Hello everyone! I hope you’re all doing ok with your books, even on the days when it feels tougher. I had a few bumps in the road with mine but feel excited about where it’s headed now.
Here’s what happened;
•I applied for a TEDx talk which was based on the themes in my book (it’s non fiction with elements of memoir) as I wanted to see if it was an idea worth spreading 💡 it was super helpful to think it through but I was rejected. It’s been a great process to refine my idea and I wrote about it on my substack if you’re interested.
• I’ve applied for a scholarship place on a writing course to support with my book and I had to write what would go on my book jacket and it was so helpful! I feel much more clear about where I’m headed.
• Struggling at the moment with my overall structure and chapters but in more of a flow of writing everyday.
•I’ve started a section of my Substack called Dream to Deal to document my book writing process to keep me accountable and courageous.
I’ve had a rocky start to the year but pleased to back on it now. Looking forward to seeing how everyone else is doing ❤️✨
My book is heavy and deep! It’s called I See You, a mother’s story of whole family healing after loss by suicide.
I align my book writing chapters with my monthly Substack post and share a summary of my current chapter every month.
Last month I posted a summary of my book chapter on how we mother and how we are mothered impacts the way we connect to emotions for well-being, grief recovery and trauma healing which ultimately helps to reduce suicide risk. I’m not sure how to tag you Claire as suggested but here is a link to my post.
Writing about mothering is by far my most difficult to share as I include personal details from childhood that leave me feeling vulnerable. April has therefore been a challenging month. It was also the 6th anniversary of losing mum on the 28th of April which made it even harder.
This month I’m writing about how the school/ education system impacts the way we connect to emotions for well-being, grief recovery and trauma healing which ultimately helps to reduce suicide risk.
I use my lived and professional experience.
My aim for writing is to feel seen as it’s difficult to share and hear and also contain the deeper more challenging parts of our situation. I hope sharing will filter out to others if it resonates so they feel better seen. To feel seen is essential for mental health and we cannot thrive without it 💔❤️🩹❤️
@Anna Rose I hear you on the rocky start! My dear father-in-law passed away in February, right around the time I was meant to start research for my new book. March and April were a blur. I'm a little in shock that it's May already. My hiatus from my day job (writing literature guides) is almost over and I've got a long way to go on the research I planned for this spring.
But I am having fun with the reading-dreaming-thinking stage of the writing process. I write middle-grade (ages 8-12) historical fiction, which means I get to write for the liveliest readers in the world. 😄 This new novel is called The Swimming Pigs of Licorice Springs & is set in the summer of 1980 — the year I was eleven, just like my main character, although this is not an autobiographical book. That was the summer Xanadu came out—possibly the best summer of my life! 😊 I'm having so much fun remembering what it was like to be a kid in the early 80s. Bought myself a Trapper Keeper to celebrate signing the contracts.
In the early stages of writing I lean heavily on Lynda Barry's creative exercises—especially this time! Her X-pages for memory harvesting have been invaluable. And her work always energizes me so much.
I've given myself until June to continue researching and then I need to be ready for serious writing. Book is due in February, which feels like next week.
Claire, thanks for this space to document our process!
I am staying on track for 2 large posts per month. I would like to gather all 12 months into a downloadable pack after the year is up.
1st post is an advanced tarot lesson, and I am collaborating with my favorite people each time.
2nd post - I am trying to write in a more vulnerable way with a monthly energy and spiritual work story. My viewpoints and how I got there, basically an autobiographical meandering journey of my experience being a light worker and tarot reader. I’d like to gather that together as well, and then put it in a less meandering format, also at the end of the year.
A huge realization for me is that I hide behind more formal tarot lessons. It is difficult to be vulnerable. I am not there 100% just yet, but it will get better each month with any luck.
Thanks for sharing Erica. My friend Caro talks about 'ghosts on the page' which is a cue for writing your heart out and then editing to feel safe... it might serve you as you explore personal story...
Except for one page of brainstorming ideas/chapters, I haven't done anything on my book. I'm struggling just to keep up with my normal "day job" (running my studio), writing my Substack newsletter, and attending to my loved ones. Writing my book seems like a far off dream. 😞
I’m so sorry to bother you. Where is the replay of the recent Chapters meeting? I’ve looked all over and I can’t seem to find it. I couldn’t find the link on your resource page or in Slack. Is there somewhere else I should look? Thank you!
