Dispatch from Hedgebrook

From TEDWomen in New Orleans to Hedgebrook on Whidbey Island, Washington, inspiring women defined my past month.

While teaching a screenwriting lab with the wonderful Robin Swicord last week, I enjoyed Hedgebrook’s legendary “radical hospitality.” I feasted on meals provided by three of the farm’s notable chefs, taught classes, wrote and went on soul-filling walks in the woods and along the shore.

I fed apples to llamas, watched as ducks took flight in soaring formation, and spent half a day in the Good Cheer Thrift Shop in the tiny village of Langley rummaging through old postcards (collage to come!).

Although my teaching commitments were my priority, the magic calm of Hedgebrook inspired me to complete over 40 pages of my new novel (teaser alert: announcement about the next book will come next month!).

Hedgebrook, committed to nurturing women writers (and doing a damn good job of it), has been around for almost 30 years, founded through the vision and generosity of Nancy Nordhoff, whom I had the pleasure of meeting during my time there. The screenwriting lab is new with this session marking the third year of the program.

Kudos to writers and participants Lucy Wang, Carmen Madden, Alyssa Weinberger, Elizabeth Chatelaine and Caroline Keene—it was my privilege and my pleasure to work with all of you.

Check out the Hedgebrook website to learn more about the residencies available for women writers and donate to support their important work.

When have you experienced "radical hospitality" in your life? What inspires you to be creative? Answer in the comments!