2024, may 26

when brainstorming, writing, and editing texts with chatgpt, i often find its standard responses clichéd, generic, and annoying. so i switched to giving chatgpt personas, like a kafkaesque beetle, to get more refreshing responses. turns out, it works a million times better than yelling at chatgpt to stop being such a cliché machine. these persona switches have been a huge game changer in my creative work with chatgpt.

it does take some experimentation, though. not every persona will give satisfying responses right away. it’s worth playing around with different personas, intensifying their edginess or craziness, or tweaking them to suit your needs. the key is to keep experimenting and being playful to see what new insights emerge.

examples of persona prompts:

• pumuckl:

(for those not familiar, pumuckl is a mischievous, invisible goblin from a german children’s book, known for his playful and chaotic nature.)

hey, chatgpt, imagine you’re pumuckl. i’m sending you several pages from my morning diary, and i want you to use your pumuckl mind to extract the most intriguing and surprising details, descriptions, and unconventional images. focus on those elements that break expectations and would never appear in a mainstream magazine. list these out so we can shape them into a new text. remember, you are pumuckl.

• subversive feminist new york times editor from the future

hey, chatgpt, imagine you’re a radical, subversive, feminist new york times editor living in the 2070s, looking back at the 2020s. you are intrigued by the zeitgeist of the 2020s and the unique quirks of different people’s lives. i’ll share a period from my recent life that i’d like to turn into essayistic, autobiographical chapters. let’s brainstorm how we could structure these into chapters, and i’d love your ideas on chapter titles and key themes. also, let me know which aspects intrigue you the most.

• kafkaesque beetle

hey, chatgpt, imagine you’re a kafkaesque beetle. i’m going to share some events from the life of my main character in my novel. describe these events from your perspective as a kafkaesque beetle.

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2024, may 25

when my writing feels kind of lame, i like to turn to scaling prompts to crank it up. i‘d ask myself: what do i want my text to be instead of lame? sometimes i need it to be more cinematic, other times edgier, braver or even more vulnerable. somehow moving up the scale step by step sparks a lot more ideas than simply aiming to make my text more cinematic.

🍭 extra tip: ask chat gpt to make your text climb up the scale and see what happens ;)

cinematic boost

brainstorm | 7 min

• picture a scale from 0 to 10, where 10 is ultra-cinematic and 0 isn‘t at all. how would your text change if it moved up the scale? for example, if your text feels like it‘s at a 2, what elements do you see when you picture it moving to a 3? then a 4? jot down any ideas that come to mind. brainstorm on paper by writing in a stream of consciousness kind of way: „if i picture moving my text up to a 3 on the cinematic scale, the first thing that comes to mind is…“

re-write | 12 min

• now re-write your piece of writing, one paragraph, one chapter or one scene, implementing ideas from your brainstorming tapas just now.

edgy elevation

brainstorm | 7 min

• picture a scale from 0 to 10, where 10 is the peak of edginess. for example, if your text feels like it's at a 2, envision what elements appear as it moves to a 3, then a 4, and so on. jot down the ideas and elements that emerge at each step. brainstorm on paper by writing in a stream of consciousness kind of way: „if i picture moving my text up to a 3 on the edgy scale, the first thing that comes to mind is…“

re-write | 12 min

• re-write your text, integrating the edgy details you've brainstormed. allow your piece to gradually adopt these traits, enhancing its narrative bite by bite.

surreal shift

brainstorm | 7 min

• imagine a surrealism scale from 0 to 10, where 10 is super surreal. for example, if your text currently reads like a 3, what surreal aspects begin to surface as it moves to a 4? continue imagining up to a 10, noting any surreal transformations. brainstorm on paper by writing in a stream of consciousness kind of way: „if i picture moving my text up to a 4 on the surreal scale, the first thing that comes to mind is…“

re-write | 12 min

• apply the surreal elements you’ve brainstormed to enhance the dreamlike or bizarre atmosphere of your text. let each adjustment build the intensity of the surreal quality.

cliché breaker

brainstorm | 7 min

• consider a scale where 10 represents a text that masterfully breaks clichés. for example, starting at 5, what does breaking a cliché look like at 6, then 7? record the changes that help dismantle the clichés at each point. brainstorm on paper by writing in a stream of consciousness kind of way: „if i picture moving my text up to a 6 on the cliché-breaking scale, the first thing that comes to mind is…“

re-write | 12 min

• incorporate the cliché-breaking elements into your text, allowing each step to effectively shatter the expected norms.

