You're Invited: A Candlelit Close Reading
Join me for a writers' book club of Even After Everything
A writer friend recently told me that Even After Everything is no beach read, it’s a candlelit read—and I found that to be spot-on. The report is that you are underlining and highlighting, listening to the audio and then re-reading the physical copy, starting voice memo book clubs with friends, and I receive this all as high honors because to me it says you are savoring the words. And I wrote Even After Everything with every hope that it would be savored.
As we cross winter’s threshold, it is my joy to invite you to a candlelit close reading as our seasonal intensive for paid subscribers. Think of it as a writers’ book club, if you will.
Introducing: Our Winter Seasonal Intensive
Pretty much ever since I knew this would be a book I’ve been looking forward to reading it with you here! I’ve said before that Slant Letter is where I tell you about craft, and Even After Everything is where I show you. Through our close reading, I’ll be doing both showing and telling, speaking from my dual perspectives as both a writer and editor. As always, the design is to empower you to go deeper in your own writing process.
We’ll spend roughly two weeks per two chapters, so you’ll receive bi-weekly letters from with:
prompts for personal reflectionÂ
annotated insights from the text
notes from my writing process to yours
and a comment section for all of us as a creative exchange
We’ll also host two live sessions together—one during Advent, the week of the winter solstice, and the final at the conclusion of our reading together in January. These will be forums to share our own noticings, curiosities, checks and glimmers, both as writers and as whole people. I’ll light the candles and be meeting you from my library. So looking forward to this!Â
We have so much to talk about! Love and loss, risk and resilience, the life cycle of our bodies, our creative lives, our spiritual lives, and more.Â
We start next week! So mark your calendars and consider joining us. Anyone can become a paid subscriber, and you can cancel anytime.
Our Reading Plan
Our reading rhythm is below, though all liberty to go at your own pace. This is less about reading on a schedule and more about the themed conversations each chapter couplet will open up for us. I send most Slant Letters out on Tuesdays so that’s how these weeks are divided—again, at your own pace!
November 19-December 3
Introduction: Where We Begin
Chapter 1 Searching for Steadiness Ordinary Time
Chapter 2 Daring to Expand Advent
December 3-17
Chapter 3 Naming the Night Advent and Christmas
Chapter 4 Redefining Resilience Epiphany
🕯LIVE Candlelit Zoom Gathering 8pm ET Tuesday, December 17th
December 17-31
Chapter 5 Remembering Your Death, Trying for Life Ash Wednesday and Lent
Chapter 6 Receiving the Joy Holy Week and Easter
December 31-January 14
Chapter 7 Staying with Your Breath Ordinary Time
Chapter 8 Practicing Incarnation Advent, Again
January 14-January 28Â
Chapter 9 Going Gently into the New Epiphany, Again
Chapter 10 Tessering Well, Easter, Again
An Honest EpilogueÂ
🕯LIVE Candlelit Zoom Gathering 8pm ET Tuesday, January 28th
Thank you for reading and telling me about your underlines and impressions. I can’t wait to start next week and look forward to seeing you!
Take heart and stay feisty,
So glad for that mutual friend. She knows her stuff.
I'm so looking forward to slowing down and learning from you and with you.
Big appreciation,
Mick
So excited…..Chapter 1 - I’m so undone in the best way!