Well, it's 7:39 am and I'm crying because THIS is so, so true..."We are steeped in capitalist conditioning that wants us to believe that having a book to sell is the most important thing. Of course it wants us to believe that; that’s how capitalism sustains itself. Social media invites us to compare, to wonder if everyone is writing better and faster than we are. Maybe they are, and maybe they aren’t. It doesn’t actually matter. I’m interested in divesting from conditioned ‘values’ like hustle, overwork, speed. ‘Move fast and break things’ is the order of the day, but in writing we can move slow and put things, slowly, together. What kind of writing is produced when we are interested in patience, gentleness, courage, humility?"
Jami and Rachel, thank you so much! I also needed to hear this today. “Countless moments of discouragement, a compounding feeling of failure” — I am in the messy middle and feeling that so hard right now.
ah, i kinda needed this one today. have been in the mucky middle (not of my project but of my own mind) and feeling like the slowest of inchworms. but actually, the work is moving forward and this year's sprint has truly helped, so thank you.
Jami I am so in awe of you and the people you surround yourself with. The care, the intellect, the compassion each of your contributors displays just astounds me every day of these 2 weeks. I love this event and everyone involved. Thank you so much for bringing it to the world. You are all incredible.
Usually, I read the Craft Talk BEFORE I write. Today, I'm getting to it after a neat little 1600-word day where I incorporated some pieces from my notebook with some ideas I had about the characters and, yeah--here I am in the messy middle. Thank you, Rachel Khong, for helping me understand this is a good place to be. Oh, and I loved, Goodbye, Vitamin; it was hilarious. So, yeah. I'm feeling tired, like, can I really make it to the end of #1000 words, but now that I feel more comfortable in the messy middle, I guess I will.
And as for capitalism--yes, that true. But also, what I know aboiut myself in this later part of my life is, I have to write. I don't have to publish. I mean, sure, no denial, I'd like to. But it's just, that's where I am. So thanks for this!
Beautiful encouraging words from Rachel and, as always, Jami. I love the idea of going on with #1000words this month, though I am mostly going to be writing my new travel column and my substack posts and probablynot on Slack. I also will add that I'd vote for doing a mini on labor day weekend!
Well, it's 7:39 am and I'm crying because THIS is so, so true..."We are steeped in capitalist conditioning that wants us to believe that having a book to sell is the most important thing. Of course it wants us to believe that; that’s how capitalism sustains itself. Social media invites us to compare, to wonder if everyone is writing better and faster than we are. Maybe they are, and maybe they aren’t. It doesn’t actually matter. I’m interested in divesting from conditioned ‘values’ like hustle, overwork, speed. ‘Move fast and break things’ is the order of the day, but in writing we can move slow and put things, slowly, together. What kind of writing is produced when we are interested in patience, gentleness, courage, humility?"
Jami and Rachel, thank you so much! I also needed to hear this today. “Countless moments of discouragement, a compounding feeling of failure” — I am in the messy middle and feeling that so hard right now.
ah, i kinda needed this one today. have been in the mucky middle (not of my project but of my own mind) and feeling like the slowest of inchworms. but actually, the work is moving forward and this year's sprint has truly helped, so thank you.
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Mahalo for this! I feel exactly in the messy middle, and I needed this reminder today.
And now I am wishing I could also create a space like The Ruby!
Jami I am so in awe of you and the people you surround yourself with. The care, the intellect, the compassion each of your contributors displays just astounds me every day of these 2 weeks. I love this event and everyone involved. Thank you so much for bringing it to the world. You are all incredible.
Thank you Rachel and Jami. This post on speed was exactly what I needed today.
Usually, I read the Craft Talk BEFORE I write. Today, I'm getting to it after a neat little 1600-word day where I incorporated some pieces from my notebook with some ideas I had about the characters and, yeah--here I am in the messy middle. Thank you, Rachel Khong, for helping me understand this is a good place to be. Oh, and I loved, Goodbye, Vitamin; it was hilarious. So, yeah. I'm feeling tired, like, can I really make it to the end of #1000 words, but now that I feel more comfortable in the messy middle, I guess I will.
And as for capitalism--yes, that true. But also, what I know aboiut myself in this later part of my life is, I have to write. I don't have to publish. I mean, sure, no denial, I'd like to. But it's just, that's where I am. So thanks for this!
Beautiful encouraging words from Rachel and, as always, Jami. I love the idea of going on with #1000words this month, though I am mostly going to be writing my new travel column and my substack posts and probablynot on Slack. I also will add that I'd vote for doing a mini on labor day weekend!
1,101 today. And this post! So, so welcome. Onward, whatever gear you’re in. :-)