Happy Almost Anniversary, Dear Story Club!

(Also: “The Lady with the Dog,” Section II)

Well, it hardly seems possible that almost a year has gone past since we started this adventure together, but it has – my first post went out on December 2, 2021 (my birthday).  (So our actual anniversary is next Friday.)

I had no idea what to expect, honestly, when I agreed to do a year of Story Club – I never imagined what a positive thing this would be in my life – both my creative life and my day-to-day life. 

The biggest gift to me has been the realization that there are so many people out there willing and eager to have positive, detail-oriented, curious, exploratory, snark-free, mutually respectful conversations about – well, about the short story. 

But really our discussions have been about life, by way of the short story. 

I feel proud of what we’ve accomplished here in the same way I feel proud of my teaching – it’s a feeling that something really good and substantial has quietly taken its place in the world and is doing some actual good every day – maybe in small, private ways…