Truth. It is so hard to remember the point of all of this sometimes. It’s a blessing to be reminded as you were on the trail. Thanks for sharing this piece.
I stumbled onto a Meg Oolders feather a few weeks ago, and am so glad I did. I immediately snatched it up and stuck it in my hat as a symbol of what I, myself, am hoping to attain. ("I want to write like she does...) Let me confess something here, Meg: Sometimes I finish a piece and jump up and dance around my chair, because I know it is good. Sometimes I laugh right out loud at a line I have written, saying "Now THAT's really funny!" It doesn't happen often, but with practice over the last year and a half, it happens more often. Those are the moments we have to focus on, the celebration of the creative process itself, the delight and exhilaration in realizing what talent we have in us, and not necessarily the approval of others. Harder than it sounds. Thanks for keeping it real.
Oh yes! Those jump up and dance moments are my reason for being a writer. So much beauty in the catharsis we experience when we share ourselves through stories. Loved this comment, Sharron. A post-worthy sentiment in itself. Thank you for being here. It's an honor to have you in my corner.
There you go again! Writing something so simple yet so profound. I've printed several of your quotes and thoughts from several of your posts and have them in my writing notebooks. See, you didn't even know that others have already been collecting your feathers! You are an amazing writer and I hope you will always continue to share this gift with others!!
Oh, Shannon. My writer friend heart just exploded. 💛You're such a powerful source of support for me. Thank you for being here, and for cheering me on. 💜
Lovely, sweet ! And when I am down on my writing my hubby always reminds me of the people who call/write/see me and tell me about this or that part of my writing that touched them. It always makes my day and your note is a great reminder to not forget those feathers I've left and those who've found them...
Three cheers for supportive hubbies! I'm picking up what you're putting down, too, Reena. Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts with me always. 💜
Hey Meg - I just "stealth published" one of my previously published (2015) stories just for you, just for this post. :D If you can take reading another story by me today, check it out:
I'm going to bookmark it and read it tonight!! I just started teaching myself a song on the ukelele and I'm on a roll. :-) Thank you! And I can always take your stories. Sometimes they rattle me to the point of taking a nap afterwards, but naps are good. And so are you! 💜😉
That feather caught my eye and I’m glad it did. I have a thing about collecting feathers too, Meg. They can be found displayed discretely here and there in my house.
I also have a half-written middle-grade novel called “Collecting Feathers” — which I feel far more inclined to believe I will finish one day, through the support of this Substack writing community, than I could have imagined before. So happy to be here!
Truth. It is so hard to remember the point of all of this sometimes. It’s a blessing to be reminded as you were on the trail. Thanks for sharing this piece.
You're most welcome, Ben.
This is lovely and I’m glad it caught your attention.
💜Thank you for reading.
You’re welcome and thank your angel for making you aware that it is watching over you!
🙌There it is!
Ta da!
I stumbled onto a Meg Oolders feather a few weeks ago, and am so glad I did. I immediately snatched it up and stuck it in my hat as a symbol of what I, myself, am hoping to attain. ("I want to write like she does...) Let me confess something here, Meg: Sometimes I finish a piece and jump up and dance around my chair, because I know it is good. Sometimes I laugh right out loud at a line I have written, saying "Now THAT's really funny!" It doesn't happen often, but with practice over the last year and a half, it happens more often. Those are the moments we have to focus on, the celebration of the creative process itself, the delight and exhilaration in realizing what talent we have in us, and not necessarily the approval of others. Harder than it sounds. Thanks for keeping it real.
Oh yes! Those jump up and dance moments are my reason for being a writer. So much beauty in the catharsis we experience when we share ourselves through stories. Loved this comment, Sharron. A post-worthy sentiment in itself. Thank you for being here. It's an honor to have you in my corner.
Likewise!
There you go again! Writing something so simple yet so profound. I've printed several of your quotes and thoughts from several of your posts and have them in my writing notebooks. See, you didn't even know that others have already been collecting your feathers! You are an amazing writer and I hope you will always continue to share this gift with others!!
Oh, Shannon. My writer friend heart just exploded. 💛You're such a powerful source of support for me. Thank you for being here, and for cheering me on. 💜
Lovely, sweet ! And when I am down on my writing my hubby always reminds me of the people who call/write/see me and tell me about this or that part of my writing that touched them. It always makes my day and your note is a great reminder to not forget those feathers I've left and those who've found them...
Three cheers for supportive hubbies! I'm picking up what you're putting down, too, Reena. Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts with me always. 💜
Yes. Known him for 39 years now. I think it's going to work ;-) Love to you!
Creative work is never pointless.
It IS the point
Maybe with enough feathers, I could fly?
That would be something. 🙂
Thanks for leaving this little feather as a reminder!
You're most welcome, Tammy. Thanks for picking it up. 💜
I love the metaphor of leaving feathers. So beautiful and so relatable as a writer too. Thank you.
Hey Meg - I just "stealth published" one of my previously published (2015) stories just for you, just for this post. :D If you can take reading another story by me today, check it out:
https://open.substack.com/pub/amyletter/p/the-lighted-globes?r=88zn9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I'm going to bookmark it and read it tonight!! I just started teaching myself a song on the ukelele and I'm on a roll. :-) Thank you! And I can always take your stories. Sometimes they rattle me to the point of taking a nap afterwards, but naps are good. And so are you! 💜😉
🪶
That feather caught my eye and I’m glad it did. I have a thing about collecting feathers too, Meg. They can be found displayed discretely here and there in my house.
I also have a half-written middle-grade novel called “Collecting Feathers” — which I feel far more inclined to believe I will finish one day, through the support of this Substack writing community, than I could have imagined before. So happy to be here!
So happy to have you here, Shannon! Thanks for stopping by to read my tiny essay.
Happy writing and collecting!