Lay it on the Line
Lay it on the Line: Where Curiosity Meets Candour
💦 monthly essays 💦
A Beautiful Truth - Curated by Bee Lily Jones - October 1, 2025
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin... - Curated by Donna Fisher - September 1, 2025
Finding Comfort - Curated by Yasmin Chopin - August 1, 2025
In Lieu of Possession - Curated by Stacy Boone - July 1, 2025
Threading Waters - Curated by Julia Adzuki - June 1, 2025
about this collaboration
Or candor for the American folk. ☺️
Let me take a moment to share an upcoming collaboration. Beginning in June 2025, a cohort of seven writers are embarking upon an effort to share honest writing. We are women with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and creative perspectives. The project begins with a monthly letter to our cohort, this lead rotates monthly, and we follow with our individual responses which is then organized by the lead writer. The only real rule is that our response be limited to 250-350 words (and maybe steer away from politics). What we expect is that our candor displays our inquisitive, authentic approach to the exploration of ideas.
Join our monthly offering that varies from academia to design, from zoology to trail leading, homesteading, and creative writing. What we share might be fiction or nonfiction but if nothing else it is authentic to our true selves.
Each month I will add the posting link to this page and archive a link to the prior posts at the bottom of this page.
meet the cohort of writers
Julia Adzuki at Artists in Resonance is a storyteller that treads into the pain of an obliterated landscape while incorporating an artistic practice.
Yasmin Chopin at Home & Place Writing is a researcher with her finger on the pulse of investigating what is place. Nature or urban - Chopin encourages a new exploration of where you are.
Donna Fisher at Treefaring writes nature-inspired fiction, poems and personal essays with a focus on the magic of venturing into the natural world and our relationship with that experience.
Bee Lilyjones at Before We Leave with Bee Lilyjones and Friends writes inspiring essays to honor the memories of the place she lives, the place she will soon depart.
Amanda C. Sandos at A Zookeeper’s Memoir shares stories relating to her 30 years as a zookeeper, with the premise to promote a shift in how a human might think about their relationship to the other animals around us.
Julie Snider at Impermanent Joy as a writer of fiction and nonfiction, shares thoughtful and engaging essays on nature, education, and spirituality.
about the artwork
Bee designed the artwork, and she is a masterful designer. When she originally sent the artwork included was a page-plus that outlined each detail. Not as easy as grab something from the web and toss a color behind for added effect. Instead, Bee designed with intention. Here is her abbreviated note:
My guiding principle was “nature abhors a straight line” to reflect how creativity thrives when it meanders. This represents the organic, evolving nature of our conversations rather than a linear progression of ideas. I layered various symbolic elements. Themis represents justice, equity, reason and truth. Cherry blossom signifies hope and renewal but also fleetingness. The olive branch stands for peace and friendship. Our diverse voices will build upon each other’s ideas. The juxtaposition of botanical illustrations, classical imagery, geometric forms and typography creates an open, plural approach. The visible edges and overlaps between elements show transparency about our collaborative process. Rather than presenting a seamless front, our design acknowledges individual contributions and the creative friction that might occur when different viewpoints interact. It’s a visual honesty that aligns with our candour theme.