Confession: I will never be satisfied with my writing.
I’ve spent most of my writerly life chastising myself for the time I’ve spent away from the page. Even after developing a more disciplined writing routine in my early 30s, it never feels sufficient. There is never enough inspiration, never enough words, never enough time for my writing. When I feel myself spiraling into a tornado of self-loathing, I always return to this quote from Louise Glück.
You have to live your life if you’re going to do original work. Your work will come out of an authentic life, and if you suppress all of your most passionate impulses in the service of an art that has not yet declared itself, you’re making a terrible mistake.
(You can find her wise remarks in full in this interview from Poets & Writers.)
It’s not until I’ve read this quote a few times that I can finally feel the cool air in my lungs again. This notion—that following my impulses will bring life to my writing—is a quiet place when I find myself caught in the storm of day to day life. This newsletter is about living life in order to do our best writing. It’s about the writing we do beyond the page, the ways we do the work when we’re busy doing other things.
Why subscribe?
I’m no expert, but I firmly believe that we can inspire each other to be our best creative selves. If you’re also working on a long form project or just value incorporating creativity into your day, let’s inspire each other!
Eventually, I’d love for this newsletter to be a little community of supportive creatives. Maybe we could start a memoir book club (which seem few and far between), or a writers’ accountability group. Who knows! Let’s see what we can build together.
So, join the club!
Free subscribers will have access to all posts as well as the comments section
For now, most posts will be free and will feature things like:
reflections on how I keep creativity flowing off the page
lessons learned from various writers’ groups and workshops
tips for recording your memories and ideas while on the go
nonfiction book recommendations
curated lists of things that are inspiring me — TV shows, songs, podcasts, books, other Substack newsletters, useful apps, and who knows what else!
a behind-the-scenes look into writing my first book
Paid subscribers receive all free content plus
Access to the Notion templates I use for reading, writing, and notekeeping
Access to any impending accountability threads for creatives and occasional co-writing chats
Access to any impending book clubs or writers’ groups
My undying gratitude!!
About me
I’m Kim, a nonfiction writer, obsessive reader, sometimes journaler, cross-stitcher, and mom (👦🐶🐶). I’m a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in Ecuador (🇪🇨), an experience that shaped my worldview and bestowed me with an insatiable craving for chifles and encebollado (🥣). I’ve been working on a memoir for almost 7 years (🙃), and I often feel like I’m not progressing fast enough (🥵). This newsletter is my reminder (and yours!) that writing also happens off the page—in the thinking we do, in the art we consume, and in the myriad ways we keep creativity brewing in our everyday lives.
Thanks for being here! I’m so excited to see what we’ll create together.
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