To go in the dark with a light is to know the light 
To know the dark, go dark, go without sight
And find that dark, too, blooms and sings
And is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.
—Wendell Berry, To Know the Dark
with thanks to writer, Mary Patton
I sat in the dark, not knowing just how deeply I had entered the shadows – shadows in that room in West Hollywood, shadows from my childhood, shadows being cast into a new future when it would seem that my world held no light. I believed I was still being guided by a radiance my lover and I had named Much.
Two months later, I understood. I had to face that obsession had sealed me into a windowless room. There was no choice but to go into the dark and stay alive. I had no idea dark feet and dark wings would carry me. Or that my novel 29 crouched faithfully next to me.
I know some of you who read Breakthrough Writing. I know you have gone, willing, unwilling into the dark place without sight. Please write us with what you found there. And, if you are at the door to that sealed room and are running out of ways to turn away, send us a message. Thank you, ms
I will be teaching a class on using your scalpel and embroidery thread for your words at the Southwest Festival of the Written Word the weekend of October 2-4 in Silver City, New Mexico. Love to see you there.
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