There were semicircles and school desks littered with papers, which we forgot to put in our cubbies. Book fairs after lunch, and a rush to find the next one in the series. Parents would pack a few bills and coins into a plastic baggy, and I would pace back and forth between the collapsible metal bookshelves that were spotted with color. We read and wrote for equivalencies, but it didn’t amount to much, I just liked the way that words played together on the paper.
Through the columns plastered white, and a hallway of muted greenish yellowish tiles, I still see myself. Two spins of the lock, one back, find the third number. I was whisked from class to class, waiting back, and mostly quiet. There were our reading assignments again. I would read in my head; accentuating and visualizing and thinking upon writers from different ages and different backgrounds. Our common ground was expression, right there in front of me.
It was cold, it was late, and I told Cole and Sharan that I’d rather not walk around tonight. We’d talked of creativity and innovation for the past few months, and it was wearing on us. Something changed that night. It was as if my consciousness had finally taken over. Thoughts swirled in the November night; stagnation was quickly replaced by action.
Writing is substantive. For all the abstractions and attempted elucidations of my thoughts, I was increasingly cognizant of the written word. It had always been there. Writing is how I can best connect with others. To ignore that fact would be a disservice to others and myself. That night, the concept for SimplyProse took shape.
Within us all is a sense of expression. Words seem brighter to me on pages ripped from notebooks. The spaces in between words and sentences reveal a portion of my mind and soul, which would not otherwise be visible.
Creativity flows energetically in all of us, but the ways that we express our creativity vary dramatically. The three of us feel strongly that the individual is able to best strengthen communities and further increase harmony among mankind through expression. This is much easier said than done, I am well aware, but it is imperative for us to try. That was our thought in starting a company.
SimplyProse is a place for writers. Here, users can receive productive feedback on their work, and truly make the most of their abilities. Our entire focus is on empowering the individual writer, and providing a platform that allows connection to others that share the same passion. For too long, there has been a disconnect in the writing and publishing worlds, and we know that our site will further strengthen the bond felt between writers, and the relationship between the writer and the publisher.
I would encourage anyone looking for a place to write with others, and/or connect with literary professionals to give our community a try. We just launched , and we are continually improving our platform, so keep an eye out for new features!
https://www.simplyprose.com/signup.php