As our summer writing project continues to take shape, this week’s session centered on one of the most rewarding parts of the creative process: hearing one another’s words come to life. While we have spent weeks writing, revising, and reflecting, this evening gave writers the opportunity to hear their work interpreted by other voices, allowing the ensemble to experience each piece in a new way.
Following check-ins and the ring, we shared a few pieces from outside writers before returning to our own growing collection of original work. As the evening unfolded, the room became filled with thoughtful feedback, encouragement, and genuine admiration for one another’s creativity.
When one ensemble member read Allowance, another participant immediately responded, “I love that,” before encouraging her to project her voice more confidently. The group also celebrated the writer’s playful use of the word ergo, which has become something of a favorite among the ensemble.
As I Miss You was read aloud, another participant quietly reflected, “I like that, I feel that.” The writer thanked her for reading the piece, and the participant smiled before thanking the writer for allowing her to bring the words to life. Moments like these continue to demonstrate the trust that has developed throughout the writing process.
The emotion in the room deepened as I Love You This Much was shared. Hearing someone else read her work moved the writer to tears before she softly remarked, “I like how you read that.” Rather than simply reading words on a page, the ensemble continues to care for one another’s stories with remarkable generosity.
As Depart was introduced, one participant observed, “It’s deep, I like your writing,” while another added, “I like it, and I like reading it.” The discussion naturally shifted beyond writing technique and into the themes emerging throughout the collection.
Following a reading of Me, the ensemble found themselves talking about self-love. One ensemble member reflected that “It’s hard to love yourself when you’re focused on others. It’s easier to love others instead of focusing on yourself.” The conversation lingered there for several minutes as others considered how often we extend compassion to those around us while struggling to offer that same grace to ourselves.
The discussion continued after Does Time Heal? was read. One ensemble member shared that “It feels like there’s never enough time,” prompting another participant to reflect, “When I finally forgive, it all goes away.” Another added, “It’s easier for me to forgive others than it is to forgive myself,” before an ensemble member thoughtfully concluded, “They say you can’t forgive others until you forgive yourself.”
Throughout the evening, it became increasingly clear that these individual pieces are beginning to speak to one another. One participant reflected, “Everyone’s written so well. We’re touching on some real stuff,” while another simply responded, “So deep.” An ensemble member noted something many of us had begun to recognize as well: “I like how all the pieces go together.”
Alongside the readings, we also began imagining how these works will exist together onstage. Ensemble members experimented with scenes from LoveAid, collaborated on staging ideas for Ruth, and discussed the overall order of the performance, carefully considering how each piece contributes to the emotional journey of the evening.
As we closed the session with the ring, one participant looked around the circle and simply said, “I’m so proud of us.”
It was the perfect way to end the night. What began as individual reflections has become a shared body of work built on trust, vulnerability, and collaboration. Each reading, conversation, and moment of encouragement reminds us that this project is about far more than preparing for a performance—it is about creating a space where every voice is heard, every story is valued, and every member helps carry the work forward together.