This is s brilliant Natalie! Yes, the whole shebang. Take your readers for a ride through the hell and the hilarious. You’re such a great writer, I have no doubt this revelation will only deepen and expand your offerings.
And I do love Oops, My Brain too.:) Did you know our friend Rachel’s memoir just got accepted to Harvard Medical School’s curriculum? It’s so reassuring to know future docs will learn about the horrors we go through with chronic illness.
While yours (and my) memoirs go beyond the health/medical storylines and so maybe don’t fit neatly into curriculums for docs in training, I do think that telling the whole emotional gestalt humanizes it all. There are readers out there that will love and need your book and I’m so glad it’s nearing completion’
Thanks Kimberly! Your writing and work has encouraged me in this pursuit for sure. And so glad to hear about Rachel’s book getting into all the right places. Hers is an important and necessary story!
I'm here for whatever you write, Natalie. My brain has recently failed me in ways I could never have predicted or expected. Your experience--including the unfunny, traumatic, deeply painful parts--will surely reach many people who need to hear stories like yours.
Amazing news about the memoir! I’m so glad to hear you’ve been writing this behind the scenes - and supported by other writers as you do.
I’ve also been writing mine very much behind the scenes of a great fear of repercussion for sharing my story in the way that I am.
It all takes you on some journey, an initiation and pilgrimage of its own kind.
It seems like you’ve been very clear on what you didn’t want this whole way through. Which is really important when it comes to understanding your bigger vision and intentions.
i'm really excited for your writing to expand-- no one would be here for the humour if you didn't have the writing chops to carry it to begin with. also sick people need to hear about the lows other sick people go through, it helps us know we aren't alone!
I really love this. Not that I don't love your funny stories but I agree...without the pain you can't appreciate the triumphs and humor fully. I've been a writer for decades and I've always got overtones of humor but I tell ya....life can be and has been shit a lot of the time, too!
Bravo for everything you've accomplished alongside your struggles!!
Hahaha so I’d never heard of this song before, I just thought the friend who always says this was exceedingly insightful! And he is, but perhaps a bit less original than I thought 😂😂😂
Now that I’ve read this and reflected, I do now notice how you’ve left out the pain from the migraines in your writing and I think it’s nice you have a writing group that pushes you. I do see how it can be more powerful to include the moments the migraines were crippling. It does sound really hard to revisit those moments though, not fun at all I’m sure, but as someone who has family with very severe migraines, I better understand the disease based on your writing.
I’m so glad to have you along on this adventure, Istiaq, and especially glad my writing helps you connect further with those you love! That’s what it’s all about, in my view.
This is s brilliant Natalie! Yes, the whole shebang. Take your readers for a ride through the hell and the hilarious. You’re such a great writer, I have no doubt this revelation will only deepen and expand your offerings.
And I do love Oops, My Brain too.:) Did you know our friend Rachel’s memoir just got accepted to Harvard Medical School’s curriculum? It’s so reassuring to know future docs will learn about the horrors we go through with chronic illness.
While yours (and my) memoirs go beyond the health/medical storylines and so maybe don’t fit neatly into curriculums for docs in training, I do think that telling the whole emotional gestalt humanizes it all. There are readers out there that will love and need your book and I’m so glad it’s nearing completion’
Thanks Kimberly! Your writing and work has encouraged me in this pursuit for sure. And so glad to hear about Rachel’s book getting into all the right places. Hers is an important and necessary story!
I'm here for whatever you write, Natalie. My brain has recently failed me in ways I could never have predicted or expected. Your experience--including the unfunny, traumatic, deeply painful parts--will surely reach many people who need to hear stories like yours.
I’m sorry to hear this, Michelle! Being a Brainee is no walk in the park! But you’re in good company here.
Love this!
Love that you're embracing more of everything in your writing, Natalie. And congratulations on your degree, Super Writer!
Amazing news about the memoir! I’m so glad to hear you’ve been writing this behind the scenes - and supported by other writers as you do.
I’ve also been writing mine very much behind the scenes of a great fear of repercussion for sharing my story in the way that I am.
It all takes you on some journey, an initiation and pilgrimage of its own kind.
It seems like you’ve been very clear on what you didn’t want this whole way through. Which is really important when it comes to understanding your bigger vision and intentions.
Can’t wait to read it!🤩
i'm really excited for your writing to expand-- no one would be here for the humour if you didn't have the writing chops to carry it to begin with. also sick people need to hear about the lows other sick people go through, it helps us know we aren't alone!
Aw thank you, that’s quite a compliment! I’m glad you’re here, and yes I agree. It’s important to witness the good, the bad, and the in between.
I really love this. Not that I don't love your funny stories but I agree...without the pain you can't appreciate the triumphs and humor fully. I've been a writer for decades and I've always got overtones of humor but I tell ya....life can be and has been shit a lot of the time, too!
Bravo for everything you've accomplished alongside your struggles!!
Thanks Kristi! A friend of mine says life is joy and pain, sunshine and rain. Some of us get a bit more rain and a little less sunshine! ☔️
Wait...you're friends with Rob Bass too? 😁
Hahaha so I’d never heard of this song before, I just thought the friend who always says this was exceedingly insightful! And he is, but perhaps a bit less original than I thought 😂😂😂
🤣🤣 Priceless!
I look forward to educating myself on the actual creator of this phrase.
Here's a shortcut lol. 90s hip hop…I grew up on this stuff 😁
https://youtu.be/jEMr3MVnAU8?si=3jYkB142b90s5RWL
Now that I’ve read this and reflected, I do now notice how you’ve left out the pain from the migraines in your writing and I think it’s nice you have a writing group that pushes you. I do see how it can be more powerful to include the moments the migraines were crippling. It does sound really hard to revisit those moments though, not fun at all I’m sure, but as someone who has family with very severe migraines, I better understand the disease based on your writing.
I’m so glad to have you along on this adventure, Istiaq, and especially glad my writing helps you connect further with those you love! That’s what it’s all about, in my view.
Life is tragedy and humor so I applaud you for showing all of it. You'll figure out the balance in time. Humor has saved my life many times. If you have a moment, you can read about my experience. https://robertagale.substack.com/p/on-the-spectrumvision-because-its
I admire your writing greatly in all it shades. If there’s any fairness in the world, you’ll able to sell your memoir.
Thanks, Susan! The world is anything but fair in my experience, but fingers crossed nonetheless.
I’m here. I’m a fan of your writing whether it’s humorous, heartfelt or both. Congrats!
Thanks CK, glad to have you here! 💚🥰