Robert Alan Grand

Teaching at @haystack_school was beyond words—ironic, given that writing was the focus of our whole week.

I came to the coast of Maine with writer’s block, career frustrations, and exhaustion teetering on burnout. But this group rekindled my spirit and reminded me why writing, telling your story, and looking at the world with art as your anchor can be so powerful and fulfilling.

They taught me that the best writing comes when you get out of your own way and face your fears, insecurities, and vulnerabilities head on. Their pivotal, tectonic reflections, many coming after simple 15-minute prompts (!!), inspired me greatly and are still swimming around my head.

We also visited (and wrote about) the talented folks working in studios across campus, hand-bound a book of our collected writings, marveled at the lunar eclipse while standing in the roaring Atlantic Ocean, daydreamed of what we’d pocket in our sneak-a-treat dresses, and thought to ourselves, “Will that dog bone chair fit my butt?”

I hardly took any photos but I’ve filled plenty of journal pages and plan to keep going. Forever grateful to everyone who made this experience possible.

And yes, I persisted among a competitive bidding war to bring @zibarajabi ’s incredible egg tempera portrait of Dolly (RIP), bringing it home to my love @mostlyholybasil who took care of our home and furry family while also promoting his chapbook and getting a new job!!! Every day this man helps me become a better writer, partner, person, and human; again, words fail me.

TL;DR – Haystack was incredible, it made me weep, and, yes, they have the best food by far. (Missing the extra-garlic hummus, the tuna salad as a side, the garden teas and lemonades, the steak and noodle salad. Can you tell I love lists of four?)