Happy Persian New Year! | 3 writing inspirations

Writing, springtime, and some helpful things

Hello and happy Persian new year!

I launched this Substack right around the vernal equinox two years ago. Thank you for being part of my journey‚ for your replies, conversations, patience, and enthusiasm. It’s been fascinating to practice sharing here.

My primary creative project of the past few years has been my speculative fiction book about childhood and technology. Today I’ll share 3 things that are helping me as a writer.

My favorite writing tool

I find that writing by hand helps me generate the kind of material I love the most. My mornings with my notebook and pen are sacred to my process. But for a long time I felt guilty about using disposable pens. On one of his recent trips to Germany, Stefan got me an incredible Ottohut fountain pen, which is now a treasured utensil in my writing practice.

A thing that helps me get unstuck

I’ve gotten stuck a lot of times while writing, and figured out lots of different ways to break through. Here’s one that never fails to help me look at the world through new (star-spangled) eyes: Lynda Barry’s X Page session. Thank you to my writing mentor Amy for this resource (which represents the tiniest fraction of the number of things I’m grateful to her for.)

A surprising application of a therapeutic modality

When I was exploring how I could meet my growth and healing needs through therapy last year, I discovered Dr. Richard Schwartz’s Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach. I’m now on a journey with IFS that is utterly transforming (and beyond the scope of this note.) As a writer, it has helped me listen with love to my various voices — not only characters, but also different parts of myself involved in writing. If you’re new to IFS, this podcast is a beautiful intro/demo of the work.

I wish you a happy spring full of hyacinth and song and loved ones!