Write Now! January 11th, 2025. "jumping of the cliff" Inspired by Molly Graham
Write Now! Gathering at The Sea Ranch Lodge – First Event of 2025. January 11th, 2025
(note: Molly Graham’s TED Talk, Forget the Corporate Ladder—Winners Take Risks inspired the writing for our first gathering of 2025-thank you, Molly for your permission to share with our group).
The first Write Now! gathering of 2025 at The Sea Ranch Lodge was as inspiring as the rugged beauty of the Northern California coastline itself. The Lodge, perched on a 10-mile stretch of dramatic bluffs, offered the perfect sanctuary for reflection and creativity. Participants came to explore their inner voices, many confronting the words, “I am not a writer,” and finding the courage to turn doubt into action. They arrived by chance, by habit, or guided by friends who had experienced the magic of past gatherings.
Setting the Stage
I’d prepared as I always do—selecting prompts, gathering supplies of notebooks, pens, and buttons, and arranging the space for the unknown number of attendees. This time, anticipation ran high, especially after the success of our recent Public Reading of Write Now! Readers on December 28. Though I never know how many will attend, the possibility of a larger crowd added an air of excitement.
On the day of the event, participants wandered into the Lodge—some curious newcomers, others seasoned regulars. The room buzzed with a shared eagerness. It didn’t matter whether they’d discovered us through a Facebook post, the Lodge’s bulletin board, or a friend’s invitation. By the time they sat down, they were ready to leap.
The Wrte Now! Lab is also called 'ruf' draft. ruf is our mascot of the class a herding dog while quietly observing he reminds folks that he is herding all your thoughts while casting a stare at folks who need a reminder to needs a muse.
Choosing the Right Prompt
Selecting a prompt is an art and a focused action. It needs to be timely yet vague, intriguing yet simple. A good prompt lights a creative spark—it becomes a key to unlocking the stories that sit quietly within. For this gathering, Molly Graham’s TED Talk, Forget the Corporate Ladder—Winners Take Risks, felt perfect. While not a literary or provocative one-liner, the visual experience captivated me as it was filled with so much across all demographics. Although the talk addresses corporate settings and perhaps a narrower target audience, its essence—the transformative power of risk-taking referred to as ‘jumping off the cliff’—is universal. I sensed it would resonate deeply.
After playing the video to the group, I posed the question: “What does jumping off a cliff mean to you? What does risk-taking mean in your life right now?” What does it bring up for you?
“No discussion,” I added. “Just write. Ten minutes. Go!”
And they did. Pens slalomed across pages; fingers raced over keyboards. There was a palpable energy in the room—a mix of focus, determination, and vulnerability. Everyone was fully immersed in their own stories of risk, leaps of faith, and moments of hesitation.
The Writers and Their Stories
When the timer beeped, the energy didn’t dissipate. Some continued writing, unwilling to stop. Then came the moment that defines Write Now!: sharing. The atmosphere shifted, becoming even more intimate as participants began to read aloud. Each story was a window into the writer’s soul, and the room listened with rapt attention, their eyes glimmering with relating to another’s story.
Stories Shared, Risks Revealed
The room transformed as participants began to read their pieces aloud. Each story, unique and deeply personal, revealed the power of writing to explore, heal, and connect.
Carol was the first to read. “I’ll go,” she announced, laughing nervously. “And I’m not leaving the room! Earlier, she had entered the room saying, “Okay, I’ll write but if you ask me to read, I’m leaving!”) She broke the ice, admitting, “Sharing my writing is jumping off the cliff!” Her piece explored the search for clarity—what it means to know oneself and to be known. Her words resonated with anyone who has ever grappled with identity and purpose.
Bob, her husband did not write in a notebook or on a screen but it was easy to see the stories being written in his mind as he listened intently. Later on after the session, I caught up with him and he told me, "I'm ready."
Shari reflected on her life journey, from working at JC Penney and Sears with no formal education or guidance to teaching herself new skills and embracing opportunities she once feared. “The cliffs we stand on now are different as we age,” she wrote, capturing the evolving nature of risk. Shari is an accomplished photographer who spends her time on the ocean and seas with an undertsanding of the mammels we marvel at.
