Welcome to Gaining Ground.
Books change us. Writing reveals things inside us. And we mature and grow through deep thought and discussion. So let’s do this.
Once upon a time (in 2020) we started Gaining Ground — the sweet spot where great books intersect with wholeness and writing. That year we read Pride and Prejudice, A Tale of Two Cities, The Screwtape Letters, Fahrenheit 451, and A Christmas Carol. It was super fun — some of us just read along, and others of us honed our writing skills and worked through wholeness. And for my part, I finally learned how to spell important things like “prejudice” and “Fahrenheit.”
But then I fell off the radar in 2021 because I wrote a book series. That was super fun, too, but OH MY GOSH there was no time for anything else.
So then we restarted in March of 2022 with The Hobbit, because the world needs us to read great books, and know what we’re capable of, and slay dragons more than ever. We’ve been reading and slaying and sharing nerdy memes ever since over on our Telegram group, where we discuss the content and themes, hash out parts that befuddle us, and share favorite quotes and new vocabulary. I’d love for you to join us — we’re getting great classics under our belts (and going deeper by reading some again!), developing writing skills, and gaining clarity on our identity and wholeness. This is where we gain ground.
We also do a couple other things around here to help people grow in reading, writing, and wholeness.
1. Upgrade to a paid subscription for monthly writing coaching.
I’ve authored ten books, coached students and friends, and written on my own site since 2008, which explains why I’ve burned through four laptops. And while I am the laziest texter ever (everrrrr), I take real writing seriously and would be honored to help you get to the next level. One of my favorite things is helping people find and refine their voice in writing, because you have powerful things to say and the world needs to hear them.
Premium subscribers to Gaining Ground get individualized, private coaching and feedback on short writing samples, up to 500 words per month, from yours truly, for $30 a month. You don’t have to be super committed for a long period of time; you can jump in for a month or two, jump out, make your schedule (and your subscription) work for you. If you subscribe for a whole year, you get two months free.
No, you don’t have to read the current book we’re reading as a group. And yes, homeschooling parents — I work with middle schoolers and high schoolers, too. 😁 You choose your writing sample — it can be something you’ve already written, or anything that you’d like a gentle critique and light edit on. You’ll get constructive feedback and tips to help you self-edit and improve your writing skills while also maintaining and refining your personal voice and style. And it’s completely private; no one will see your writing sample besides me and my cat. Promise.
2. High school homeschool lit classes
I currently have a semester-long British lit course available, which is equal to 1/2 credit in high school English. It’s scheduled over 18 weeks but students are free to move at their own pace and there are two options available:
Purchase the 30-page booklet (it’s $10) for a DIY experience. Included is the 18-week schedule, a short weekly assignment, a variety of questions and topics to choose from for the papers, supplemental graphics…and memes. :)
Purchase the full course, which includes the booklet PLUS my time, and have your student send me all of their weekly assignments and papers for constructive feedback and coaching.
Currently in progress is another Brit lit course (for a second semester), an American lit course, and some smaller supplementary courses for those who just need to beef up their high school language arts curriculum a little. So stay tuned!
Curious about all the other books we’ve done so far? Here’s the list, as of fall of 2023, if you can read my Sanskrit:
After those, we read Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens, Lilith by George MacDonald, and The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emma Orczy, 1984 by George Orwell, The Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and Emma by Jane Austen. As I type this update in the fall of 2024, we’re getting ready to start Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, which should last us until 2027 or so.
JUST KIDDING. (Sheesh) It’s a long one (over 1000 pages) but it’s only scheduled through the end of March 2025. Piece of cake. :)
