I haven’t blogged in a few days because I haven’t been able to think of anything worthwhile to blog about, not after something as significant as the presidential election. And especially not after reading the ugliness spread across social media. I have a severe case of election fatigue. Are you feeling politically weary, too? I’ve decided the best way to wade back into the blogosphere is to focus on this week’s specific goodness.
I have to believe doing a little good here and there adds up to a better, more positive place. More goodness.
This week brought lots of goodness in the form of good people, yummy food, and inspirational ideas. And it all happened in Piggott, Arkansas.
For the past few days, I’ve been holed up in Piggott, Arkansas, attending the fall Hemingway-Pfeiffer Fall Writer’s Retreat. I’ve blogged about Hemingway-Pfeiffer before—I believe this to be my fifth year attending. Yes, Ernest Hemingway wrote in the barn-studio here. This is the place where I first felt like a writer, the place I wrote the first and last lines of my novel, two years apart.
I’ve had a productive week, met new writers and spent time with writers I now come to think of as friends. I’ve felt somewhat isolated from the rest of the world. That’s probably a good thing.
For a writer, spending time with other writers is comparable to a bicyclist drafting off another rider. The energy and conversation and ideas being shared, those light bulb moments, the encouragement—all these things feed the writer’s imagination and soul. Having dedicated, uninterrupted time to write is priceless. And especially this particular writer retreat—the mentor charged with guiding us, Andrea Hollander, knew how to help us reach inside, dig deep, and pour it onto paper.
And.The.Food.
Mercy sakes. We are fed very well at this retreat. For those of us staying at The Inn at Piggott, our day starts around the dining room table with a delicious breakfast. Lunch is catered at the education center. Supper, not that we are hungry by supper, is on our own. While Piggott doesn’t have too many choices, we don’t need many. The week always includes a trip to Strawberry’s a few miles away in Holcomb, Missouri, which if you live anywhere in the bootheel area of Arkansas/Missouri, you know the amazingness that is Strawberry’s. Pork steaks as big as your head. The restaurant’s motto = You can smell our butts all over Holcomb.
More goodness…
While spending a week at one of my favorite writing spots, we had wonderful fall weather, more typical of May than November. Piggott has a charming new coffee shop on the square (also owned by the owners of the inn). Piggott City Market makes excellent lattes and also serves scones, cinnamon rolls, quiche, etc. Having a fabulous coffee house is a plus. (Pumpkin latte, y’all.)
So to those of you who are reeling from the election, look closely and you’ll find goodness. Still. It’s all around. To those happy with the election results, be gracious. We all have a stake in this. I, for one, will pray for our country and our President-elect and continue to look for goodness.
interesting leaf I found!
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
Thanks for the post, Talya. While I delete the hate, it’s been so hard for me to not get caught up in the snark, which all in all may just be semantics. It’s a spiritual battle for me not to be depressed and afraid about the future. But loved your sharing the peace and creative atmosphere of Piggott. Wish I had been there.
Thanks, Dot. I had hoped you might attend. It was a wonderful week with an inspirational mentor. Maybe next time?
I hope your comments help others to believe in our wonderful country.
The demonstrations make me sad.
Hope you found inspiration for your next novel..
Thank you, Christy, I needed this today! I am 022fighting the good fight,” but sometimes the unrelenting fatigue threatens to overwhelm me. But choice by choice, I am changing my life and my health. Cheer Maddie on for me!
What an awesome retreat, and the food choices? You’re making me hungry, Talya!
Yes, I’m election-weary, too. I’ve been visiting Facebook as little as possible, and keeping a gratitude journal has really helped me to see the goodness that is still all around us if we have eyes to see.
With you, I’m praying for the president-elect and the outgoing administration. Praying, too, that our country, so divided, will unify, knowing that God is truly the only One in control.
Blessings!
You expressed my feelings about the election and aftermath perfectly. I’m sorry I missed the retreat. It sounds wonderful.
Talya, I know absolutely nothing about publishing a book, but I have always been a fan of Readers Digest Condensed Books. I was reading in one last night and the question came to me “I wonder if Talya could get Gracie Lee in RD?” They have such a huge nationwide delivery, it might put Gracie on the map nation wide. Anyway, just a thought to a terrific writer.