part 3 of the origin story + upcoming live events

When I promised an origin story, I was only thinking about the beginning, not the end, of the origin.

Real quick, though, for the folks local to my area:
I have 2 outdoor sound journeys at Heck House in October and November! Would love to see you there. More details coming, but for now please save the dates:
Friday, October 13th
Saturday, November 11th

OK, back to wrapping up the origin. I have decided that part 3 is the end of the origin.

(So the origin story, in this format, is a trilogy. I probably could've made it cooler if I'd thought more about it in the beginning. Ah well.)

Anyways, I decided that the end of the origin is when I realized I could make something bigger than originally intended.

When I started writing, I was skeptical that anyone would actually want to read it. That bluff got called, which you know if you've read part 2.

Once the bluff was called, I spent a few months intermittently, though diligently, writing. By last December, I had about 30 pages. I emailed about 10 people, with a request for feedback.

I figured that feedback would get to me about 50 pages total, and eventually I'd send a pdf to friends and anyone else interested.

However, I was again surprised at the feedback. I am grateful for supportive friends, who encouraged me to consider much more than my initial intention. Particularly the feedback from 2 people, both of whom have chronic illness. Though they don't know each other, their feedback was remarkably similar. They both said my manuscript was a stark contrast to what they'd encountered about chronic illness. That what I wrote was much more honest—and therefore much more accurate.

I could share more, but I think the book will explain. Suffice it to say that this book is honest and accurate. For me, it's always been a searing account of an intense experience.

But what's relevant to the origin story is that I began to consider a broader context for my manuscript. Instead of sharing an intimate story to people who know me, I shifted my perspective to sharing this intimate story to anyone who's curious.

Has that ever happened to you? Feedback from other people shifted the direction or intention of what you're doing?

I think it's important. Because a lot of art develops from external nudges. So whether you're giving or receiving the feedback, the asking and the answering MATTER.

In my case, I dug into the not-blank pages, as pictured below. When I finish transposing written notes to my electronic document, I cross out the page, so I don't worry later that I missed something.

Do you still write longhand? Am I the only one?

Peacefully,
S.

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