Woman. Warrior. Writer. 4-24

Vol. 6 No. 4 04-24-25

Wake up!

To do something regularly, you need to easily slot into a pattern. The brain should not be taxed making too many decisions about this stuff.

This is my AM get-ready-to-surf routine: 1) Down coffee with milk/peanut butter toast. 2) Stick on uniform of black shorts and rashguard. I put this out the night before. 3) Don’t bother brushing hair. You cut it short. 4) Take stuff you put by stairs the night before (bag and water) and stick it in the car 5) In car put on ID bracelet, surf key and sunblock. 5)Park in the same place. No, don’t try to get a better spot. 6) Hoof it with board in old Long’s slippers. People don’t swipe these.

Once you decide upon your goal (to surf in the AM) you want to try to make it as easy as possible to accomplish.

A few mornings ago I was out in the water just as my surf buddy Vicki was going in and I said: “Today was a good day for pearling, turtling, paddling, and getting my nose and ears cleaned out.” We laughed. It was a great day. Even if I wasn’t riding many waves.

Waves were bigger, closed out a little harder, and had more churn. Even after surfing awhile, I’m an advanced beginner, low intermediate on a good day, and so when everyone is saying YEAH! WAVES ARE FIRING! I’m thinking oh, wait, FIRING may be too much. What about WAVES ARE WARMING UP?

Earlier this year I committed to getting better. Fun matters. Lightness and joy are profound. Here’s me waxing my brand-new board I got in January. This surfboard is the most valuable and beloved possession I own. I’m so happy here waxing the board:)

Joy is crucial to life. The Best Surfer is the One Having the Most Fun.

It’s a solo sport, but in the ocean, you see your buddies, smile, cheer, note rides and wipeouts, and you’re all in because you are there for happiness. An awakening of the senses. The sublime. There’s also bumps on the head. Cuts and bruises. Water everywhere you don’t want it to be. Stitches. Cold water regulates your parasympathetic nervous system and so whatever unfolds, I’m reminded that I’m alive.

Much of my life has vacillated between the poles of fear and impulsivity, and so surfing is a way through from fear to joy with calculated risk that does and doesn’t always pay off, but helps me to think about how to experience these feelings in my body. Fear and impulsivity often worked like this: be fearful and afraid, get sick of being afraid, do something impulsive! This can be catastrophic. Dear Reader, this is not the best approach to life. ADHD? A failure to ask how I got afraid to begin with? An intrigue with novelty? A bit of everything. I’m working on it. Surfing is a mental health practice.

I started surfing in my 50s. I’m aware not everyone can engage in this activity, but I do think it’s important to move your body and to figure out what and why you are afraid, to understand that joy often requires bravery.

Writing, like surfing improves when you lean on community to help you. No one can surf for you. But they can cheer you on and give you some pointers. Yes, you can catch that wave. Yes, you can write that essay, story, or book. Look in the direction of where you want to go. Paddle out. Try again. Do. Not. Quit. You need some help? Sign up for class. Join the community. My mission is to help you get your story down. Class will help you fall into a routine. This is what you need to accomplish your goal.

CLASSES

MAY Writing Accountability Group May 2-30, Fridays, 6-8AM (HST): 5-week Zoom writing accountability sessions. FREE to all WWW, Workshop Alums, Syllabus Authors—contact writer@drstephaniehan.com for the link. There are a few minutes of chat at the beginning and end, but this is about getting in writing time. It really does help to know that someone is out there also writing. People are zooming in from multiple time zones, so I will try to move the time/day around every month! New students $50

Intersectionality: Manuscript Workshop (6 weeks) Sundays, 6-8AM (HST) June 15-29; July 13-27 (No Class 7/6): An MFA level limited enrollment workshop for writers working on a specific manuscript project. One-on-one meetings. Accountability sessions. This is an intense workshop, so you need to be prepared to write! Writing submission/interview required. There are 3 spots left. Contact writer@drstephaniehan.com $719 Former students $647

BREAK: How to Write Your Divorce Story Sunday, June 8, 6-8AM (HST): Class includes the BREAK: How to Write Your Divorce Story e-guide. Learn to write your divorce story for your legal/personal file. Testing new material before I make this a downloadable class. Discount $99.

MASTER NARRATIVES: A Deep Dive Sunday, June 1, 6-8AM (HST): Discover your Master Narratives. Deepen your writing through unearthing your creative process. You can check out my youtube video. If you understand how you conceptualize story and the meaning of the stories that have governed your belief and values, you will write with more authority. Testing new material before I make this a downloadable class. Open gender. Discount $69

WRITING HINT

Do not worry about getting into trouble for what you write. If you are afraid of writing something, it probably needs to be written. You can always decide you don’t want to include a piece or edit a section out. Do not censor yourself before you begin.

PODCAST NEWS

· Rerun! They are rebroadcasting Embodied: Life After a Gray Divorce on 4/25, the podcast on 4/24.

· I chatted with author/musician Ishle Yi Park aka Lani Park’s on her Honey Tea and Talk Story with Lani.

· If you host a podcast, I’m happy to chat!

RESOURCES

· BREAK: How to Write Your Divorce Story a downloadable e-guide so you can easily write your story for your personal/legal file. This was covered by Oprah Daily $29

· FREE: Write Your Divorce Story: one page with divorce story basics. You can also head to YouTube!

· FREE: The Art of Asian America: redefining the term Asian America(n).

MERCH

Get your WWW merch. Proceeds support women in workshop!

SEND IN NEWS, WWW nominations, and more…

WWW featuring women authors will return in the coming months! Send your publication updates and news to writer@drstephaniehan.com