Ease Lessons for Writers

TODAY'S GUEST: CAROLINE DONAHUE
As a book-loving Writing and Book Coach, Caroline doesn't believe there is any force more powerful in this world than writing. With a Masters in Psychology and Expressive Arts, and a subsequent career in the book world that began with working in a bookshop, progressing through editing and producing a thrice annual auction catalogue, to proofreading for a prominent ad agency, she has apprenticed herself to writing for over ten years. In 2016, she launched The Secret Library Podcast and has since interviewed over 100 writers, editors, agents, and publishers to get to the bottom of what it takes to write a book. She is currently writing her own novel and co-editing the anthology, I Wrote it Anyway.

Homework Invitations for Conversation 3:
1. Conceive of a simple and elegant ritual (purple velvet gown optional) to begin your writing sessions.
2. Read Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman.
3. Talk with a writer (or two) about the idea of making MORE of your living as a writer through the books themselves.

Where to find Caroline:
Website: https://www.carolinedonahue.com/
Podcast: https://www.secretlibrarypodcast.com/

*****

ABOUT EASE LESSONS:

Music: “Meekness” by Kai Engel, used under Creative Commons Attribution license

Editor: Damien Pitter

Host: Monna McDiarmid (pronounced Mona McDermid) | Writer, Coach and Counselor
Website: MonnaMcDiarmid.com
Newsletter: The Sunday Reader
Patreon:  where I share monthly excerpts from my writing memoir in progress
Instagram: @monnamcdiarmid

TODAY'S GUEST: CAROLINE DONAHUE
As a book-loving Writing and Book Coach, Caroline doesn't believe there is any force more powerful in this world than writing. With a Masters in Psychology and Expressive Arts, and a subsequent career in the book world that began with working in a bookshop, progressing through editing and producing a thrice annual auction catalogue, to proofreading for a prominent ad agency, she has apprenticed herself to writing for over ten years. In 2016, she launched The Secret Library Podcast and has since interviewed over 100 writers, editors, agents, and publishers to get to the bottom of what it takes to write a book. She is currently writing her own novel and co-editing the anthology, I Wrote it Anyway.

Homework Invitations for Conversation 3:
1. Conceive of a simple and elegant ritual (purple velvet gown optional) to begin your writing sessions.
2. Read Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman.
3. Talk with a writer (or two) about the idea of making MORE of your living as a writer through the books themselves.

Where to find Caroline:
Website: https://www.carolinedonahue.com/
Podcast: https://www.secretlibrarypodcast.com/

*****

ABOUT EASE LESSONS:

Music: “Meekness” by Kai Engel, used under Creative Commons Attribution license

Editor: Damien Pitter

Host: Monna McDiarmid (pronounced Mona McDermid) | Writer, Coach and Counselor
Website: MonnaMcDiarmid.com
Newsletter: The Sunday Reader
Patreon:  where I share monthly excerpts from my writing memoir in progress
Instagram: @monnamcdiarmid

TODAY'S GUEST: CAROLINE DONAHUE
As a book-loving Writing and Book Coach, Caroline doesn't believe there is any force more powerful in this world than writing. With a Masters in Psychology and Expressive Arts, and a subsequent career in the book world that began with working in a bookshop, progressing through editing and producing a thrice annual auction catalogue, to proofreading for a prominent ad agency, she has apprenticed herself to writing for over ten years. In 2016, she launched The Secret Library Podcast and has since interviewed over 100 writers, editors, agents, and publishers to get to the bottom of what it takes to write a book. She is currently writing her own novel and co-editing the anthology, I Wrote it Anyway.

HOMEWORK INVITATIONS :
1. Field Notes on experiments with time and time boxes
Conduct a set of gentle experiments about your writing times. Write at different times of the day. Try writing before you check your calendar for the day and between appointments. Make notes on writing experiments re: how you feel in your body, how much spaciousness or resistance you feel, and how playful the writing time feels to you. You're tracking your own ease.

2. Tarot for The Writer
Try pulling cards as a gift to you, the writer. What do you not know yet that would be of tremendous help to your future self? (Your future self who has no money or novels published.)

3. Email to a Student
Think of a writing student or client who might come to you with a similar issue. They run an online business and have created the life and schedule they've always yearned for but find it increasingly difficult to find or make time for their writing. The issue isn't insufficient time but rather that your student keeps prioritizing those activities that are in service of other people and that make money. She is genuinely perplexed. You write her an email of encouragement and support, and share some tips on how she might think differently about her situation in order to help her ease back into her writing chair.

b) Talk with a couple of students or colleagues whom you trust and request their wisdom.

