It has been said already below but I'll say it again: I love the snippets and I love your voice.
Having said that, I totally get the hesitation and the editing and re-writing. I have about 20 Substack drafts and most of them are a few sentences that made perfect sense at the time but then... their time passed.
I know it's different when one writes to "showcase" the writing itself and when the writing is just a vehicle for something else - in my case, sharing my process and my pots -, but I think there is room for a bit of everything, polished pieces and raw life moments.
Anyway, long story short: Keep writing, Emily.
Re heat wave - things really are upside down... in Lisbon, temperatures are in the low 20s, which in June is unheard of... Take care and stay in the shade!
Thanks so much Sarah, and you're so right - there is such a difference between writing as a showcase of the writing itself, and when it's a different type of communication. I got so wrapped up in wanting to only write beautiful prose, I stopped just writing for the moment.
The weather is cooler here now, for which I am grateful and a little sad - It has been a long while in coming this year and although I love the cold sharp bright weather, I have been looking forward to the warmth of the sun. Hoping for warmer skies for you soon xx
I doubt any of us would think for a second that anything you send out to us is not ready, or unpolished enough for consumption Em, I have a feeling even your notes would make poetry on a page if you let them... but I get you! Good grief, I really do! Without checking I think I have a round thirty drafts in Substack waiting to be either edited or finished, most have already had hours and hours of fiddling with and still I am not happy, still I can't find that one sentence that makes me think yes! that has changed the whole story to just as I intended.
I too have promised myself to write with less attention to detail and with more intention to just write, I wish I could join all these wonderful classes, Kit, Holly and so many more... A girl can dream can't she?
Meanwhile I will relish cows ankles and all your snippets just waiting in the wings, keep writing beautiful words and have a gorgeous week! xx
Oh they are very much not fit for consumption!! I think I have maybe 70ish. But some are just titles and some are just a sentence or two and some are completely nonsensical…
Thank you for your kind words, I’m grateful to be friends, Susie and reading your letters from your hill bring me great pleasure and peace.
We have had cooler weather these last couple of days, but still some sunshine breaking through, and my ankles are back to normal!! I hope that you are enjoying some cooler weather too.
Sending wishes for a beautiful week to you, dear Susie. Much love xx
Em I love knowing you here too, I am constantly in awe of your imagination and your creativity, if I had even half I would be entirely content! Have a gorgeous week beauty, much love xx
I too, revise and polish and edit over and over. Partly because I feel that what is there isn’t good enough, should be better - but also because I often feel that what is born in the wild place (usually my kitchen table at 5.30am when the filter is still asleep) is too raw and reveals too much of me. So those original words remain private.
I so admire writers who are brave enough to truly reveal themselves. Am thinking at the moment of Kimberly Warner, her brilliant writing and her recent post ‘In defense of disappointment’.
I look forward to reading your experiments, Emily.
Thank you for your kindness and for being here, Kay. I am sure that I will still be editing my writing to some degree before I send it out, and there will always be things that are top personal and private to share, I think! Kimberly is an absolute force of nature — I love her writing and her in defence series is brilliant. This latest is incredibly inspiring - such grace and humility. Xx
I'm too hot to write something sensible. Doodles are always welcome. This one made me smile. I can totally relate to the "miss Piggy" ankles. Yes, to a cool foot bath.
We have had showers and cooler weather today, I’m grateful for it and for your always sensible and encouraging comments Klamo. Thank you for being here xx
I’m happy to be here. Maybe the showers will cross the Chanel and arrive here today or tomorrow. I love all the sunshine, the heat can become a bit much though. Still, I love taking pictures on early mornings on days like these.
I hear you Emily and I suspect it is something that all writers find. I'm trying to think about pieces in categories - chatty, quick / longer, thoughtful. I see that Kimberley has mentioned doodles. Now whilst I know some folks have made a career out of doodling, most of us know them as quick 'on the moment' so maybe that would help with your categories. Whatever - I love ALL of your work!
I love this snippet, and I love your voice. I am in this same journey, Emily. I love a poetic, lyrical sentence, but I also love a raw and honest bleeding onto the page. I'll take all the short musings you send our way!
