EPISODE 111: Writing in the Dark: Jeannine Ouellette on Uncertainty, Slow Language, and Writing as a Path of Becoming

Way-Word Writers hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer introduce their mission and welcome guest Janine Ouellette, author of the lyric memoir The Part That Burns and creator of the Substack Writing in the Dark, who teaches writing through the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop and at the University of Minnesota, with a forthcoming craft book One Word at a Time. Ouellette explains that writing “saved” her life by helping her become herself and transform childhood trauma into something separate and beautiful, echoing André Aciman’s idea that writers create empowering “versions of the past.” She frames writing as a non-dogmatic spiritual practice tied to attention and becoming, describes “Writing in the Dark” as embracing uncertainty and Keats’s “negative capability,” and discusses breaking through the “wall” with tools and community. She contrasts drafting (“morning”) with revision (“afternoon”), defines “sleepy” versus “awake” language via defamiliarization and specificity, and argues for “slow language” and anti-capitalist, process-over-product practice that values playful exercises and creative risk.00:00 Welcome to Way-Word00:34 Meet Janine Ouellette02:40 Writing Saved My Life06:20 Versions of the Past07:41 Writing as Becoming09:51 Uncertainty and Negative Capability13:16 Breaking Through the Wall17:01 Waking Up Language24:45 Story Thinking in Life33:00 Writing as Transformation40:22 Slow Language and Play46:08 Closing and ConnectThe Part That Burns by Jeannine Ouellette This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit waywordwriters.substack.com