Some of the best advice I ever got; a breakthrough from a friend; the before bed routine that's been changing my life; some cover reveals, and April book talk.
Thank you for this wonderful post which I’ll read multiple times to let it absorb. I needed every word. I have tried the affirmation experiment and recorded my writing affirmations. I even turned them into an EFT practice and been tapping along. I’ll definitely let you know when I have any tangible result. I know it will come. I already knew some of my writing blocks (the usual lack of self worth, fear of success, being seen) but it was really helpful to get them all out. I’ve never needed to go to AA but it’s super helped my sister and she continues to go. I just love Don’t Quit Before the Miracle. I’m on sub at the moment on a quest for my Champion Agent and yes, the rejections are horribly dispiriting. Sometimes I ask myself, what would Jack Canfield(or a similar self help person) say to me if he was here which keeps me going but I’ll also come back to this post. I love your thoughts on writing your story because in this age of glitter social media it’s so healing and reassuring to know others have survived trauma (especially generational family toxic dysfunction) and managed to thrive. I was always torn between wanting to be of Service and being Creative and couldn’t reconcile the two. It seemed so self-indulgent to sit in a room making up stories when I could be nursing or a similar service job. I even travelled to India to ask a Guru this question in my early twenties. (I’m such a nut!) He kindly answered the question for me with, ‘Not to use your creative gifts is an insult to God.’
Thanks you for the body comb recommendation. I do a lot of the self care tips from UK Katie Brindle’s site, Hayo’u Method and have the bamboo tapper and Gua Sha but shall try a body comb . I tried to preorder your Madwoman through Australia Amazon - they’re out of stock there but shall keep trying. Congratulations on your UK and US covers. They’re both fab. I did order the Wayne Dwyer, Abraham book you’re reading.
Thanks again for your posts. I love the combination of writing, self-help and make-up. I could imagine you doing a writing memoir along the lines of Bird by Bird or Dani Shapiro’s Still Writing. Here are a few book recommendations from multiple POV and domestic type settings. Apologies for my lengthy comment. I’ll aim to be more succinct next time.
Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton (set in a school though not a domestic setting)
The Most Dangerous Thing by Laura Lippman
The Girls in the Garden, The Family Upstairs, The Night She Disappeared and Then She was Gone by Lisa Jewell. L.J not as intense as Gillian Flynn but very readable. There must be a lot more!
Josephine! Wow, I read your comment twice. It means so much to me that you connected with the post in this way. I loved everything you said, and learning about your experience. And thank you for your kind words about the writing memoir. I do hope one day a book like that could be in my future. I love both of the ones you mentioned. I will also check out these book recs! I think I read The Family Upstairs awhile ago...I'll double check but the others are new to me! I appreciate your time in writing here. Wishing you all the best!!
“Commit to yourself that you will show up for yourself—out of self respect if nothing else—and take your body to that seat even when your mind is screaming no.” God, I love you Chels and your endless wisdom. Yes yes yes to all of this. This is just one of the many quotes from this stack that I promptly wrote down and will be looking at everyday 🙏🏻 It is all so relevant and applicable, even to the non writers. So many miracles to be had in this life.
Loved reading this. I'll be keeping "don't quit before the miracle" close in mind and on cork board as I write and trust and discover my way through my manuscript!
It feels like your posts always come at the perfect time. The rejections are starting to trickle in from queries I sent out last month, and it’s been hard to hear so many agents say “no” to my art. On my way to work this morning, I thought about how this process is creating some kind of resiliency (or grit!) that I hope will make me stronger. Then I read your words about not quitting before the miracle. It honestly kind of felt like the universe confirming my earlier thoughts. Thank you! xx
It is so intense to be on sub, truly. You are building a ton of grit! I still get rejected all the time, and I guess at a point we just decide that it doesn't matter, and faith builds that our work will find its way to the right people who need it. That faith becomes bigger and stronger than the pain of the rejection. Not that we don't feel it still. I guess though, the recovery time feels shorter. I wish you all the best in this harrowing moment, and sending you so much good luck and peace. Your art is worthy!
Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena aligns with the type of domestic thriller you're looking for - I can't say I thought it was as tight as a book like Gone Girl, but it has all the elements you laid out!
Thank you, Chelsea, for your words! I'll be thinking about this part long after reading it: "The despairing sense I get from writers who so desperately want to create but cannot get out of their own way, and I think the stakes may be just as high. Because to not live into your artistic desire in the way you are being called, is a kind of death."
