Thanks C.J. for your very uplifting message for writers like me who are not classically trained writers. Last year I picked up copy of an old cookbook in an antique shop in New York State. Turns out “The Boston Cooking School Cookbook”, was originally self published by the one and only Fannie Farmer. What a metamorphosis? Maybe I’ll tell the short story of the book because its pages are filled with handwritten recipes. Thanks for the prompt
Hello Kristin. I’m just like you, which is the reason behind today’s post. I was married to someone with all sorts of alphabet letters after his name who was fond of saying, “You wouldn’t understand. You’re only an HSG.” (In case you don’t recognize it, it rudely means, high school graduate). My God, I grew to hate that phrase. I came to see he had zilch common sense though, while my cup runneth over!
I would love to read a post about the cookbook and Fannie Farmer’s notes! Please do, Kristin …
I will!! By the way I like to remind my children that it is my hospital diploma which now pays for half of their fancy Ivy League diplomas. So even though I do have 9 letters after my name now, I still consider myself a classically trained nurse.
My wife was an award winning chef. Folks were frequently asking for recipes. We would talk. And I would write them. It was never an easy task. A good recipe is not a mere compilation of ingredients and instructions. There is an art to it.
I love this! I prefer baking because baking is more exact science than art and that's how my brain works when it comes to cooking. Sounds like you and your wife were an absolutely beautiful combo. xo.
If “academic knowledge and world experience . . . (were) dealbreakers for writing . . . a lot of us wouldn’t be here.” I did a whole dissertation (only took me eleven years) on a topic I dreamed up myself—the “self-guided writing process” of women with “a history of mother-daughter conflict.” We/they did it first for our/their own purposes, sometimes simply to survive the weight of the world. It was not a system that was taught to us/them or prescribed. I learned more about writing and language by growing up around my parents than I ever did in school. God I sound pompous, don’t I? No, just really grateful I had them. They weren’t perfect, but they were there for me as much as they could be. Life was hard for my mom with a later in life Downs Syndrome child and struggling with bouts of severe depression.
Hello Marilyn. I do enjoy your writing. It comes across as very honest —no, you aren’t pompous.
I also write as a direct result of my parents and my upbringing. There’s a difference though. My parents were my world. I was oldest of six and very shy —tied to my mother’s apron strings is how I heard (me) described in those days.
From Mama and Daddy, I often heard, “Girls can do anything boys can do, except stand up and potty.” and “The world is your watermelon. Grab it and take a bite!” and “Never, ever say ‘I can’t’, unless you’ve tried and tried and tried.” and “If it’s not working, you’re not working hard enough.”
That last one was the zinger. It made me stay in an abusive relationship longer than I should have. I had to find out for myself that a marriage can’t work if only one person is working at it …
I think you captured the essence of writing very well. I would add one quick thought to your assertion, "We’re only limited by what makes us unique and different". No doubt about it but we are also limited by our self doubt and fear of failure. These are tough demons to defeat.
True, Dave, but the more we write, the more confident (I hope) we will get in our writing. The doubt and fear of failure should slowly shrink.
You’re right though, they are tough demons to defeat. At least he self doubt and fear are private, not like the fear of public speaking for instance where you are on display. LOL
This is an uplifting reminder of the power of words and the determination needed to create. I loved reading this, C.J. It’s an encouraging hug for all us writers! 💫
I’ve often regretted not dropping out of school at age seventeen when I had clearly figured out that I wanted to be a writer. So much wasted time and money and angst.
C.J. thank you for this! I don't consider myself a writer yet. Much like my photography career - it took me many years to duke it out with myself to earn the title "professional photographer." From 2001 to 2009 of working really hard - I was finally able to say "I am a professional." I turned to writing after I lost my career during the pandemic. The bonus is pulling some images from my archives for the writing, which often the prompts the writing :)
There are many, many "lettered" people here, as you say, and I have great respect. There are also many non-lettered natural writers here (just like in photography). I appreciate both. If you feel something in your heart and soul you should pursue it no matter the lack of formal education. I often found I could learn a lot from trained, lettered photographers, but I learned the break free, no rules art of street and raw stories from working with people who carried the same passion as me. Self taught. No amount of school can bring forth what's inside of you. Many artists have both the letters and the passion and that's cool. This was a really good read. ox
Hello Deborah. I'm so happy you enjoyed my post. Thank you.
You and I are of the same mindset. If you want something badly enough and work hard enough to achieve it, you CAN DO it, no matter whether you're short on letters or years of schooling (whew, that was a mouthful).
I think what finally cemented that for me was the list of famous writers who had so little schooling. I believe that shows if you want something so bad you can taste it, you can make it happen.
Thank you so much for your comments! We can do this, Deborah! I can taste it, I can taste it!
Yessss! I forgot to mention the list you put out! Freaking amazing! Same with photographers. You gotta be passionate, humble, hungry and unwilling to be intimidated. We've got this! ox
Very uplifting C . J . . You are a very good writer , and proud of that . Me I am not , wish i was so will be leaving site , because of severe heath issues and no readers . hugs and peace to you and family my friend
Wait a minute, Mitch. Please don’t go. I don’t want to see you leave Substack. You have to give it more time. Nothing will happen overnight. If you would like, please message me and we can talk more. I would like to know about your health issues if you will talk about them.
