The End of Summer

There’s a new movie adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women coming out in December. (I’ll wait here if you want to go watch the trailer.) Little Women is one of the first books that I read that was written by a woman about women and girls. I loved the book. I took it out of the library in fifth grade so often that the librarian bought me my own copy so that the book could be on the shelf for other starry-eyed, would-be writer girls.

Even in the 70s when I read it for the first time, there were parts of the book that maybe hadn’t aged as well as others, but who wouldn’t fall in love with all those girls and their dreams. And if Jo wanted to be a writer, wanted to be independent, wanted to live a life where her dream mattered, well, I understood that. In the novel, Jo says, “I’d have a stable full of Arabian steeds, rooms piled with books, and I’d write out of a magic inkstand, so that my works should be as famous as Laurie’s music. I want to do something splendid before I go into my castle—something heroic, or wonderful—that won’t be forgotten after I’m dead. I don’t know what, but I’m on the watch for it, and mean to astonish you all, some day. I think I shall write books, and get rich and famous; that would suit me, so that is my favorite dream.”

Who doesn’t want a magic inkstand? If not for fame or riches, but to have their stories written and read. I like to imagine that Storyknife will be the magic inkstand for the women who come for residencies. For those weeks, the words will flow from them. In the evenings, they’ll gather around the dinner table like the March sisters to talk about the creativity of the day. 

Oh I know, it seems like a dream. But Storyknife is becoming a reality. As of yesterday, the cabin interiors were being painted and the flooring laid. In Eva’s House, the drywall is going up and the solar panels were installed. And now we turn to how the residencies will be managed and how the funds will be raised to run the place.

Residencies will start in April 2020 and run from the 1st to the 28th of each month until October (or 1st to the 14th for those staying only two weeks). The application period will open on November 1st and close on December 31st. In January of 2020, we’ll begin the in-depth process of adjudicating applications and when that is complete, we will schedule the women writers in residence for the 2020 season. 

Between the moment that those first women arrive for their residency, we’ll need to hire a chef/manager; purchase furniture, soft-goods, and equip the kitchen; decorate; and raise money. Phew, that sounds like a lot of work. Good thing we’re excited to do it!

Here’s how YOU make a difference in the lives of women writers:

• If you are a woman writer, get ready to apply and change the world with your words.
• If you can help support Storyknife with a donation, please consider doing so. You can learn all about the ways to support at our website. 

Give the magic inkwell! And stay tuned for more information on applications, gift registry, and more!Thank you for being part of Storyknife. For #LiftingWomensVoices.

Sincerely,
Erin Hollowell
Executive Director of Storyknife