As an educator and the founder of your writing community, you counsel people on writing. What are some tips you can offer?

I like telling folks to write from the belly, not the brain. Meaning, when I’m doing a first draft, I’m not writing with an internal editor. There’s so much time to think about editing, cutting, and form later. But a critical eye now isn’t helpful, just like a critical eye wouldn’t be helpful if you’re sitting down to meditate. You’re trying to unarchive what is there, what is present, what is with you, and what wants to come to the surface. The beautiful thing is that it always emerges, it just needs space. – Joy Sullivan