Black text on a paper background - The Writers Safe House. A Working Writers Monthly Meet Up. Virtual.

Since closing down The Creatives in 2017, a monthly meet-up for creative and entrepreneurial-focused women, I have been on a new journey.

Finding my sea legs in what it means to be a professional writer in the media industry.

It fascinates me how my work has evolved and sharpened its focus into a documentarian and journalistic lens these past years and yet - I have been opting in on the real-life stories that find me and learning with each new project how to honour them and hold space for them.

Writers should not be limited to any one thing, but to do their best with the story in front of them.

And this brings me to where I am today,

Ready to find five other working writers who are also seeking connection and a safe house for all they are working on and journeying through.

A Working Writer

A writer who actively works and is known by their peers as a writer. (journalist, scriptwriter, playwright, songwriter, essayist, researcher, author)

Monthly meetings

With a total of six members, meetings will occur once a month for up to two hours.
A week before the meeting writers will submit no more than three pages of work to be read by the collective membership. This process is for work feedback, insight and edits are wanted on.
During the meeting members will connect, update one another on work and life and discuss the members' submissions.

*Sharing any writing is a vulnerable business. The mission of Writers Safe House is to hold space for one another and the work. To empower, uplift and be in solidarity with.
There will be no tolerance for undercutting a person’s work, devaluing an idea/project or abusing trust.

Where / When

This will be a collective decision but assumedly via Zoom.
The collective will be gracious, and understanding regarding absences but attendance will be highly expected to create and remain in solidarity.

Why

Because writers need each other.
In safe and compassionate ways.

Please email: info@byamygrace.com to apply or slide @byamygrace DM’s

Over the Summer, I worked alongside CBC Producer Natalie Dobbin and my good friend from high school playwright, director and writer Megan Piercey Monafu to create a three-episode series that discusses the mementos we make and carry with us.

This series is the outcome of what happens when you sit down with a good best friend from your past over video chat, catch up and discuss what is going on in each other's lives. It led us to reflect on the notes we have kept and created conversations that morphed into this beautiful three-episode series featuring not just ourselves but two other smart, intelligent, and deep women.

What We Carry With Us

Episode 1.

In no specific order:

Anne Lamott

Anne has this raw, real and compassionate way of putting words down for the reader to rest in. She has written books for writers and has also written books on all sorts of aspects of life.

12 Truths I learned from Life and Writing - Ted Talk

Books

Maya Angelou

Maya, although passed has words that echos beyond her lifetime. I read her book “I Know Why the Cagebird Sings” at a young age. Somewhere between the ages of 14-16 and I remember clearly how it changed my perspectives of the stories of others. After that I remembered to listen deeply whenever she appeared on the Oprah show or else where in the world.

Super Soul Sunday - Interview

I Know Why the Cagebird Sings - Book

Morgan Harper Nicols

Morgan’s words caught my attention years ago. Somewhere online, most likely on Pinterest I was saving her words as reminders during the darker times.

Art, Creativity & the Viral Poem - Interview

All Along You Were Blooming - Book

Mari Madrid

Mari and her husband dance. They dance differently than others. They create pieces that wreck me from the inside out in the best of ways.

She (freestyle) - Dance

Ethan Hawke

Ethan has been on his own personal creative journey for years and the maturity, growth and depth of creative insight that he speaks is something I greatly admire, want to hold onto and remember. He is also very clear in his reasons for focuses on what inspires him, rather than the ‘next shiny thing’ and all the struggles of personal thoughts that come with that.

Give Yourself Permission to Be Creative - Ted Talk

Don’t Fear the Struggle - Interview

Kalyn Nicholson

A Canadian Vlogger who has worked hard to create her own brand, community and content online while also finding ways to pivot and become more real, authentic and challenge herself to stay true to where she is at in the moment. I appreciate the shifts she allows herself to take and the documenting fun she still finds along the way.

Vlogs - Youtube

Amy Sherman Pallidino

Amy (along with her writing partner & husband Daniel) has delivered two shows that are beloved to me. Gilmore Girls & The Marvellous Mrs.Maisel. Amy is a vibrant style focused writer who has her own voice and style that creates multi-dimensional characters, worlds that are fun and finds ways to honour herself in the industry.

Don’t Be Afraid to Be Fired! - Interview

Comedy is Headed to a Very Dangerous Place - RoundTable

Brene Brown

Brene is by far one of the most impactful writers and researchers of our time. This woman takes all the aspects of what it means to be a human and helps breaks it down to show us how we can develop a healthier relationship with ourselves and with others.

The Power of Vulnerability - Brene Brown

Shame is Lethal - Interview

Jonna Jinton

This Scandinavian woman caught my eye a couple of years ago and I am just in awe of her creativity, spirit and ability to press on and find ways to honour herself and her work.

