Publishing our writing about adoption is incredibly rewarding work. We stand on the shoulders of those who’ve come before us and continue building the pyramid for other adoptee writers to soar to new heights. We’re working to create change in families, industries, and systems, disrupting long-held adoption narratives, healing ourselves, and seeking to end the isolation so many adoptees have experienced.

But sharing ourselves and our words publicly can be complex. Our words might complicate family relationships. Old wounds sometimes resurface as we navigate responses to our writing. The publishing landscape can look different for us, given the unique issues we face as adoptees and as writers. We can be surprised by the “heat” that can come if our stories counter some of the long-held narratives of adoption.

While writing is a highly personal act, that doesn’t mean we have to feel alone in our publishing journeys. Adoptee-Authors “On the Page” is a non-competitive, non-performative group that supports published female-identifying adult adoptees in nuanced matters specific to publicly writing and sharing about adoption. This monthly online group is facilitated by Sara Easterly (Searching for Mom, Adoption Unfiltered) and Susan Devan Harness (Bitterroot: A Salish Memoir of Transracial Adoption) and is open to 12 adult adoptees who have published at least one book/screenplay/script (or similar longer work) OR 5 or more adoption-related articles/essays/blog posts.

Each month’s meeting will begin with a check-in, followed by a focused discussion of topics such as:

  • Working toward milestones and celebrating our successes in healthy ways.
  • Fears and other stumbling blocks to publishing.
  • Handling how nonadopted family members and friends respond to our writing … or not.
  • Caring for ourselves when our adoption wounds get reactivated.
  • Bouncing back from rejections or comments that sting.
  • Citing references, finding valid adoption research, ethics of accuracy.
  • Maintaining balance and interests beyond Adoption Land.

CURRENT SESSION:
Meets on the third Thursday of each month
September 21, 2023 through May 16th, 2024  (no meeting in December)
8:00-9:30 pm Pacific Time

Cost is $120 for the 2023-2024 season.

APPLY NOW

GROUND RULES

  • We respect one another’s writing and messaging. If you’re inspired by a colleague, then cite their influence on your writing in some way.
  • We’re all adoptees, but have had different experiences and may have varying perspectives. Please give one another grace where you disagree. We respect where we are each at in understanding the impact of adoption, recognizing a range of experiences and feelings.
  • We’re likely to talk about private and sensitive issues, so what we talk about in group stays within the group. You can always request feedback on material and decline to talk about a topic if it gets too difficult.
  • We endeavor to keep all material private and confidential, but cannot guarantee all participants in the cohort will always do the same.
  • These are facilitated peer writing groups, not  therapy sessions. If you are experiencing a serious mental health event, such as suicidal thoughts, please contact a licensed professional or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.
  • These groups are intended to serve a community of adoptees. Consequently, all participants assert they are adoptees. Further, facilitators reserve the right to limit access to anyone deemed inappropriate, threatening, or otherwise disruptive to the group and its intended purpose.
  • We do not record discussion and sharing sessions. However, we reserve the right to record presentations by members or guest speakers, subject to mutual agreement.

SENSITIVE CONTENT WARNING

All experiences, emotions, and perspectives on adoption are welcome, which means that some of the content encountered within the writing group could be upsetting. If this is your first time participating in a group of adoptees or looking up-close at adoption, you may wish to first, or concurrently, consider working with an adoption-competent therapist and/or seeking an adoptee support group.