Today, we are stepping out of order because it’s February and we’re in the U.S. and we can’t avoid thinking about love. So, we’re bringing you a Valentine’s Day episode. This episode is a little different. Slightly less teachy, thought not without this lesson: A good way to approach a story is to ask a question and then to try to answer it. You’ll meet students from season two and you’ll hear from some of regulars that you already know. You’ll hear their questions about love.

Miriam Herman, a new student, writer, programmer and mathematician asks if it’s true that once you love someone, you love them forever? Cynthia Castillo, another new student writes, teaches, coaches, mentors, and heals. Cynthia’s story is about friendship love, a love we assume will be there forever. Cynthia asks: What if our best friend is not here forever? Nicki is an artist and traveler who spent her twenties living abroad. Now she works with international students at U.M.. In her response to the prompt love, Nicki mentions The Moth, which is a storytelling competition. So every month there’s a theme and every February the theme is Love Hurts. This bugs Nicki. Nicki asks, why is everyone so pathetic about love this month? On the one hand, Allison agrees with Nicki Post that we’re here to love as much as possible. On the other hand, it sounds like Allison’s giving up on love. Allison asks: Is love even worth the effort?

You find out why Andrea’s story got cut even though she thinks it’s possible to create an extraordinary story out of an ordinary situation.

After hearing all the stories, we have concluded this: It seems like different phases of life and different types of love bring up different questions. If we’re talking about a lover, will we love that person forever? If we’re talking about friends, will our friends be around to love us forever? If it’s February, will we always be so pathetic about love? If we’re Allison, will love ever be worth the bother?

This episode is dedicated to Cynthia’s friend, who died a few days after Cynthia wrote her story.

Writing Class Radio is a podcast where you’ll hear true personal stories and learn a little about how to write your own stories. Writing Class Radio is equal parts heart and art. By heart we mean the truth in a story. By art we mean the craft of writing. No matter what’s going on in our lives, writing class is where we tell the truth. It’s where we work out our shit, and figure out who we are.

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Writing Class Radio is co-hosted by Allison Langer (www.allisonlanger.com) and Andrea Askowitz (www.andreaaskowitz.com). Writing Class Radio is produced by Diego Saldana-Rojas, Andrea Askowitz and Allison Langer. This episode was produced with additional support from Sonesh Chainani and Tobi Ash.

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