Oh darn. I totally understand but I was hoping I could get some momentum for my project. Still, I'm so glad you could be there for everyone else. Thank you, Clare.❤️❤️❤️🌸🌼🌻
Unfortunately, I have a client at exactly that time. I could watch the replay but I won't be able to attend LIVE. I'm so sorry.
And Claire, I have always admired that you respond personally to my comments. I want to thank you again. You really create a community feeling, like I'm cared for and my concerns are important. Thank you.
Okay, so I fell off the book writing wheelbarrow and have finally picked myself up, dusted off the stickiness and heaviness that followed me into February and March, and have picked up my proverbial pen and started to write. It’s been on my mind all this time and is taking form so I have a reasonable idea of chapters and what I want to say. Title: unsure but along the lines How to Flucking Flourish Like the Queenager You Know You Are.
Totally inspired by other comments here and will be researching some grants and funding because why the heck not?! Thanks for holding this space and being patient with those of us who are often discombobulated 😁💖
LOVE that bold title - how wonderful... can you make the meet up next week Lisa? Sorry you've been unwell... it's hard because we expect steady progress where as actually if this first 5 months have shown me anything, that's not quite the case... xx
I took a little extract of my book to my writers' circle last week. I was excited but scared. So glad I did. The feedback was just what I needed. Will definitely keep this up every month to keep me on track.
I audio recorded it and listening back it's eleven minutes of pure gold. It was only on 400-500 words. But they said things like intriguing, instantly connecting, delicious sense of time, I got the back story in two words, beautiful, that it was showing and not telling.
Hello everyone! I hope you’re all doing ok with your books, even on the days when it feels tougher. I had a few bumps in the road with mine but feel excited about where it’s headed now.
Here’s what happened;
•I applied for a TEDx talk which was based on the themes in my book (it’s non fiction with elements of memoir) as I wanted to see if it was an idea worth spreading 💡 it was super helpful to think it through but I was rejected. It’s been a great process to refine my idea and I wrote about it on my substack if you’re interested.
• I’ve applied for a scholarship place on a writing course to support with my book and I had to write what would go on my book jacket and it was so helpful! I feel much more clear about where I’m headed.
• Struggling at the moment with my overall structure and chapters but in more of a flow of writing everyday.
•I’ve started a section of my Substack called Dream to Deal to document my book writing process to keep me accountable and courageous.
I’ve had a rocky start to the year but pleased to back on it now. Looking forward to seeing how everyone else is doing ❤️✨
Wow, well done! I’m excited about what’s ahead for you too!
Thank you Mika, let’s see how it all goes!
That sounds completely normal. You're refining your ideas down.
My book is heavy and deep! It’s called I See You, a mother’s story of whole family healing after loss by suicide.
I align my book writing chapters with my monthly Substack post and share a summary of my current chapter every month.
Last month I posted a summary of my book chapter on how we mother and how we are mothered impacts the way we connect to emotions for well-being, grief recovery and trauma healing which ultimately helps to reduce suicide risk. I’m not sure how to tag you Claire as suggested but here is a link to my post.
Thank you for sharing. https://open.substack.com/pub/wholefamilyhealing/p/tuesday-trauma-healing-with-tate-d5b?r=34rl2l&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Writing about mothering is by far my most difficult to share as I include personal details from childhood that leave me feeling vulnerable. April has therefore been a challenging month. It was also the 6th anniversary of losing mum on the 28th of April which made it even harder.
This month I’m writing about how the school/ education system impacts the way we connect to emotions for well-being, grief recovery and trauma healing which ultimately helps to reduce suicide risk.
I use my lived and professional experience.
My aim for writing is to feel seen as it’s difficult to share and hear and also contain the deeper more challenging parts of our situation. I hope sharing will filter out to others if it resonates so they feel better seen. To feel seen is essential for mental health and we cannot thrive without it 💔❤️🩹❤️
Thank you for the bravery and vulnerability to step into this space to help others in this incredibly heartbreaking and life changing space.
You can tag Claire by typing “@“ and then her name.
It sounds like you have a great system for getting your book written.
Cheering you on!
@Claire Venus ✨ thank you for sharing my newsletter and April’s chapter summary on mothering ❤️🩹
https://open.substack.com/pub/wholefamilyhealing/p/tuesday-trauma-healing-with-tate-d5b?r=34rl2l&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Oh it only works in Notes Piata. See you next Fri?
@Anna Rose I hear you on the rocky start! My dear father-in-law passed away in February, right around the time I was meant to start research for my new book. March and April were a blur. I'm a little in shock that it's May already. My hiatus from my day job (writing literature guides) is almost over and I've got a long way to go on the research I planned for this spring.
