Wait. Can we just talk about the fact that her cat's name is Marcus Aurelius? I love that. I'm also a huge fan of the "problem solving walk." It's gotten me through many stuck points before, but I kind of forgot about it (as I haven't been writing for a while) so I'm so glad for the reminder! I've only ever done the talking to myself thing when I was home, but this gives me some inspo to let myself look cray-cray... and I LOVE the line about not giving myself the silent treatment. 🙏
Loved this letter, thank you! I’m a big fan of walking through a writing problem, but almost always have my biggest breakthroughs when I’m driving.
I have certain songs that I write characters or scenes to, and I will listen to them on repeat for hours. Then, when I’m driving I’ll put the song on and just not think about anything for a while. Almost every time I drive more than 15 minutes (and I live in the country and am mum to two busy teenagers so am in the car a lot) I’ll have some kind of plot or character realisation. That’s when I use the voice notes app on my phone to get it out of my head as quick as I can.
I don’t think I’ve ever spoken out loud to myself though but I’m going to try! It sounds delightful!
Day 7! 1,578 new words this morning and a new Substack Post where I talk about writing, an elusive bird, and #1000wordsofsummer and post a pic I took the first day of the first time I did this in 2018. It represents, still, how this project feels to me -- and also ties into what Jami wrote this morning - being free!!! Hello, magic. :)
In the post, I talk about how I prepped for #1000words differently this year -- I didn't write for a few weeks, took a break, and filled up with friends, family, and adventure, instead. But now that we're here, it's all write, walk, write. That's my trick. Sometimes it's walk, write, swim/walk, and some days it's in the corners, but it creates a dreamy time where I'm in touch with nature and the work, and it works. Since I'm not walking a dog right now, I often talk to the birds, instead. There's a quirk!
Also, I LOVE Charlie Jane Anders! And loved this: "Listen, I think a willingness to be ridiculous and borderline antisocial is sometimes a helpful quality for a writer to have. But when I hold a tête-a-tête with myself, it's honestly a means to an end."
I haven't done this in a long time, but there was a time I would record myself talking in a French accent as my character (none of whom were ever actually French). I would just talk and talk, sometimes interview my character in my own voice and answer with a French accent. Maybe I'll try that today, as I'm wondering where to go next with my character ...
"A huge part of my writing process involves taking a very long walk and worrying at whatever snag my current work in progress has gotten into": did someone read my mind?!
This was a very fun and very relatable newsletter! Thank you!
Wow what a freeing idea! I have found that audio texting or even video rambling to myself is extremely helpful, because it doesn't get lost in my notes on my phone or computer. Also the use of voices for characters! YAASSSS Thank you for giving permission to get funky and playful with it. Sending love to everyone's writing journey!!
I write at my grandmother's original writing desk, along with pictures of my departed relatives on it. They were all poor, but educators, so they always emphasized reading and writing for us - my grandfather's study with all its books, and his typewriter, was my Sunday playspace while the adults talked in the dining room. When I feel down about my writing, I see them and feel like they are around me, encouraging me.
I guess my weird writing practice is stripping down to my birthday suit, slapping beef tallow on all my limbs, and then writing my 1000 words from the couch, wrapped in an old duvet. It’s weird, but it works wonders on eczema and keeps me glued to my seat.
This challenge resuscitated my writing life. Thank you, Jami, Charlie Jane, and all you other brilliant writers for inspiring me!
Yes! I spend a lot of time talking to myself about my current projects. In the car, I often will pretend I'm being interviewed by Terry Gross or someone else equally famous :) This always helps me get to the purpose, the "why" of what I'm writing. Sometimes I will use the voice memo app on my phone to record myself.
It's so interesting to read Charlie's process. I didn't know I could write or even wanted to until I was in my 20's. Upon reflection in the past few weeks, I recognized that even though I wasn't writing as a child, I was always talking to myself. Creating narratives, plots, characters. Lots and lots of talking. I too go for long walks and talk to myself whenever I hit a snag. It's a good thing we now have Air Pods, noone will ever know I am talking to myself 😂
As an introvert for whom talking to myself is a key part of the writing process, I cackled at this: “Listen, I think a willingness to be ridiculous and borderline antisocial is sometimes a helpful quality for a writer to have. But when I hold a tête-a-tête with myself, it's honestly a means to an end.”
Dang, now I want to go talk to a bison.
