Welcome to The Raft, where we’re all about trying to live from our “true spot,” buoyed by the arts and open spirituality. Many of us are also into making stuff, whether casually or professionally.
What you get on The Raft
Oodles of resources and opportunities! Participate in what you want and let the rest go.
Click on these links to learn about The Raft'‘s . . .
Newsletters
When you join The Raft you’re automatically subscribed to every newsletter (or “section”) that I publish except Rafter Digest:
Daily Boost (weekdays). Bites of “soul food” for your inner life, curated from the arts.
Staying Power (occasional Sundays). My original riffs, musings, poems, and tales.
Events & News (Saturdays). The latest Rafter announcements, plus my author news.
If you feel “inbox overwhelm,” consider subscribing only to the Rafter Digest. Published on Saturday, it’s a weekly roundup of major newsletter posts and event replays.
You can always adjust your Raft settings to receive just the mailings you’re interested in.
Regular Zoom Groups
Poetry Pick-Me-Up (Zoom, Thursdays, 12-1PM Central). Host: Phyllis Cole-Dai. A casual poetry-sharing and discussion group. Bring a poem written by someone other than yourself to read to the group. Or, just come to listen to the poems offered by other Rafters and to participate in informal but wholehearted conversation about them. Hop on the Zoom at this link.
Poets on the Raft (Zoom, twice monthly). Currently limited to twelve participants, with waiting list. Schedule and facilitators vary. A safe, receptive space in which poets of all varieties of experience can get supportive group feedback. Email me for more information.
Rafters Writing Fiction (Zoom, every other Tuesday, 1PM Central). Host: Ferwa Jaffery. Email Ferwa or use the button and she’ll be glad to help you. (Watch your spam in case her reply gets routed there.)
The Raft also hosts virtual workshops and other events.
Digs
With monthly “digs,” I encourage you to write from your true spot. I’ll email you a writing prompt, usually on the last Sunday of the month. You may respond to it in whatever written form tickles your fancy. You can join or opt out of this mailing list at any time by updating your subscription preferences.
Deep Dives
With month-long “deep dives,” I invite you to immerse yourself in particular “life themes,” using poetry reading, contemplation, journaling, creative work, and/or other practices. You can join or opt out of this mailing list at any time by updating your subscription preferences.
Rafter Discount
Woohoo! As a member of The Raft, you get a “forever” 15% discount in my website store. Just enter the code “rafter15” at checkout.
One last thing . . .
I offer The Raft as a gift. However, if you can help support this community with a voluntary contribution, I’d be grateful. Consider your contribution a tangible expression of the value you find here.
You’ll get a few modest perks in return:
a personal email expressing my gratitude
a virtual patrons’ bash with me, once a year
most of all, the delight of knowing that you’re helping to keep The Raft fully accessible to absolutely everybody. (Yes, just like public broadcasting!)
Become a supporting subscriber of The Raft at one of these levels:
$5 per month
$50 per year (less than a dollar per week).
Raft Keeper: $150 per year
All these contributions are collected via Substack, which receives a share of the proceeds. This enables the Substack platform to flourish as an alternative to other less user-friendly and less ethical social media platforms.
If you’d rather make a one-time contribution in an amount of your choosing, use the button below. Upon being notified of your contribution, I’ll change your Rafter membership from free to paid. You’ll then enjoy the modest but heartfelt perks of paid membership for a period of time that corresponds to the usual Raft subscription model. For example, if you give a one-time donation of $50, I’ll give you a year’s paid subscription. If you give $5, I’ll give you a month’s.
Rather contribute by check? Please contact me.
Grateful, grateful.
Again, I’m so glad you’ve stepped aboard The Raft! As an author, poet, musical dabbler, and host of this online community, I look forward to rubbing creative shoulders with you. Always feel free to drop me a line.
Ready to head downstream?
