The Unpsychology Writers Playgroup

Julia's offering and invitation

Introduction

As outlined in our post Steps forward. Steps back, a couple of week ago, we - the Unpsychology editorial team - are now moving forward with a new set of small projects and collaborations.

Steps forward. Steps back.

Rather than curating and editing a magazine - as we have for the past 10 years – we've decided to explore some fresh paths which relate to the themes, processes and practices that Unpsychology taps into – and which will help us nurture ourselves, each other and the community that has grown around the magazine.

With this new year, we're exploring some fresh paths and each editor – Steve Thorp, Lesley Maclean and myself, Julia Macintosh – will be curating a different project, or creative 'nub'. Here is an introduction to mine:

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The Unpsychology Writers Playgroup

I (Julia) have recently set up an Unpsychology Writers Playgroup. In this first instance, it is a cohort of six friends of Unpsychology – some contributors, some subscribers – who have agreed to meet monthly with a purpose to:

• explore ideas together through discussion and relationship-building;

• support and encourage one another in our respective writing projects;

• develop new writing (Unpsychology Voices Substack posts and other pieces).

What it is not:

• a platform for critiquing one another's writing;

• a publishing incubator.

I am hoping that it will serve as a crucible for creativity and for inquisitive exploration, and that it will cross-pollinate with the wider Unpsychology community. We will see what emerges from this collaborative and seed-scattering project. My intention is to hold the space as a playful and community-oriented writing hub.

In our first communication together, I asked the group to share a word that held particular resonance. Here’s what arose from this query:

• space

• curious

• wondering

• persevere

• the spaces in between [the following words] ‘encounters-practicing-indeterminacy’.

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Our invitation to the wider Unpsychology community

• Based on the above words, what are some questions or topics which you think this group might explore together?

• Is there a subject or an idea that you would like to be considered, and potentially addressed through writing?

• Or do you have a word which resonates for you, for any reason, and which can serve as a prompt?

• Or indeed, a piece of writing of your own to share, based on the above?

Please offer any thoughts or ideas via the comments below or by email to julia@unpsychology.org

We would love to play with your ideas and hope to invite more from you in future as the group evolves.

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