Maia, this is so lovely and thoughtful. The story of your parents and your friend is so compelling that I think it would definitely be worth a full memoir. Committing to the writing process first is the smartest thing you did.
Maia, I'll have to put 'Caste' on my list of books to read. I live here in Mexico now with my wife and I think the caste system put in place hundreds of years ago here has had ripple effects emanating to this day. I think I might be able to get a lot out of that book to understand both the USA and possibly Mexico as well. Great newsletter you got here. I'm subscribing.
It's an excellent book, Thomas -- very eye-opening. The author, Isabel Wilkerson, does an incredible job of connecting the dots across histories and cultures. Also if you get a chance, see the movie "Origin," about the book. And thank you for subscribing!
Maia, this is so well put. This particular sentence resonated: "Perhaps the biggest gift from this past month is feeling what it’s like to honor my own gift as a writer, as an artist." Yes and yes! Thank you for sharing this.
Maia, I love how you're listening to your inner voice telling you, "Have faith in your story."
I can relate to so much of how you explain the process of getting to this point. Writing a memoir is an interior journey, I believe, as well as a spiritual one. It's woven, thread by thread, in the daily practices in which we immerse ourselves.
I just want to lend some encouragement to you as you walk this path. It's a courageous act, what you're doing. You're excavating. You're unearthing. That's hard work. It's also good work.
I think writing memoirs can help make us more honest - with ourselves, with others.
One final note: my husband went to school and lived in New Mexico before we met. We bought a condo in Los Alamos when we were first married, and how I wish we still had it! New Mexico is, to me, an artist's paradise.
Jeannie, I'm not sure how I missed your comment until today, but it was exactly what I needed to read just as I'm hitting the hard parts where I'm tempted to throw the towel in on the whole enterprise. Thank you thank you thank you.
And I live just down the hill from Los Alamos. It is indeed an artist's paradise and beautiful country. If you ever come through here, please let me know -- would be happy to meet you!
Maia, this is so lovely and thoughtful. The story of your parents and your friend is so compelling that I think it would definitely be worth a full memoir. Committing to the writing process first is the smartest thing you did.
It's so funny to me that you were reluctant to go in the direction of a memoir, mainly because it's been my dream to write one ever since I read Son of Elsewhere by Elamin Abdelmahmoud and felt for the first time like my actual story might actually be worth telling: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/611405/son-of-elsewhere-by-elamin-abdelmahmoud/9780771002243
ooooh thank you for that book recommendation! I'm looking for good memoirs to get inspired by!
You will love it. One of my absolute favourite reads of the last 5 years.
I'm excited to read your memoir and to learn your story.
Thank you, Troy.
Thank you for the shout-out Maia ❤️
Maia, I'll have to put 'Caste' on my list of books to read. I live here in Mexico now with my wife and I think the caste system put in place hundreds of years ago here has had ripple effects emanating to this day. I think I might be able to get a lot out of that book to understand both the USA and possibly Mexico as well. Great newsletter you got here. I'm subscribing.
It's an excellent book, Thomas -- very eye-opening. The author, Isabel Wilkerson, does an incredible job of connecting the dots across histories and cultures. Also if you get a chance, see the movie "Origin," about the book. And thank you for subscribing!
Oh! My man Jon Bernthal is in that movie. I'll write this down. Thank you!!
Maia, this is so well put. This particular sentence resonated: "Perhaps the biggest gift from this past month is feeling what it’s like to honor my own gift as a writer, as an artist." Yes and yes! Thank you for sharing this.
Maia, I love how you're listening to your inner voice telling you, "Have faith in your story."
I can relate to so much of how you explain the process of getting to this point. Writing a memoir is an interior journey, I believe, as well as a spiritual one. It's woven, thread by thread, in the daily practices in which we immerse ourselves.
I just want to lend some encouragement to you as you walk this path. It's a courageous act, what you're doing. You're excavating. You're unearthing. That's hard work. It's also good work.
I think writing memoirs can help make us more honest - with ourselves, with others.
One final note: my husband went to school and lived in New Mexico before we met. We bought a condo in Los Alamos when we were first married, and how I wish we still had it! New Mexico is, to me, an artist's paradise.
Enjoy the journey. I'm rooting for you. ❤️
Jeannie, I'm not sure how I missed your comment until today, but it was exactly what I needed to read just as I'm hitting the hard parts where I'm tempted to throw the towel in on the whole enterprise. Thank you thank you thank you.
And I live just down the hill from Los Alamos. It is indeed an artist's paradise and beautiful country. If you ever come through here, please let me know -- would be happy to meet you!
I'm so glad you saw it today - maybe today was when you were meant to see the comment?
I would love to meet you, as well, Maia!
pretty sure that’s true! did you see the Note I posted not long before I spotted your comment?! Kismet!
No I didn't. Can you please tag me in the note? I love it when things like this happen.