Dear Camilla. Sending love across the miles and also in the memory of your father. I looked into the photo of him and felt Iād crossed paths. Maybe the spirit of Byron. Now you and I have connected here on substack with our common purpose. Keep writing. Privilege is both a gift and a burden. So much we could talk of and share in common. I hope we met one day. š¹š¹š¹
Thanks heaps Bernadette and love bouncing back to you through the ether from the other side of the planet. that would be too funny if your's and my father's paths had crossed in Byron Bay. I hope we meet one day too, I'm DMing youā¤ļøššļø
Beautiful read, Camilla. We share a similar experience with writing: the first manuscript I had reviewed by a pro came back with so much red ink that I could barely find what I'd written.My reaction was one of shock, anger, hurt, and dismay. But... because of him, I became, and still am, a student of storytelling and craft. Like you, I write in service to others, but only partly; I also write because it's so very satisfying and fun to create characters, places and scenes that are reflective of the human condition. So write on sister, write on!
Your relationship with the Buddhists feels like it's filled with compassion and sincerity. I'm so grateful you're here to shine a light on the balance of the Divine Feminine. At the end of the day, you help me to realize that we all have more in common with each other than not; we share a path and shine a light. We create and keep curiosity alive. Thank you for the work you are doing in the world.
On a final note, your dad sounds like an absolutely wonderful man whose sense of love and social justice was inspiring. May his energy continue to beat in your heart as you move forward on your path.
Sending you much love and goodwill this day, Camilla. You are truly a force for good in this world. Thank you.
Thanks so much Stephanie, you and I could start a mutual admiration societyš And yes, to this: "I write in service to others, but only partly" - I love how Beth Kempton put it, "I write for the reader, but I write for myself first." And absolutely yes, I LOVE the joy that I can experience with the creative expression of writing - I wrote about this here: https://brevity.wordpress.com/2022/03/18/joy-and-spiritual-practice/
And yes, I enjoy both compassion and sincerity with our Buddhist friends, but my intention is also to watch my ego doesn't get too earnest, which it has a tendency to doš
Thanks also for your kind words about my dad. He was a complex character with his upper-class English background, but it's true I'm proud of him, especially the work he did as a climate change activist.
Love and goodwill bouncing back to you too Stephanie, and also an appreciation for you being a force for good and for awareness and enlightenment in this worldā¤ļøššļø
and my glass is raised to your awesomeness Stephanieš„° and to the Substack platform that allowed us to find each other's writing! Cheersš¾š„āØš§āāļøš¤øāāļøš¼š·šŖ·ššš«āļøšššŗāÆļøāØššššļøš
I relate to your experience with commentary. A very well-known writer criticized my parenting rather than giving me feedback on my writing. Her workshop here in NH was a disaster for me and I didnāt write for three years. Sometimes we DO know but those who donāt know disparage us because of THEIR ego. I support you!
Thanks for your support Martha. These days I practice framing these kinds of challenges as an opportunity to step into my strength and power. It was painful at the time, but I do feel that I grew from the experience. maybe part of it was about integrating my shadow. But yes, also, the older I get, the more I learn to leave other people's "muck" with them, so they get to blossom like the lotus flower and grow because of, not in spite of itā¤ļøššļø
courageous of you to show the teacher's critique. And to get back to writing afterwards. I enjoyed seeing your father's photo and the description of him.
Camilla, thank you so much for your wise words and also for sharing a bit of your father with us. It occurs to me that I never wrote an obituary for my mother, who died 47 years ago from breast cancer. You have inspired me to do that today. As a teacher of creative writing particularly to Writers in 12th step recovery I am mindful that new writers need affirmation and encouragement. When my ego gets too involved in making āhelpful suggestions, āI know I need to step back.
Hi Christine, thanks for your comment and yes, teaching writing is quite an art form in itself. In addition to some challenging experiences while walking the path of the writer, I've also been blessed to experience several brilliant writing teachers, one of whom runs the Gateless Writing Academy and I absolutely LOVE how Suzanne Kingsbury says, "Writers need CRAFT, NOT OPINION." (excuse the caps, but I just feel so passionately about this.)
Suzanne's Gateless Academy teaches the craft of writing so exquisitely beautifully by first diving deep into the investigation of the Inner Critic.
All participating writers are trained in how to give Gateless feedback, which is feedback that reflects aspects of CRAFT back to the writer receiving feedback: narrative arc, character development, pacing, effective beginnings including a kicker, the global frame, the question of desire or having a central question, description, scene and setting, the situation and the story (a la Vivian Gornick), conflict and tension, structure and scaffolding, revising and editing, endings, etc.
Because the feedback is about the CRAFT, it benefits both the writer giving the feedback (strengthens their understanding of where the craft is working well in a piece) and the writer receiving the feedback. I cannot tell you how brilliantly this works and I highly recommend it - I also wrote about it here: https://brevity.wordpress.com/2022/12/09/on-useful-feedback/
Once again, I am smiling as I read today's post. If I didn't know you already, I would say to myself, "Wow, I would really like to know her." How lucky I am. I especially loved learning about your Dad.
