䷉ "I used to write mostly about water. The stories that resonate most with people and with me are the ones that involve community and connection. I'm pivoting to write more about community."
"I write about water and community, but not necessarily in that order! I'm drawn to the idea that we can harness the power of community to tackle environmental crises."
"I write about water and people, but not necessarily in that order! A few times a month I look at how we can harness the power of community to tackle environmental crises."
I'm sure you realize that I'm thinking out loud here. This is mostly for me to figure out what it is that I write about, which is another way of asking what it is that I care about.
My clunky first draft, I feel a need to tell you its 2am here 😬
“I write ‘chronic reflections on life in the slow lane’ sharing my new insights into our cultural beliefs about grind, health, rest and joy. Two recent pieces readers responded to discussed why all bodies are miraculous and how being ‘good’ hasn’t healed me”.
I write it on Substack, a platform that makes it easy to share my work and where I have positive discussions and a real sense of community with readers and other writers.
Three cheers for also having "first draft courage!" What if it sounded something like this:
"I share my writing online with readers about life in the slow lane—and how even with chronic illness, I still see bodies as miraculous. I publish a new piece about twice a month, and best of all, there are no ads."
Depending on the scenario and what you intuit, you might change out the "magic" part to say:
"I share my writing online with readers about life in the slow lane—and how even with chronic illness, being 'good' hasn't healed me. I publish a new piece about twice a month, and best of all, there are no ads."
Thank you, I’ll sleep on it (I hope). Do you find that ‘normal’ people don’t read chronic illness blogs? People seem to think they’re irrelevant to ‘normals’.
I do think there's probably some penchant for the "abled" to run ferociously past anything that doesn't directly apply to their lived experience. It's not until they are no longer able to run through life in blissful, abled ignorance, do they realize how many people, stories, injustices that they've never given attention to.
I think this is a great question you're asking because knowing who you hope your writing will help is a big piece in knowing if you're satisfied in your work. I don't think I would shy away from telling "able-bodied-looking" people because I would imagine there's someone in their life who might "struggle" and they don't know how to help or ask questions.
Perhaps this is a writing mission for you—to share vulnerably and shine a light on how chronic illness affects all of us. The weaving of that interconnectedness could be very powerful. 🫶
Yes, that resonates. I want relatively able bodied to go, ‘oh ok that applies to me too, I just never thought about it” and the others in struggle or pain to say “me too, thanks”
The picture that comes to mind for me is of people stepping into a boat—abled body or otherwise—and how perhaps your work is to keep rowing the boat. And casting out invitations as you sense is right.
There are many of us who are not "normal", in that we've come to realize that the prevailing cultural norms don't work for us. The world is richest when we're all in it, ill and well, neurodivergent and neurotypical. If "normal" people don't stop to read, they're missing out.
I write a weekly newsletter about my internal world. I explore themes related to my personal journey as an artist, teacher and mother. They include: grief and loss, chronic pain, health and wellness, learning and spirituality. I write my newsletter on Substack, a place that provides a beautiful all-in-one solution for writing, video / audio sharing, podcasting and building community. Interactions with other community members inspire me to keep on writing, as I prepare to offer a paid subscription option to my readers soon!
Can you tell me more about which parts of your personal journey tie into your work as a piano teacher? I want to help create a through line. I'm especially interested to see if we can tie the healing power of music with a passion for teaching others how to let music in.
The magic in the writing pitch is in the specifics.
I'd also encourage you to explore what you DON'T know about music, its place, your place in it ... sometimes the spark of curiosity for other readers is an "expert" exploring how much openness there is for them, even in a topic they excel in.
This is exactly the help I need and is really assisting me in working out my direction.
**************
ME:
Due to lots of extreme circumstances, My inner world has always been larger than my outer world. I thank the music for that ability.
In a nutshell:
Raised in a fundamentalist Christian cult.
Due to untreated neck injury as a baby I live with chronic pain
Left my family at a young age.
Had children with abusive partner and ended up on the run, with my children, no permanent home or a number of years.
I survived all of that - and I credit the power of my music training with so much of my ability to tap into resourcefulness and resilience and for the belief that I could always create something from nothing.
The last three years have been incredibly difficult personally - time for me to finally slow down and reflect which meant a lot of facing of stuff that hadn’t had room to surface yet.
