A wonderful essay. I really enjoyed the reflection on how our moods affect our writing. I'm not enough of a writer to have an opinion on that yet. But as a reader, I know that I can't read when I'm angry.
Wax apple are also found here in Japan, I'm told. But the word used for them here also means "thigh", so maybe people don't ask for them much at the greengrocer's.
Good luck with getting your novel through the final stages!
"This is why I usually say I put all my real secrets into my fiction. It’s the stuff I can bear to tell you face-to-face that I write essays about." THIS! (Fwiw, I tend to agree)
Which e-ink tablet is that? I’m longing for a portable writing set up but currently tethered to my desk and e-ink monitor. (I had a look around your favorite things on your website and didn’t spot it, but so did spot Cave Day, which I am excited to try this week!)
It’s actually just an iPad mini! But I do use a special sheet on the screen called Paperlike (something like that), which doesn’t make the screen exactly like e-ink but does change the texture in a way that I love.
I can only write when I'm happy or at least in a positive mood. Any life stressors or if I get in a depressive episode throws my ability to write out the window.
I agree that mental illness doesn’t up the creativity factor. I get my best ideas and execute them when I’m, if not happy, certainly stable. During a deep depression, I’ve gone years without writing. Good luck with getting Part Two to where you want it!
I got this one from Shopee, which is a Taiwanese megastore, but I’ve seen similar ones on Amazon. If you prefer to not shop at Amazon, another alternative to the Qwerkywriter that’s more affordable is from KnewKey: https://knewkey.com/?source=cjvgq8zndi (& you can use the code “ESMEWANG” to get $10 off). ❤️
I know this is not the point of your essay, but it made me miss Taiwan so much, especially those wax apples (I actually never remember what they're called in English haha). Taiwan is my homeland as well, but I haven't been able to go back since 2019. It's like a physical ache.
A wonderful essay. I really enjoyed the reflection on how our moods affect our writing. I'm not enough of a writer to have an opinion on that yet. But as a reader, I know that I can't read when I'm angry.
Wax apple are also found here in Japan, I'm told. But the word used for them here also means "thigh", so maybe people don't ask for them much at the greengrocer's.
Good luck with getting your novel through the final stages!
I love wax apples so much, and have been eating so many of them here that I might just turn into one. 😂
"This is why I usually say I put all my real secrets into my fiction. It’s the stuff I can bear to tell you face-to-face that I write essays about." THIS! (Fwiw, I tend to agree)
Whew. Yep.
Thank you Esmé for such a lovely insight into your writing days.
Thank you ❤️
Which e-ink tablet is that? I’m longing for a portable writing set up but currently tethered to my desk and e-ink monitor. (I had a look around your favorite things on your website and didn’t spot it, but so did spot Cave Day, which I am excited to try this week!)
It’s actually just an iPad mini! But I do use a special sheet on the screen called Paperlike (something like that), which doesn’t make the screen exactly like e-ink but does change the texture in a way that I love.
I can only write when I'm happy or at least in a positive mood. Any life stressors or if I get in a depressive episode throws my ability to write out the window.
Yepppp. 🙏🏽
I agree that mental illness doesn’t up the creativity factor. I get my best ideas and execute them when I’m, if not happy, certainly stable. During a deep depression, I’ve gone years without writing. Good luck with getting Part Two to where you want it!
I can totally see how years of depression would make writing impossible; I’d be the same way.
Where to get the more affordable version of qwerky writer keyboard? :) thanks!
I got this one from Shopee, which is a Taiwanese megastore, but I’ve seen similar ones on Amazon. If you prefer to not shop at Amazon, another alternative to the Qwerkywriter that’s more affordable is from KnewKey: https://knewkey.com/?source=cjvgq8zndi (& you can use the code “ESMEWANG” to get $10 off). ❤️
I immediately scrolled to the comments to see if anyone already asked this question!
I can. The themes will certainly be different
And that’s great!
Sure
I know this is not the point of your essay, but it made me miss Taiwan so much, especially those wax apples (I actually never remember what they're called in English haha). Taiwan is my homeland as well, but I haven't been able to go back since 2019. It's like a physical ache.