Your opening intro is something I am battling with a lot. My mother in law is an alcoholic who now has stage 4 cancer. We have a very rock relationship. My oldest son died almost a year ago -and now we have to process her news. It is a lot and I want to write about it but it impacts so many people close to me that it is hard to find a way to do it that stays true to me but also respectful
Another interesting interview; I always enjoying reading them. I also went and read your story about being investigated... My God, what a nightmare. It can happen to anyone, for the teeniest thing.
As for "being more me", I think I'm rather transparent in my writing, sometimes possibly too much so. I don't know... Where I can hold back is in showing my privileged situation, because it's something I struggle with. I always hoped to be able to support myself financially through my creative endeavours, be it writing, making bags, crocheting bedcovers etc, but the clock is ticking and I doubt it's going to happen! I wanted to flip the script and allow my husband to give up his highly successful but very stressful job decades ago... but now he's retired and no longer stressed. I carry that chip on my shoulder. It gets quite heavy at times. He's never berated me for not earning much money, but I feel a certain guilt about it. So that would be my hang-up. I should write about it, as I'm sure I'm not the only one in this (very lucky) position.
Francesca, I’m so grateful and glad you shared this. That “chip on my shoulder” line 🫶🏼 I know exactly the kind of weight you mean. Isn’t it strange how the parts of our lives we feel grateful for can also carry this hidden tangle of guilt and shame?
What you’ve said here, about money, creative ambition, partnerships, the stories we tell (or don’t tell) about contribution and worth, it’s not niche. It’s everywhere. And you writing about it would be such a gift. Not as a confession, but as a way of saying: here’s something tender and true that doesn’t often get said.
You don’t owe anyone that story (of course) but I’d read it in a heartbeat. And I have a feeling you’re absolutely the right person to write it.
Thank you Danusia. I’m glad you understand. We’re such big wads of emotional and intellectual wet spaghetti! I shall write about this. Thank you for inspiring me to do so.
Oh Elin. This. All of this. I’m sitting here just nodding and sighing because yes. That bit about carrying the financial load while the world assumes you’re the one being carried? Oof. You’ve always hold such fierce grace, and I know it’s not without cost.
I love how you’re thinking through the memoir line too, betrayal and liberation, self and others. It’s so bloody complicated. And your voice is razor-sharp and full of heart, and I can already feel the utter power of whatever you write next.
Thank you for being here and bringing your whole self, always. I feel so lucky we get to be in this together. 🖤
Your opening intro is something I am battling with a lot. My mother in law is an alcoholic who now has stage 4 cancer. We have a very rock relationship. My oldest son died almost a year ago -and now we have to process her news. It is a lot and I want to write about it but it impacts so many people close to me that it is hard to find a way to do it that stays true to me but also respectful
What, who, me?
Another interesting interview; I always enjoying reading them. I also went and read your story about being investigated... My God, what a nightmare. It can happen to anyone, for the teeniest thing.
As for "being more me", I think I'm rather transparent in my writing, sometimes possibly too much so. I don't know... Where I can hold back is in showing my privileged situation, because it's something I struggle with. I always hoped to be able to support myself financially through my creative endeavours, be it writing, making bags, crocheting bedcovers etc, but the clock is ticking and I doubt it's going to happen! I wanted to flip the script and allow my husband to give up his highly successful but very stressful job decades ago... but now he's retired and no longer stressed. I carry that chip on my shoulder. It gets quite heavy at times. He's never berated me for not earning much money, but I feel a certain guilt about it. So that would be my hang-up. I should write about it, as I'm sure I'm not the only one in this (very lucky) position.
Francesca, I’m so grateful and glad you shared this. That “chip on my shoulder” line 🫶🏼 I know exactly the kind of weight you mean. Isn’t it strange how the parts of our lives we feel grateful for can also carry this hidden tangle of guilt and shame?
What you’ve said here, about money, creative ambition, partnerships, the stories we tell (or don’t tell) about contribution and worth, it’s not niche. It’s everywhere. And you writing about it would be such a gift. Not as a confession, but as a way of saying: here’s something tender and true that doesn’t often get said.
You don’t owe anyone that story (of course) but I’d read it in a heartbeat. And I have a feeling you’re absolutely the right person to write it.
Love,
Danusia xx
Thank you Danusia. I’m glad you understand. We’re such big wads of emotional and intellectual wet spaghetti! I shall write about this. Thank you for inspiring me to do so.
Oh Elin. This. All of this. I’m sitting here just nodding and sighing because yes. That bit about carrying the financial load while the world assumes you’re the one being carried? Oof. You’ve always hold such fierce grace, and I know it’s not without cost.
I love how you’re thinking through the memoir line too, betrayal and liberation, self and others. It’s so bloody complicated. And your voice is razor-sharp and full of heart, and I can already feel the utter power of whatever you write next.
Thank you for being here and bringing your whole self, always. I feel so lucky we get to be in this together. 🖤
Big love,
x