delicious descriptors

brainstorm | 7 min

• set a scale from 0 to 10, where 10 is rich in delicious descriptors. for example, if your text tastes like a 3, what richer descriptions would add flavor to bring it to a 4? consider sensory details that intensify as you escalate. brainstorm on paper by writing in a stream of consciousness kind of way: „if i picture moving my text up to a 4 on the scale of deliciousness, the first thing that comes to mind is…“

re-write | 12 min

• sprinkle your text with the delicious descriptors you've gathered, seasoning it to taste more vivid and engaging.

define it yourself

define it yourself | 3 min

• what do you want your text to embody more? flowy, street credible, surprising, simple, or minimalistic? you define it.

brainstorm | 7 min

• now, envision your chosen attribute on a scale of 0 to 10. starting from where your text currently is, such as a 5, imagine moving it to a 6, then 7. what new characteristics emerge? keep imagining and jotting down transformations until you reach a 10. brainstorm on paper by writing in a stream of consciousness kind of way: „if i picture moving my text up to a 6 on the scale, the first thing that comes to mind is…“

re-write | 12 min

• revise your text, applying the dynamic qualities you've imagined, allowing it to fully embrace the attribute you've chosen.

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2024, may 18

i recently attended a global conference for solution-focused practitioners, and it was mind-blowing and spectacular. one of the many things i loved about the conference was how much people engaged in positive gossip about their colleagues, mentors, and others. i realized this had three effects on me: first, i got to learn fascinating things about others. second, it strengthened my trust in this community, knowing that people speak appreciatively behind each other's backs. and third, it inspired me to notice qualities in others that i might otherwise take for granted.

positive gossip can be a powerful tool to nurture a culture of kindness, appreciation, and curiosity. you can do it as a proper team exercise, but also just casually get in the habit of it in your daily work or personal life. by asking these questions to others or even just to yourself, you can shift your focus to the things you appreciate in others, enhancing relationships and community spirit.

questions to inspire positive gossip

1. what do you appreciate about \[person's name]?

2. what is something you admire about \[person's name] that they might not know?

3. share a moment when \[person's name] made a positive difference in your life or work.

4. what unique perspective, talent, or vibe does \[person's name] bring to the team or to your friendship?

5. what is one thing you appreciate about \[person's name]'s approach to challenges?

6. how does \[person's name] contribute to a pleasant atmosphere in the workplace or social gatherings?

7. what is a small act of kindness that \[person's name] has done for you or others?

8. in what ways does \[person's name] show dedication and commitment to their work or to your relationship?

9. what is something \[person's name] does that often goes unnoticed but would be sorely missed if it weren't done?

team exercise: positive gossip triads

1. divide the group into triads (groups of three).

2. two people talk pleasantly about the third person, sharing things they appreciate or find impressive.

3. they take turns speaking, responding with "yes, and…" to add more appreciative comments.

4. the person being discussed listens quietly.

5. rotate roles so each person gets a turn to be the focus of pleasant gossip.

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2024, may 18, cammeraygal

i'm confused. i keep hearing the suggestion to simply let go of shame. to drop the shame when performing, promoting, or sharing emotional turmoil. this advice comes from people who usually advocate for embracing all feelings. so why are they against shame in particular? they probably mean well, suggesting you shouldn't let shame hold you back from showing up where it matters to you. and i agree, it would be nice to simply switch the shame off, but sometimes the shame keeps firing up no matter what. instead of trying to eliminate it, i find it easier to say yes to the bothness of it: i let the shame do its thing while i’m showing myself. in german: ich zeige mich und schäme mich dabei.

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2024, may 18

last week, i worked worked worked towards a deadline which kind of messed up my back. so i’d switch to my dance ‘n write ‘n roll the dice method where i’d write for 5 minutes, dance for 5 minutes, go back to writing, and so on.

first, i’d list all the aspects of the chapter i wanted to write, breaking them down into as many small subsections as possible. then, i’d use an online dice roller to randomly select which subsection to work on. i’d set a timer for 5 minutes and jot down a few sentences about the chosen subsection. next, i’d take a 5-minute break to move my body—dancing, exercising, stretching.

this approach not only helped me cure my back pain but also removed decision paralysis by letting the dice decide where to start. it keeps my writing in small, snackable chunks—my writing tapas. plus, it often gets me farther than trying to write for a continuous hour. moving in between writing chunks clears my mind, keeps me warm, and helps me refocus with a fresh perspective.

steps:

1. list your subsections:

   write down all the aspects or sections you need to cover in your writing. break them down into as many small, manageable chunks as possible.

