Hello :)

When I fight what I don't like, I put more friction into the world.

Sometimes we need uncomfortable truths to rub us right BUT there is an alternative way.

Decenter all the sh*t I hate.

Center what I love.

One of my gripes with all the AI writing (and an obvious tell) is that it starts with what something isn't. And then what it is.

This is useful when you're debunking a misunderstanding or myth (and my own alternative business book had entire sections on this) but when AI does it, it's mostly irrelevant.

Almost like when someone says: "I'm not saying she's a bitch but..." - pretty sure everything before the but IS what you're saying because you just said it.

Because this AI-style of "not that - this!" irks me so bad, I asked myself: Am I doing this in real life?

Like: calling out how it doesn't have to be this way instead of boldly daring to do it differently myself?

yup, my sister reminded me, I am.

Software or Story time?

At the end of January, I started a Substack for my software startup Creatrix. A combination of creative writing, backed up with current audience's intelligence.

I'm loving the weekly ritual of research and writing

BUT:

• Are these really the BEST stories I could be telling?

• Am I distracting myself from writing my memoir?

• I can write anything so why am I using my talents for reflecting what other people think? (for those selling products - sure! it's vital to have up-to-the-minute market research at scale)

Should I switch to stories from my memoir Searching for Eden?

That feels braver, bolder, more aligned to who I am. Instead of what I can do, it's what I'd love to do.

Funny how that still feels "not allowed" and "not sensible" to me.

I still relate software to sales that will support my writing habit. But what if I just wrote? What then?

Harder than it needs to be

I'm sharing this because maybe you're like me, and tend to make things harder on yourself.

It's a classic trauma reaction - so no shame. We're all learning to be gentler with ourselves.

If you'd be interested in reading a weekly lifestyle column of personal essays and memoir extracts then write back: yes so I know for sure.

I appriciate you being here!

Love, Lauren