Writing ‘Moments of Love’

As many of you are aware, some members of the Women’s Writing Circle have been working on a collection of stories and poems. This is our third anthology, and with each undertaking, I find myself asking the question: “Why did I embark on this journey?” The process is undeniably demanding, often requiring us to invest countless hours and energy. Yet, once the final touches are made and the project is completed, a sense of fulfillment washes over me. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to collaborate with other creative minds to produce a beautiful book that we can offer to our readers.

This time around, we struggled with the title of the anthology for quite some time. The organizers—those of us committed to editing and publishing the book—found ourselves in a creative quandary. We tossed around countless ideas, brainstorming and deliberating, but none of them quite captured the spirit of our work, which includes fiction, memoir, and poetry. The stories are both contemporary in setting and classic glimpses of love from bygone eras. This week, however, I am thrilled to share that we have finally settled on a title: Moments of Love: An Anthology of Stories and Poems.

The phrase “moments of love” struck a chord with me because I believe it encapsulates the essence of what our writers are sharing. Love is the overarching theme of this anthology, but the challenge was to articulate this theme in a title that resonates deeply and feels universally relatable. There’s a beautifully poignant quote by May Sarton that mirrors our title perfectly:

“Two things when you forget the time when nothing exists except the moment—the moment of writing, the moment of love. That perfect concentration is bliss.”

This idea reflects my own experience. When I sit down to write, particularly when I’m exploring the theme of love, the world around me fades away, and nothing else seems to matter. The poignant memories of John, my parents, and my best friend—each of whom is gone—serve as powerful motivators for my writing. This reflection becomes both a therapeutic journey and a source of joy, filling me with a sense of anticipation as I savor my morning coffee and confront the blank page.

At present, I am leading a memoir writing workshop, and I continually discover that what drives memoir writers is their intense desire to articulate feelings and stories they have longed to share. For many, this longing is intertwined with the need to remember the moments filled with love—be it moments of joy, redemption, clarity, or any experience that propels them forward.

January, with its bone-chilling cold and pervasive sense of isolation, can often feel daunting. Yet, as we pour our hearts into the writing of those moments of love, we uncover warmth and companionship through the written word. The art of storytelling is truly the most profound gift we can share with one another, bridging the gaps created by distance and time.