Open Draft - with Fabio Cerpelloni

Isn't it true that on a planet with 8 billion people there will always be someone more skilled and talented and qualified and experienced than us? Being the best in the world shouldn't be the minimum requirement for showing our work. Listen to my ramble for more.

I forgot I blogged about "Show Your Work" by Austin Kleon -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/show-your-work/

Watch the episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/Vec1hXYIlp4?si=eRXxAEYqCLTvS3_-

A few weeks ago, I published a video titled "You Have a TINY Book in You. Write It." My story resonated with many people. Some viewers asked me specific questions too. This video is to answer those questions. Hope this helps!

Kathleen Adams is one of the most prominent and established voices in the field of therapeutic writing. She's a best-selling author, speaker, and psychotherapist.

She's the founder and director of the Center for Journal Therapy, the premier source of education and training on the power of writing for healing, growth, and change.

She's also the director of the Therapeutic Writing Institute and adjunct faculty at the University of Denver, where she teaches Writing and Healing, a 10-week course. In an internet poll, Kay was listed (with Anne Frank and Anais Nin) as one of the three most significant influences on contemporary journal keeping.

I learned about her work when I read her first book, Journal to the Self (1990), a classic that has helped define the field of journal therapy. I then had the privilege to meet Kay to ask her questions about journaling.

- What is journaling?

- Why is it helpful?

- What misconceptions do people have about journaling?

- How can we start journaling?

- What journaling techniques are there?

- Is it better to keep a handwritten or digital journal?

- Should you journal only when you're sad?

- How can you become a better writer by journaling?

Kay and I hope this recorded chat will inspire you to write down your thoughts more often.

Enjoy the episode here or watch it on YouTube --https://youtu.be/8FvaRuz21uM

KAY LINKS

- Kay's first book, “Journal to the Self” - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/353624.Journal_to_the_Self

- Kay’s Books - https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/F7818742-54B0-4A8F-8DED-F5CFFC3B2148

- Kay’s gift for you - https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:571b7eb5-8dfa-4d29-8c3f-70d583a05bd9

- The Center for Journal Therapy - https://journaltherapy.com/

- The Therapeutic Writing Institute - https://twinstitute.net/

MY LINKS

- Subscribe to Better Writers. You'll get 1 short email a week to help you achieve 1 goal: become a better writer. -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/

- My website - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/

"Avoid the passive voice" is cheap writing advice that helps no one. I'll tell you why in this rant.

Join Better Writers - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/

Watch the rant on YouTube - https://youtu.be/eQJpUhZi9-g

You can write a TINY book today. You don’t need to have a talent. You don’t need to have an extraordinary life. You don’t need to have a big audience. These days you don’t even need a contract with a publisher. I had none of those things, and yet I published a tiny book — one of my proudest achievements in 37 years.

You can do that too.

LINKS

My Book - https://www.amazon.com/Any-Language-Want-Fabio-Cerpelloni/dp/B0CDYT58HW

Visit my website: https://fabiocerpelloni.com/

Watch the video on YouTube - https://youtu.be/2TrxmpeiKAM

"Several Short Sentences About Writing" by Verlyn Klinkenborg. I struggled not to highlight every sentence in this book. I loved it so much. It surprised me in so many ways and taught me things about writing I had never heard before.

Watch the episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/UEJmxMuKecg

00:00 Intro

01:05 The writer's job

05:39 Writing by implication

09:00 Transitions and logic

14:05 In your head

18:20 Write what

24:00 Conclusion

In 1997, Derek Sivers (accidentally) started CD Baby, the largest distributor of independent music in the world. Ten years later, he sold the company for $22 million.

For 1.5 hours, we talked about one thing only: WRITING.

YOUTUBE LINK for this episode- https://youtu.be/jI3efiQ2u_M

00:00 Intro

03:30 Starting to write

11:30 The influence of bad writing

15:55 Reading reviews

19:00 Different reasons for writing

23:20 Writing "How to Live"

28:43 Writing one sentence per line

34:34 The influence of writing songs

39:06 Derek's best sentences

40:00 Imitating other writers

44:51 Reading old books

47:15 The work is the practice

53:25 Publishing daily?

01:04:00 Why succinct writing

01:05:30 Using stories to illustrate a point

01:07:05 Semicolons

01:07:45 Reading with a writer's mind

01:09:50 Academic writing

01:12:40 Writing for English as a second language speakers

01:15:00 Next book?

01:17:30 Being disciplined

01:19:28 Saying just enough

01:30:30 Conclusion

Behind any creation, there's the work of a mind. That mind is often fearful and insecure.

"They might not like this. They might not like ME."

You're an artist. You can't afford to let someone else's mind harm your own. But you're also an artist who wants to be liked and accepted.

Do you have the courage not to be?

I invited my friend, Bree Aesie, to talk about this.

Bree studied psychology and has been building on the internet since 2020. Consistently. She's the host of "Into the Story," a wonderful storytelling podcast for learners of English I wish had been around when I was a learner myself.

You'll learn more about the psychology of creativity, and hear about our fears, frustrations, and joys as creators.

Enjoy!

(You can watch us on YouTube too -- https://youtu.be/eSJQR-TuBq0)

BREE'S LINKS

Into the Story (Bree's show) - https://intothestorypodcast.com/

FABIO'S LINKS

Better Writers - https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/

We mentioned...

- The Practice by Seth Godin

- Alan Watts (British writer)

- Laurie Skreslet (Canadian mountaineer)

- Sound School podcast with Ira Glass

- This American Life (podcast)

CHAPTERS

03:15 Bree + creating

09:10 The practice

15:55 Sincere vs serious

19:10 Move your body

26:00 The Lizard Brain pt.1

29:20 Creating is satisfying

37:35 Originality

41:30 AI for creativity

47:20 The Lizard Brain pt.2

54:40 Productivity and discipline

58:40 No.1 tips

01:02:10 Conclusion

Suggestions on how to cut the fluff in your writing (watch on YouTube - https://youtu.be/MTll-KJl0ps?si=Szxbcuu_radtBZGL)

Henneke didn't see herself as a writer. She didn't even think she was creative. In school, English was her worst subject. The next was Dutch, her first language. Henneke never kept a journal, never wrote a poem, never published anything. Later in life, she realised there wasn't that much magic about writing, and discovered a passion that led her to some amazing achievements:

- Publishing “Blog to Win Business,” a book that was recommended as a must read for business writers by Inc.com and HuffingtonPost.

- Landing an interview with Inc.com and Forbes.com on the topic of seductive writing.

- Being named one of “50 Incredible Women in Marketing to Follow” by Search Engine Journal.

- Writing for Sally Hogshead, a Hall of Fame speaker.

Today Henneke describes herself as an "irreverent writer and educator on a mission to stamp out gobbledygook."

Her courses, books, and clean-looking blog -- Enchanting Marketing -- teach both first and second language English writers how to improve their writing skills.

- Henneke's LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/hennekeduistermaat/

- Enchanting Marketing - https://www.enchantingmarketing.com/

MY LINKS

- Better Writers, my weekly newsletter for online writers who speak English as a second language. I share writing tips, insights, and resources to help you do one thing: become a better writer. -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/private/

- My website -- https://fabiocerpelloni.com/