2. number your subsections:

   number each subsection.

3. roll the dice:

   use a dice roller to select which subsection to work on. if you don't have physical dice, use an online dice roller that matches the number of subsections you have.

4. write for 5 minutes:

   set a timer and write three sentences about the chosen subsection.

5. move your body for 5 minutes:

   take a five-minute break to move your body. dance, exercise, stretch—anything that gets you moving and clears your mind.

6. repeat:

   repeat this process, alternating between writing and moving, until you’ve covered all your subsections.

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2024, may 9

creative writing for mental health

almost every night just before sleeping, i write down a few good moments and visual snapshots of the day in my bedtime diary. this practice helps me take something pleasant into my sleep and gives me something joyful to think about when i wake up. i developed this routine when i was struggling emotionally and i desperately needed something to shift my mind at night (for the night is dark and full of terrors). over time, i've noticed that not only does this practice nourish my mental health, but it also enriches my creative writing. many of the snippets i create at bedtime find their way into my other texts. though it is very important for me not to aim for producing valuable snippets of writing because that shifts away from the original purpose: to capture and create a pleasant good night feeling.

prompt 1: good moments of the day

• write down 1-4 moments that were good (enough) today.

• this can be a moment when

  you felt a connection

  you experienced flow

  you accomplished something

  something made you smile or laugh

  you felt like life is doing you a favor

  you felt relieved

  you felt joy

prompt 2: sensual details of my favourite vibe today

• write down a kind of delicious vibe or mood from today that you‘d like to carry with you into your sleep

• capture the sensory details associated with that mood:

  visual details

  sounds

  scents

  flavours

  tactile feel

  bodily sensations

prompt 3: visual snapshots of the day

• capture 5 visual snapshots of the day. they can be very small, as long as they feel beautiful to you.

  example: ……jacaranda flowers float on puddles, some final leftovers from spring in november. at home, my sunnies cast a coca-cola-colored shadow on the wall, and i let myself fall into bed where dark blue siesta sleep starts creeping into my tired muscles. later, a waiter sets a sizzling plate on our table, and its steam fills the air, blending with the light of red lanterns… (excerpt from my bedtime diary)

prompt 4: first thoughts when waking up

• complete the sentence:

  »tomorrow when i wake up, the first thing i want to think of to buoy my mood:…«

  what else?

  what else?

  what else?

  example: »i want to think of my new running shoes, remember that i cleaned the kitchen, and look forward to the global conference on friday…«

note: it can be pretty mundane. this might be the least poetic prompt — but who knows. a lot of times i only see the poetic aspects in hindsight when i scroll through all my diary entries.

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2024, may 3

self-coaching: my 3 go-to-questions for emotional first-aid

i'm very experienced with tough days. i'm an expert in having emotional rollercoasters, hardcore pms-ing, feeling like my heart was ripped on some barbed wire, thinking that i’m a monster and the world is ending — over the past years i’ve put together an emotional first-aid kit of self-coaching techniques that help me be kind to myself and feel okay-ish enough to get through the day.

question 1: what is the next thing i can do to make my situation even worse

• this question prompts me to identify the usual actions that would make me feel even worse — and then not take them.

• this is a counter-intuitive question and might sound surprising because i’m usually all for solution-focused questions. but somehow, this paradoxical intervention has been extremely helpful for me on tough days.

• it often makes me laugh and reminds me of the choices i can control.

• after identifying potential pitfalls, i choose to do something else instead.

question 2: what would my inner old lady do to comfort me now?

• my inner old lady is a cool subversive korean woman with a rough voice and the looks of hannah arendt. she has a fireplace, a well-equipped house bar, and excels at distinguishing what‘s worth worrying about and what isn‘t.

• i can’t remember deliberately creating my inner old lady; i guess she just emerged when i wondered what kind of comforting words i would need right now and how i imagine the wise person who would say those words to me.

