WREN Cast

In the final episode of 2023, Kate shares guest author Mike Rickett's debut piece, "I'm Gracie." Mike tells about the time he got stoned while rewatching the 1997 classic "Good Will Hunting," during which he realizes the meaning of life, spins around heaven and hell before being reborn, and thoroughly freaks out his fiancee. Mike Rickett is based in Maine and plans to release his debut novel in 2024. CW: adoption, cannabis Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support.

After reading about Pompeii as a kid, Kate resolved to steer clear of volcanos. But the thing with volcanos is that people have long been kind of drawn to them. So when she trades the cold of New England for the warmth of Mexico, she finds herself living 30 km from an active stratovolcano, Popocateptl. And last May it started to erupt. CW: natural disasters. Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support.

In her first piece of season three, Kate makes peace all the things she tells herself she should and should not do. Should: run, write. Shouldn't: criticize, scroll. But then she learns to stop "shoulding" herself and to get on with it. Except the running. That can go F itself. Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support.

In this inaugural episode of season three, Kate is honored to present a piece written by Maria Wood, in memory of her incomparable late grandfather, Mr. Howard Wood. First published in The Talbot Spy, the piece is a testament to a life well-lived, and well-shared with family and community, and pairs perfectly with every Thanksgiving dinner. Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support.

Last week guest author Elissa Lash took the mic to share her piece “Stripped: The Novel Didn’t Work.” Today Elissa joins Kate for a conversation about the writing process: making space and time for writing, receiving criticism with curiosity, the bravery to put a piece aside when it's not working, and the shared joy of a Smith College education. Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support. You can listen to Elissa reading “Stripped: The Novel Didn’t Work” here or read it here.

Today on WRENCast we are featuring guest author Elissa Lash reading her essay "Stripped: the Novel Didn't Work." Next week we will feature a conversation between Elissa and Kate about writing personal narratives.  Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support.  Elissa's piece has been published by The Rumpus, an online literary magazine, and is available to read here: https://therumpus.net/2023/01/17/1-17-stripped/.

This week, Kate tries to figure out how hippie food stopped being embarrassing and became cool. And if we can stop judging kombucha, how can we start being a little more encouraging of others' choices, whether it's eating quinoa or Cheetos, opting for Burt's Bees or Botox, staying out of the spotlight or stepping into it.  Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support.

Kate joined "the Facebook" in 2006 during her sophomore year of college and it immediately led to major life changes. In 2023 Facebook remains, unexpectedly, a special space to process life with folx from college. Recently, Kate saw a post in an alum group with a Google Doc called "The Night I Met Ani Difranco." She clicked the link. It led, as personal narratives so often do, to personal connection, to an invitation to further connection, and to more writing. Today on WRENCast we are sharing two pieces by guest author and fellow Smith College alum, Cade Russo-Young: "Between California and New York and Finding Home" and "The Night I Met Ani Difranco."  Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support.

Kate's been writing this week's episode for about three weeks, but as with many things in December it's only come together last minute and with the help of some day drinking and TV for the adults and children respectively. The episode is about the stories we tell ourselves about Christmases past and present, and how storytelling can help and hurt in efforts to "survive" Christmas, especially as a parent. And how, in a surprising turn of events, the photo-op Christmas tree at the mall can help make things all better.  Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support. Please share and subscribe.

This week Kate stops masking the writing advice into personal narratives. This week the writing advice is straight up. Neat. A flaming shot. 100 proof cover advice about crafting an effective cover letter. There will be steps. There will be sharing of a real life, cringe-inducing example. There will be quotes from both Bridget Jones and Annie Lamont, and a momentary embrace of word counts and corsets.  Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support. Please share and subscribe.

Kate writes about driving around North America, navigating first by old graveyards and trees and later by taco stands, volcanos, and sensible street number systems. Then she tries learning a language without the help of an anthropomorphic willow tree, and tries to find the emotional upside of being a linguistic dunce.  Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support.

This week Kate gets asked some juicy questions by her kids, some of which she can answer, like those about puberty and death, and others she can't, like the mystery that is Daylight Savings Time.  Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support. Please share and subscribe.

This week Kate doesn't worry about fancy writing. This week is all about appreciation for the kind of friend who's more than a friend; they're a Great Life Partner.   Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support. Please share and subscribe.

This week it's a miracle there's any podcast in your feed. Kate spent the week helping folx apply to college, and spend the rest of the time on Instagram, procrastinating. Fortunately she got thousands of views. Unfortunately none of those turned into writing. Good thing Aaron Sorkin, famous playwrite and screenwriter was there* to help her through writer's block. But metaphors and bumpy roads help her come to some perspective, or at least push out of the theme song to Friends. *not in person but on another podcast Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support. Please share and subscribe.

This week Kate is fresh out of personal narratives. So she takes the normally unhelpful advice of "write what you know" and writes about writing. There are tips, there are tricks, examples, and a repudiation of the definitive article. Some of it might actually be useful. Take a listen. Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support. Please share and subscribe.

This week Kate thinks about the stories she tells about who she is and who has shaped her. Middle school is mentioned a lot, as is the Ancient Greek term for their standard of beauty. Salicylic acid is name-checked, as is Herbal Essences and low-rise jeans. And in processing the trauma of being disowned at 18, Kate turns to a famous comedian for some advice about releasing tension (and embracing indignation.)  There is discussion of body image and parental estrangement in this episode, and some light cursing at the patriarchy.  Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support. Please share and subscribe.

This week Kate speaks with her dear friend, former student, and fellow writer Amanda Spiller ahead of the release of Amanda's book "Laying Roots: Poems on Grief and Healing" out October 1st. Amanda shares pieces from the book, dives deep into the writing process, and shares what it feels like to share such intimate writing with the world. Our conversation touches on loss and grief, specifically the loss of a parent, so please take care ahead of listening.  Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support. Please share and subscribe.

This week Kate got an idea for an episode, hated it, and did it anyway. But she got help along the way from two braver writers, and in this episode, all three of them share pieces they've written. Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support. Please share and subscribe.

This week Kate asks hundreds of people she meets the question: "Where's home for you?" and tries to answer it for herself, without daring to say the word "Mainer." Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support. Please share and subscribe.

This week, Kate hands the mic over to four fourteen-year-olds who share personal narratives they've written. From the psych ward to Vietnam, from OCD to finding gender authenticity, each piece is deeply human, vulnerable, and authentic. Go to wrencowriting.com to read transcripts and to learn more about the writing support services WREN CO--which stands for Written English Collaboration--can offer in personal, professional, and creative projects, as well as admissions and application support. Please share and subscribe.