As the summer writing project continued, our focus shifted from creating new material to refining the stories that will soon be shared with an audience. Editing is often thought of as correcting words on a page, but this session reminded us that it is equally about helping one another communicate truth with greater clarity.
Our pieces have been submitted for approval to be brought outside, turned into a script, and given to the alumni for the public performance.
After checking in and gathering in the ring, we outlined the work ahead before diving into the editing process. One participant suggested using a microphone for the monologues because, as she put it, “These pieces are so good I want everyone to hear it.” Her comment set the tone for the evening. The goal was never simply to improve the writing—it was to make sure every voice could be heard.
The ensemble spent much of the evening reading one another’s work aloud. Hearing another person interpret your writing can be both exciting and vulnerable, and every reading opened the door to thoughtful conversation.
As Allowance was shared, the first reader laughed and admitted, “I’m doing your work no justice,” before taking another moment to study the rhythm of the piece and trying again. After listening carefully, the writer asked the group, “Did you get it? Was it clear?” and later followed with another question: “Did you relate to it?” Those questions led to a rich conversation about the piece’s themes, language, and emotional arc.
Reflecting on the story, one participant remarked, “We’ve all been under the spell of a man or woman,” while the writer explained, “I allowed him to stay.” Another participant responded with compassion, saying, “You allowed his behavior, we’ve all been through that.” What began as editing quickly became a conversation about shared experiences, reminding us how personal stories often become universal once they’re spoken aloud.
As the discussion continued, the ensemble explored the flow of the piece, debated the difference between allowance and allowing, and even found themselves laughing over the word ergo, trying unsuccessfully to remember which Shakespeare play featured Lancelot. The humor provided welcome balance to an evening filled with emotional work.
When the reading concluded, another participant offered perhaps the strongest compliment a writer can receive: “I think you read it the best. You’re the only person who knows how the flow goes.” The conversation that followed helped shape not only the piece itself, but the writer’s confidence in how it should ultimately be performed.
The group also discussed the order of artist statements before unanimously agreeing they should come first, allowing audiences to enter each piece through the writer’s own perspective.
As more work was shared, the emotional depth of the collection continued to emerge. While reading I Love You This Much, two participants became visibly emotional. One reflected that “It’s a show of unconditional love,” while the writer listened carefully to each interpretation of her words. Later, after another participant read Me, she encouraged the writer to perform it herself, saying, “I want you to read it. You captivated the way I wanted it to come out.”
The conversation naturally turned toward self-love. The writer explained, “I wrote it because we didn’t have a piece about self love,” before becoming emotional as she reflected on the loss of a friend. Moments like these continue to remind us that writing can create space for conversations that are difficult to begin in any other way.
Even during an evening centered on vulnerability, there was plenty of joy. The ensemble erupted in laughter during one reading after an unexpected interruption, joked about geese and swans, and continued to find delight in one another’s company between edits and discussions.
Near the end of the session, one participant, who had spent nearly the entire evening quietly writing, shared a new piece titled Valerie. As she read, emotion filled the room, offering one final reminder of the courage it takes to share something deeply personal with others.
We closed the evening, as always, in the ring. With each round of editing, each conversation, and each shared reading, the ensemble is discovering that the strength of this production lies not only in the individual pieces, but in the care they show for one another’s stories. Together, they are shaping a performance built on honesty, trust, and the belief that every voice deserves to be heard.