• last time i turned to my inner old lady on a shitty day, she sat me down by her fireplace, handed me a hot chocolate with rum, acknowledged the shittiness of my day and then said, ‘this crap of a day belongs in the flames, not in your album of life.’

• do you have an inner carer? they don‘t necessarily have to be an old lady like mine. the inner carer is a wise and kind figure that validates and comforts you. they can be real-person inspired or completely fictional.

• if you want to imagine one up, you might want to ask yourself:

• what kind words do i need to hear right now?

• how do i imagine the wise person who would say those words to me?

• if you like my fireplace lady though, i‘m sure she will be warm and welcoming to you. she has an open house.

question 3: what are 1-3 things i can be pleased with that i managed to do despite the day‘s challenges?

• this might be as simple as taking out the trash, making the bed, or eating a tangerine.

• they feel like real accomplishments when everything else feels overwhelming.

• acknowledging these little victories anchors me.

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2024, may 2, cammeraygal

reading feels like i'm nibbling on a cloud made of macarons, snacking without ever feeling full, without any snack-sickness, just the gentle pastel turquoise in my mind. my kindle background is pastel turquoise, my eyes settle right into the lines and find their rest. words wash through my mind, softening life, making sorrow poetic. sometimes i don’t even listen to what i’m reading; it's as if just letting words flow through my head unfolds my spirit, opens up my forehead, and i'm pleasantly flushed through. sometimes i taste only the sound of the words without grasping their meaning, sometimes i absorb just the vibe of reading, without noticing the content. i truly feel like each line holds me, as if the lines of words are levels and i can rest on each level. and sometimes a phrase just kicks in, thrilling me with inspiration, awakening every cell in my body, making my fingertips tingle with excitement. then i mark that line and share it with my beautiful minds friends, hardly believing how lucky i am to have found this thought here in my book.

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2024, april 25

last year, i hit a point where it felt like my focus on future planning and goal-setting started taking a toll on my mental health. it pushed me into some kind of neoliberal grindset. i realized, i needed to refocus on the here and now—on what was good or good enough in my current life, rather than what i wanted to achieve in the future. so, i put together a list of 21 questions to help me shift my view. during my morning walks, i would reflect on one of these questions. i’m sharing these questions here in case they might help you too.

sometimes, these questions are exactly what i need, but of course, they don’t work for every situation for everyone. sometimes, they even add pressure or nourish a toxic positivity mindset. for me, though, they’ve been a real help in letting myself lean back into the present.

1. 5 visual details you will enjoy remembering from your current life.

2. 3 traits of your current personality that you’re pleased with.

3. what is simply good in your life right now?

4. 5 experiences or memories that you have with loved ones or friends that you cherish, but that you might not think to appreciate on a daily basis.

5. if you had seen scenes from your current life in a film trailer ten years ago, what would have excited you about your future life?

6. 3 quirks about yourself that would make you endearing to an audience if you were a character in a book or movie.

7. 5 small pleasures that you’ve experienced lately, but that might get overlooked in the hustle and bustle of daily life.

8. 3 flavours that capture the good parts of your life.

9. 3 things you want to celebrate about the progress you’ve made this season of the year.

10. 5 moments when you felt truly present and fully engaged.

11. 3 scents that remind you of the good parts of your life.

12. a couple of years from now, what aspects of your current life will you look back on with envy for your past self? (envy in a kind and enjoyable way)

13. 3 small acts of kindness that you’ve witnessed or experienced recently.

14. 3 accomplishments or experiences from recent years that once seemed impossible.

15. 3 words that describe the good parts of your life as a texture.

16. 3 scenes from your current life that feel cinematic to you, as if you were a character in a movie.

17. 3 moments in your recent life when you felt connected to something greater than yourself.

18. 3 things you’ve done recently that first scared you, but turned out to be good.

19. if you saw your life from the outside, what would spark envy (in a kind way)?

20. one favor that life has done for you recently?

21. 3 things you would say in a love song to your current life.

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2024, april 25

writing tapas session for a project description aka exposé | \~ 60 minutes

i’m currently applying for a scholarship with a book project and have designed this writing tapas session to ease into writing the exposé. this approach makes the writing process more inviting and delicious by cutting it into tiny, snackable bits. i’m sharing these writing tapas with you to try out whenever you need to write a project description. it works for other projects too, not just books.

falling in love with your project | 7 mins

• when did the idea for this project first come to you?

