Come for the Solace, Stay for the Magical Community
Shay Galloway's reflection on the 2023 "Write Like a Mother Retreat"
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by Shay Galloway
I’ll admit, when I registered for the Write Like a Mother retreat, I was most looking forward to having a weekend away from home–with the added bonus of spending it among like-minded women and parents. Since starting my journey of motherhood, one of my greatest struggles was finding a troupe that understood the eagerness to be devoted to both my creative work and to my child. So often I find myself torn between keeping my creative and parenting spheres separate, and finding the space where they can come together. Scribente Maternum offered that space. But it offered more than that.
Having attended a few writing conferences and dabbled in a few writing groups, I expected my experience at the WLAM retreat to be much the same: I would meet learn some names, make a few connections, get some advice from some presenting authors, and while I’d enjoy myself, I’d gain nothing more than a few acquaintances. Even just on that first morning, I realized I was going to come away with so much more. Elizabeth, Rachel and Carla’s sincere intentions and devotion to creating a welcoming and diverse space gave me an experience I have never before witnessed.
As a brown woman who has spent a majority of my life operating in predominantly white spaces, I was in awe to look around the room that first morning into just as many faces of color as white–and not one moment of it felt performative or posturing. Despite our various demographic backgrounds, professions, and even writing expertise, there was nothing but mutual respect and admiration all that weekend.
Outside of the writing exercises we did during presentations, I didn’t get a single word written, and I didn’t care–I still came away inspired and refreshed, never more confident that I’d made the right choice. And maybe it was the nights of flowing wine, maybe it was just our joy in being away from home, maybe it was just the venue, but if I had to describe the whole weekend in it would be magical, and I look forward to spending many more years as part of the Scribente Maternum family.
Shay Galloway is a writer of slightly off-kilter and historically-interested fiction and contemplative non-fiction. Her debut novel, The Valley of Sage and Juniper was released March 2023 with Running Wild/RIZE press. She’s also co-host of the podcast The Bitch Moms Book Club, which you can listen to wherever you get your podcasts. Her work has appeared in Origami Journal, Adanna, The Write Launch, A-Minor Magazine, The Lindenwood Review, and The Nasiona. She currently resides and teaches English in Washington. You can learn more about her at shaygalloway.com and follow her hot takes on Instagram @TheGallowCat
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