Cake Quartet

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Over cupcakes at a March meeting in 2017, our writing group of four decided to call ourselves the Cake Quartet.

 

We rotate hosting our meetings and feed the group. Not only desserts and snacks, but thoughtful and respectful feedback on writing, whether prose or poetry. The meetings are times of nurturing our art.

 

We value one another as women, writers, and friends: Ann Hursey, Esther Helfgott, Trish McKenny Honig.

 

We are the Cake Quartet because cakes invoke celebrations. And we celebrate each other!

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Here’s another lovely thing about cake. It’s easier than writing!

I could not remember if I had ever baked a cake from scratch, but Trish is an experienced baker for her lucky family. We arranged a baking day for a recipe she found: Southern Coconut Cake. She had all the basic ingredients, pans, and other equipment while I brought the specialized ingredients like shredded coconut, coconut flavoring, whipped cream, and so on.

In a few hours, we were done. I felt I had accomplished something. It was fun and I had a finished product that I knew my friends and I would enjoy! Too bad if they don’t like coconut.

It was a divine 2-layer cake with 2 kinds of frosting. Voilà!

YUM!

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Writing is definitely not a piece of cake. It’s a much, much longer process. Often a learn-as-you-go endeavor.

Frustration and disappointment can be constant companions along the road. Getting my book published has certainly had its ups and downs. Not sure what to do next, but I will keep doing the next thing, then the next thing and keep going. Pick up my heavy heart and keep going, while self-publishing lurks in the back of my mind.

I can commiserate with my writing group. Borrow their wisdom and strength.

And when necessary, I can bake a cake and celebrate my foolish dreams or my persistence. Maybe both.

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Please note: The Cake Quartet will be reading at “It’s About Time” at the Ballard Library on Thursday, October 12 at 6 pm. Come and join us! Who knows? We might even serve cake!