Romanticise the writing process
+ there are just a few tickets left for next week's Sex Talks x
The next live recording of the Sex Talks podcast is taking place on October 8th at Fenwick, Kingston from 6:30pm.
I am SO EXCITED for this one as I’ll be sitting down with best-selling author and body positivity advocate Megan Jayne-Crabbe for a discussion on sex and the beauty myth.
Together we’ll examine the enduring impact of said beauty myth, the myriad ways in which our relationship to our bodies affects our relationship to sex, confidence, work and so many other aspects of our lives, and how we can all cultivate a radically different relationship to our bodies.
This is going to be such a fun and important event and the goodies bags are legit unreal. Tickets are limited so snap yours up asap here.
Hi glorious humans,
I hope you’ve had a wonderful week thus far. Mine has been a busy one, punctuated by meeting so many incredible women who lifted my spirits no end. There is one conversation in particular that I wanted to share with you as it has been floating around in my head for days.
On Tuesday, I was lucky enough to attend the Glamour Women Of The Year Awards, which was pretty spectacular, even if it did spike my social anxiety to new heights. It’s not that I don’t like meeting new people, lots of new people, that I certainly do, it’s more that I find myself in environments like that one spiralling mentally down a doom-spiral of comparison so that by the time I leave I feel like the world’s biggest failure and wonder whether I will ever achieve anything. With the benefit of a few days’ hindsight I can marvel at the dramatic and laughably self-centred nature of such thoughts, but when you’re in it you’re really IN IT, you know?
But amongst the litany of conversations that sporadically pulled me out of my own head that evening, the chat I wanted to tell you about was with an author, whose work I admire a LOT, and with whom I found myself discussing how to navigate the intensely solitary nature of writing. She’s about to publish her third book and I was curious as to what her particular writing routine or ritual was which helped her stay focused and on track, all while spending so much time in the deafening silence that is being alone.
Her response?
You have to romanticise the process.
Light candles, burn incense, sit in gorgeous coffee shops and sip luxuriously on one, two, even three cups of coffee while you tap away for hours, lost in and to the creative process.
Embody the trope of the tortured artist, so committed to their writing they can think or do little else.
And give yourself permission to be consumed by the words as you fall in love with whatever story you have set out to tell.
I felt energised just listening to her describe the create milieu she architects for herself every time she sits down to write. It reminded me that if you truly want to do Great Work you have to throw yourself into the process whole-heartedly, with abandon. If you keep one foot, even a single toe out the door when writing, when creating, you’ll float in a dissatisfied state of limbo and the solitude will make you feel lonely rather than blissfully, creatively alone.
So whatever it is you’re focusing your attention on at the moment, romanticise the process. Luxuriate in it. Relish the joy of being consumed by the creative process.
On that note, what creative endeavour are you working on at the moment that you want to give into entirely? What might it take for you to make that final leap of faith in order to commit to the process without a sliver of doubt or hesitation?
Right, it’s time for some recommendations.
Here are three things to get you inspired in whatever you’re doing this weekend.
Oh and before I go, there are just a few tickets remaining for the Sex Talks pop-up next week at Fenwick (tickets here). I’m so excited to sit down with Megan Jayne Crabbe and talk all things sex and the beauty myth, and more so to see some of your lovely faces their too. The goodie bags are actually insane and include gifts from Desmond & Dempsey; Bluebella; Fenwick; Charlotte Tilbury and Modibodi so don’t even think about giving this one a miss.
Can’t wait to see you there.
All the love,
Emma-Louise xxx
1.
The Stoics’ advice for dealing with regret | Article
“Two elements must therefore be rooted out once for all, – the fear of future suffering, and the recollection of past suffering; since the latter no longer concerns me, and the former concerns me not yet.” – Seneca, from Letters from a Stoic
2.
Learn to rewire your brain with Nicola Vignola | Book
At present, I’m reading a lot around how we can reprogram our minds and our bodies and, in so doing, liberate ourselves from how the past has shaped us. I’m interviewing neuroscientist, Nicole Vignola, next week for Soho House on exactly that, and have been absorbed in her new book, Rewire, in preparation, which I have found fascinating.
Join us! Tickets are free here.
3.
What are you doing for the badass babe that is 85-year-old you? | Article
Jameela Jamil’s acceptance speech at the Glamour Awards, where she scooped up the Game-changing Voice Award, was a rallying cry against how restrictive beauty standards continue to harm women. It lit a fire in my belly as it will likely do yours.
“Boys are encouraged to build their bodies, and build their futures and legacies. While women and girls are starving, injecting and hurting – and sometimes literally dying – for the fastest possible route to the ever-changing, fickle beauty standard. And this drives me insane because I promise you, you only get better with age….
“I beg of you, as I stand here with a body broken forever because of what I put it through for our society’s beauty standards... to not sell your old lady self short. Don’t take her for granted. Because she’s a legend who deserves protecting. Fill your body with energy and life and joyful experiences…”
The next live recording of the Sex Talks podcast is taking place on October 8th at Fenwick, Kingston from 6:30pm.
I am SO EXCITED for this one as I’ll be sitting down with best-selling author and body positivity advocate Megan Jayne-Crabbe for a discussion on sex and the beauty myth.
Together we’ll examine the enduring impact of said beauty myth, the myriad ways in which our relationship to our bodies affects our relationship to sex, confidence, work and so many other aspects of our lives, and how we can all cultivate a radically different relationship to our bodies.
This is going to be such a fun and important event and the goodies bags are legit unreal. Tickets are limited so snap yours up asap here.