Welcome to Joy Ride, a monthly dose of joy, good things, creativity prompts, and gratitude by journalist and author Jennifer Chen. If you like it, please share this newsletter with someone who might like it too.
Your Pep Talk 👻
October is typically spooky and scary with a dash of pumpkin spice. Fear to me is an inner voice that says things like: I’m afraid I won’t have enough time to tell all the stories I want to tell.
I recently did a writing prompt with my writer’s group. I asked them to write down all their fears in five minutes. When the timer went off, I instructed them to take those fears and turn them into positive affirmations. I turned my statement above into: I have more than enough time to tell all the stories I want to tell.
We read our positive statements out loud and it transformed our fears into something that made us laugh and smile.
Can you take a fear you have and turn it into a powerful statement?
My Latest News 💌
Last year, I wrote this short story called “The Elders.” It was rejected by three outlets before it won The Writer magazine Fall 2020 Short Story Contest. This story was inspired by my anger at the hurt inflicted upon my community, especially elders. There was a point that I was grateful that my ahma wasn’t alive so I wouldn’t have to worry about her getting hurt. I say all of this because this story was my love letter to my ahma and all the elders who deserve our respect. And yes, everything that happens in the fictional story was based on actual news stories.
Check Out This... 🤣
ARTICLE: My friend Tara Ellison wrote this funny NYT essay about finding a love shaman in her 20s, and it’s just perfect.
BOOK: American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin by Terrance Hayes. My poet friends recommended this collection to me. His writing is stunning with the sharpness of a knife.
PODCAST: Brené with Brett Goldstein Live at ACL Fest on Comedy, Creativity, and Roy Kent. This is 49 minutes of pure joy.
ORGANIZATIONS:
Donate books to young readers through the Youth Center Book Drive.
If you are an aspiring AAPI TV writer and need assistance with paying the $65 application fee for the CAPE USA writer fellowship, please reach out to me. I will pay for 1 application fee.
I'm Grateful For... 🌴
This balcony view. I spent one night alone at a local hotel. They upgraded me to a room with this balcony. I stood there to soak in the beautiful view. I watched two woodpeckers peck at palm trees. I hope you enjoy this wonderful scene too!
Fear Street
I *totally* needed this pep talk! I have trouble with the whole "feel the fear and do it anyway" thing. This is perfect!