Motherhood & Words

All week I’ve been thinking that today, January 28th, was the anniversary of the day I started this blog, but just now I realized it was actually January 20th. So this post is a week late, but I’m celebrating the 4th anniversary of my blog today anyway.

I began this blog to create to a place where writing by women about motherhood would be taken seriously as literature. I wanted to promote the wonderful books and essays and poems being written by writers who are also mothers. And I wanted a place to talk about craft and teaching and the hectic nature of mothering and living and trying to get words on the page.

And I’ll admit to anyone who asks (and even those who don’t) that starting Mother Words has been one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever done. I’m now part of a huge virtual community and I’ve connected with writers I never would have known if it weren’t for this blog. My small, often lonely writer’s world has expanded beyond what I imagined was possible. And I’ve made friends, close friends, who live across the globe.

I’m so grateful for all of you, for your words and stories, for your wonderful writing and encouraging words. Thank you for being out there, reading and commenting and writing and living. Today I’m celebrating you!

Posted in

Kate

I have been teaching creative writing for almost twenty years. Reading about other women’s lives and experiences has expanded my world. To be able to walk in someone else’s shoes, whether it’s for a moment or an hour or a few days, is an incredible gift, providing me with insight into the human experience. It takes courage to write your truths, especially if it doesn’t seem as though anyone cares, as though anyone is listening. Let me tell you: your stories matter, I’m listening, and I’m here to help you find the heart of those truths, to get them down on the page, to craft them, and to send them out into the world. Together, we will change the world, one story at a time.

13 Comments

  1. Ines on January 28, 2011 at 11:19 am

    Congratulations, Kate! What a milestone….



  2. Only You on January 28, 2011 at 11:34 am

    Four years! Congratulations to you, Kate! And you deserve a huge pat on the back (and much more than that, of course)for doing something so important. Thank you for giving voice to the many mother writers out there and for making an effort to change the way motherhood literature is viewed. You've done so much for just me in the last year alone. Thank you for touching so many lives!



  3. Cecilia on January 28, 2011 at 11:35 am

    Oops, I had meant to sign that as "Cecilia."



  4. Elizabeth on January 28, 2011 at 12:35 pm

    Happy blogaversary! You were one of the first blogs that I came to daily, and I continue to do so — thank you for all the inspirational posts!



  5. Leightongirl on January 28, 2011 at 1:57 pm

    I echo the congrats, and well wishes. Here's to another four, and lots of great words about writing and living and motherhood and all else!



  6. Lisa on January 28, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    I so glad you decided to jump into the blogging world four years ago! 🙂



  7. Mary on January 28, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    Happy Blogaversary! Congratulations on the four years and the wonderful community of mother writers you have gathered here.



  8. Peg on January 28, 2011 at 10:25 pm

    Congratulations! Please keep writing. I love your blog!



  9. cath c on January 29, 2011 at 9:54 am

    i am happy you're here! congrats on the longevity!

    yes, the writing/mothering life can be very isolating but for the blogs like yours



  10. Andrea on January 31, 2011 at 10:32 am

    Congratulations! Here's to many more to come.



  11. Sarah on January 31, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    as always, your blog is a pleasure to read for those of us who AREN'T mothers but are daughters, aunts, and friends of mothers. sure am glad you're doing what you're doing.



  12. Alexis on January 31, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    Happy Birthday to one of my absolute favourite blogs, from one of your international readers! xxoxx



  13. Sarah on February 1, 2011 at 4:03 pm

    Yay, Kate! Viva Mother Words! Your wonderful blog and awesome teaching have been a gift to this mama writer.