Yes...I've done MANY things during my twenties (and teens) that would cause me to faint dead away now...but reading your essay made me think of it differently. I used to wish I was as courageous as I was then. Now I'm realizing it wasn't courage, it was naivety. I'm just glad I'm still here to tell the stories!
Yes, my "crazy days" had nothing to do with bravery. It was sheer stupidity and naivety. But, luckily I survived. When I write about it, it is as though I am talking about someone else. Someone who I don't recognize now as being me!
Yes, it was wonderful to be so accepted by the Australian girls. They could have easily said, well, you don't have a job, so we're not sure you can pay your share! At the time, I wasn't sure I could either. And, even worse, I wasn't concerned about it. I just thought, I'll get a job. (As if they were easy to come by!) It turned out, it was that easy, but I didn't know it at the time. As I say repeatedly, guardian angels were with me, working overtime!
Thanks Mimi. I wonder if I should keep on drip feeding the memoir to Substack or cut it off at some point. I think (cross fingers and toes!) I might have a possible new publisher.
It's a hard question to answer. If you were gaining subscribers based on the memoir, then it might be something to consider about paywalling. But the publisher might have different opinions on the upfront publishing on Substack. And honestly, Substack seems to be making it harder for people to publish work here and be seen (algorithm and all). Keep us updated on the publisher! That's exciting.
Thanks for your input on this Mimi. I will have to talk to the new publisher and see what they think. I'm going with this publisher at the moment, due to their interest in marketing the self published book, and the CEO's ongoing "coaxing me along." Hopefully it is not a walk up the garden path, as with the previous publisher, who I had to back out of. At least this firm has a Green Flag rating with the Alliance of Independent Authors, so that's a start. And he writes such encouraging letters! At this point, that (almost) is worth the money in itself! Plus I'm just tired of trying to get this thing off the drawing board, so to speak. Wish me luck! For sure, as I go along, Substack readers will hear about it.
Except for the work on my dissertation, I have no excuse to not stretch my creative muscles. You have encouraged me through your stories, and I am here for whatever journey you take us on!
Gosh! Thanks Mimi! You encourage me so much! I have done my outline of the memoir, which I hope will help me doing a re-write for sending to the developmental editor. I feel somewhat encouraged, as I feel that I am starting to move along, and not just spin my wheels. As I said to a friend, I have to take a chance that this is the right company for me, as I need to get going and stop looking for the "perfect" way forward. More to come in future posts!
Ahhhh, I did! Wild and crazy days I call them! I love how you capture that naive and childlike perspective and the awe and wonder at all the newness! And the good fortune of finding a place so quickly!!
Thanks for sharing! Look forward to hearing what’s next!!
Thank you so much Syd! As others have said, it's a wonder we made it through our twenties! Have I learned a lot? If I have, I've not noticed it yet. I suppose the main difference between now and then, is that now I write these things down!
That made an enjoyable read Rose thankyou for sharing it.
Baby birds are innocent too and trust their wings will transport them from the nest to the ground or distant branches.
I'm full of wonder for them as it's possibly a death flight.
You were the Canadian fledgling who flew to Oz!
I admire your courage.
Thanks for bravely sharing your story.
I reckon I think I'm in my teens as have and am still making risky decisions in my life that have really stretched me.
I left home at 17.
Auditions were frightening.
Acting many roles in live theatre very scary.
Divorcing 2 husbands. Not at the same time. Taking my 4 small kids by train from U.K.then by ferry, 3 bus rides to West Cork and hitching the last leg down to Allihies
And my many home moves Especially my recent one to remote village in the middle of Dartmoor!.
It's supposed to be life affirming to do things that take you out of your comfort zone.
But as humans we do try to believe in and trust the illusion we are secure.
Thank you so much Beverley. You have always struck me as a very brave soul. I don't think I was especially brave, just incredibly stupid to run off to Australia like that. Your latest house move has been a wonderful decision, working out better than I could have imagined. Your life is so rich with so many blessings.
What a scene, wow, and how brave you were too! 8000 miles from home at 20!! I've never done anything involving traveling in my youth, and I wish I had. In my teens and early 20s, I was quite wild and destructive. For example, I often escaped my parents' house and would party for days! I remember a couple of friends and me sleeping on the park benches at night, in the middle of winter. We didn't care! Thank good we survived all that. It's great that we can remember all those crazy things we did without regret!
Yes...I've done MANY things during my twenties (and teens) that would cause me to faint dead away now...but reading your essay made me think of it differently. I used to wish I was as courageous as I was then. Now I'm realizing it wasn't courage, it was naivety. I'm just glad I'm still here to tell the stories!
