19 Comments

The click---this line from Wonder Woman by Ada Limón:

"She bowed and posed like she knew I needed a myth—a woman, by a river, indestructible."

Like she knew I needed a myth. Gah, Ada! It's stayed with me.

Excited for writer's book club---now I'm imagining a live dream scenario of this in a cozy library or a garden or whatever mood matches the book...can we make that happen someday? ;)

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Apr 16Liked by Stephanie Duncan Smith

It’s one of my favorite books of the past five years. I read it quickly first, and then again and again to study her craft. Of course you love it too 🥰

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Apr 17Liked by Stephanie Duncan Smith

I remembered one more recent “click”:

“…this new thing is coming with the arrival of spring, that unknown to us it has been growing in the ground beneath our feet, sending down a tap root, reaching upward towards the light, a kind of hope whose fruit we do not know because we didn’t plant the seeds. “ Shawn Smucker on Substack

The last part — a kind of hope whose fruit we do not know because we didn’t plant the seeds — is going to stay with me for awhile.

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Apr 16Liked by Stephanie Duncan Smith

I'm so excited because this came at the perfect time. I was just about to start my Audible of You Could Make This Place Beautiful, at the same time I was referred to SLANT LETTER, which makes for a wonderful coincidence! Your topics on Discovery made me think of a point in a TedTalk from Andrew Stanton (Pixar) called The Clues of a Great Story where he discusses bringing "A sense of wonder" into our stories. Discovery and Wonder are similar to me in this regard and I want to think about them more when I write. I'm excited for this exploration together. I'm upgrading today!

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Apr 16Liked by Stephanie Duncan Smith

I like your interpretation of "the click" as recognition and discovery. That rings true for me as both reader and writer.

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Apr 17Liked by Stephanie Duncan Smith

Well, you’ve done it! You made an offer I can’t refuse and this is officially my first paid subscription on Substack. I can’t wait for the intensive!

I’ve been thinking about recognition a lot since reading The Deep Down Things by Amber and Seth Haines earlier this year. Pairing it with discovery was a CLICK for me!

A recent “click!” for me is “Whatever I put at the center of the wait is what carries all the power.” (Emily P. Freeman, How to Walk into a Room)

Looking forward to reading other “clicks” in the comments!

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Apr 16Liked by Stephanie Duncan Smith

Loved this book and love that you're offering this! What a great gift to your readers!

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Apr 16Liked by Stephanie Duncan Smith

Just ordered my copy! Can't wait.

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Just this morning I reread a quote I’d saved. And it clicked. Viscerally.

Earth’s crammed with heaven,

And every common bush afire with God;

But only he who sees, takes off his shoes,

The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries,

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1871), from ‘Aurora Leigh’,

It captures how I feel when I’m in and with nature. My biggest fear is sitting around and plucking blackberries! When I hike or at the potted plant on my desk, I want to do it as if I have no shoes on.

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