This is my next post actually - It’s called Slow Down.
Again, I credit all of the processes, rituals, training and the music for my healing.
*******
MY STUDENTS:
Over the years, Many of my students come to me to learn piano, and what happens in addition beautiful music, is that their own ‘things’ start to become unlocked. They access their inner world and they start to notice whatever needs to be noticed.
Could be trauma, could be tapping into their emotions - it will be whatever is needed.
As well as the standard type of piano learning, I have worked with people with autism, as well as stroke recovery / brain injured patients. (I have training in Ergonomics human movement/ injury prevention as well as music)
There is SO much healing power in music.
EG: A girl, early twenties, had experienced head trauma in a car accident.
Prior to the accident she had played piano to a high level.
Functional enough to do basics such as dress herself and speak.
She lost her job due to severe memory loss and extreme fatigue, and was sent to me by her doctor who had given up. For six months she would just lay there while I would play Bach piano music as well as whatever she requested.
Gradually we began to find her.
By the 18 month mark she was back to playing music that she loved and had regained a lot of her brain function. (short version!)
********************
The bit I don’t know and am fascinated by…
I adore all things neuroscience…so…
Brain mapping of the neuronal pathway changes when somebody learns piano.
Despite the many modern X-Ray / scanning options available to us, there is relatively limited information on this topic, as brain mapping is very invasive and either involves dissecting a brain or inserting electrodes deep inside.
My imagination goes WILD at story possibilities here!
This is the lab where students who don’t do enough practise are sent….only kidding…..
I write online about how I think music equips us to create something from nothing in every area of life. A few times a month I offer practical and reflective writings that explore all the ways music has met me and my students in surprising, even life-changing, ways.
䷉ "I used to write mostly about water. The stories that resonate most with people and with me are the ones that involve community and connection. I'm pivoting to write more about community."
Love this first draft courage!
What if it sounded a little more like this:
“My day job used to be ... These days I’m writing online about the connection between people, community and water...”
And then what is one surprising attribute about water that we could weave in to spark someone’s curiosity?
"I write about water and community, but not necessarily in that order! I'm drawn to the idea that we can harness the power of community to tackle environmental crises."
How about this (to avoid some redundancy):
"I write about water and people, but not necessarily in that order! A few times a month I look at how we can harness the power of community to tackle environmental crises."
Oh yes, getting there! I would have seen that redundancy if I'd read it before I hit post. Honest I would.
I'm sure you realize that I'm thinking out loud here. This is mostly for me to figure out what it is that I write about, which is another way of asking what it is that I care about.
My clunky first draft, I feel a need to tell you its 2am here 😬
“I write ‘chronic reflections on life in the slow lane’ sharing my new insights into our cultural beliefs about grind, health, rest and joy. Two recent pieces readers responded to discussed why all bodies are miraculous and how being ‘good’ hasn’t healed me”.
I write it on Substack, a platform that makes it easy to share my work and where I have positive discussions and a real sense of community with readers and other writers.
Three cheers for also having "first draft courage!" What if it sounded something like this:
"I share my writing online with readers about life in the slow lane—and how even with chronic illness, I still see bodies as miraculous. I publish a new piece about twice a month, and best of all, there are no ads."
Depending on the scenario and what you intuit, you might change out the "magic" part to say:
"I share my writing online with readers about life in the slow lane—and how even with chronic illness, being 'good' hasn't healed me. I publish a new piece about twice a month, and best of all, there are no ads."
🫶
Thank you, I’ll sleep on it (I hope). Do you find that ‘normal’ people don’t read chronic illness blogs? People seem to think they’re irrelevant to ‘normals’.
I do think there's probably some penchant for the "abled" to run ferociously past anything that doesn't directly apply to their lived experience. It's not until they are no longer able to run through life in blissful, abled ignorance, do they realize how many people, stories, injustices that they've never given attention to.
I think this is a great question you're asking because knowing who you hope your writing will help is a big piece in knowing if you're satisfied in your work. I don't think I would shy away from telling "able-bodied-looking" people because I would imagine there's someone in their life who might "struggle" and they don't know how to help or ask questions.