Yes, my "crazy days" had nothing to do with bravery. It was sheer stupidity and naivety. But, luckily I survived. When I write about it, it is as though I am talking about someone else. Someone who I don't recognize now as being me!
Yes! But we made it!
Ah, the blind confidence of youth It's a wonder any of us survived!
Confidence, or in my case sheer stupid naivety! Still as you say, we've lived to tell the tale!
Your bravery was rewarded. It sounds like your flatmates were happy to have you and introduced you to all mod cons.
Yes, it was wonderful to be so accepted by the Australian girls. They could have easily said, well, you don't have a job, so we're not sure you can pay your share! At the time, I wasn't sure I could either. And, even worse, I wasn't concerned about it. I just thought, I'll get a job. (As if they were easy to come by!) It turned out, it was that easy, but I didn't know it at the time. As I say repeatedly, guardian angels were with me, working overtime!
I am truly enjoying your memoir!
Thanks Mimi. I wonder if I should keep on drip feeding the memoir to Substack or cut it off at some point. I think (cross fingers and toes!) I might have a possible new publisher.
It's a hard question to answer. If you were gaining subscribers based on the memoir, then it might be something to consider about paywalling. But the publisher might have different opinions on the upfront publishing on Substack. And honestly, Substack seems to be making it harder for people to publish work here and be seen (algorithm and all). Keep us updated on the publisher! That's exciting.
Thanks for your input on this Mimi. I will have to talk to the new publisher and see what they think. I'm going with this publisher at the moment, due to their interest in marketing the self published book, and the CEO's ongoing "coaxing me along." Hopefully it is not a walk up the garden path, as with the previous publisher, who I had to back out of. At least this firm has a Green Flag rating with the Alliance of Independent Authors, so that's a start. And he writes such encouraging letters! At this point, that (almost) is worth the money in itself! Plus I'm just tired of trying to get this thing off the drawing board, so to speak. Wish me luck! For sure, as I go along, Substack readers will hear about it.
Except for the work on my dissertation, I have no excuse to not stretch my creative muscles. You have encouraged me through your stories, and I am here for whatever journey you take us on!
Gosh! Thanks Mimi! You encourage me so much! I have done my outline of the memoir, which I hope will help me doing a re-write for sending to the developmental editor. I feel somewhat encouraged, as I feel that I am starting to move along, and not just spin my wheels. As I said to a friend, I have to take a chance that this is the right company for me, as I need to get going and stop looking for the "perfect" way forward. More to come in future posts!
Ahhhh, I did! Wild and crazy days I call them! I love how you capture that naive and childlike perspective and the awe and wonder at all the newness! And the good fortune of finding a place so quickly!!
Thanks for sharing! Look forward to hearing what’s next!!
Thank you so much Syd! As others have said, it's a wonder we made it through our twenties! Have I learned a lot? If I have, I've not noticed it yet. I suppose the main difference between now and then, is that now I write these things down!
That made an enjoyable read Rose thankyou for sharing it.
Baby birds are innocent too and trust their wings will transport them from the nest to the ground or distant branches.
I'm full of wonder for them as it's possibly a death flight.
You were the Canadian fledgling who flew to Oz!
I admire your courage.
Thanks for bravely sharing your story.
I reckon I think I'm in my teens as have and am still making risky decisions in my life that have really stretched me.
I left home at 17.
Auditions were frightening.
Acting many roles in live theatre very scary.
Divorcing 2 husbands. Not at the same time. Taking my 4 small kids by train from U.K.then by ferry, 3 bus rides to West Cork and hitching the last leg down to Allihies
And my many home moves Especially my recent one to remote village in the middle of Dartmoor!.
It's supposed to be life affirming to do things that take you out of your comfort zone.
But as humans we do try to believe in and trust the illusion we are secure.
Life is change or we may become pillars of salt.
Thank you so much Beverley. You have always struck me as a very brave soul. I don't think I was especially brave, just incredibly stupid to run off to Australia like that. Your latest house move has been a wonderful decision, working out better than I could have imagined. Your life is so rich with so many blessings.
Great tale! You certainly had/have an adventurous spirit. Envious.
What a scene, wow, and how brave you were too! 8000 miles from home at 20!! I've never done anything involving traveling in my youth, and I wish I had. In my teens and early 20s, I was quite wild and destructive. For example, I often escaped my parents' house and would party for days! I remember a couple of friends and me sleeping on the park benches at night, in the middle of winter. We didn't care! Thank good we survived all that. It's great that we can remember all those crazy things we did without regret!