Peter shared a haunting memory of a colleague he had been reprimanding on the phone. He was cut off as Cantor Fitzgerald was the bullseye of the first plane to hit the towers on 9.11. His piece explored the idea of being pushed off a cliff versus choosing to jump, weaving together profound loss and resilience. The silence in that moment through a phone connection 3000 miles away. He still hears that silence.
Pam took us underwater, describing her first scuba dive at fifty. Her vivid account of standing at the edge of a boat, the ocean vast and dark before her, made us all feel the weight of taking that literal leap.
Mary, in her eighties, spoke about defying gender norms as a young woman to become a silversmith and shipbuilder at a time when such trades were deemed “not for girls.” Her determination shone through, a testament to the risks she took to follow her passions. Mary married a man, a ship bulder and together they worked as master shipbuilders.
Jennifer recalled her young son cheering her on, “you can do it momma,” his amber-lit hair a beacon of encouragement. Her fear wasn’t of falling but of jumping—a sentiment that resonated deeply with the group.
Anjulette offered a sobering perspective, reflecting on her proximity to the Golden Gate Bridge and witnessing the visual struggles of those who see “jumping off the cliff” as a final act. Her words were a poignant reminder of the different ways risk manifests in our lives.
Jeanne wrote about loss—leaving her first husband, mourning her second, and channeling her emotions into creating books for children on the nature around us and her accalimed Sightings on the Mendonoma Coast for everyone. “Falling into yourself,” she said, “is the kind of falling I want more of. Everytime I sign a book, I stop for a moment and put some love into it."
Vanessa likened risk to descending through hell, only to discover heaven at the bottom. Her words captured the transformative potential of facing fear head-on
Anne described the sensation of jumping as a “hard knock in the chest” and found solace in the rhythm of acceptance as she soared toward the unknown.
Kit revisited a childhood memory of standing on a high balcony, unafraid, looking down where a family member had once jumped. Her story was raw, a reflection on how early experiences shape our relationship with risk.
Each story added a layer to the collective atmosphere, where vulnerability and courage intertwined. As participants shared, nods of recognition and murmurs of agreement filled the room. It was clear that risk-taking, whether literal or metaphorical, was a universal thread connecting us all.
The Power of Writing Together
There’s something magical about writing in a group. The act of putting pen to paper or fingers to keys becomes a shared experience, amplified by the presence of others on the same journey. At The Sea Ranch Lodge, with its rugged coastal views and welcoming ambiance, this magic feels especially potent. The setting fosters a sense of community and introspection, encouraging participants to dive deeper into their stories.
As the session ended, I reflected on the bravery it takes to write and share so openly. These gatherings are not just about crafting words—they’re about creating a space where people can explore their truths, connect with others, and find their voices. Several folks, new to each other regrouped at the cozy Sea Ranch Lodge Bar. I visited with them for a bit. Their energy, connection and ease in their own vulnerability left me silent.
Moving Forward
Write Now! isn’t just an event; it’s a practice of showing up—for oneself, for others, and for the stories that demand to be told and heard. Each participant who took a risk by writing and sharing their story today reminded me why this work matters. It’s not about teaching a curriculum or following a formula. It’s about unlocking the stories that sit within us and watching them take flight.
When we write as a response or a reaction to someone else’s presentation we provide the real effect of that person’s efforts and insight on us. We give back all that in this case, Molly gave us. We allow one who is giving us a glimmer to shine back at them. To thank them with our own story. This loop is another kind of magic that keeps us all going. We listen to them and, in our writing, they hear us.
As we left the Lodge, the energy of the day lingered—a testament to the power of words to transform, connect, and heal. As we look ahead to the next gathering, I can’t help but feel grateful for the community that continues to show up, ready to take risks and jump into the unknown and the trust in me encouragement.
On my drive home, I thought of all the cliffs I have jumped off to be where I am now. I still feel that one person’s jump to find their authentic self, to pursue their own destinies often hurts the ones they love the most. That's a tough fall but we find our way to land. Gain footing.
A special thanks to Molly Graham. Google Molly Graham-Ted Talk-Forget the Corporate Ladder. Give tourself nine minutes to visit the edge you stand or revisit the memory of the "cliff" you jumped off of.
Listen to Molly's Ted Talk Here
Thank you to all the writers who told their stories not realizing that their story is someone else’s story who could not write it themselves.
