Welcome to Joy Ride, a monthly dose of joy, good things, creativity prompts, and gratitude by writer Jennifer Chen. If you like it, please share this newsletter with someone who might like it too.
Your Pep Talk 👻🪦
A few months ago, I read an essay called “Ghosts in the Graveyard,” by George Saunders in the book, Historical Fiction Now. I’m sharing this excerpt, which talks about his fear of writing Lincoln in the Bardo.
In 2012, noticing I wasn’t getting any younger, not wanting to be the guy whose own gravestone would read “Afraid to Embark on Scary Artistic Project He Desperately Longed to Attempt,” I decided to take a run at it, in exploratory fashion, no commitments.
In 2017, Saunders won the Man Booker Prize for the very book that was his Scary Artistic Project.
I, too, have a Scary Artistic Project. I’m working on an adult historical fiction novel. I’ve never written anything like it. My fears: “I don’t have any idea of what I’m doing. I should stick to what I’m good at. I’m not a literary writer.”
But reading this quote while researching at the Huntington Library made me realize that we all have something scary we long to attempt. So, I’m deciding to make a run at it so I also avoid that gravestone inscription.
Will you join me? If you do, please tell me and I’ll send you back your own personal pep talk to do that Scary Project!
My Latest News 👀🤫
I wrote a fun piece for The Kitchn about one of my favorite grocery stores, Grocery Outlet. I’m writing newsletters and content for the Breville+ cooking app and loving it. I have some vague publishing news to share in January 2025 when I can officially share it.
Check Out This... 🧙🏿♀️
TV SHOW: Man on the Inside (Netflix). What I love about Michael Schur’s shows are that the diverse characters exist without having to be like HERE I AM TO REPRESENT ALL OF MY PEOPLE. The cast is also fantastic, the storyline is sweet, and the mystery is a good one.
MOVIE: Wicked. The hype is worth it. I had no context for the story, having never seen the musical or read the book, but wow. I found myself absolutely mesmerized.
POEM: Do Us Good by Amanda Gorman. Amanda was commissioned to write a poem in honor of the movie Wicked, and to say she nailed the assignment is an understatement. Thank you, Sophia, for sharing with me!
FUNDRAISERS: Sponsor an animal at Best Friends Animal Society, like Batman the pig or Blueberry the parrot. Amanda Gorman was a high school student in the WriteGirl program that helped her grow her talent. As a mentor with WriteGirl, I see firsthand how much this organization has helped teens feel empowered.
I'm Grateful For... 🎨
Artists. One of my favorite independent bookstores, Annabelle’s Book Club, had a Dog Day at the store. We brought Ziggy and Zoey and watercolor artist Kelly Maryanski painted the most lovely illustration of my pups. My drawing skills are stick-figure-adjacent so I’m always in awe of anyone who can draw something this beautiful in less than 30 minutes.
