Citadels of Pause and Presence: Speak Up Writing Groups
We gathered, leaned in around tables with steaming cups of coffee, sticky donuts on paper plates, and a delightful collection of shared writing prompts.
For ninety minutes, we wrote, listened, and discovered. It’s a simple model: write to shared prompts, hold space for another to read aloud, respond with our applause.
The group that gathered has collectively experienced homelessness, abuse, illness, faced traumatic health issues, struggled recently with depression. We’ve fought for hope, seen soaring opportunities, been thrilled by grace. Much of this came out as we wrote together. Laughter, deep feeling, and a whole lot in between.
Speak Up writing groups are an honest space amidst an insane world of inputs and outputs of split-second opining, social media reactions, fake news, semi-true news, AI slop, of not knowing what to believe or who to trust or where to anchor.
The writing group is a citadel of pause and presence. Purposeful, quiet, real.
To those who gathered last week: thank you. I loved hearing from you and being with you. And to those who are thinking of joining us in a couple days: please come!
Write with Speak Up
The Mercantile — Rock Hill, SC
153 E White St, 2nd Floor
Wednesday, March 25
9:30–11:00 AM
From the Writing Groups
Excerpted from Bucket List / Fragrance by Tom Hildebrand
Spend a year traveling in Australia... Scuba Diving: for the experience of the Great Barrier Reef before it’s destroyed. Scuba is the closest thing to walking on the moon here on earth. The sound of the sea, the quiet, the bubbles from the regulator and one’s breathing is a beautiful zen experience...
Recent Writing Prompts
What’s a long-distant memory that often returns? What can’t you stop thinking about.
Are you speaking your authentic voice or echoing the voices of others? How do you know? What do you trust more: silence or explanation?
Write about a topic that you have to write about.
Think of someone that you should have treated better. Write an apology to them.
Share a memory of when you were most amazed by looking up in the skies.
Write about _____________ using only questions.
Write about ABRACADABRA… figuratively or literally… it means “I create as I speak.”
What does this world look like in 25 years?
Share your response in the comments.
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