Modes of Resistance So You Carry On Anyway (A Love Letter)
Keep on truckin'--it's all we've got
It helps me enormously if you drop a heart on this newsletter, forward it to a friend, or share it on social media. Or subscribe to get me in your inbox! And I adore comments! I love hearing from you, so you can hit reply and email me any time. Writing these newsletters is part of how I make a living as a writer, so I welcome paid subscriptions, too.
Hi lovies,
Yes, I know everybody in the world who writes is writing on the themes of chin up, we can do this, carry on, carry on, carry on. And here I am joining them by providing you with some suggestions for modes of resistance.
Let me be clear. There’s resistance when it comes to not doing your creative work and your writing and there’s resistance when you don’t like something political or societal. In a way, I’m talking about both types of resistance here. But only because the personal is political. What we do on an individual level does have consequences. However, you won’t find a list of actions you can take or phone numbers you can call here.
No, I’m talking about every day acts of resistance that will improve your attitude and life in general so that you can write and create like the badass you are. If political activism is your thing please go for it. We need you now more than ever. But if you’re looking for more, shall we say, delicate ways to resist, read on.
And never forget for one single moment that delicate acts of resistance can change the world. So, here goes:
Modes of Resistance
Celebration is resistance, as the writer Laura Bradbury said in one of her Patreons recently.
Creativity is resistance.
Writing is resistance.
Smiling at strangers is resistance.
Chatting with the funny little lady wearing an ugly green knitted hat in the elevator at the grocery store is resistance.
Walking your dog and pausing outside the house of your neighbor down the street to give her time to run out of the house and chat with you is resistance.
Going out to dinner with friends is resistance.
Pausing to admire a flower is resistance.
Gazing at the moon is resistance.
Pondering the possibilities of alien life while you gaze at the sky is resistance.
Flossing your teeth, moisturizing your skin, eating your veggies, lifting weights is resistance.
Because: self-care is resistance.
Planning trips to far-away locales is resistance.
Because: joy is resistance.
Watching Cocomelon with your youngest grandchild is resistance.
Taking your pre-teen granddaughter for Boba and to Target is resistance.
Talking to a friend who lives far away on the phone (not zoom) and going deep is resistance.
These things constitute resistance because they reflect trust.
Trust that the sun also rises.
Trust that the snow will melt.
Trust that spring follows winter.
Trust that the woman in the elevator won’t snub you.
Trust that you won’t vomit due to the excessive cuteness on Cocomelon.
Trust that strangers will smile back.
Trust that your muse will always be with you.
But also: trust that this, too, shall pass.
But…and this is a big but:
All of these acts of resistance and trust only count if you’re there for them. If you really are looking at the moon (and all those planets that are causing such frenzy down here) and not worrying about the bill you forgot to pay. If you are having a glass of wine with friends and not thinking about how fat you must look. If you are walking the dog or the child and not looking at your phone.
If you are present, mindful, here.
And while we’re making lists, how about this one:
Not Resisting
Doom scrolling
Doom scrolling
Doom scrolling
(You can stay current—and we must—without obsessively following every twist and turn of events.)
Love, light, and good writing,
Charlotte
P.S. Please drop an idea about a mode of resistance in the comments. I’d love to hear from you.
HERE’S THIS WEEK’S THING1
I’m reading Mind Over Body (see below) and one of the things she recommends doing it making a list of the things you use to distract you from uncomfortable feelings and emotions.
Often sometimes writing brings up uncomfortable emotions, feelings of unworthiness or not knowing. And that’s when your brain seeks distractions from going to the page. It can be anything from doom scrolling to checking your inbox a million times a day, to staring out the window. Distractions can even appear to be “good,” as in cleaning the kitchen, writing in your journal, going for a walk.
Your task this week is to write down as many habitual distractions that you can think of, and then write about how they serve you. In the book, Nicole Sachs recommends welcoming each distraction and writing that you are here for them and ready to listen to how they serve you.
This exercise has been so eye-opening for me. One of the immediate benefits is that I’m scrolling on my phone way, way less. And that’s a miracle, as far as I’m concerned.
Articles and Resources
I wrote about writing first chapters.
Elise Loehnen wrote an article on drama triangles. So useful for understanding your characters and the dynamics they operate in. She’s one of my favorite Substackers and I have a gift subscription to her newsletter for three people—let me know if you would like one.
A trio of related items. Last week in the Artist’s Way group we talked about The Gap by Ira Glass, which is about the distance between what you intend to write and what you’re capable of writing, and is well worth watching. Then Jacqueline sent me the link to this Insta post which has a similar theme only about knowledge, not skill. And finally, also related is this post about marshmallows. Okay, really, it’s about staying in the writing game for the long haul. But go read it, you’ll see what I mean about the marshmallows.
Several of you have told me you got hooked on fountain pens from my Christmas gifts for writers post. 2 I just rediscovered this one which was hiding at the back of my pen mug. It is the best! Writes like a dream. And it’s only $11 at Jet Pens. I just ordered two more. (No skin in the game here, not an affiliate link, I just love this pen.)
Books
Let Them, by Mel Robbins. I was interested in this one when it first came out, despite its pop culture style, and the fact that Robbins’ energy is a bit too much for me. But I found myself playing some interesting mind games about relationships and I thought this might help. It’s a fast read. And yes, much as it pains me to admit, it is helpful.
Mind Your Body, by Nicole J. Sachs. For anybody who suffers from chronic pain or anxiety, this is the book for you. Sachs is a protege of Dr. Sarno, the original mind-body dude who helped so many people heal from back pain. Sachs is bringing his work to a contemporary audience. It’s such good stuff, and she writes in a very accessible manner. Highly recommended. Update: I’m reading this slowly on purpose, because it’s so good and useful.
Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales, by Heather Fawcett. I loved the first two books in this series, so snagged this one with a gift certificate. Making myself finish The Warbler before I get to start this.
The Warbler, by Sarah Beth Durst. I chose this as my Amazon Prime choice for the month because I loved the author’s cozy fantasy book, The Spell Shop. This is not a fantasy per se, but it definitely has magical elements in it. Ten months is the longest Elisa has ever stayed anywhere. She’s afraid if she stays longer the family curse will turn her into a tree. I’m really enjoying this and it’s a quick read. Update: I just finished it and ended up loving it.
Workshops in England and France
Life is crazy here (and everywhere in response). And did I mention that travel is resistance? So why not shuck it all and go to England (think swans and the gorgeous garden in which they live and an ancient cathedral with sort of magical Evensongs and a high street bursting with people of all ages and dogs and pubs with fish and chips and mushy peas) to write for a week. I think it’s an excellent idea and I’ll be there to hang out with you. Tons of info, including dates and cost is here. England is easy because they speak the language. Ish.
But there’s also France coming up! We may not speak their language but as long as you give it a whirl (Bon jour is easy to say) you’ll be fine. Find out more here on our France page. And seriously, give it a thought. We’d love to have you accompany us for either workshop.
And if you want a taste of the adventure that awaits with our overseas workshops, you can read my posts about this year here, and here, here, here, and here.
Other places to connect with me:
My website (badly in need of an upgrade)
Our workshop website
My original blog (now for archive purposes only, no longer updated, but damn there are a lot of articles on it)
THING = A writing exercise, a prompt, maybe something else. Whatever strikes my fancy that might help you with your writing.
Sorry not sorry.
I read one of Robbins’s other book (the high-five one) and it was helpfulish. This new one appears to have a bit of a muddy origin https://sagejustice.substack.com/p/mel-robbins-and-plagiarism
Wonderful. Thank you.