But I am having fun with the reading-dreaming-thinking stage of the writing process. I write middle-grade (ages 8-12) historical fiction, which means I get to write for the liveliest readers in the world. 😄 This new novel is called The Swimming Pigs of Licorice Springs & is set in the summer of 1980 — the year I was eleven, just like my main character, although this is not an autobiographical book. That was the summer Xanadu came out—possibly the best summer of my life! 😊 I'm having so much fun remembering what it was like to be a kid in the early 80s. Bought myself a Trapper Keeper to celebrate signing the contracts.
In the early stages of writing I lean heavily on Lynda Barry's creative exercises—especially this time! Her X-pages for memory harvesting have been invaluable. And her work always energizes me so much.
I've given myself until June to continue researching and then I need to be ready for serious writing. Book is due in February, which feels like next week.
Claire, thanks for this space to document our process!
I think that giving yourself time and space to heal from a devastating loss.
All the best for your creative endeavours. I’m sure it will unfold in the right time. 💐
I am staying on track for 2 large posts per month. I would like to gather all 12 months into a downloadable pack after the year is up.
1st post is an advanced tarot lesson, and I am collaborating with my favorite people each time.
2nd post - I am trying to write in a more vulnerable way with a monthly energy and spiritual work story. My viewpoints and how I got there, basically an autobiographical meandering journey of my experience being a light worker and tarot reader. I’d like to gather that together as well, and then put it in a less meandering format, also at the end of the year.
A huge realization for me is that I hide behind more formal tarot lessons. It is difficult to be vulnerable. I am not there 100% just yet, but it will get better each month with any luck.
Thanks for sharing Erica. My friend Caro talks about 'ghosts on the page' which is a cue for writing your heart out and then editing to feel safe... it might serve you as you explore personal story...
Ooohh…I’ll have to check that idea out. Thanks, Clair 💕
✨ the cue really helps me.
Except for one page of brainstorming ideas/chapters, I haven't done anything on my book. I'm struggling just to keep up with my normal "day job" (running my studio), writing my Substack newsletter, and attending to my loved ones. Writing my book seems like a far off dream. 😞
Can you come on Fri?
I’m so sorry to bother you. Where is the replay of the recent Chapters meeting? I’ve looked all over and I can’t seem to find it. I couldn’t find the link on your resource page or in Slack. Is there somewhere else I should look? Thank you!
I didn’t record it love as wanted folks to share more intimately this time. I’ll send a round up from it tho.
Oh darn. I totally understand but I was hoping I could get some momentum for my project. Still, I'm so glad you could be there for everyone else. Thank you, Clare.❤️❤️❤️🌸🌼🌻
You know I might just make you a video with all my notes! That would be more engaging than the email!
Unfortunately, I have a client at exactly that time. I could watch the replay but I won't be able to attend LIVE. I'm so sorry.
And Claire, I have always admired that you respond personally to my comments. I want to thank you again. You really create a community feeling, like I'm cared for and my concerns are important. Thank you.
You are so welcome. I love doing this work and witnessing others doing the same. xx
Okay, so I fell off the book writing wheelbarrow and have finally picked myself up, dusted off the stickiness and heaviness that followed me into February and March, and have picked up my proverbial pen and started to write. It’s been on my mind all this time and is taking form so I have a reasonable idea of chapters and what I want to say. Title: unsure but along the lines How to Flucking Flourish Like the Queenager You Know You Are.
Totally inspired by other comments here and will be researching some grants and funding because why the heck not?! Thanks for holding this space and being patient with those of us who are often discombobulated 😁💖
LOVE that bold title - how wonderful... can you make the meet up next week Lisa? Sorry you've been unwell... it's hard because we expect steady progress where as actually if this first 5 months have shown me anything, that's not quite the case... xx
I just registered! 💖 see you next week x
I took a little extract of my book to my writers' circle last week. I was excited but scared. So glad I did. The feedback was just what I needed. Will definitely keep this up every month to keep me on track.
Ooo what did they say?
I audio recorded it and listening back it's eleven minutes of pure gold. It was only on 400-500 words. But they said things like intriguing, instantly connecting, delicious sense of time, I got the back story in two words, beautiful, that it was showing and not telling.
the world will be delighted by you and your words - beautiful.
I've made this circle for others but I get so much from it too. The idea happened at the March Meet Up.