Please know failure is only an expression that the time isn't ripe for what's being offered. Prayers for your partner's most successful, healthy and blessed recovery. The timing was perfect for you to focus on his recovery, and let the other ideas simmer a bit longer. I just finished The Border of Paradise - fantastic and incredible, and will start Collected Schizophrenias next. I'm probably more a reading fan than writing fan - but I'm hanging around for a while!!!
I love that the first book you read was Border—I personally have a lot of affection for that book that not many people have read. Thank you for being a reader!
I'm so sorry that the essay challenge isn't getting the participation you hoped and the academy isn't either. I myself am not generating income right now so these kinds of things are exactly the kind of thing I might have invested in in the past by won't be investing in for a while yet. I hope you can both give yourself grace and find something that works for you. I'm so glad you can see how you are succeeding at partnering with C. Sometimes the things we don't think of as work don't contribute to our sense of success. But caregiver and being a partner are incredibly significant things to do.
Sending healing vibes to your partner. I'm sorry you are having to deal with this. Struggling with the health of a loved one is difficult when you are also feeling the pressure of running a business as well. Take care. xo
Sending positive vibes for recovery and graceful crisis navigation. I have spent a lot of time thinking of (and feeling like) failure, but I decided that for me it's just not a useful concept, and might as well be banished from the language. I try (it's a daily practice bc the success/failure dichotomy was hardwired in from about age 1) not to believe in it. Some things work and some things don't and over and over, we learn from both, and neither is forever. We just don't need a word that as defeating and permanent as "failure" to talk about learning what didn't work right now. You are so much bigger than this project and as a big fan for your writing, I'm here for whatever that ends up being!
Please know that I am a 76 year old (as of March 28, 2024) psychotherapist in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who holds your shorter missives and miscellaneous offerings in the highest esteem. I started out on substack following Sherman Alexie, and Suleika Joaoud. Of all the other folks that substack randomly sends my way, you are the one and only to date that has "stuck". So I am a fan, to be sure. I also have 4 drawers of journaling, decades which over-whelms me when I think about starting a memoire - read in a rap rhythm, no less. Be that as it may, I'd love to fill your 300 people form, but I won't fill out a form unless I can see the entire form before I dive in - which may not work for your needs. I also have a total knee joint replacement likely this summer, suggesting likely I couldn't make it this year. But you fascinate me, which takes alot. And I hope not to waste your time. Thus, just wanted to let you know at this point I'm assuredly a subscriber!!
Hi darling Esme, I'm so sorry life is so hard. It always seems like the bad just keeps getting worse and the good never seems to come often enough. I'm glad C is now home (I just read your newest letter). Sending you so much love.
Esme, first of all, my best to you and your partner. It sounds very hard. I hope the C has a smooth recovery and that both of you get the support you need.
Secondly, I love your writing. I read your posts as soon as I can after they come out. I'm not a fine arts writer so I haven't signed up for your courses but working with a group of people who understand working with limitations in their lives is very appealing to me. I don't have a lot of money so I haven't signed up for anything but I keep my eye out in case a really good match comes along.
And finally, I really appreciate you writing this post. My own business has been flat for a long time and in the last couple of months, it's even declining. It's hard to keep from panicking or making the reasons personal. In my case, I've never been one of those charismatic people who attract a big following so I have to remind myself that my business doesn't reflect on me or my skills. Instead, there are many reasons outside my control that might explain why clients come or go. So thank you. It was helpful to know I'm not alone in this struggle.
And the final final thought... I wish you all the best luck for health, happiness, and prosperity. You are a gem in the world. We are lucky that you share yourself so generously. Hang in there. Everything changes.
Sending lots of love and easeful energy your way. My partner and I are going on one full year of cancer treatment, as well as enduring a handful of additional, unexpected hospital visits. We know that place far too well. Feeling okay about work/writing not ~thriving~ right now is hard, but (to remind you and remind myself): it's also so understandable for things to not be thriving right now!
I just saw a friend who is about a year out from breast cancer treatment, and now she's traveling around working on her next book. I'm keeping her in mind, along with this spring that doesn't want to let go of winter, that there are seasons for everything. <3
Hi Esme. I am just exploring the world of writing after a career in corporate communications and executive management. I am curious to learn about how other writers started, perhaps later in life and where they started. I have taken your 10 day MFA and that was good bite sized bits of info and was a great place to start. I appreciated the reading list for essays in order to get a feeling for what and how a personal essay is structured. Sometimes staring at the blank page and knowing how to take the idea and turn it into a cohesive essay is what I am interested in learning, refining, practising.
Please know failure is only an expression that the time isn't ripe for what's being offered. Prayers for your partner's most successful, healthy and blessed recovery. The timing was perfect for you to focus on his recovery, and let the other ideas simmer a bit longer. I just finished The Border of Paradise - fantastic and incredible, and will start Collected Schizophrenias next. I'm probably more a reading fan than writing fan - but I'm hanging around for a while!!!