Please keep shining the light in many places. xoxo
Aw, thanks so much for your loving kindness and generosity Chrisā¤ļøššļø And how lucky I am to know you!š„° And I'm looking forward to reading your Substack perhaps one day?
Hi Camilla. Thank you, l relate to much of this. Lying in the pre dawn, listening to your audio ā¦ punctuated by magpie warbles š, so much resonates ā¦ particularly the intent of writing, vulnerability, validation and creativity being an endeavour of the soul. ššš
Thank you for sharing šš¼ . Yesterday l posted in Notes, my resident magpies warbling a good morning and good night. I was truly blessed with a heart full of gratitude šš¼ šš¶š¤
āPain is inevitable, suffering is optional.ā I am in the midst of this lesson. It's taken a long time to get to the second part of this statement. The acknowledgment of the suffering is an important first step, so when we are ready (so when I was finally ready), living in it becomes an option while peace, joy and love become a choice. Thank you for the read! Beautiful as always... and I'm so glad you're not 'reporting on the mainstream' as my brain is full enough of it already. ā¤ļø
Hi Isabella, Yes, it's hard to remember that Buddhist principle in the midst of a painful experience, but it gives us something to practiceš And thank you for your generous and kind responseā¤ļøššļø
This was a very vulnerable and brave post, Camilla. I admire that you shared your experience about sharing your writing and it giving you pause when you realised you were seeking external validation. That was a big thing to acknowledge and I respect you for sharing it so openly.
Also, I absolutely love what you said here:
āAnd when the soul does not express itself, perhaps thatās when anxiety arises. Perhaps creativity is a healing balm for anxiety, which points towards creative expression being an essential human practice.ā ā beautifully said!
Thanks so much for your very sweet support Michael! You're such a champion of my writing and I appreciate it perhaps more than you may ever knowā¤ļøššļø
Dear Camilla. Sending love across the miles and also in the memory of your father. I looked into the photo of him and felt Iād crossed paths. Maybe the spirit of Byron. Now you and I have connected here on substack with our common purpose. Keep writing. Privilege is both a gift and a burden. So much we could talk of and share in common. I hope we met one day. š¹š¹š¹
Thanks heaps Bernadette and love bouncing back to you through the ether from the other side of the planet. that would be too funny if your's and my father's paths had crossed in Byron Bay. I hope we meet one day too, I'm DMing youā¤ļøššļø
Beautiful read, Camilla. We share a similar experience with writing: the first manuscript I had reviewed by a pro came back with so much red ink that I could barely find what I'd written.My reaction was one of shock, anger, hurt, and dismay. But... because of him, I became, and still am, a student of storytelling and craft. Like you, I write in service to others, but only partly; I also write because it's so very satisfying and fun to create characters, places and scenes that are reflective of the human condition. So write on sister, write on!
Your relationship with the Buddhists feels like it's filled with compassion and sincerity. I'm so grateful you're here to shine a light on the balance of the Divine Feminine. At the end of the day, you help me to realize that we all have more in common with each other than not; we share a path and shine a light. We create and keep curiosity alive. Thank you for the work you are doing in the world.
On a final note, your dad sounds like an absolutely wonderful man whose sense of love and social justice was inspiring. May his energy continue to beat in your heart as you move forward on your path.
Sending you much love and goodwill this day, Camilla. You are truly a force for good in this world. Thank you.
Thanks so much Stephanie, you and I could start a mutual admiration societyš And yes, to this: "I write in service to others, but only partly" - I love how Beth Kempton put it, "I write for the reader, but I write for myself first." And absolutely yes, I LOVE the joy that I can experience with the creative expression of writing - I wrote about this here: https://brevity.wordpress.com/2022/03/18/joy-and-spiritual-practice/
And yes, I enjoy both compassion and sincerity with our Buddhist friends, but my intention is also to watch my ego doesn't get too earnest, which it has a tendency to doš
Thanks also for your kind words about my dad. He was a complex character with his upper-class English background, but it's true I'm proud of him, especially the work he did as a climate change activist.
Love and goodwill bouncing back to you too Stephanie, and also an appreciation for you being a force for good and for awareness and enlightenment in this worldā¤ļøššļø
I raise my glass to your awesomeness. Cheers and onward!
and my glass is raised to your awesomeness Stephanieš„° and to the Substack platform that allowed us to find each other's writing! Cheersš¾š„āØš§āāļøš¤øāāļøš¼š·šŖ·ššš«āļøšššŗāÆļøāØššššļøš
I relate to your experience with commentary. A very well-known writer criticized my parenting rather than giving me feedback on my writing. Her workshop here in NH was a disaster for me and I didnāt write for three years. Sometimes we DO know but those who donāt know disparage us because of THEIR ego. I support you!
