Dana DuBois | I Write Out Loud

I host a Red Flag Round Up every time I meet a fundraising goal. So first, a huge thank you to everyone who’s joined me a paid subscriber. Your support helps me bring my stories to life, out loud, and I’m so grateful. Red Flag Round Up is where I offer a view of my online dating inbox and a front-row seat to my rhetorical analysis of the messages I receive.

Thank you Karen Marie Shelton , SammyD , The Rebel Crone (Shālah) , Diane Johnston, Suzanne Whitaker, Dar 🇨🇦, Jason P. Odell 📷 , Kathleen Blum324, Linnea_at_large, Sophie, Brigitta Toth, Kathy Austin, Texas, Joan St C., Julie Robuck, Rose, Mary Anne, Cris Palomino, John | Grow by Helping Others, Jo, Lynda Kramer, Paula for attending the first-ever I Write Out Loud Academy training. I hope you found it helpful. The Writing Your Memoir Out Loud Handout PDF is attached below.

Dearest readers, A Letter From Dana is where to write to you directly—not inside an essay, but simply thoughts from my life: what I’m working on, what’s coming, random thoughts and ephemera from my creative world. I’m so glad you’re here. Dana DuBois | I Write Out Loud is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Well...Substack had other plans.

Dana’s note: Sinead OConnor died three years ago, on July 26, 2023. I wrote this essay two days later. I’m sharing it now, on the anniversary of her passing, as a remembrance for her and her (wildly underappreciated) work. If you have a memory of how Sinead’s music or actions impacted your life, please feel free to share them in the comments. I was sitting outside at a cafe yesterday, having lunch with one of my favorite coworkers, when I got a text from my lifelong best friend, Lawrence Winnerman.

I entered this week's Sunday Salon profoundly exhausted and happy, in equal measure. Yesterday was my birthday, so last night involved theater (starring my daughter), karaoke (starring me), and not insignificant quantities of bourbon, perfectly mediocre Chinese food, gluten-free birthday cake, and merriment. So today was a bit of a ramble, and a makeup-l…

Dana DuBois | I Write Out Loud Storytelling at the intersection of relationships, parenting, and music--sometimes all at once. Storytelling at the intersection of relationships, parenting, and music--sometimes all at once.

Dana DuBois | I Write Out Loud Storytelling at the intersection of relationships, parenting, and music--sometimes all at once. Storytelling at the intersection of relationships, parenting, and music--sometimes all at once.

Hi! My two birthday wishes both involve more of you joining The Outlouders—my official nickname for the I Write Out Loud paid subscriber community: 56% off annual subs for my 56th birthday! Through my birthday weekend, paid subscriptions are now just $44/year, for the lifetime of the subscription. Subscribe here! Donate to the “Support the Community” drive. For as little as $5, you can gift part or all of a paid subscription. Donate at ko-fi! Love you, mean it! Available for iOS and Android

This week I celebrate the life of Amy Winehouse, who died 15 years ago today, by remembering the time I bumped into her on the streets of Austin during SXSW in 2007. She was lovely. You all are lovely. To celebrate her death as I’m about to celebrate my birthday is a strange duality. Thanks for tuning in and listening to it all.

Amy Winehouse and the author at SXSW 2007. Photo from author. Oh, Amy. So many words have already been written about her life and demise, without any true answers or solace. Fifteen years have passed since her untimely death this week in 2011, at just 27 years old. I feel like her loss came with no closure. She was here and she was huge, and hugely troubled. The troubles won, and then she was gone. And that was that.