I am emerging from a cocoon. No, that’s not right.
I am evolving. No, that’s not it either.
I’m…I don’t know. Something is changing.
(Don’t worry, I’m not running away from my life, taking up with a sketchy group of burlap-frocked people who sway around campfires.)
Apparently it is common for women my age, especially those who have spent two decades or more in the role of nurturer, to blink and go, Who am I? What the actual hokey-pokey am I doing with myself?
It’s fine. I’m fine.
In the last month, a lot has changed and nothing has changed. And that’s life, isn’t it? But what I’ve realized is that I don’t want to do a single thing any more that isn’t true. That isn’t driven forward by my own intention, not someone else’s.
I’ve been writing flash narrative for the last few weeks, because I remembered that it is where I began, years and years ago; it’s where my heart lives.
I’ve set aside my book project. I still love it, I may return to it.
Instead I am following my passion back to where it was, writing story after story that blurs the line between fiction and nonfiction, that drops the reader straight into a whirlpool of emotion without preamble or explanation of any kind. Flash (or micro) stories are under 1,000 words; mine land closer to 500 at most. And I’m obsessed and grateful and full of joy.
But it led me to question the advice I’ve given before about avoiding the “shiny object” of new ideas and doing what it takes to stay focused on the task at hand. There is some merit there, but also, what if it’s more nuanced?
In the spirit of this conversation (and for more on my pivot)…here’s this week’s Pep Talk!
Yes, we are moving back to audio. Frankly, editing video requires more time than I wish to spend. I know you understand. 💗
How do you decide whether or not to leave one project and jump into another? More importantly, how do you talk to yourself about it? Click the speech bubble and let us know!
In other news…
🧵 Thursday Thread: This is something new I’ve started on Substack. Each week I’ll post a question for discussion! Please come over and leave your thoughts. This week’s question: what part of the writing life makes you feel the most vulnerable? Click here to answer!
✍🏻 How’s my writing going? Thanks for asking! Here’s this week’s Writing Report.
💻 Essay: It’s Complicated, But I’ve Got You: An Open Letter to 8-Year-Old Me
📚 Book Club: If you recall, I was overtaken by the tidal wave of life in June, so I still owe paid subscribers a discussion of our June book The Lincoln Highway. Stay tuned…an update is coming later this week!
📖 What I'm reading: The Art of Brevity by Grant Faulkner. This is the book that sparked my pivot. If you are at all interested in short-short form writing, this is for you. Also To & Fro by Leah Hager Cohen. A delightfully sweet and quirky coming-of-age fable in two parts.
📺 What I'm watching: The Bear, Season 3, (FX). The brilliance of the editing and acting on this show is undeniable. After episode 3, I can say that I will be needing a little more plot than we’ve gotten so far this season. But I’m still hooked and will be watching the entirety. Honorable mention to Evil, which we just discovered on Netflix and are happily binging.
🎧 What I'm listening to: I stumbled across Explosions in the Sky on Spotify and have found my new writing music. This song in particular. I also am remembering that I love R.E.M.
What do you recommend reading, watching or listening to? Click the speech bubble and leave a comment!
Around Writing Town:
I met a delightful writerly human this month named Joe Donley. He has built a unique (and slightly creepy) small press specifically for horror and horror-adjacent stories. If this is your jam, or the jam of someone you know, please share! Dark Forest Press »
My friend and fellow book coach Stacy Frazer has a delightful new podcast! She is equal parts brilliant and honest, and I know you’ll enjoy it. The Write It Scared Podcast »
Remember, you are invited to write with me for an hour every weekday morning! It is so helpful to know that someone else is there, doing the same kind of work. Click here to learn more.
I would like to take a moment here at the end to let you know that I genuinely appreciate you. Thank you for letting me be here, in your inbox. Have a beautiful day.
Warmly,
Stephanie
P.S. I'll be here when you're ready.
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