4. Permission
What is the simplest statement of permission you need to give yourself? What is the essence of this permission slip? You could:

• allow it to be messy or awkward or uncomfortable. (I am LEARNING how to own a business that sustains me while writing.)
• make your own writing the most important work that you do (Come up with a method by which you pay yourself for the time you spend writing!)
• allow yourself to fall in love again with your writing process. (I believe it was Elizabeth Gilbert who referred to this as having an affair with her writing)
• take a break from writing
• write three days a week instead of five

b) Display your slip and/or create a ritual to let the Universe know where you'd like some help.

Where to find Caroline:
Website: https://www.carolinedonahue.com/
Podcast: https://www.secretlibrarypodcast.com/

*****

ABOUT EASE LESSONS:

Music: “Meekness” by Kai Engel, used under Creative Commons Attribution license

Editor: Damien Pitter

Host: Monna McDiarmid (pronounced Mona McDermid) | Writer, Coach and Counselor
Website: MonnaMcDiarmid.com
Newsletter: The Sunday Reader
Patreon:  where I share monthly excerpts from my writing memoir in progress
Instagram: @monnamcdiarmid

TODAY'S GUEST: MICHELLE
Today's episode is my third and final conversation with Michelle, a mom of two and an attorney who prefers storytelling to legalese, as well as an open heart over the analytical mind. She believes that when her heart and mind work as one, that's where the magic happens, and she has been on a lifelong journey to connect them both. She received her first tarot card deck at age thirteen and Reiki certifications at age sixteen. After that she earned certification after certification in Astrology, Spiritual Bathing, Life Coaching and Mindfulness Education amongst many others. Meanwhile, Michelle never believed she was “special enough” to be an author, and instead worked as Senior Associate at the largest employment law firm in the world for over ten years. In February, she left her law career and is finally learning to just be. She plans to self publish her first spiritual novel in 2022 under a pen name.  

Thanks for this conversation, Michelle.

HOMEWORK INVITATIONS FROM OUR SECOND CONVERSATION:
1. Problem party | Form a group with one or two other people in which you talk about your writing in much the way that we did in Rachel‘s hot seats. This is a group of people who will support your writing and for whom you will also be a support. 

2. Medium | Give yourself a publish date for this piece, a date that allows for the writing logistics as well as being prepared for people's comments and judgment.

3. Time blocking | This is where you create a new writing schedule in which you don’t push yourself too hard but you keep moving forward with regularity. You can think of this as a writing promise to yourself. One idea is to have a 2 to 3 hour chunk of writing every week during which a babysitter cares for your children.

READ ABOUT MICHELLE AND HER BOOK:
Website:  www.violetdeluna.com
Medium: My husband cheated on me 8 years ago, when I was pregnant and after I gave birth

*****

ABOUT EASE LESSONS:

Music: “Meekness” by Kai Engel, used under Creative Commons Attribution license

Editor: Damien Pitter

Host: Monna McDiarmid (pronounced Mona McDermid) | Writer, Coach and Counselor
Website: MonnaMcDiarmid.com
Newsletter: The Sunday Reader
Patreon:  where I share monthly excerpts from my writing memoir in progress
Instagram: @monnamcdiarmid

TODAY'S GUEST: MICHELLE
Today's episode is my second conversation with Michelle, a mom of two and an attorney who prefers storytelling to legalese, as well as an open heart over the analytical mind. She believes that when her heart and mind work as one, that's where the magic happens, and she has been on a lifelong journey to connect them both. She received her first tarot card deck at age thirteen and Reiki certifications at age sixteen. After that she earned certification after certification in Astrology, Spiritual Bathing, Life Coaching and Mindfulness Education amongst many others. Meanwhile, Michelle never believed she was “special enough” to be an author, and instead worked as Senior Associate at the largest employment law firm in the world for over ten years. In February, she left her law career and is finally learning to just be. She plans to self publish her first spiritual fiction novel in 2022 under a pen name.  

Thanks for this conversation, Michelle.

HOMEWORK INVITATIONS FROM OUR SECOND CONVERSATION:
1. Problem party | Form a group with one or two other people in which you talk about your writing in much the way that we did in Rachel‘s hot seats. This is a group of people who will support your writing and for whom you will also be a support. 

2. Medium | Give yourself a publish date for this piece, a date that allows for the writing logistics as well as being prepared for people's comments and judgment.

3. Time blocking | This is where you create a new writing schedule in which you don’t push yourself too hard but you keep moving forward with regularity. You can think of this as a writing promise to yourself. One idea is to have a 2 to 3 hour chunk of writing every week during which a babysitter cares for your children.

