The Goodjelly Blog
No. 123 | By Christine Carron
It took me years of dancing Argentine tango (and a second trip to Buenos Aires) to land the traditional art of being asked to dance with just a gaze. The leader’s move is to make eye contact and then nod toward their partner of choice. That is called the...
No. 122 | By Christine Carron
Many years ago when I was in a workshop taught by famed high wire walker Philippe Petit, I wrote down something he said about himself: “I'm not a strong man, but I'm strong in the nervous system.” He tapped his head with his index finger when he...
No. 121 | By Christine Carron
Prioritization is a key skill to master if you want more ease and flow on your writing adventure. It helps you steer clear of burnout, boosts your motivation, and allows you to take charge of your creative process on a deeper level. It strengthens your mindset by...
No. 120 | By Christine Carron
The writing adventure is going to be filled with experiences. Some that delight you. Others not so much. That’s why a robust set of process and mindset tools is helpful. (All your fab craft skills aren’t much use when you're getting sucked into a vortex...
No. 119 | By Christine Carron
Last year, I pulled a book off the library shelf, captivated by the title. It was bestselling crime writer and self-help author Sophie Hannah’s How to Hold a Grudge: From Resentment to Contentment—The Power of Grudges to Transform Your Life.
...
No. 118 | By Christine Carron
About five pages in to my first first-draft ever, I had a somewhat obvious realization: “Whoa, if I want to write a book, I actually have to write a book.” The whole endeavor felt suddenly so real and daunting. Doubt flooded in: Will I really be able to...
No. 117 | By Christine Carron
Sometimes when I am reading a book, a phrase grabs hold of me. I internally experience a deep-bellied “Yes!” That’s what happened when I read a line in Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull’s Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in...
No. 116 | By Christine Carron
Here is the origin story of Goodjelly. I was at a Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators national conference in New York City and was sitting in the main ballroom between sessions, honoring my introvert soul by taking a decompression break. Most...
No. 115 | By Christine Carron
I have a theory. We all have a natural (but ever evolving) creative style and rhythm. Our personal creative code, so to speak. We also have the reality of the current context in which we create—for example a working parent will have a different context in which...
No. 114 | By Christine Carron
You have to get words down on the page to make progress as a writer. That said, words on a page do not guarantee you are making meaningful progress toward your ultimate writing goals. In short, activity does not necessarily equal productivity.
So how does a...
No. 113 | By Christine Carron
Getting your work critiqued is an important part of the writing adventure. It might also be a harrowing process. You have to navigate your own hopes and vulnerabilities, along with your critique givers’ opinions, feedback styles, and intentions. When,...
No. 112 | By Christine Carron
Writers want to make progress. I’d also like to believe that all writers would like to suffer less while achieving said progress, but I know that some writers believe that suffering during the making of the work somehow makes the work itself more legitimate....