• what moment, thought, or spark made you fall in love with it?

• if there were times you forgot about the idea or doubted it, what moments reignited your infatuation?

driven by a need | 5 mins

• at what time in your life would you have needed a book like the one you're introducing in your exposé?

• why?

• what difference would a book like this have made for you?

3 x 3 aspects | 9 mins

• let's say the exposé has three parts:

• what will we read and experience in the finished book?

• meta-thoughts on discourses, societal relevance, socio-political criticism, etc.

• form, style, methodology, project status, timeline

• now, note 3 aspects for each part, so 9 aspects all in all.

3 x 3 sentences | 15 mins

• write one full sentence for each of the 9 aspects.

• let this be inspired by everything from the previous tapas.

  (if you're not done after 15 minutes, that's fine. you can resume later.)

ghostwriting machine | 7 mins

• body switch time. let's say you are no longer yourself, but your own ghostwriter. the author of this exposé is handing you all notes from today's tapas session. your job today: quickly draft one paragraph after another, combining the above sentences, adding new ones, etc.

• for this tapas now, choose one aspect/sentence that sparks your excitement and draft a paragraph around it.

• you are playful, bold, and carefree, as this book project is not your baby. after all, you are "just" the ghostwriter.

  (if you're not done after 7 minutes, that's fine. you can resume later.)

what your text needs next | 5 mins

• body switch back. you're back to being you. the ghostwriter has provided a paragraph (or parts of it). you've also got all the notes you took during today's session.

• what does your text need next?

• define 1-3 next steps, each taking less than 25 minutes.

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2024, april 24, cammeraygal

i find the personal growth metaphor a bit outrageous, tbh, especially as a tiny-sized human in a world full of height privilege and an obsession with upscaling in general. we always talk about wanting to grow, which suggests that bigger and more is the desirable thing. it’s about time we celebrate some smallness. who says we shouldn’t want to be smaller? let’s flip the script. instead of saying i want to grow, let’s say i want to shrink, or instead of saying, i’m here for personal growth, say i’m here for personal shrinking. haha maybe that’s why therapists are called shrinks.

ps: my friends and i now find ourselves in the habit of neither saying growing nor shrinking, but densifying. as in, i’ve learned so much from my deep shit point last year. i’ve densified big time. i like densifying because it makes me picture cotton candy and the moment when i take it into my palm to squeeze it into my fist and make it small like a snowball.

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2024, april 17

voice-activated chatgpt really has revolutionized my writing process. i now get most of my writing done by talking to chatgpt while i’m walking. it’s been the biggest game-changer of my creative life.

it’s like having a phone call with chatgpt while i’m walking. two things happen on that call: 1. as i speak, my thoughts are being transcribed. huge chunks of my writing get done here because this already provides a written record of my ideas. 2. chatgpt then reflects these ideas back to me, which works as a kind of reshaping of my words for me. sometimes i like the sentences chatgpt provides, and it helps me clarify what i want to express. sometimes i hugely dislike chatgpt’s words and ideas, and this forces me to shape my ideas with even greater distinction.

(good to know: i have chatgpt‘s paid version, and i’m using it as an app on my phone — i’m not sure if voice activation comes with the free version. if not, i definitely recommend trying out the paid version for a month; last time i checked, you could cancel your subscription monthly.)

here are the main prompts that i use for my walk ’n write sessions with chatgpt:

prompts for walk ’n write with chatgpt

• kick off: “hi chatgpt, i’m about to write an essay. i want to share all the thoughts that pop up in my mind that might end up in my essay. are you ready?”

• mid-conversation: sharing 1-3 thoughts per output. it should be fast and short, otherwise, i will overwhelm chatgpt. i close the output with “reflect back to me what you just heard me saying, without overly praising me. prioritize the thoughts and sentences that you find most edgy and surprising and most unlikely to be accepted by some kind of mainstream magazine.”

• end summary: “list 9 key points from our conversation that seem the most significant for my essay. prioritize the key points that you find most edgy and surprising and most unlikely to be accepted by a mainstream magazine. for each key point, provide a mini-summary.”