READ ABOUT MICHELLE AND HER BOOK:
Website:  www.violetdeluna.com
Medium: My husband cheated on me 8 years ago, when I was pregnant and after I gave birth

*****

ABOUT EASE LESSONS:

Music: “Meekness” by Kai Engel, used under Creative Commons Attribution license

Editor: Damien Pitter

Host: Monna McDiarmid (pronounced Mona McDermid) | Writer, Coach and Counselor
Website: MonnaMcDiarmid.com
Newsletter: The Sunday Reader
Patreon:  where I share monthly excerpts from my writing memoir in progress
Instagram: @monnamcdiarmid

TODAY'S GUEST: MICHELLE
Today's episode is my first conversation with Michelle, a mom of two and an attorney who prefers storytelling to legalese, as well as an open heart over the analytical mind. She believes that when her heart and mind work as one, that's where the magic happens, and she has been on a lifelong journey to connect them both. She received her first tarot card deck at age thirteen and Reiki certifications at age sixteen. After that she earned certification after certification in Astrology, Spiritual Bathing, Life Coaching and Mindfulness Education amongst many others. Meanwhile, Michelle never believed she was “special enough” to be an author, and instead worked as Senior Associate at the largest employment law firm in the world for over ten years. In February, she left her law career and is finally learning to just be. She plans to self publish her first spiritual fiction novel in 2022 under a pen name.  

Thanks for this conversation, Michelle.

HOMEWORK INVITATIONS FROM OUR FIRST CONVERSATION:
1. Community | Think about your community of writers. Choose two or three people you like, trust and respect. Reach out to them and invite this group to a zoom call in which you get their support as a writer. It’s also important that they have a chance to congratulate you on the amazing progress you’ve already made.

2. Thank You Letter | Imagine the experience of a person who is going through infidelity in their relationship. They search online for some resources and find your book. After they finished reading it, they reached out to you to thank you. What do they write? Please write this letter.

3. Pen Name | As you have already created a pen name for your book, devise an opportunity to try it out. You might write a piece that is connected to your novel's theme of infidelity and publish it on the website you’ve created, as an Instagram post, or on a platform like Medium. How does it feel to have a piece of your writing associated with this pen name?

4. Freedom and Shame | Write about the relationship between freedom and shame.


READ ABOUT MICHELLE AND HER BOOK:
Website:  www.violetdeluna.com
Medium: My husband cheated on me 8 years ago, when I was pregnant and after I gave birth

*****

ABOUT EASE LESSONS:

Music: “Meekness” by Kai Engel, used under Creative Commons Attribution license

Editor: Damien Pitter

Host: Monna McDiarmid (pronounced Mona McDermid) | Writer, Coach and Counselor
Website: MonnaMcDiarmid.com
Newsletter: The Sunday Reader
Patreon:  where I share monthly excerpts from my writing memoir in progress
Instagram: @monnamcdiarmid

TODAY'S GUEST: LALA HULSE
Today's episode is my third conversation with Lala Hulse, an artist and musician who is trying to get her creative life back together after moving halfway around the world during a pandemic. She believes everyone can draw and everyone can sing.

Thanks for this conversation, Lala.

HOMEWORK INVITATIONS FROM OUR SECOND CONVERSATION
1. Setting the stage
a) Think more about the logistics of your office space.
b) Think more deeply about this question of setting the stage including the idea of "starting your day again" before making art.

2. Artist Dates
Put weekly artist dates in your calendar. If it's helpful, share the dates with your wife.

3. Make Art
Spend some time contemplating how you can allow yourself to make art rather than feeling pressure to make good art.
How would art-making (and life) be lovelier if you let go of that pressure?

*****

ABOUT EASE LESSONS:

Music: “Meekness” by Kai Engel, used under Creative Commons Attribution license

Editor: Damien Pitter

Host: Monna McDiarmid (pronounced Mona McDermid) | Writer, Coach and Counselor
Website: MonnaMcDiarmid.com
Newsletter: The Sunday Reader
Patreon:  where I share monthly excerpts from my writing memoir in progress
Instagram: @monnamcdiarmid

TODAY'S GUEST: LALA HULSE
Today's episode is my second conversation with Lala Hulse, an artist and musician who is trying to get her creative life back together after moving halfway around the world during a pandemic. She believes everyone can draw and everyone can sing.

Thanks for this conversation, Lala.

HOMEWORK INVITATIONS FROM TODAY'S CONVERSATION
1. Setting the stage
a) Think more about the logistics of your office space.
b) Think more deeply about this question of setting the stage including the idea of "starting your day again" before making art.

2. Artist Dates
Put weekly artist dates in your calendar. If it's helpful, share the dates with your wife.

3. Make Art
Spend some time contemplating how you can allow yourself to make art rather than feeling pressure to make good art.
How would art-making (and life) be lovelier if you let go of that pressure?

