More walks with writers

And a double rainbow

Hello from my hometown, Rockford, IL. 👋

I think I mentioned my friend Rachel is editing an anthology about Rockford. (Rockford folks: she is actively looking for submissions!) I’ve been thinking about the Rockford essay I’ll write. There are so many Rockford places I want to write about, so much Rockford history. It’s why I set the glass house novel here. (Is this assignment coming at exactly the right time?! Part of my way back in?!)

Another thing that will help: there’s a mini 1000 Words coming up! Just seven days, over Labor Day weekend. Sign up here.

Rachel and I met up on Friday night to walk around downtown and I forgot to get a photo of us but I did get a photo of this.

And also this.

The faintest lil double rainbow

We went to Maze Books and SRM Prints and the new (gorgeous!) public library. We talked about our writing projects and life. Feeling so grateful to have writer friends and to be able to go on long walks with them.

This week in writing

I’m tinkering with essays. Travel meant not a ton of time to write, but it meant time for another things that ultimately feed my writing, like going to garage sales with my dad. Endless inspiration to be found at Midwest garage sales.

This week in reading

• Still reading Sloane Crosley’s Grief is for People

• Still reading Jami Attenberg’s I Came All This Way to Meet You

• Mostly reading Rufi Thorpe’s Margo’s Got Money Troubles because it’s just so fun and funny

• Really enjoyed the Molly Rosen essay Gone Commando

• Making my way a little bit each day through Chelsea Hodson’s Autoportrait (the perfect thing to dip into before a writing session)

• Not reading, but really enjoyed the episode of Search Engine Is there a sane way to follow this election?

Because keeping our sanity is probably a good thing.

Love to you all this week.