I conduct intense conversation with my characters on how the story should continue and their feelings about certain situations.😂😂Yep, a little weird.🩷
Wait. Can we just talk about the fact that her cat's name is Marcus Aurelius? I love that. I'm also a huge fan of the "problem solving walk." It's gotten me through many stuck points before, but I kind of forgot about it (as I haven't been writing for a while) so I'm so glad for the reminder! I've only ever done the talking to myself thing when I was home, but this gives me some inspo to let myself look cray-cray... and I LOVE the line about not giving myself the silent treatment. 🙏
Loved this letter, thank you! I’m a big fan of walking through a writing problem, but almost always have my biggest breakthroughs when I’m driving.
I have certain songs that I write characters or scenes to, and I will listen to them on repeat for hours. Then, when I’m driving I’ll put the song on and just not think about anything for a while. Almost every time I drive more than 15 minutes (and I live in the country and am mum to two busy teenagers so am in the car a lot) I’ll have some kind of plot or character realisation. That’s when I use the voice notes app on my phone to get it out of my head as quick as I can.
I don’t think I’ve ever spoken out loud to myself though but I’m going to try! It sounds delightful!
Day 7! 1,578 new words this morning and a new Substack Post where I talk about writing, an elusive bird, and #1000wordsofsummer and post a pic I took the first day of the first time I did this in 2018. It represents, still, how this project feels to me -- and also ties into what Jami wrote this morning - being free!!! Hello, magic. :)
In the post, I talk about how I prepped for #1000words differently this year -- I didn't write for a few weeks, took a break, and filled up with friends, family, and adventure, instead. But now that we're here, it's all write, walk, write. That's my trick. Sometimes it's walk, write, swim/walk, and some days it's in the corners, but it creates a dreamy time where I'm in touch with nature and the work, and it works. Since I'm not walking a dog right now, I often talk to the birds, instead. There's a quirk!
Also, I LOVE Charlie Jane Anders! And loved this: "Listen, I think a willingness to be ridiculous and borderline antisocial is sometimes a helpful quality for a writer to have. But when I hold a tête-a-tête with myself, it's honestly a means to an end."
I haven't done this in a long time, but there was a time I would record myself talking in a French accent as my character (none of whom were ever actually French). I would just talk and talk, sometimes interview my character in my own voice and answer with a French accent. Maybe I'll try that today, as I'm wondering where to go next with my character ...
"A huge part of my writing process involves taking a very long walk and worrying at whatever snag my current work in progress has gotten into": did someone read my mind?!
This was a very fun and very relatable newsletter! Thank you!
Wow what a freeing idea! I have found that audio texting or even video rambling to myself is extremely helpful, because it doesn't get lost in my notes on my phone or computer. Also the use of voices for characters! YAASSSS Thank you for giving permission to get funky and playful with it. Sending love to everyone's writing journey!!
I write at my grandmother's original writing desk, along with pictures of my departed relatives on it. They were all poor, but educators, so they always emphasized reading and writing for us - my grandfather's study with all its books, and his typewriter, was my Sunday playspace while the adults talked in the dining room. When I feel down about my writing, I see them and feel like they are around me, encouraging me.
I guess my weird writing practice is stripping down to my birthday suit, slapping beef tallow on all my limbs, and then writing my 1000 words from the couch, wrapped in an old duvet. It’s weird, but it works wonders on eczema and keeps me glued to my seat.
This challenge resuscitated my writing life. Thank you, Jami, Charlie Jane, and all you other brilliant writers for inspiring me!
Loved seeing Charlie Jane as part of this series!
Me too! I am lucky she said yes!
Great post and I'm a self-talker too. We're halfway there. Wrote my Substack post yesterday, almost 900 words. That will do, Pig!
Yes! I spend a lot of time talking to myself about my current projects. In the car, I often will pretend I'm being interviewed by Terry Gross or someone else equally famous :) This always helps me get to the purpose, the "why" of what I'm writing. Sometimes I will use the voice memo app on my phone to record myself.
Validation at last
It's so interesting to read Charlie's process. I didn't know I could write or even wanted to until I was in my 20's. Upon reflection in the past few weeks, I recognized that even though I wasn't writing as a child, I was always talking to myself. Creating narratives, plots, characters. Lots and lots of talking. I too go for long walks and talk to myself whenever I hit a snag. It's a good thing we now have Air Pods, noone will ever know I am talking to myself 😂
As an introvert for whom talking to myself is a key part of the writing process, I cackled at this: “Listen, I think a willingness to be ridiculous and borderline antisocial is sometimes a helpful quality for a writer to have. But when I hold a tête-a-tête with myself, it's honestly a means to an end.”