10 Ideas Worth Sharing

+ 2 writing events in June

Embroidery artist Michelle Kingdom via This Is Colossal

Hello Friends! I hope you had an excellent week. I started exercising again and it’s made all the difference in the world to my mood and ability to focus. For the first time in my life, I’m dedicating two days a week to strength training. Better late than never? I hope so.  Plus I’ve re-committed to yoga, so all in all I’m feeling pretty good about myself.

Just to be clear: the goal of this health kick is to improve my energy, focus and overall health. Will I also look better in a bathing suit? Who knows? I really don’t care. I’m just thrilled that this 52-and-a-half year old body is healthy and getting stronger. xo

(If you’re in West London, I highly recommend Yasmine Say.)

Inspired by Austin Kleon, here are ten things worth sharing this week: 

1. I love this quote: Knowledge is a rumour until it lives in the body. It reminds me that I can’t think my way into writing a book, improving my health, etc… I have to actually do the thing.

2. Currently watching: A totally weird and mind-bending TV show called The OA. Think Stranger Things meets The Time Traveller’s Wife.

3. Currently reading: The Source by Dr. Tara Swart. I know it sounds super woo-woo, but it’s really all about neuroplasticity. It encourages you to challenge your autopilot thinking and re-wire your brain’s pathways through visualisation and action boards. (Ok, it’s a little woo-woo, but it’s science-backed!)

4. The trailer for this new movie gives me all the feels. 

5. It’s kaftan season! Unfortunately, I don’t think I can justify buying any more. But if you’re wondering about my summer uniform, this is it.

   

   1. Tallulah and Hope 2. The White Company 3. Emmerson Fry

6. We haven’t talked about AI here, have we? I feel like we should. It’s such a fun creative tool and I’d love to share with you how I use it. Are you interested, or is this old news? I’ll wait to hear from you.

7. I know some creative writers are freaked out that AI will steal their jobs, but I tend to agree with Joanna Penn: “You are not a word generator. That is not your value. We have to revalue ourselves. We are authors. We are creators. We are about ideas and beautiful products. We’re about curiosity and we’re about connection.”

8. Best meal this week: Black pepper tofu with fried cauliflower rice.

9. Hey guess what?! I was on a podcast! And I didn’t faint! Thanks for inviting me, Claudia deLlano. xo

10. This week’s NYT newsletter Read Like The Wind, features Two Books to help you go gray gracefully.

Going Gray by Anne Kreamer and I’ll Drink to That by Betty Halbreich

Finally, this month I’ll be attending two writing events in London. I’d love to meet you there! If you are planning to go, please do reach out.

1. London Writers Salon, Kindred West London - Tuesday 11 June from 10am

2. Women’s Prize Live: A day-long writers conference before the prize giving ceremony - Wednesday 12 June from 12pm to 9pm.