I feel that being a writer is a relational process, that my art is inspired by reading. Currently, I'm drawn to Audre Lorde's essay, "My Mother's Mortar," which explores the intimate relationship between mothers and daughters and the connection with the body and self. I've been thinking about the interwoven nature of women's relationships and how we support each other as we confront societal oppression. The project that I'm working on is a celebration of female ancestral ties and women's bodies, including my own. Lorde speaks to the heart of my writing. What piece or writer is currently nurturing your creative process?

I'd love to hear what your wins this week have been! Anything at all: what's been really positive for you and has helped you keep going?

I've been working on a speculative CNF project that explores motherhood, mental health, and the development of electroconvulsive therapy. As a former ECT patient, reaching into the past has been painstaking work, as I recall an emotional landscape versus one full of memories. To me, music has been key to delving into emotional truth. I've really been into Bjork's Homogenic and the video for her song, "Ancestress." These soundscapes have been the soil that has nurtured my burgeoning project. How does music help to ground, frame, or inspire your project?

How is everyone doing? January was a long year, phew! I hope February brings you a little more space, some peace, and closeness with your respective muses.

I'd love to get to know you and your current work-in-progress! What's your current writing project, and what are your main struggles right now with that project? Struggles could be creative, could be life-related, could be body, mind, heart, soul — anything that's keeping you from making your envisioned progress.