, I was offered a job teaching writing workshops, and I did some version of that for the next ten years, though I gradually stopped writing and shifted instead to activism. I turned that into a nonprofit to make a living and stayed in that world until recently. At various points I also looked at becoming a therapist - partly for the same protection-against-ageism reason. Over the decades I'd play with poetry, fiction, and essays, at times in my 40s passionately wanting to go for an MFA, but my then-husband would throw a hissy fit any time I started to apply. I was afraid he'd leave me if I did, so I fumed instead - and then he left anyway. Eventually I got one year in an MA program, but then my daughters both moved to Portland, so I left to follow them. For the past few years I've studied with Corporeal Writers, especially Domi Shoemaker, whom I imagine you might know since they also were with the Dangerous Writers. I started on Substack in November as a way to get myself to *finish* things. I still write the occasional poem, but mostly I think of poetry as an element of my voice, so it comes out in my fiction and essays.
I see I’m already subscribed, which isn’t a surprise, considering your profile. :)
Your writing Dian, no matter what venue, subject, time or place is indescribably beautiful. The way you describe an experience takes me along with you no matter what place in time or where. I have read The Carlton Sisters twice for the soothing flow you write, and Forever Blackbirds again.
And this latest post was like a symphony to soul. I also felt like I just talked to my therapist! You are an amazing person and writer Dian.
Looking forward to your next writing!
I love this post so much, Dian. Learning about your journey in life and writing is so interesting here. I love the courage that comes through in living alone, moving alone, being a divorcee and figuring things out for yourself. Loved the photographs, too! Such a pretty lady.
I learned more about so many pieces of your journey in this post, Dian. It's a lovely and dynamic thing. Thank you.
Wonderful reading! I enjoyed following your journey as a writer, dear friend💕
Love this Dian! What is it about the year 1999? I moved out to OR then also, as have many people I know.