13 Comments
May 13, 2023Liked by Haley Brengartner

Some true gems in this piece. Loving the metaphors Haley. That opening paragraph is banger (I might just quote that in an issue of mine)

This line was also very good. Perhaps my favourite:

"When I hit publish on my writing, I want my reader to feel seen - seen in a way that lingers like the smell of dogwoods in the spring air. I want my reader to feel warmth from cozying up with my thoughts. I want my reader to feel tightly embraced, like each of my words is a tiny hug. I write to give my reader a place of belonging.

I write to make my reader feel loved. "

Keep writing and publishing my friend!

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This should be printed in stone for the passage of time

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May 24, 2023Liked by Haley Brengartner

Loved reading this <3

I hadn't thought of writing as a love language but after I read it, it resonates so much with me.

"I wish for my writing to be a safe house as much as I wish for someone to spend quality time within it."

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Ok so I wanted to give this a few reads and let it marinate before commenting.

Holy shit Haley.

You've written a lot of amazing stuff, but this is far and away my favorite piece. I liked it so much, in fact, that I told my mom about it when I explained to her that writing was my love language, and that I didn't realize this until I read this essay.

The other ideas in here are equally amazing and True. Writing for immortality, writing for love, writing to give and receive - so much of this is embedded into the joy I get from writing, and I was unblissfully unaware until you put it into words so beautifully.

Really, really great work. You're a phenomenal writer, and you are creating an iconic, immortal, loving time capsule through your words.

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I've said it earlier, but I'll say it again. This is a wonderful manifesto. Frame this. It's your heart on a page, and it is oh so lovely. Chapeau!

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Yes. May we all take heed. Superb and sound.

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WOW!!! DAMN! I highlighted almost every line of this piece. Maybe it's recency bias, but your ending is my favorite part. Thanks for sharing this beautifully written manifesto for why you write and the impact you wish to have.

"I hope that one day, I am a weathered book with crispy-cornered pages and black text worn grey by zigzagging eyes. Phantom hands grasping me tightly. Warm on the inside. A safe house. A place to be loved.

As life slowly writes me out of existence, my writing will write my love back into it."

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Brilliant piece! How readers/writers/creators take time to read is an act of love and gratitude.

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founding

Haley, I read a quote today: “People die. Love does not die.” Made me think of you and your piece.

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Beautiful words and sentiment to all other writers and readers, alike. Well done and looking forward to more love!

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founding

Haley while I spent some time today on what I might offer to you, NONE of it would have been able to improve on your exquisite expression here. Sometimes we don’t write our pieces, they write us. This is one of those for you. I’m grateful to be contributed to by you and the love that pours out of you - through your smile, humor (wit) and through the ink on the page.

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LOVE IT! Write to be loved, readers read to feel love and connected to your writing. Rock on lady!

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Wow Haley. I mean wow! This is beautiful in so many ways. The first metaphor - how writing is a time capsule is so damn good. Your writing is so filled with personality and...love ❤️

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