Hello,
Thank you for this wonderful post which I’ll read multiple times to let it absorb. I needed every word. I have tried the affirmation experiment and recorded my writing affirmations. I even turned them into an EFT practice and been tapping along. I’ll definitely let you know when I have any tangible result. I know it will come. I already knew some of my writing blocks (the usual lack of self worth, fear of success, being seen) but it was really helpful to get them all out. I’ve never needed to go to AA but it’s super helped my sister and she continues to go. I just love Don’t Quit Before the Miracle. I’m on sub at the moment on a quest for my Champion Agent and yes, the rejections are horribly dispiriting. Sometimes I ask myself, what would Jack Canfield(or a similar self help person) say to me if he was here which keeps me going but I’ll also come back to this post. I love your thoughts on writing your story because in this age of glitter social media it’s so healing and reassuring to know others have survived trauma (especially generational family toxic dysfunction) and managed to thrive. I was always torn between wanting to be of Service and being Creative and couldn’t reconcile the two. It seemed so self-indulgent to sit in a room making up stories when I could be nursing or a similar service job. I even travelled to India to ask a Guru this question in my early twenties. (I’m such a nut!) He kindly answered the question for me with, ‘Not to use your creative gifts is an insult to God.’
Thanks you for the body comb recommendation. I do a lot of the self care tips from UK Katie Brindle’s site, Hayo’u Method and have the bamboo tapper and Gua Sha but shall try a body comb . I tried to preorder your Madwoman through Australia Amazon - they’re out of stock there but shall keep trying. Congratulations on your UK and US covers. They’re both fab. I did order the Wayne Dwyer, Abraham book you’re reading.
Thanks again for your posts. I love the combination of writing, self-help and make-up. I could imagine you doing a writing memoir along the lines of Bird by Bird or Dani Shapiro’s Still Writing. Here are a few book recommendations from multiple POV and domestic type settings. Apologies for my lengthy comment. I’ll aim to be more succinct next time.
Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton (set in a school though not a domestic setting)
The Most Dangerous Thing by Laura Lippman
The Girls in the Garden, The Family Upstairs, The Night She Disappeared and Then She was Gone by Lisa Jewell. L.J not as intense as Gillian Flynn but very readable. There must be a lot more!
Josephine! Wow, I read your comment twice. It means so much to me that you connected with the post in this way. I loved everything you said, and learning about your experience. And thank you for your kind words about the writing memoir. I do hope one day a book like that could be in my future. I love both of the ones you mentioned. I will also check out these book recs! I think I read The Family Upstairs awhile ago...I'll double check but the others are new to me! I appreciate your time in writing here. Wishing you all the best!!
“Commit to yourself that you will show up for yourself—out of self respect if nothing else—and take your body to that seat even when your mind is screaming no.” God, I love you Chels and your endless wisdom. Yes yes yes to all of this. This is just one of the many quotes from this stack that I promptly wrote down and will be looking at everyday 🙏🏻 It is all so relevant and applicable, even to the non writers. So many miracles to be had in this life.
Awwww love you Amber. You bring so much wisdom to my life, always. Thank you for reading!
Loved reading this. I'll be keeping "don't quit before the miracle" close in mind and on cork board as I write and trust and discover my way through my manuscript!
Love this image of it on the corkboard! thank you for reading, Kate!!
Needed this one today, Chelsea. Thank you. ♥️
So glad, Amy! Thank you for reading, so much! xo
It feels like your posts always come at the perfect time. The rejections are starting to trickle in from queries I sent out last month, and it’s been hard to hear so many agents say “no” to my art. On my way to work this morning, I thought about how this process is creating some kind of resiliency (or grit!) that I hope will make me stronger. Then I read your words about not quitting before the miracle. It honestly kind of felt like the universe confirming my earlier thoughts. Thank you! xx
It is so intense to be on sub, truly. You are building a ton of grit! I still get rejected all the time, and I guess at a point we just decide that it doesn't matter, and faith builds that our work will find its way to the right people who need it. That faith becomes bigger and stronger than the pain of the rejection. Not that we don't feel it still. I guess though, the recovery time feels shorter. I wish you all the best in this harrowing moment, and sending you so much good luck and peace. Your art is worthy!
Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena aligns with the type of domestic thriller you're looking for - I can't say I thought it was as tight as a book like Gone Girl, but it has all the elements you laid out!
oooh thank you! I haven't read her yet. I will check it out! xo
Thank you, Chelsea, for your words! I'll be thinking about this part long after reading it: "The despairing sense I get from writers who so desperately want to create but cannot get out of their own way, and I think the stakes may be just as high. Because to not live into your artistic desire in the way you are being called, is a kind of death."