Thanks for your support Martha. These days I practice framing these kinds of challenges as an opportunity to step into my strength and power. It was painful at the time, but I do feel that I grew from the experience. maybe part of it was about integrating my shadow. But yes, also, the older I get, the more I learn to leave other people's "muck" with them, so they get to blossom like the lotus flower and grow because of, not in spite of itā¤ļøššļø
Thank you for āto shine the light in other spacesā, especially.
I'm happy to hear you appreciate this Juel. Thanks so much for being hereā¤ļøššļø
courageous of you to show the teacher's critique. And to get back to writing afterwards. I enjoyed seeing your father's photo and the description of him.
Thank you for your support Anna. Your friendship is truly meaningful to meā¤ļøššļø
Camilla, thank you so much for your wise words and also for sharing a bit of your father with us. It occurs to me that I never wrote an obituary for my mother, who died 47 years ago from breast cancer. You have inspired me to do that today. As a teacher of creative writing particularly to Writers in 12th step recovery I am mindful that new writers need affirmation and encouragement. When my ego gets too involved in making āhelpful suggestions, āI know I need to step back.
Hi Christine, thanks for your comment and yes, teaching writing is quite an art form in itself. In addition to some challenging experiences while walking the path of the writer, I've also been blessed to experience several brilliant writing teachers, one of whom runs the Gateless Writing Academy and I absolutely LOVE how Suzanne Kingsbury says, "Writers need CRAFT, NOT OPINION." (excuse the caps, but I just feel so passionately about this.)
Suzanne's Gateless Academy teaches the craft of writing so exquisitely beautifully by first diving deep into the investigation of the Inner Critic.
All participating writers are trained in how to give Gateless feedback, which is feedback that reflects aspects of CRAFT back to the writer receiving feedback: narrative arc, character development, pacing, effective beginnings including a kicker, the global frame, the question of desire or having a central question, description, scene and setting, the situation and the story (a la Vivian Gornick), conflict and tension, structure and scaffolding, revising and editing, endings, etc.
Because the feedback is about the CRAFT, it benefits both the writer giving the feedback (strengthens their understanding of where the craft is working well in a piece) and the writer receiving the feedback. I cannot tell you how brilliantly this works and I highly recommend it - I also wrote about it here: https://brevity.wordpress.com/2022/12/09/on-useful-feedback/
Hope that helps!ā¤ļøššļø
Once again, I am smiling as I read today's post. If I didn't know you already, I would say to myself, "Wow, I would really like to know her." How lucky I am. I especially loved learning about your Dad.
Please keep shining the light in many places. xoxo
Aw, thanks so much for your loving kindness and generosity Chrisā¤ļøššļø And how lucky I am to know you!š„° And I'm looking forward to reading your Substack perhaps one day?
Hi Camilla. Thank you, l relate to much of this. Lying in the pre dawn, listening to your audio ā¦ punctuated by magpie warbles š, so much resonates ā¦ particularly the intent of writing, vulnerability, validation and creativity being an endeavour of the soul. ššš
oooh, Simone, what a beautiful moment of synchronicity - one of my younger sisters just texted me this, and I was so taken by the magpie warbles at the beginning š„°https://open.spotify.com/track/3Y7fpFZbHLpAvWJJYGehz0?si=usz1uGndRTWk0f0XgETtyw&nd=1&dlsi=cfa458843caf4221
Thank you for sharing šš¼ . Yesterday l posted in Notes, my resident magpies warbling a good morning and good night. I was truly blessed with a heart full of gratitude šš¼ šš¶š¤
āPain is inevitable, suffering is optional.ā I am in the midst of this lesson. It's taken a long time to get to the second part of this statement. The acknowledgment of the suffering is an important first step, so when we are ready (so when I was finally ready), living in it becomes an option while peace, joy and love become a choice. Thank you for the read! Beautiful as always... and I'm so glad you're not 'reporting on the mainstream' as my brain is full enough of it already. ā¤ļø
Hi Isabella, Yes, it's hard to remember that Buddhist principle in the midst of a painful experience, but it gives us something to practiceš And thank you for your generous and kind responseā¤ļøššļø
I found so much value and compassion in this thread.
Thanks so much for being here Nicoleā¤ļøššļø
Itās lovely meeting you through our shared love of words.
and youš„°
This was a very vulnerable and brave post, Camilla. I admire that you shared your experience about sharing your writing and it giving you pause when you realised you were seeking external validation. That was a big thing to acknowledge and I respect you for sharing it so openly.
Also, I absolutely love what you said here:
āAnd when the soul does not express itself, perhaps thatās when anxiety arises. Perhaps creativity is a healing balm for anxiety, which points towards creative expression being an essential human practice.ā ā beautifully said!
Thanks so much for your very sweet support Michael! You're such a champion of my writing and I appreciate it perhaps more than you may ever knowā¤ļøššļø
My pleasure :)