my husband’s favorite picture of me – a pensive moment during a morning dog-walk
Ask me about my work, and I’ll have a hard time stopping at the basics: I am owner/director of Women Writing for (a) Change – Vermont, a creative writing project that empowers young and adult women’s voices and celebrates change in their lives and their worlds. In the ten years I’ve been doing this work, I have been blessed with many opportunities to share our writing practices and help midwife the words of a wide spectrum of women: both young and adult women in the core classes; those seeking to send their words out into the world; women with the courage to leave abusive relationships; incarcerated women; those healing from illness; and more. While my professional work is my passion, it is not my heart.
Watch me romping with my dog Loki along the familiar shoreline of Cherry and Webb beach in Westport, Massachusetts [summer home for each and every year of my children’s growing up and out of the nest]; or hike Vermont’s Mt. Mansfield with me in any season [and welcome to my year-round home in one of the nation’s most liveable states]; or sneak a peek at me dancing with my devoted husband Jim [rhumba, salsa, waltz — we do it all!]; or enjoy a fruit-rich glass of a garnet-ruby Malbec blend and conversation while I prepare us a tasty Indian curry or fresh plum zwetschgendatschi . . . and you’ll learn more about me than I’d ever be able to put into words.
sarahscapes 
Found your blog through the daily prompt tonight. Looking forward to reading more. 😉
Thank you for checking me out, grizzlegrist. I’m going to pop on over and see what you’re up to, as well. Happy blogging!
I can always trust Philippa Rees to lead me to interesting people. As I read more here, I came upon … zwetschgendatschi … and was entirely enchanted. Though I avoid gluten, when I come upon this favourtite, deep blue and juice cake, with Schlagsahne, I’ll sin. And I’ll love anyone who loves zwetschgendatschi 🙂
OH, no need to sin, Ashen! I make it every August, gluten-free. As I do my annual December Linzertorte. I could not survive without my Bavarian delicacies!!! And honestly? they taste just the same!!!
Thank you for a WONDERFUL presentation for the League of Vermont Writers 2016 Annual Meeting! So powerful.
You are entirely welcome, Deb – and thanks to the League for giving me the opportunity. In case you couldn’t tell(!) I’m mighty passionate about this work and love to bring others into the magic.
Hi Sarah, I just wanted you to know that I nominated you for a Liebster Award (http://shinsuke453.com/2014/01/03/liebster/) because I really like your blog. Hope you have a happy new year!
Thank you, Jim. I was nominated some time back – although the badge seems to have changed – I am not clear about accepting/receiving it for a second time? That said, I have enjoyed reading both your own questions and the responses you wrote to those posed to you. What a lovely way to receive a ‘personal invitation’ to new blogs. And thanks for your kind words about all of your nominees. I’ll visit your site again soon.
Thank you for liking my photos of “curves”. I am happy to find your blog. You are lucky to live in Vermont. Bernie Sanders is my idol.
My pleasure, Rosemarie. Yes, Vermont has a lot to offer, from picturesque landscapes to independent politicians to a creative economy. Love it here!!! Thanks for visiting.
Hello, Sarah! Thank you for visiting my blog – I am delighted to have found yours. I’m a self-confessed writing addict who totes a camera around everywhere with her. I’m going to have a good sniff around, if I may. I was particularly grabbed by your work in prisons. Well done you, it’s a brilliant initiative! I will send the link for your blog to my father, who is part of an association working in prisons in the UK. They work towards literacy and use books to keep the contact between prisoners and their children whilst parents are in jail.
I appreciate your visit, MM. Toting a camera is an essential part of writing, isn’t it? I love the cross-pollination of inspiration in both forms. Thanks, too, for sharing the writinginsideVT link with your father. Is there one for his work? I’ve read about some innovative prison work there. So glad we connected. I look forward to seeing/reading more of your work!
It’s exciting to discover new blogs and writing. The image of cross-pollination is just right! Here’s the link to Storybook Dads: the concept has spread to many other prisons outside the UK http://www.storybookdads.org.uk/
Thanks much for the link. I’ll check it out!!
I’m coming to you from Poetic Asides today, Sarah…I love your prompts, thank you!!
You’re the first of prompt givers that I’d ventured out to meet personally…I felt drawn to and now I see why…your work poetry and otherwise is amazing, Sarah, so inspiring.
Your poetic voice carries such a healing tone…I felt moved and comforted by your words in the last three poetry pieces that you’ve posted here.
Your friend with the silk sounds so intriguing…I wish I’d known of her when I was purchasing my first veil for belly-dancing classes that I attend…it would have been neat to have a silk that was so special…the next time I purchase I’m going to look her up…her work is amazing, too!
Well, I’m glad to have met you…your words…I’ve been posting links to PA all month and a few comments when I can…I’m a stay at home mama-writer and I’m almost your neighbor-in Maine!
Peace to you~ Hannah
Thanks so much, Hannah, for your very kind words. I am most honored by your venturing into my landscape; and grateful for your heartfelt response to my work. ‘Healing . . . moved . . . comforted.’ These are becoming my poetic path through a tangled and tortured world. Gratitudes for the mirroring. And for the visit. You’ll be seeing me around your pages!
It truly makes my day to have had this interaction with you, Sarah…it is these authentic moments that make it all so real and worthwhile. Thank you!! ♥
Well said, Hannah. Authentic interaction is what I live for. How fantastic to experience that via internet!! Enjoy your week – I’ll see you again soon!!
You are awesome, Sarah!
Why, thank you Kerry!
Support sites found and as you say unbelievably helpful and persistent with the dim! Thanks
Glad you’ve also found them helpful. Keep up your own persistence! S
It gets more and more professional every time I visit! Thanks for past help, hope you have received all communications! Love the customised fonts, colours and photograph (of you as well)
I have added posts and pages but yet to really master navigation….still travelling hopefully…P
Thanks, Phillipa. Can’t tell whether I’ve received communications from you – my last post was over 10,000 characters (according to LI) and allowed only 7K. So I stripped away at it ’til it seemed OK. But when I tried to send a quick follow-up, what showed up was the same numbers, as if that post never got to you. Anyway, I hope you’ve found the ‘support’ site with many well-written guides to any aspect of WP you can imagine! SB
So glad I stopped by, Sarah! I just discovered your blog on Lara’s annotated blogroll this week. It’s been so much fun meeting all the MNINB’ers this way.
Kudos to you for helping women write. It’s a noble calling and I wish you all the best.
Erin
Good to ‘see’ you here, Erin. Thank you for your kind words. I consider my work a kind of midwifery. As Louise deSalvo says in Writing as a Way of Healing: “It’s not what you produce as you write that matters. It’s who you become as you write that matters.” Of course, each story birthed is another new life with its own personality and unique characteristics. That’s awesome, too. But not as much as the journey itself.
I don’t want to just know you. I aspire to be you…or at least the “me” version of it. You are living all of my fantasies. Thank you so much for showing that it can be reality.
Wow, Lara. I was thinking about your ‘reviewing’ my blog and wondering whether I was far enough along to have conveyed any sense at all of where I want to go. Apparently so! Many thanks for your kind words and especially, for your gathering the pack in such a loving and generous way.