I love that the first book you read was Border—I personally have a lot of affection for that book that not many people have read. Thank you for being a reader!
"Please know failure is only an expression that the time isn't ripe for what's being offered." I love this so much.
I'm so sorry that the essay challenge isn't getting the participation you hoped and the academy isn't either. I myself am not generating income right now so these kinds of things are exactly the kind of thing I might have invested in in the past by won't be investing in for a while yet. I hope you can both give yourself grace and find something that works for you. I'm so glad you can see how you are succeeding at partnering with C. Sometimes the things we don't think of as work don't contribute to our sense of success. But caregiver and being a partner are incredibly significant things to do.
Sending healing vibes to your partner. I'm sorry you are having to deal with this. Struggling with the health of a loved one is difficult when you are also feeling the pressure of running a business as well. Take care. xo
Thank you so much and you take care as well. x
Sending positive vibes for recovery and graceful crisis navigation. I have spent a lot of time thinking of (and feeling like) failure, but I decided that for me it's just not a useful concept, and might as well be banished from the language. I try (it's a daily practice bc the success/failure dichotomy was hardwired in from about age 1) not to believe in it. Some things work and some things don't and over and over, we learn from both, and neither is forever. We just don't need a word that as defeating and permanent as "failure" to talk about learning what didn't work right now. You are so much bigger than this project and as a big fan for your writing, I'm here for whatever that ends up being!
I was thinking something similar, but you’ve articulated it perfectly!
Please know that I am a 76 year old (as of March 28, 2024) psychotherapist in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who holds your shorter missives and miscellaneous offerings in the highest esteem. I started out on substack following Sherman Alexie, and Suleika Joaoud. Of all the other folks that substack randomly sends my way, you are the one and only to date that has "stuck". So I am a fan, to be sure. I also have 4 drawers of journaling, decades which over-whelms me when I think about starting a memoire - read in a rap rhythm, no less. Be that as it may, I'd love to fill your 300 people form, but I won't fill out a form unless I can see the entire form before I dive in - which may not work for your needs. I also have a total knee joint replacement likely this summer, suggesting likely I couldn't make it this year. But you fascinate me, which takes alot. And I hope not to waste your time. Thus, just wanted to let you know at this point I'm assuredly a subscriber!!
Thank you so much. Really, really, really, 💕❤️🌱
Sending love to you and yours!
Hi darling Esme, I'm so sorry life is so hard. It always seems like the bad just keeps getting worse and the good never seems to come often enough. I'm glad C is now home (I just read your newest letter). Sending you so much love.
Esme, first of all, my best to you and your partner. It sounds very hard. I hope the C has a smooth recovery and that both of you get the support you need.
Secondly, I love your writing. I read your posts as soon as I can after they come out. I'm not a fine arts writer so I haven't signed up for your courses but working with a group of people who understand working with limitations in their lives is very appealing to me. I don't have a lot of money so I haven't signed up for anything but I keep my eye out in case a really good match comes along.
And finally, I really appreciate you writing this post. My own business has been flat for a long time and in the last couple of months, it's even declining. It's hard to keep from panicking or making the reasons personal. In my case, I've never been one of those charismatic people who attract a big following so I have to remind myself that my business doesn't reflect on me or my skills. Instead, there are many reasons outside my control that might explain why clients come or go. So thank you. It was helpful to know I'm not alone in this struggle.
And the final final thought... I wish you all the best luck for health, happiness, and prosperity. You are a gem in the world. We are lucky that you share yourself so generously. Hang in there. Everything changes.
Sending lots of love and easeful energy your way. My partner and I are going on one full year of cancer treatment, as well as enduring a handful of additional, unexpected hospital visits. We know that place far too well. Feeling okay about work/writing not ~thriving~ right now is hard, but (to remind you and remind myself): it's also so understandable for things to not be thriving right now!
I just saw a friend who is about a year out from breast cancer treatment, and now she's traveling around working on her next book. I'm keeping her in mind, along with this spring that doesn't want to let go of winter, that there are seasons for everything. <3
Sending all the calm healing vibes your way 💜
I hope your partner has smooth healing after his surgery and I'm sending lots of good vibes to the both of you.
What do you dearly wish to learn from me, and in what format? Tell me everything! I want to know.
Hi Esme. I am just exploring the world of writing after a career in corporate communications and executive management. I am curious to learn about how other writers started, perhaps later in life and where they started. I have taken your 10 day MFA and that was good bite sized bits of info and was a great place to start. I appreciated the reading list for essays in order to get a feeling for what and how a personal essay is structured. Sometimes staring at the blank page and knowing how to take the idea and turn it into a cohesive essay is what I am interested in learning, refining, practising.
That's helpful to know—thank you!