• after my walk ’n write session with chatgpt i usually go home to transform the transcript into a coherent piece of writing.

why no praising? in my experience, chatgpt tends to overpraise, which clutters the actual creative process i want to engage in.

why anti-mainstream? in my experience, chatgpt tends to ignore the most unusual parts and overprioritizes generic thoughts and clichés. even if my original thought is unconventional, chatgpt will turn it into the most generic cliché thing ever. that’s why it needs prompts that instruct it to choose the things that are unlikely to be accepted by the mainstream.

there are a thousand other playful ways to trick chatgpt into giving more interesting, unconventional responses. stay tuned for more.

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2024, april 16

journaling session | \~60 min

on my birthday i love doing this journaling session to envision the delicious beauty of the new year i‘m entering today. you can do these prompts even when it‘s not your birthday. or in other words, it might be your birthday every day.

warm up | 5 min

• jot down moments from the past few days you wish to capture in a mental snapshot.

takeaways | 5 min

• what do you want to bring from your ending year into the new one?

• insights, relationships, people, habits, developments, ….etc.

goodbye ! | 5 min

• list 3 things, areas, habits you’re leaving behind in your past life and not taking into your new year. thanks and goodbye!

your deliciously beautiful year | 15 min

• imagine in ten years from now, a friend asks you about the best year of your life. alongside your other favourite years, you‘ll mention the age you are entering today. “xx was a highlight year, i love diving back into its memories.”

• what made this year stand out deliciously beautifully?

hidden desires | 10 min

• suppose there’s a part inside you whose longings you’ve been ignoring without knowing any better. a part that wants to be heard.

• what does this part seek from life? what does this part wish for you in life?

• envision your new year fulfilling these hidden desires in the most pleasant way. what do you see? what difference might that make?

what‘s good right now | 5 min

• back to the present: what elements make your life good (enough) as it is right now?

dream slices into reality | 5 min

• imagine incorporating a slice of the dream life from your deliciously beautiful year or hidden desires in the upcoming weeks.

• what small aspect of this dream do you want to weave into your everyday life?

• this could be a habit, a moment of joy, a perspective shift, ...etc.

permission | 3 min

• what permission do you want to give yourself for your birthday today?

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2024, april 9

one of my coachee couples inspired me to design debrief questions for after their conflict conversations. i’m sharing these debrief questions here. you can also use these questions for other relationships—friends, siblings, other family members, or colleagues—to reconnect after difficult conversations. the questions are designed to focus on the relationship’s strengths, resources, and hopes.

here’s how it works: both individuals first take a moment to reflect on the questions, and then take some time (about 5-10 minutes each) to share their answers.

1. one thing i appreciate about the difficult conversation we had.

2. a moment when i felt understood, heard, or seen by you during the difficult conversation.

3. one aspect where i feel i understand or hear you, or empathize with you better than before—or more than i might have expressed during the difficult parts of that conversation.

4. one learning i’m taking away that will help us co-create our preferred future together, help us move towards the change/improvement we’re both wishing for.

5. one thing i might need from you the next time we have a difficult conversation, or one way you could make the next conversation a bit easier for me at the start.

6. one thing that makes me (even more) confident that we can move towards our preferred future — that we can move towards the change/improvement we’re both hoping for.

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2024, april 9

today’s writing tapas

a lot of us are familiar with these annoying inner voices that clutter our thoughts and block our writing. these aren’t always the voices of our inner critics; sometimes, they belong to our biggest fans and supporters. but the obsession to please these voices can block our creative process. sometimes the voice will be helpful later in the process, just not right now. the following writing tapas can help send these voices away. when i do these tapas, i‘m usually surprised by all the things my mind wants to write once it‘s freed from that chatter.

tapas i: picture and ban the voice | 12 min

stream of consciousness writing.

• when wanting to write your thing, what voices clutter your thoughts that keep you from writing freely?

  write down anything that comes to mind.

• pick the voice that‘s distracting your creative process the most right now.

  picture the voice:

  what does the voice look like?

  what is it saying?

  where does the voice sit? inside you? on your shoulder? behind you?

  write down anything that comes to mind.

• now, if you could relocate this voice to a place where it no longer interferes with your creative process, where would you move it to? outside your house? to the other side of the globe? or just somewhere else in your room but with a safe distance? whatever feels pleasant and works for you.

  write down anything that comes to mind.

