January Jumpstart, 2026

January Jumpstart, 2026

It’s almost Thanksgiving, and a lot of us are feeling the stressors that life brings at more heightened levels than usual. For those of us who are more sensitive, empathetic, and who have superpowers in rumination, these times are extra hard. I want to extend to you an opportunity to step out of all of it for a bit – to engage with the written word mixed with creativity and a bit of laughter to lighten it all.

In January, I’m honored to be leading the poetry session of the Tennessee Mountain Writers in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The session runs from Jan 17 – 18^th, and you may find all the details here: January Jumpstart XXVI - Tennessee Mountain Writers. There are discounts available now for the Comfort Inn in Oak Ridge until Dec 1, which is where the conference will be held.

The weekend is generative, meaning I’ll provide stellar examples of poems and highlight elements of the craft that speak to me. But then I’ll be quiet after offering participants a prompt to create their own work. For those who wish, we will have time to share. But my goal is to introduce you to poets you may not be familiar with, to provide rich prompts that will continue to serve you through the year, and to generate some levity in our lives.

If poetry isn’t your groove, but fiction is, Jim Minick is your man. He will be leading the fiction portion of the weekend, and you can't go wrong with Jim.

I know several writers in the Tennessee Mountain Writers group, and I can assure you that you will find supportive, kind folks in the room with you.  All are welcome! So, treat yourself. Open up 2026 with some goodness and creativity.

January Jumpstart XXVI - Tennessee Mountain Writers