For the last month, I have been working on an essay that has been causing me anguish. Over several long, painful re-drafts, the piece took many shapes. It began as an inquisitive look into how algorithms aid and abet us. Then I watched Mark Zuckerberg’s strange VR tour on YouTube. The piece morphed into a critical analysis about the implications of living online — literally. It was around this time that I low-key joined Twitter, which gave me all kinds of uncomfortable feelings. How can we fit nuanced discourses into so few characters? I am ten years late to the conversation and although the thought troubled me, I had a lovely exchange with author Celeste Ng. It gave me warm fuzzies. By this stage, the essay had circled back to an examination of how polarising digital spaces can be.
For the record, I think digital life is great! I wouldn’t be writing newsletters and courses for an online community if I didn’t think so. We have a lot to be excited about when it comes to new technological frontiers; elements of VR sound fun! I wanted the piece to celebrate tech advancements (NFTs, health services, replying to your favourite celebrities online) while addressing the need for an understanding of the long term morality and ethical implications in tech invention. If this sounds overly complicated to you — same.
I gave it up. I put it down. I walked away. It wasn’t a good fit for me right now. There was a general theme to my thinking — yes — but after several attempts, I concluded my thoughts were best kept as fodder over dinner with friends.
This brings me to the nugget of self-knowledge that came from the experience. It reminded me that it’s perfectly fine to give up on something. In the words of the great Taylor Swift — you know when it’s time to go.
As 2021 draws to a close, I am taking a look at my life and deciding what I want to quit. You (we) don’t have to struggle and painstakingly try to make something work if it just doesn’t. It’s perfectly reasonable to put things in the too hard bin, even if it’s just for a little while. Perhaps in 2 or 6 or 12 months time, I will pick up my essay and it will flow effortlessly with the words that just aren’t here with me right now.
Once I committed to putting the essay aside, I felt lighter. I was creating room for other ideas! 💡 On that note, this will be the last free newsletter of 2021. Paid subscribers will have one more newsletter before the festive break. Regular newsletters will be back in 2022!
It’s been a year filled with writing and features and culture. Early in the year, I interviewed Curry Cats to chat about their brand of (un)traditional Asian street food. We chatted about the feeling of being an outsider in adopted and home countries, and how this plays out in food.
Jo McLaughlin guest-wrote a stellar piece on artist Kim Lim that eloquently described the beauty and simplicity of Lim’s sculptures. I met with Emilia Galatis, the curator behind Flash Minky; a brand that weaves social and environmental change into artisan blankets. We spoke about the Australian artists behind Flash Minky pieces and the significance of the works they create.
In June, Charlotte Barrett guest-wrote a review of Wintering by Katherine May. In her review, Charlotte espouses the need to reframe difficult periods of life as similar to passing seasons, “reframing our notion of time as linear.” June was lipoedema awareness month, so I wrote an essay on body neutrality in Summer Bodies. I was curious to write about the fact that body positivity isn’t necessarily inclusive and that our cultural dialogue around weight and diet culture has room for improvement. “Re-addressing how we relate to our bodies with an air of pragmatism is a genius way for all bodies to feel empowered.”
Later in the summer Rose Berry guest-wrote on the topic of social anxiety in the Make friends with your fear feature. Rose shared her advice on how to combat disruptive thoughts and create a mindset shift.
After the summer break, I reviewed the Barbican’s Noguchi exhibition. I personally loved the retrospective, unlike The Guardian. In November I wrote about the power and logic behind Meditation. Fun fact: regular quiet time has the power to reduce blood pressure and ease depression.
I shared My Writing Story including colourful details and cringe-worthy emails to describe the lessons I have learned in my writing career to date. In this feature, I shared the top 3 things successful writers need on their journey to being published. To round up the year, I researched the origin story of Dumplings and examined the resurgence of the Early 00s: A New Renaissance.
Phew! It has been a joy to write these letters. Thank you for reading, for engaging, for all your messages, and for being a part of the Sprout community! I am so happy to have you here and look forward to more in 2022.
I am taking a break over the holidays to reset and recharge. I’ll be back in January with new programmes to announce, workshops to host, and more features designed to inspire you in living your best life.
Have a happy and restful break over the festive period. See you in 2022!
— Claire
Sell Your Writing — the course you won’t want to quit
It is very possible that you are tired of hearing about this course, but I am willing to run the risk of sharing it again. Because I believe in it and want you to experience it for yourself!
The next session of Sell Your Writing commences on 23 January 2022. Get sharpening your pencils and be ready to start publishing your work.
Make time to write, hear feedback on your work, and be inspired by guests to keep you motivated on your writing journey. 💪🏽
Learning can change your life for the better! With that in mind, this course includes quizzes, exercises, writing challenges, events, collaborative workshops and more that have been specially designed to be engaging, fun, and inspiring.
The course combines online modules with real-time lessons. Curate learning around your life and connect with your peers and lecturer in real-time.
Sell Your Writing is priced as affordably as possible at only £15 per week. Plus, payment plans are available so you can pay as you learn 💸
Head to the course page for more information and to read the full curriculum.
If you have questions or queries — please respond to this email and send them across! 💌 A FAQs newsletter will circulate early in 2022.
Sell Your Writing commences 23 January 2022.
Hear what past participants said
"I came into this course a little jaded by online workshops, post-pandemic, but was positively surprised by the many practical exercises...I had the feeling Claire enjoyed teaching the course and was genuinely interested and supportive of our writing while still providing valuable feedback..."
"If you are feeling stuck with writing, or you don't know how to find inspiration to get yourself started - sign up to this course. Claire's relaxed and friendly approach really helps break down barriers to an otherwise intimidating concept. Loved it."
"...I now feel confident about the process and requirements of taking on freelance work. How to research publications, pitch work, and successfully condense ideas into a word count. I also emailed with additional questions and the response couldn’t have been more thought out and gracious..."
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