I really think it is time for me to go . CJ . Between my health being so bad and Drs arguing about who can do what first , I feel very lost alone and scared . And My primary care Dr who is new to me saying she won''t refill xanax until i see a Dr that specializes in psych meds to see if there is any way to get me off of it . I run out Wednesday , That is the way to get me off of it . I knew three people on doses lower than mine . They ran out within two days they were dead . I have been on it 40 years trying to figure out a way off of it , Talked and saw a psych med specialist , He tried a couple meds yet made doses himself so they were like baby doses , they didn't work . so finally he told me if we slowly ween you off , you should be off when your about 120 years old . So I feel like i am being hit from every side now . hugs and peace my friend
Discipline gives clarity! Clarity gives ability! Ability creates skill! Skill allows to move forward! Forwardness allows forward thinking! Thought process is ultimate! An idea can change this world to a large extent! It keeps us to go in right direction with right people at right time for right cause with right people is the right way of approach. Learning is a lifelong process. It helps to earn knowledge. Knowledge is powerful. It creates fire within. Everything starts from you. You are the key performer. You are the trendsetter! You only can do anything and everything.
The author of the oldest surviving poem in English (Old English) is Caedmon, who was probably an illiterate monk unable to join the other monks in composing songs and poems. After a religious vision zcaedmon emerged transformed, and composed the poem which has survived.
While aspiration to greatness might for some be an artistic virtue, I think competence, excellence, honesty and self improvement are essentials for any degree of achievement.
Thanks C.J. for your very uplifting message for writers like me who are not classically trained writers. Last year I picked up copy of an old cookbook in an antique shop in New York State. Turns out “The Boston Cooking School Cookbook”, was originally self published by the one and only Fannie Farmer. What a metamorphosis? Maybe I’ll tell the short story of the book because its pages are filled with handwritten recipes. Thanks for the prompt
💗 💫 🪄
Hello Kristin. I’m just like you, which is the reason behind today’s post. I was married to someone with all sorts of alphabet letters after his name who was fond of saying, “You wouldn’t understand. You’re only an HSG.” (In case you don’t recognize it, it rudely means, high school graduate). My God, I grew to hate that phrase. I came to see he had zilch common sense though, while my cup runneth over!
I would love to read a post about the cookbook and Fannie Farmer’s notes! Please do, Kristin …
I will!! By the way I like to remind my children that it is my hospital diploma which now pays for half of their fancy Ivy League diplomas. So even though I do have 9 letters after my name now, I still consider myself a classically trained nurse.
Tough love just like Nanny Shirley. 💗
You are very humble, though, Kristin. You don't shove those 9 letters down anyone's throat (laughing). Thank you, kind lady!
Haha I do not. As you so kindly pointed out in your piece, none of those letters matter ❤️
True, if a person has an interest in being a writer, I guess the letters wouldn’t matter too much.
Now, if you would be writing to teach others in your field, then they would be useful to show why and how you are qualified to teach.
The letters would also matter when you’re trying to get a job in your field, or when looking to move up to another level within a job.
My wife was an award winning chef. Folks were frequently asking for recipes. We would talk. And I would write them. It was never an easy task. A good recipe is not a mere compilation of ingredients and instructions. There is an art to it.
I’m sure there was an art to it. You were fortunate to have award winning dinners at your house. WOW
I love this! I prefer baking because baking is more exact science than art and that's how my brain works when it comes to cooking. Sounds like you and your wife were an absolutely beautiful combo. xo.
That's an excellent observation, Bob. That's a very interesting story about the Monk, too. Thank you for sharing.
If “academic knowledge and world experience . . . (were) dealbreakers for writing . . . a lot of us wouldn’t be here.” I did a whole dissertation (only took me eleven years) on a topic I dreamed up myself—the “self-guided writing process” of women with “a history of mother-daughter conflict.” We/they did it first for our/their own purposes, sometimes simply to survive the weight of the world. It was not a system that was taught to us/them or prescribed. I learned more about writing and language by growing up around my parents than I ever did in school. God I sound pompous, don’t I? No, just really grateful I had them. They weren’t perfect, but they were there for me as much as they could be. Life was hard for my mom with a later in life Downs Syndrome child and struggling with bouts of severe depression.
Hello Marilyn. I do enjoy your writing. It comes across as very honest —no, you aren’t pompous.
I also write as a direct result of my parents and my upbringing. There’s a difference though. My parents were my world. I was oldest of six and very shy —tied to my mother’s apron strings is how I heard (me) described in those days.
From Mama and Daddy, I often heard, “Girls can do anything boys can do, except stand up and potty.” and “The world is your watermelon. Grab it and take a bite!” and “Never, ever say ‘I can’t’, unless you’ve tried and tried and tried.” and “If it’s not working, you’re not working hard enough.”
That last one was the zinger. It made me stay in an abusive relationship longer than I should have. I had to find out for myself that a marriage can’t work if only one person is working at it …
Thank you, Marilyn.