Vidoes - Youtube

The Life of an Artist - Vlog

We grab our inspiration in various places, here is a sampling of where mine has come from:

Sarah Polley

I think it’s safe to say there is nothing that I have taken in by Sarah Polley that hasn’t moved me. Most notably, Stories We Tell and Take This Waltz. Both of these pieces, one documentary and one fiction, has left me in awe about the complexities of life. I found peace and solidarity with the concept behind ‘Take This Waltz’ as it shows the process of a woman coming to terms with her choices in life, finding out her why’s, her how’s and how maybe life is not as simple as we thought it was. Stories We Tell gave me a deep dive as a human and storyteller how perspective and personality is everything. We are marked by our families, our DNA and our circumstances, no matter how we may fight it all.

Diana Gabaldon

This year I have been quite literally taken by Diana’s Outlander Series. I have only read four out of the eight already published in the series. (apparently there is to be 10 books in total.) What grabbed me with Diana’s writing, is her ability to weave together a time travel concept into history, romance, adventure, and so many more genres. She writes her characters deeper than three dimensional and has a way of making everything mundane in a persons life an integral part of the story. You believe in the characters as much as you believe in yourself, because that is how much she is able to give you in her writing.

Maya Angelou

Although I read ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ when I was a teenager, I fell in love with Maya’s words as I listened to her in various interviews. Interviews such as these: ‘Power of Words’, ‘Be a Rainbow in Someone Else’s Cloud’ , Best Advice Given, captivate me & still does. Her words are timeless, empowering and insightful and I turn to them when I need reminders to come back to myself, my values and my worthiness as a human. I will always hold her brevity, sincerity and intolerance for inhumanity close to my heart.

Elizabeth Gilbert

What I love about Elizabeth Gilbert is that not one of her works is remotely the same. Every book she has ever written is a complete departure from the last. It’s as if she shows up for the project and let’s it speak and if anything, the only thing that I can put my finger on about her, is that her own personal physical voice has a distinct soul to it that speaks of raw unashamed re-learned childlike abandon. My favourite of her works: ‘Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear’, ‘City of Girls’ and various of her clippings of words captured on the internet.

This short list didn’t even touch on ‘Anne Lamott, Amy Sherman-Palladino, Shonda Rhimes, The Brontë Sisters, Liv Constantine’…. it’s an endless list.

What writers or people inspire your work?

I met Laura years ago when I first began to call myself a writer.  She interviewed me for a theatre youtube channel & I remember her energy thrilled me then.  It thrills me now.  Little did I know she would become a woman whom I consider a colleague and a beautiful example of what it means to have joy for life, work and creation.  Laura continues to amaze me with her work and her outlook on life.

How would you describe yourself?

A loaded question! I’m a free-spirited organizer and an impulsive control freak. I’m a laid back goofball, and weirdly competitive. I think I’m just finally coming to grips with the fact that I’m a complicated and layered human being – which apparently happens once you hit your 30s hahaha! I’d like to think I’m driven and loyal and generally a good person?

What role does creativity play in your life?

Creativity is my life. I grew up in a home that encouraged early and repeated exposure to the arts – performing and fine. And I was really lucky that we were able to afford that luxury. My Mom was a music teacher when I was young (as well as having a music/theatre career between university and getting married and switching to teaching), so I had a diverse and immersive education in music from the jump. Theatre had always been there, and after high school I was able to dive in. It’s my happy place and the petri dish for all the weird ideas my friends and I want to experiment with. I’ve managed to find myself in a place where I live my entire life surrounded by wildly creative an intelligent human beings – and it’s really cool.

What are you currently working on?

At the time of writing this, I’m in rehearsals for Whale Song Theatre’s Fringe Show “The Birthday” – written by local playwright Ali House. Sarah Richardson is stepping out from behind the piano to direct, and we have local up and coming actor Briony Merritt as the other actor. It’s been about 6 years since I’ve done a proper show as an actor (I did a zany little skit for ObstacleFest earlier this year), so I’m nervous! But it’s going to be so much fun. I have a few things in development for Whale Song, we’ve had a pretty whirlwind start, so now’s the time to slow down and make smart choices while we figure out what exactly what the team wants the company to be.

What was the last book/movie/podcast etc that left an impression on you?

I watch an obnoxious amount of movies and television. I fall in love with different things for different reasons. I’m late to the party but I recently watched the entire run of “The Newsroom”. Aaron Sorkin’s last tv show starring Jeff Daniels. And I was reminded what great writing is. Impassioned, thoughtful monologues, quick pacing and great acting – it was delicious. “Get Out” is a movie that I’ve loved recently and I’ll shout out “SickBoy” as a local podcast that makes me laugh and breaks my heart sometimes. 

What advice would you give to other creatively driven people?

It’s worth it. No matter how frustrating it can be trying to find time to do your art or support yourself while you create, it’s worth it. If you want your creative spark to be your career, find a way to make it happen. Train, practice, say yes to opportunities and keep learning. If you just want to have fun with what turns your crank – lean into it. I think we’re so scared to fail that we forget that being creative is FUN. If you’re not enjoying it, why are you doing it?