So grateful for this and for you Kendall. I have been worrying that the painstakingly crafted lyrical and poetic might not be me, but can’t write a book the way I’ve been writing my Substack posts! This is such an encouragement, thank you, and this — ‘also love the raw bleeding onto the page’ — yes yes!! Me too xx
Love the snippets and the scraps! The same way I love doodles and unstudied speakers and underbaked cookies. The warmth of the creative hearth still glowing and gooey. :)
This is it. This is where you just be yourself and let it flow from your heart without worrying about ‘making well-shaped sentences. " That will come naturally, in my humble opinion, if you flow. You know this.
And re the ankles. Embrace it honey! Before you know it you will have strange bumps and lumps start to protude from your formally dainty feet. Veins will emerge to the surface. You will learn to go with it, to show them still, to honour this bumpy gorgeous ride of life.
I've heard it's unseasonally hot over there. Keep cool.
Thanks you for the encouragement Jo 😁 your writing flows so beautifully — I think I’ve been scared to allow that for myself in case it turns out the painstakingly crafted pieces that I love so much aren’t actually me… I am plunging right in though and trusting the process!
On the ankles though — I’ve been more than embracing the wrinkles and scars and stretch marks that have been slowly revealing themselves, revelling in them and the stories they tell — but my god, these elephant feet… 😳 mine have never been dainty or delicate and when I was pregnant they were puffy, but this seems something akin to a horror movie!
Hi Emily, 💛 Have you thought about changing your mindset on your "painstakingly crafted pieces" to "lovestakingly crafted pieces"? 💛 It's the story we tell ourselves isn't it. I am far from an expert but don't all creatives have some pieces that are long term works in progress " the lovestakingly ones" and then the shorter more instant creations that burst forth quickly? It's all part of it. I think one helps the other. Embrace!! 💛
It has been said already below but I'll say it again: I love the snippets and I love your voice.
Having said that, I totally get the hesitation and the editing and re-writing. I have about 20 Substack drafts and most of them are a few sentences that made perfect sense at the time but then... their time passed.
I know it's different when one writes to "showcase" the writing itself and when the writing is just a vehicle for something else - in my case, sharing my process and my pots -, but I think there is room for a bit of everything, polished pieces and raw life moments.
Anyway, long story short: Keep writing, Emily.
Re heat wave - things really are upside down... in Lisbon, temperatures are in the low 20s, which in June is unheard of... Take care and stay in the shade!
Thanks so much Sarah, and you're so right - there is such a difference between writing as a showcase of the writing itself, and when it's a different type of communication. I got so wrapped up in wanting to only write beautiful prose, I stopped just writing for the moment.
The weather is cooler here now, for which I am grateful and a little sad - It has been a long while in coming this year and although I love the cold sharp bright weather, I have been looking forward to the warmth of the sun. Hoping for warmer skies for you soon xx
I doubt any of us would think for a second that anything you send out to us is not ready, or unpolished enough for consumption Em, I have a feeling even your notes would make poetry on a page if you let them... but I get you! Good grief, I really do! Without checking I think I have a round thirty drafts in Substack waiting to be either edited or finished, most have already had hours and hours of fiddling with and still I am not happy, still I can't find that one sentence that makes me think yes! that has changed the whole story to just as I intended.
I too have promised myself to write with less attention to detail and with more intention to just write, I wish I could join all these wonderful classes, Kit, Holly and so many more... A girl can dream can't she?
Meanwhile I will relish cows ankles and all your snippets just waiting in the wings, keep writing beautiful words and have a gorgeous week! xx
Oh they are very much not fit for consumption!! I think I have maybe 70ish. But some are just titles and some are just a sentence or two and some are completely nonsensical…
Thank you for your kind words, I’m grateful to be friends, Susie and reading your letters from your hill bring me great pleasure and peace.
We have had cooler weather these last couple of days, but still some sunshine breaking through, and my ankles are back to normal!! I hope that you are enjoying some cooler weather too.
Sending wishes for a beautiful week to you, dear Susie. Much love xx
Em I love knowing you here too, I am constantly in awe of your imagination and your creativity, if I had even half I would be entirely content! Have a gorgeous week beauty, much love xx
I too, revise and polish and edit over and over. Partly because I feel that what is there isn’t good enough, should be better - but also because I often feel that what is born in the wild place (usually my kitchen table at 5.30am when the filter is still asleep) is too raw and reveals too much of me. So those original words remain private.