Thank you, C. J. Truly.
You are more than welcome, Marilyn.
helpful reminders in many many ways. Screenshot the bullet points to self review
Thank you, Megan
I think you captured the essence of writing very well. I would add one quick thought to your assertion, "We’re only limited by what makes us unique and different". No doubt about it but we are also limited by our self doubt and fear of failure. These are tough demons to defeat.
True, Dave, but the more we write, the more confident (I hope) we will get in our writing. The doubt and fear of failure should slowly shrink.
You’re right though, they are tough demons to defeat. At least he self doubt and fear are private, not like the fear of public speaking for instance where you are on display. LOL
Thank you for your comments, Dave.
It’s funny. My favorite teacher was the one who taught my worst subject - chemistry. Caring counts, and selfless encouragement. Thank you C.J.
The pleasure is mine, rKf. Thank you!
Great read as always!! Thanks C.J.
Thank you, Valerie.
This is an uplifting reminder of the power of words and the determination needed to create. I loved reading this, C.J. It’s an encouraging hug for all us writers! 💫
Thank you! You are so intuitive, Trudi —yes, I meant it as a hug and a gentle nudge to keep writing no matter what credentials we have or don’t have.
Perfect! 🤗
I’ve often regretted not dropping out of school at age seventeen when I had clearly figured out that I wanted to be a writer. So much wasted time and money and angst.
It's never too late, Jonathan. Go for it now. I wish you the very best!
C.J. thank you for this! I don't consider myself a writer yet. Much like my photography career - it took me many years to duke it out with myself to earn the title "professional photographer." From 2001 to 2009 of working really hard - I was finally able to say "I am a professional." I turned to writing after I lost my career during the pandemic. The bonus is pulling some images from my archives for the writing, which often the prompts the writing :)
There are many, many "lettered" people here, as you say, and I have great respect. There are also many non-lettered natural writers here (just like in photography). I appreciate both. If you feel something in your heart and soul you should pursue it no matter the lack of formal education. I often found I could learn a lot from trained, lettered photographers, but I learned the break free, no rules art of street and raw stories from working with people who carried the same passion as me. Self taught. No amount of school can bring forth what's inside of you. Many artists have both the letters and the passion and that's cool. This was a really good read. ox
Hello Deborah. I'm so happy you enjoyed my post. Thank you.
You and I are of the same mindset. If you want something badly enough and work hard enough to achieve it, you CAN DO it, no matter whether you're short on letters or years of schooling (whew, that was a mouthful).
I think what finally cemented that for me was the list of famous writers who had so little schooling. I believe that shows if you want something so bad you can taste it, you can make it happen.
Thank you so much for your comments! We can do this, Deborah! I can taste it, I can taste it!
Yessss! I forgot to mention the list you put out! Freaking amazing! Same with photographers. You gotta be passionate, humble, hungry and unwilling to be intimidated. We've got this! ox
We sure as hell have got this! We do, we do, we do! It comes right down to having the heart to carry it through. We do, we do …
hug
My motto has always been "I live to create and create to live."
Yes. We do. oxox
I like that, Deborah! The best I could come up with is,
“Look out, here I come, this is where I’m meant to be!”
I love it!
Very uplifting C . J . . You are a very good writer , and proud of that . Me I am not , wish i was so will be leaving site , because of severe heath issues and no readers . hugs and peace to you and family my friend
Wait a minute, Mitch. Please don’t go. I don’t want to see you leave Substack. You have to give it more time. Nothing will happen overnight. If you would like, please message me and we can talk more. I would like to know about your health issues if you will talk about them.
hugs and peace, my friend.
I really think it is time for me to go . CJ . Between my health being so bad and Drs arguing about who can do what first , I feel very lost alone and scared . And My primary care Dr who is new to me saying she won''t refill xanax until i see a Dr that specializes in psych meds to see if there is any way to get me off of it . I run out Wednesday , That is the way to get me off of it . I knew three people on doses lower than mine . They ran out within two days they were dead . I have been on it 40 years trying to figure out a way off of it , Talked and saw a psych med specialist , He tried a couple meds yet made doses himself so they were like baby doses , they didn't work . so finally he told me if we slowly ween you off , you should be off when your about 120 years old . So I feel like i am being hit from every side now . hugs and peace my friend
Discipline gives clarity! Clarity gives ability! Ability creates skill! Skill allows to move forward! Forwardness allows forward thinking! Thought process is ultimate! An idea can change this world to a large extent! It keeps us to go in right direction with right people at right time for right cause with right people is the right way of approach. Learning is a lifelong process. It helps to earn knowledge. Knowledge is powerful. It creates fire within. Everything starts from you. You are the key performer. You are the trendsetter! You only can do anything and everything.
Thank you for your comments, Bijibilia. I agree!
The author of the oldest surviving poem in English (Old English) is Caedmon, who was probably an illiterate monk unable to join the other monks in composing songs and poems. After a religious vision zcaedmon emerged transformed, and composed the poem which has survived.
While aspiration to greatness might for some be an artistic virtue, I think competence, excellence, honesty and self improvement are essentials for any degree of achievement.