March 23, 2020

Two weeks after the global pandemic that shut down most in-person schools and businesses, I was already beginning to feel the weight of isolation. As a facilitator who travels nationally for work, all of my gigs were cancelled, flights called off, and even the excitement of talking about education, identity, and equity were put on hold. In those crisis weeks, I made sure my family was safe, that we had food (although toilet paper was getting a bit “iffy!”), and that we had accurate information about COVID-19. I tried to see this shut down as “time off” or “opportunities to be productive”, but I knew my basic needs of health and safety still hadn’t been met.

What was missing, however, was connection. The term “social distancing” felt emotionally challenging. I knew to be physically distant, but socially distant felt isolating. I missed engaging in critical dialogues about education. I missed seeing faces of friends and meeting new people. Within a week, I had put a number of my workshops online just so that I could see people and engage in my passion of difficult conversations. Thankfully, over 200 people signed up for those workshops, and the heaviness of isolation began to ease.

Now, I was starting to turn a corner. Now, I was able to create some space in my head and heart to be more productive, to manage some of the tasks that needed to get done, and to finally put some words on screen as I write my first book.

Saturday Writing Team is Born

March 29, 2020

I need to write. I need to engage my mind and heart. I’m watching the news all day and troubled by what I’m seeing. The growing disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and care. The anti-Asian violence. The continued violence against Black and Brown people. The silencing of LGBTQ people who had to return to homes that were not accepting of who they are. The invisibility of working people who were both heroes, and economic hostages. The systemic oppression once again perpetuated against Indigenous and First Peoples.

I needed to write. I needed to take all of this bottled up inside of me and get it out.

“Would anyone be interested in spending a day writing?”

Leslie, Amy, and Jorge signed up for that first date.

We gathered in a neat little foursquare - checking in every few hours to talk about our writing, how we were feeling, what was challenging, and what was going well. Saturday Writing Team was four people. We each worked on different projects: Jorge on his novel, Leslie on her article for journal submission, Amy on a paper, and me on this book outline.

April 11, April 18 and April 25

The first two writing dates felt so good that we wanted to share this feeling with others. We put out a call and realized we might be on to something here. More and more people began showing up for Saturday Writing Team! Our foursquare turned into a dozen. Some joined with enthusiasm. Others joined with hesitation.

And, let me tell you - it isn’t easy hitting “Join.” I mean, really? Who wants to really write all day on a Saturday? Who CAN write all day on a Saturday? Will people be competitive about who’s getting what done?

Those big questions are why Saturday Writing Team works. You 1) come as you are; 2) agree to progress and not perfection; 3) you get loved on whether you write 2 words, 2 sentences, 2 paragraphs, or 2 whole darn papers; 4) come to the check-ins. During the writing team, life WILL interfere. Oh, yes, will life interfere! Sometimes that “interference” is a nap. Sometimes it’s a walk around the block. Sometimes it’s a Zumba Zoom for your friend’s birthday. In my case, “interference” is often some Netflix show that I’m currently bingeing or the three kiddos needing some help with something.

Life will interfere. Hell, it already has.

So just show up. The worst thing that will happen at Saturday Writing Team is people will write in the chat box, “You’re awesome. You got this.” That. Will. Be. The. Worst. Thing. That. Happens.

May 2, 9, 16 …

We have discovered the Forest. Well, more accurately, Katherine Cho brought us all on a field trip to the Forest… App. In writing team, we apparently are suckers for growing little trees and earning points. The Forest App encourages you to write/focus for 25 minutes and then to take a 1-5 minute break. I thought I’d hate this - I’m the kind of “grind for 8 hours and get it done” type of writer. But, I figured, “If people are giving Saturday Writing Team a try, I should try new things, too.” And, to be honest, this has been the greatest app for me: 1) because I like treats and 2) because during my “breaks”, I go and get water or try to do some sort of exercise for 5 minutes.

Yes, Karl. Saturday Writing Team will be in June, too!

We are halfway through May, and I’m encouraged by the energy of this group to keep going. Saturday Writing Team is a space of accountability for me — I mean, for real, if I didn’t “have” to check in with anyone, I’d be binge watching some new show (have you figured out my quarantine weakness here?).

But, Saturday Writing Team has been a space of joyous empowerment. When I log on, I sort of don’t care how much I have done or not done - I’m much more interested in celebrating the progress of people on the screen.

Saturday Writing Team also matters for another reason to me. The folks on the screen represent the best in diversity of all types: racial and ethnic; gender and sexual orientation; family structure and responsibilities; stages of writing; geographic location; and academic/educational discipline. We are runners, caretakers, homemakers, deans, vice presidents, directors, partners, children, and students. We celebrate when Damita got her Starbucks, when Eric got his Kraken mug, when Melissa bakes something during writing group, and when Jen publishes an article she wrote. We celebrate new folks who are logging on for the first time and returners who come back week after week. We celebrate when you admit you’re hesitant and nervous about this group. We celebrate when you just show up, when you ate something yummy, and when you miss a check in because you were so caught up in your writing.

Saturday Writing Team is, for me, the best example of humanity (oh, gosh, my allergies are kicking up! Anyone choppin’ onions in here? Anyone??). It’s what love looks like. It’s what support looks like. It’s what brilliance — in its most collaborative form — looks like.

Love In Action

People have different relationships to the word “love.” For me, love is justice. Love is compassion. Love is what “I see you” looks and feels like. At today’s Saturday Writing Team, I didn’t have a great day today. I kept telling myself, “I didn’t write enough” or “I wasn’t as productive as I should be” or “I didn’t hit my goals.”

Saturday Writing Team was quick to remind me that “productivity is reframed” and that “even a garden needs to chill out a little bit to grow.”

Love is your Saturday Writing Team celebrating that you even showed up.

Saturday Writing Team is a group of strangers that sends you love and regards when they know you have traveled to be with your mother to care for her.

Saturday Writing Team celebrates your child’s college graduation, your new job, the work you did to move commencement online.

Saturday Writing Team waves to your little one when her face comes on the screen, asking you to braid her hair.

Saturday Writing Team yells “Put on your crown! Grab your tiara!” when it’s your birthday month.

Saturday Writing Team continues to celebrate when the West Coasters sign on at 6:00am Pacific time to get that early morning 9:00am Eastern check-in (we see you, Kari!).

I am so grateful for the many writers who log on each Saturday from across the country who trust this team for encouragement, accountability, and support. Thank you for being the community that is Love in Action.

Peace and power,

Liza

Check out a few of our AMAZING Saturday Writing Team over the weeks. If I’m missing anyone, let’s make sure we get you in our next photo!