Little Windows Writing Retreats at Home
Creative prompts for a more expansive summer, plus one-to-one mentoring
Two years ago, as children went back to school after the six-week summer holidays, I posted this image on my Instagram feed:
Louise Bourgeois, Femme, Maison 1994, White marble
It was September, and I was sad our days of camping and trips out and messing about in the garden were over. I was also exhausted by juggling, feeling hemmed in and heavy with the weight of New School Term admin.
I felt like that image.
Ensconced an/or imprisoned.
It is one is a decades-long series of Femme Maison works, which Bourgeois began in the 1940s. In painting and sculpture, nude women are obscured, skewered, or seemingly trapped within a house.
The home can be an empowering, enjoyable place. But I also need a horizon. As the primary parent of two children and someone who also works from home, this sphere can sometimes feel quite suffocating.
Writing in Little Windows of Time
I’ve often said I wrote my book, MILK, during my first maternity leave. This statement is accurate; it gives a neat shorthand description of why and when I wrote the book.
But it is also completely misleading.
See, the idea for MILK did come to me early in my first maternity leave, when I thought: hey this breastfeeding lark is nothing like I’ve seen in any pictures or read about in any antenatal literature!
So I started picking at the thread. A little Google here. A delve into the online archives there. A few pages of a book on the Kindle during the night feed.
Each was a little window out of my maison, providing me with bites of information and inspiration that I could digest later on.
And then - during those walks around the park with the buggy, or while soothing my baby to sleep or chopping vegetables - my mind would start making connections. Sometimes, I’d have the chance to type the note into my phone, but mostly the book lived and grew in my head.
Eventually, I got enough child free time to write a book proposal. This very quickly led to several offers from agents. And, not long after, I got a book deal with an advance that allowed me to pay for more childcare.
But the only reason the book got written were those little windows which allowed me to engage in worlds beyond me, which in turn also helped me navigate the matrescent world I found myself in.
So, last summer I decided to open some windows for my readers and I’m sharing the series again this summer for my paid subscribers.
Take a Peek
Each week, I'll share an object or art work, with a brief history, followed by a creative prompt.
Starting from next week until the end of August.
A little window to open once a week.
These will arrive in the inboxes of paid subscribers on a Sunday afternoon, with the first landing on 20th July.
There is no pressure to share anything in response to the posts, but I’d encourage people to share something in the comments - either a piece of creative writing or reflections on the image or its history.
If you want something more….
I currently have space for some one-to-one mentoring sessions over the summer and into autumn.
Whether you are working on something, are itching to write but not sure where to start, or simply want space to think. I can offer thoughtful, personalised support in a number of bespoke ways, including:
Writing Deep Dive: one-off focused sessions for feedback and guidance, ideal if you’re working on something and feel stuck or want structured support.
Ongoing Mentoring: a longer period of support to build momentum, shape ideas, and stay accountable. Flexible timings and formats to work around other commitments.
Email me at joanna@joannawolfarth.com for more info and a free chat about what support I can offer you.
I hope you can join me xxx
