I have lately had the desire to write about my trip visiting my family's homeland of Ecuador... but I've never tackled that story before except when people ask me about it. I keep on telling myself that I just need to get it out--sound and voice doesn't matter in this draft--but I'm cringing so much that my motivation is waning. How do y'all get the VERY FIRST first draft out? How do you psych yourselves out of the idea of needing it to be a particular way in order to be motivated to write it? I know I should just keep my head down and continue... but another part of me is questioning how on earth can I do that when (1) my memory of these events, people, and emotions are vague and (2) it's hard to clarify & dwell on these vague memories? It's not a story based on trauma which is something I'm also not used to doing in craft... it's rather one about finding home, family, and joy in another place. This also adds to my worries that I''m blaspheming my heritage if I don't get it right on the first try...

I've been working on a speculative CNF project that explores motherhood, mental health, and the development of electroconvulsive therapy. As a former ECT patient, reaching into the past has been painstaking work, as I recall an emotional landscape versus one full of memories. To me, music has been key to delving into emotional truth. I've really been into Bjork's Homogenic and the video for her song, "Ancestress." These soundscapes have been the soil that has nurtured my burgeoning project. How does music help to ground, frame, or inspire your project?

Are you trying to write every day? (If you're stuck, I recommend the One-Day Writing Kickstart (https://esmewang.com/writing-kickstart; if you're feeling stressed about building a writing habit, I recommend this class: https://esmewang.com/building-a-writing-practice.) I'm running late on a book I have on deadline, so I thought I'd start this thread to check in with you all about how it's going, and please join in if you think it would be helpful to you as well. I'll try to check in even when I get no writing done. Here we go!

Hi friends! I'm in the early phases of trying to put together a collection of speculative short stories, and would love your reccs on your faves. Some of my fav writers in the genre include Octavia Butler, Akwaeke Emezi, Becky Chambers, and folks of that ilk. Similarly - I'm trying to become less afraid of essays/creative nonfiction, my original genre that I've drifted out of in the past two years. Some of my favorite collections are Be Not Afraid of Love by Mimi Zhu, Body Work by Melissa Febos, How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alex Chee, etc. Would love reccs there as well! If anybody is working on similar projects, would love to connect!