Perhaps this is a writing mission for you—to share vulnerably and shine a light on how chronic illness affects all of us. The weaving of that interconnectedness could be very powerful. 🫶
Yes, that resonates. I want relatively able bodied to go, ‘oh ok that applies to me too, I just never thought about it” and the others in struggle or pain to say “me too, thanks”
The picture that comes to mind for me is of people stepping into a boat—abled body or otherwise—and how perhaps your work is to keep rowing the boat. And casting out invitations as you sense is right.
Thank you Amanda, I am here for the long haul, and glad to have a few rare souls with me even in these early days.
There are many of us who are not "normal", in that we've come to realize that the prevailing cultural norms don't work for us. The world is richest when we're all in it, ill and well, neurodivergent and neurotypical. If "normal" people don't stop to read, they're missing out.
Thank you John. Glad to have you aboard. We sure need to revisit some cultural norms to have a better life.
Also: thank you for generously sharing your knowledge.
MY PITCH TAKE TWO!
👩🏻💻
I write a weekly newsletter about my internal world. I explore themes related to my personal journey as an artist, teacher and mother. They include: grief and loss, chronic pain, health and wellness, learning and spirituality. I write my newsletter on Substack, a place that provides a beautiful all-in-one solution for writing, video / audio sharing, podcasting and building community. Interactions with other community members inspire me to keep on writing, as I prepare to offer a paid subscription option to my readers soon!
Yes, love the first draft courage here!
Can you tell me more about which parts of your personal journey tie into your work as a piano teacher? I want to help create a through line. I'm especially interested to see if we can tie the healing power of music with a passion for teaching others how to let music in.
The magic in the writing pitch is in the specifics.
Thank you. This is the bit I need THE most help with for sure. Will ponder for a short time and be back with an answer
I'd also encourage you to explore what you DON'T know about music, its place, your place in it ... sometimes the spark of curiosity for other readers is an "expert" exploring how much openness there is for them, even in a topic they excel in.
Oooh. Yes.
I hope this isn’t wildly too long…
Your time is appreciated!
This is exactly the help I need and is really assisting me in working out my direction.
**************
ME:
Due to lots of extreme circumstances, My inner world has always been larger than my outer world. I thank the music for that ability.
In a nutshell:
Raised in a fundamentalist Christian cult.
Due to untreated neck injury as a baby I live with chronic pain
Left my family at a young age.
Had children with abusive partner and ended up on the run, with my children, no permanent home or a number of years.
I survived all of that - and I credit the power of my music training with so much of my ability to tap into resourcefulness and resilience and for the belief that I could always create something from nothing.
The last three years have been incredibly difficult personally - time for me to finally slow down and reflect which meant a lot of facing of stuff that hadn’t had room to surface yet.
This is my next post actually - It’s called Slow Down.
Again, I credit all of the processes, rituals, training and the music for my healing.
*******
MY STUDENTS:
Over the years, Many of my students come to me to learn piano, and what happens in addition beautiful music, is that their own ‘things’ start to become unlocked. They access their inner world and they start to notice whatever needs to be noticed.
Could be trauma, could be tapping into their emotions - it will be whatever is needed.
As well as the standard type of piano learning, I have worked with people with autism, as well as stroke recovery / brain injured patients. (I have training in Ergonomics human movement/ injury prevention as well as music)
There is SO much healing power in music.
EG: A girl, early twenties, had experienced head trauma in a car accident.
Prior to the accident she had played piano to a high level.
Functional enough to do basics such as dress herself and speak.
She lost her job due to severe memory loss and extreme fatigue, and was sent to me by her doctor who had given up. For six months she would just lay there while I would play Bach piano music as well as whatever she requested.
Gradually we began to find her.
By the 18 month mark she was back to playing music that she loved and had regained a lot of her brain function. (short version!)
********************
The bit I don’t know and am fascinated by…
I adore all things neuroscience…so…
Brain mapping of the neuronal pathway changes when somebody learns piano.
Despite the many modern X-Ray / scanning options available to us, there is relatively limited information on this topic, as brain mapping is very invasive and either involves dissecting a brain or inserting electrodes deep inside.
My imagination goes WILD at story possibilities here!
This is the lab where students who don’t do enough practise are sent….only kidding…..
OK, how about something like this:
I write online about how I think music equips us to create something from nothing in every area of life. A few times a month I offer practical and reflective writings that explore all the ways music has met me and my students in surprising, even life-changing, ways.
Thank you Amanda