Saturday 9/24/22
I just re-read what I wrote yesterday for a possible first Substack post, and I didn’t like it.
Then I looked at my profile and I thought, well, that’s not bad.
I’ll be writing about what I love, so perhaps part of this adventure into Substack will be about finding readers who love what I love.
I also noticed that of all of the profile photos I have on social media, for this one, I chose a pic where I’m wearing sunglasses.
As though a part of me still wants to hide.
I read on one publisher’s website recently, “In addition to an appealing book proposal, we want to see evidence of a healthy social media presence and an engaging public voice that's going to have readers worship you! Times have changed, folks. No more hiding. Get yourself out there.”
This is me getting myself out there and still hiding behind sunglasses :-)
I’ve also been reading about how the publishing industry needs to be disrupted. That most books sell between 0 and 10,000 copies, and perhaps books aren’t even the way to go anymore… maybe services like Substack will create a platform where authors can disseminate their work and get paid!
The below was part of what I wrote yesterday and then thought this morning, yeah… nah…
Perhaps it was the the Path of Crow, a program for studying world religions, that first planted this seed in my heart.
Although I also have no doubt that my soul planned this experience before I was born. I believe my soul’s intention was for ‘me’ to have a multitude of experiences in this human life school, to allow me to learn whatever it is that my soul determined I need to learn this time around, and to give me an opportunity to cultivate the courage I need to offer my gifts in the world.
For many years this seed has been waiting to blossom; to burst forth and merge with the force of the Rising of the Divine Feminine.
And here I am aware of my intention to be sincere, but not earnest. I want to communicate the truth of my experience perhaps even with a sense of humor, so I don’t fall into the category of SNL’s Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey. Although at least Deep Thoughts made me laugh, and there is forgiveness in laughter. Compassion for my own foibles and blind spots.
Does anyone really care?
What I care about when I read is that the writing engages me from the beginning to the end.
A great NYT article Jamie shared with me last night achieves this brilliantly. It’s called “I Don’t Need My Life to Be Remarkable.” I’ll share the link at the end so you don’t stop reading this now to go and read her brilliant writing. Ms. Sarah Wildman is a staff editor and writer in the Opinion section for the New York Times and she successfully engaged me from the start with an anecdote about how a friend, who was a therapist,
“…offered a gentle bit of advice to my partner, Ian, who was wrestling with his future after leaving the Peace Corps early: Don’t look for every moment to be a 10, she told him. Sometimes you have to celebrate the fours, fives and sixes.”
It’s advice worth remembering and applying to my own life.
Perhaps that’s one of the keys to engaging Creative Nonfiction writing. To share a story from my own life, where the writing is not actually about ‘me,’ but how the story from my life happens to illustrate a universal truth or a spiritual principle. Taking the ‘me’ and transforming it into the ‘we.’
Perhaps this can be my intention for this Substack.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/23/opinion/rosh-hashana-cancer.html
"To share a story from my own life, where the writing is not actually about ‘me,’ but how the story from my life happens to illustrate a universal principle. Taking the ‘me’ and transforming it into the ‘we.’"
That is brilliantly phrased, Camilla! Turning the me into we when we write. Thanks!
Love this, Camilla. I have experienced in your beautiful writing, how the rich stories of your life are universal and resonate in a grander way. And, I agree with Sarah W's therapist! I even celebrate the 2's and 3's.