*****

ABOUT EASE LESSONS:

Music: “Meekness” by Kai Engel, used under Creative Commons Attribution license

Editor: Damien Pitter

Host: Monna McDiarmid (pronounced Mona McDermid) | Writer, Coach and Counselor
Website: MonnaMcDiarmid.com
Newsletter: The Sunday Reader
Patreon:  where I share monthly excerpts from my writing memoir in progress
Instagram: @monnamcdiarmid

TODAY'S GUEST: LALA HULSE
Today's episode is my first conversation with Lala Hulse, an artist and musician who is trying to get her creative life back together after moving halfway around the world during a pandemic. She believes everyone can draw and everyone can sing.

Thanks for this conversation, Lala.

HOMEWORK INVITATIONS FROM TODAY'S CONVERSATION

1.    You are tired
a)    Create a symbolic grieving ritual that captures your exhaustion and indicates to the Universe that you’d like a little help with this. Your ritual might involve fire, air, water, or Earth.

b)    Be gentle with yourself. This does not come naturally to most of us. Treat yourself and speak to your tired self the way you would to your beloved people.

c)    Get a good night’s sleep. Nap. Eat well. Use the good moisturizer on your skin. Take breaks in your workday. (You can set an alarm, so you remember to go back to work). Go outside. Hug trees etc.

2.    Your Future Self Has No Art
What’s the tiniest promise you could make to your future self about making art now? Write it down and then set it to music so you can sing it to yourself.

3.    Love-tricking
It’s true. You will need to love-trick yourself. I'm sorry about that!
I wonder if you might make an artist date with yourself for two or three nights a week on a night that your wife is preparing dinner. You could give yourself an amount of time (15 minutes, for example) as a place to start and if you feel like drawing for longer than that, go with it. Put these dates in yours and your wife's calendars so she knows when they’re happening.

4.    Art-Friends
When Covid allows, take an in-person class, or join a club/group where you meet other artists and potential friends. Friends and sleep have a very high return on investment.

5.    A question to consider:
What does work-life balancing look like right now?
A few years ago I wrote this piece called The Womanly Art of Leaning Out. It’s about the idea that for most of us, 80 percent is good enough. It's got some important ideas for you.

*****

ABOUT EASE LESSONS:

Music: “Meekness” by Kai Engel, used under Creative Commons Attribution license

Editor: Damien Pitter

Host: Monna McDiarmid (pronounced Mona McDermid) | Writer, Coach and Counselor
Website: MonnaMcDiarmid.com
Newsletter: The Sunday Reader
Patreon:  where I share monthly excerpts from my writing memoir in progress
Instagram: @monnamcdiarmid

TODAY'S GUEST: ELIZABETH
Today's episode is my second with Elizabeth who is in the process of becoming. She currently does laundry, dishes, drives carpools, and fills remaining “confetti time" with reading, writing, playing piano, thinking, and staring at a screensaver of a vine-covered tree. Along with her husband, she cares for two human children and an elderly pug in Richmond, Virginia, USA. Prior to this all-consuming undertaking, she worked as a writer and professional naming consultant for 20+ years on more than 150 product and corporate naming projects. In 2010, she published Finding Thalhimers (Dementi Milestone Publishing) about her father’s family and their department store, which existed for 150 years. Elizabeth loves breakfast, expensive dark chocolate, unapologetic authenticity, and laughing really hard. 

Thanks for this conversation, Elizabeth.


HOMEWORK INVITATIONS FROM LAST EPISODE

1. Writing while Parenting

• Create a time box (two to three hours) for your writing. 
• Decide how many days a week you would like to write and choose whether you will track your writing through time or words. 
• Track your writing between now and our next conversation with the knowledge that you get to rejig your plan going forward. 
• Remember you are going to write this novel one draft (or pass) at a time.

2. Blasphemy
Create a permission slip for yourself to write the most blasphemous things.

3. Parenting (from Elizabeth)
What are you parenting?

What are you parenting?
by Monna McDiarmid

1. A jade plant.  
Okay. Things went badly.

2. Poems and stories.
No longer babies, I send them
off to school and work.

3. The dream of a dog  
I’ve not yet met. 
A golden retriever, 
I call him Sam.

4. The white space
around the margins
of my too full life.
It tells me about FOMO.
I urge it to stay home.

5. Hope.
I coax it out
of the shadows
and hold it close.
Stick with me, kid.
I can’t do this without you

*****

ABOUT EASE LESSONS:

Music: “Meekness” by Kai Engel, used under Creative Commons Attribution license

Editor: Damien Pitter

Host: Monna McDiarmid (pronounced Mona McDermid) | Coach, Writer and Counselor
Website: MonnaMcDiarmid.com
Newsletter: The Sunday Reader
Patreon:  where I share monthly excerpts from my writing memoir in progress
Instagram: @monnamcdiarmid