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Terje Äkke's avatar

I have heard that everyone should plant a tree and write a book in their lifetime. While planting a tree is clearly for the benefit of the environment, then writing a book is clearly for the benefit of the writer first, and if it reaches other readers, the better. Even if people don't write a book, one is inside them. Small-big, light-heavy, simple-literary - it doesn't matter. I enjoyed reading your take on this.

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

that is such an awesome way to think about it - love that!!!

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Alison M. Hills's avatar

I love this so much. So much compassion for that woman who put down people who write. And such love and awe for the act of putting down words. Thank you. This one is getting printed out and put by my desk for when I get discouraged. I am a writer and I write!

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

You are! And you are a shining example of someone who inspires me to keep going!!!🌟🌟🌟

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Bill and Don Tomoff's avatar

I am a writer. YES!

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Claire Mackinnon's avatar

Thank you. For your compassion and wisdom, for challenging the categorization, the judgement, the snobbery. In recent weeks I've had a major attack of the creative gremlins, questioning my decision to throw myself into writing my memoir and not pour that energy into something more sensible (like growing my business). I am close to finishing, yet have never felt as stuck. Your words are reconnecting me with my why. Reminding me that my desire to share my story, to pass what's in my mind and heart, to someone else's mind and heart, is a beautiful thing. Not something to be ashamed of. As a woman I've been conditioned to keep myself smaller than I am, to listen before I speak, to check myself - in so many ways. Writing is an act of liberation. Reading other women's words, on their own journey of liberation, gorgeous fuel along the way. Thank you for this dose :) And happy writing over summer!

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

Keep going! Cross that finish line. It’s such a great feeling and you deserve to feel it and to hear yourself cheer!

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Claire Mackinnon's avatar

Thank you! x

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barbara.reeves's avatar

That was a delightful wonderfully well-timed read Jen! Thank you! Have been reading aloud to a recently blinded, older fellow with beginning dementia and with no (known) progeny. Encouraging him to let me transcribe his delightful stories and am met with multiple nos for a host of reasons. So I have started to write his stories down once I’m at home remembering as much detail as I can. I’m finding that I intersperse my own feelings as I do his telling to the computer. What a joy!

May your break be filled with bliss!

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

Oh Barbara that’s incredible - what a way to see him and your own creativity. 👋

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Linda Hoenigsberg's avatar

Thanks, Jen! Gatekeepers! I will never forget attending a Christian writers conference in 2012 and after giving my "elevator pitch" of my memoir to someone I was told (very sarcastically) "What makes you think anyone would want to read THAT? Are you a celebrity?" At the time it just about sunk me...and it colored the rest of the conference. I no longer receive that message and have two Substacks. I'm not waiting for the gatekeepers any longer. Great post, Jen!

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

Right on Linda! That’s awesome!

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Pips's avatar

Yeah, I've had both great and terrible experiences at writing conferences. The nerve of that person, saying that to you. A bad experience shook me for a while, too. We don't want it to, but it does. We're only human. Plus, they were talking out their derrière. Most of the best memoirs I've read certainly weren't from celebrities. A good story's a good story.

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Linda Hoenigsberg's avatar

Interesting, that night I was reading a book on writing by Debbie McCromber and she had a very similar experience, submitted her manuscript anyway, and it was published. LOL

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Jul 10
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Linda Hoenigsberg's avatar

Thanks! 😂

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Julie B. Hughes's avatar

This resonated.

I'm currently working on my third memoir. (self-published...how cool is that!) I went to college to be a physical therapist...all this to say the pen is mighty and if we can just keep practicing look what we can create. :) Thank you so much and happy writing.

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

That’s incredible!!

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Julie B. Hughes's avatar

Thank you! I recognize writing is a lot like running. Keep showing up and magic will happen. :)

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Ann Clyde's avatar

Poetry, novel, inspirational book..all in me. Thank you for the booty kick I needed🦾🙏🏽

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

Always happy to gentle you along!

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Pips's avatar

Recently I read an interview with the winner of a poetry contest I entered (and lost, obviously) and felt a twinge of envy. Her winning poem was good, but so were mine. Why not me? It's hard to get noticed in such a sea of words (and those contest fees add up). That said, I couldn't agree more that writing is for anyone who wants to write. As a former English teacher, I never understood how, unlike with sports or music, there's this weird expectation that writers should be instantly excellent or quit. No one would tell beginner/intermediate tennis or piano players to just give it up, you don't have it. Like anything else, writing gets better with practice. I know mine has/does. I'll keep trying the gatekeepers, but I'm also a big believer in climbing the gates. Bring nippers for the barbed wire!

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WTH Is Going On?! Chris Berrie's avatar

Pips, Try Substack. Anyone can publish there!

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Michelle Hamilton's avatar

This is beautiful and necessary on all levels. Imagine a world in which we stopped judging and gatekeeping and just loved. Thanks Jen.

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

thanks for reading Michelle!

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Susan R Johnson, MD's avatar

Thank you for your encouraging words! I am currently working on the second draft of my book, a memoir about my decades of dealing with suicidal depression and ultimate healing. The “wrinkle” to my story is that I am a psychiatrist, and I “should have had” the very best of treatments and medications. Thankfully I am no longer depressed and I am thoroughly enjoying my life. Everything is great! I am hopeful that my story will be an inspiration to those on the path of chronic mental illness. I have known it well from both sides.

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

That sounds like an important book! I hope it helps millions. ❤️

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Lori  Pohlman's avatar

Your heartfelt encouragement is such a blessing, Jen. Thank you! I am waiting for a response from an agent who requested my full manuscript-this after a year of sending out queries-and I have been feeling very vulnerable. Best of writing energy and sometimes the flow to you and to all writers!

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

Tell us how it goes! Fingers crossed and toes.

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Eileen's avatar

Thank you so much for this. It means a lot to this person who’s just getting back to reclaiming my “right to write.”

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

I’m so glad you are claiming that right! Claim to it proudly!! 👊🏼

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AnnieG's avatar

Thank you for this post! It’s inspiring me to get back to it! Looking forward to October with the amazing circle of women.

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

See you oh so soon Annie!

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Elizabeth  Sweeney's avatar

Hi Jen. I am writing from my deepest fear that art will take precedence over all else. Yesterday I faced the very difficult choice of not showing up to my conference and going home to comfort my adult child. It isn’t easy to choose writing life. My novel is centered on that theme

And expands to how do we honor mothers. Aren’t we all holy?.

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

We are. And I see your fear and walk with you. Me too!

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Catherine H Palmer's avatar

Enjoy your break. I hope it's a fruitful and creative space for your work.

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

Thank you!! Me too!

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Jennifer Mullin's avatar

I am currently writing a book about ballpoint pen drawing. The writing is the easy part for me…it’s all the drawings I have to produce and photograph by October. It’s been intense!

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

I bet. That sounds amazing !

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