I so admire writers who are brave enough to truly reveal themselves. Am thinking at the moment of Kimberly Warner, her brilliant writing and her recent post ‘In defense of disappointment’.
I look forward to reading your experiments, Emily.
Thank you for your kindness and for being here, Kay. I am sure that I will still be editing my writing to some degree before I send it out, and there will always be things that are top personal and private to share, I think! Kimberly is an absolute force of nature — I love her writing and her in defence series is brilliant. This latest is incredibly inspiring - such grace and humility. Xx
It is indeed inspiring.
Thank you for your lovely presence, Emily. Xx
I'm too hot to write something sensible. Doodles are always welcome. This one made me smile. I can totally relate to the "miss Piggy" ankles. Yes, to a cool foot bath.
We have had showers and cooler weather today, I’m grateful for it and for your always sensible and encouraging comments Klamo. Thank you for being here xx
I’m happy to be here. Maybe the showers will cross the Chanel and arrive here today or tomorrow. I love all the sunshine, the heat can become a bit much though. Still, I love taking pictures on early mornings on days like these.
I have loved the sunshine and warmth too, but glad for a respite! I hope you get some cooler weather too x
We had some rain this morning. Thank you for sending some my way. Everything feels fresh and cooler. Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
I hear you Emily and I suspect it is something that all writers find. I'm trying to think about pieces in categories - chatty, quick / longer, thoughtful. I see that Kimberley has mentioned doodles. Now whilst I know some folks have made a career out of doodling, most of us know them as quick 'on the moment' so maybe that would help with your categories. Whatever - I love ALL of your work!
I love this snippet, and I love your voice. I am in this same journey, Emily. I love a poetic, lyrical sentence, but I also love a raw and honest bleeding onto the page. I'll take all the short musings you send our way!
So grateful for this and for you Kendall. I have been worrying that the painstakingly crafted lyrical and poetic might not be me, but can’t write a book the way I’ve been writing my Substack posts! This is such an encouragement, thank you, and this — ‘also love the raw bleeding onto the page’ — yes yes!! Me too xx
Love the snippets and the scraps! The same way I love doodles and unstudied speakers and underbaked cookies. The warmth of the creative hearth still glowing and gooey. :)
Thank you Kim 🙏💛 there’s nothing quite like underbaked cookies xx
Welcome to Raw and Unfiltered Emily! 😀💛
This is it. This is where you just be yourself and let it flow from your heart without worrying about ‘making well-shaped sentences. " That will come naturally, in my humble opinion, if you flow. You know this.
And re the ankles. Embrace it honey! Before you know it you will have strange bumps and lumps start to protude from your formally dainty feet. Veins will emerge to the surface. You will learn to go with it, to show them still, to honour this bumpy gorgeous ride of life.
I've heard it's unseasonally hot over there. Keep cool.
Love xx
Thanks you for the encouragement Jo 😁 your writing flows so beautifully — I think I’ve been scared to allow that for myself in case it turns out the painstakingly crafted pieces that I love so much aren’t actually me… I am plunging right in though and trusting the process!
On the ankles though — I’ve been more than embracing the wrinkles and scars and stretch marks that have been slowly revealing themselves, revelling in them and the stories they tell — but my god, these elephant feet… 😳 mine have never been dainty or delicate and when I was pregnant they were puffy, but this seems something akin to a horror movie!
Xx
Hi Emily, 💛 Have you thought about changing your mindset on your "painstakingly crafted pieces" to "lovestakingly crafted pieces"? 💛 It's the story we tell ourselves isn't it. I am far from an expert but don't all creatives have some pieces that are long term works in progress " the lovestakingly ones" and then the shorter more instant creations that burst forth quickly? It's all part of it. I think one helps the other. Embrace!! 💛
🐘🐘🐘 The wise beautiful elephant. 💛
You’re right, of course! I bow to your wisdom 🐘😘
ps the wise beautiful elephant was not referring to me and my unsolicited advice by the way! It was referring to our feet
. Just for clarification. xxxx
I’m laughing and laughing — wisdom from our beautiful elephant feet 🐘😘