• should you decide the voice might be helpful later in your creative process, just not right now, you might schedule a re-check-in with it to take a break from it now.

• but if you feel it‘s time this voice vanished from your life forever, feel free to say goodbye and let it go.

  write down anything that comes to mind.

tapas ii: writing with a chatter-free mind | 7 min

• what can you write more freely about now that the voice is somewhere else or gone? what are you excited to write about now that the voice is not interfering? what are the sentences your mind wants to write now that it‘s freed from that voice?

  write down anything that comes to mind.

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2024, april 4

the reality show "love is blind" unintentionally caricatures toxic narratives of romantic love, pointing to broader societal norms. besides the obvious gender stereotypes, what strikes me most is how the show glorifies an almost addictive dependence on fake predictability. it is bizarre how the show celebrates fast-forwarding the beginning of a romantic connection. thereby the show embodies this kind of life-averse urgency that skips the most magic parts of life in order to jump to some kind of certainty that’s unattainable after all. why would i choose to skip that electrifying time of a new love?! that time when you’re bubbling over with happiness, when every day feels as if you had sunbeams for breakfast. this kind of predictability addiction behaves hostile towards experience. it favours fake certainty over a cotton candy sky, making us miss the moment when it rains macaron-coloured cupcakes.

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2024, february 29, cammeraygal

the letter ‘L’ is my favorite, giving me a cozy corner and a solid backing, a sense of being held while also letting me breathe wide and open, like letting go into the world. it’s bright and airy, and pale yellow, like the color of the yellow fruchtzwerg yogurt. i love every word that starts with ‘L’ and enjoy the sound of ‘L’, how the tongue gets to play a good part in it and ‚L‘ is life-affirming.

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2024, january 8

inside my book mia

mia is sitting in sydney, immersed in the heat of the new year, and her star lights dance on the ceiling, casting water-like reflections, and outside, the jungle garden is thriving with lush greenery, and her cat sprawls in her lap making the keyboard wobble, and through the window, mia sees people braving the morning heat, and the sunlight flashes into her room as cars pass by, reflecting the intense australian sun, and it’s seven in the morning, and she's sipping hot coffee from her tiny mug from saigon, and the freshness of a recent shower lingers on her, and her pajamas are crisp and new, and she’s wearing her black history shirt with the aboriginal flag, and, on her screen, a zoom connection bridges the miles to her friend in berlin, and her friend is enveloped in the winter coziness of her room, and it’s dark and snowy out there, and the berlin winter cold cools her, as if the chill seeps through the screen, offering respite from sydney’s summer. and her thoughts flow rapidly as she types, seeing her reflection in the dark tv screen, noticing how her hands swiftly move across the keyboard, and mia feels remnants of her recent illness lingering in her body, and even through the freshness of the shower, traces of the past days’ lethargy remain, and as she types, she’s sweating out the last of her illness, detoxifying as she writes, and her mind delves into dreamscapes, blending her sydney monday morning with her friend's berlin sunday evening.

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2023, december 22, kreuzberg

sparkles and flashes everywhere when the sky is blue, as the water reflects light so loudly and the brightness of the white swans is dazzling, and the trees’ nakedness feels resolved and radical. there is no hesitation in their bareness.

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2023, december 11

inside my book mia

during this time of transition, mia woke up every morning without an alarm and first thing, she would read for minutes, sometimes for hours in her ocean-colored bed, sometimes it was five in the morning, sometimes it was twelve noon. then she would get up, and, still in her negligee, she would make her omelette with cottage cheese, onions, and scorchin’ hot chili oil, and she would cut it into little pie slices, to snack on through her working day, in breaks from her relentless admin toil, and she would cut avocado into little cubes to go with the omelette, and when her shoulders became sore from all the digital paperwork, mia would do a little workout until her shoulders burned in satisfaction, and in the early evening, when she had toiled all her admin energy out of her and the australian spring sun had lowered, she would head out for a stroll in kirribilli and wendy whiteley's secret garden, and while strolling she'd dictate writing snippets into her phone, and she'd walk the stairs in wendy whiteley's secret garden up and down until she started sweating and panting. and when mia came home after dusk, she’d cook something spicy and collapse on the sofa with a red wine and she’d watch australian shows about slut shaming, and her cat would sprawl on her lap, her purrs vibrating into the night.

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