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Helen Redfern's avatar

I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Caroline. I love that you share voice notes with your friend in another country. Technology can be so wonderful. Did you see my podcast interviewing Beth last year?

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Caroline's avatar

It's nearly bed time here in oz but will definitely be listening to this with a cuppa once the kids have gone to school in the morning x

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Claire Holden's avatar

Hope you enjoy it! 💛 We sound even better with a cup of tea in hand! 😂

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Caroline's avatar

I listened to this episode whilst on a very windy dog walk so finished off listening with a cup of tea at home. I love both of your honesty on writing and growing your Substack. Your conversation reminds me of me and my friend Rosalyn as we are currently reading Beth Kempton The way of the fearless writer together and chat via voice notes given the time difference) she's in Spain I'm in Australia) we chat about our writing journey and lots of other things in between as I'm sure you both do too. Helen - I really hope your TMJ gets better real soon!! It's very painful I know from experience x Claire - Your posts inspire me to look and read things I never knew I'd be interested in. Thankyou to you both 😍

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Claire Holden's avatar

I'm so happy that our chats resonate and reassure––that's just what we hope for. And I love that you have a writing pal to bounce things off and discussing the BK book is brilliant! Having Helen to discuss the ups and downs of writing with (and as you say, other things in between too) has made a HUGE difference. And thank you Caroline, it makes me so so happy to think you're diving into new and intriguing books and articles after reading my newsletter! x

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Sharon Gaskin's avatar

Thankyou so much Claire and Helen - BTW just can't work out why sometimes Substack lets me tag and sometimes it doesn't - oh well. Listened on the dog walk as promised and as usual really enjoyed it. It was lovely to hear about what you've been up to this month. 🌷

Please don't get despondent Claire, you are doing brilliantly and are such a role model. You both are. And Helen, I so feel your pain with the jaw thing, as you now. Please continue to take care of you. 🌺

Key takeaways for me were: write for YOU, not for other people and don't worry if they stop reading or fall away. And go on your own path. This is something that I've really been trying to take on recently. 🌸

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Claire Holden's avatar

Thank YOU so much, Sharon! Glad you enjoyed and definitely pleased to hear our words resonate with your own sense of making this journey your own. For me that’s definitely the key, finding what feels right for me. It shifts and changes the further in I get, but I always ‘know’ 💫 And thank you for your kind words and support, I’m definitely not despondent and will try and keep out of the ‘valley of disappointment’ (that did make me laugh 😂 So accurate!) by focusing on all that’s going well. Also thank you for double posting 😘

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Rebecca Holden's avatar

Thank you for this latest chapter in your Substack story - I enjoyed listening while I was engaging in some domestic goddessry this morning! Double speed for extra pizzazz - I'm sure it made the ironing go faster (although truth be told, that's one of my favourite household tasks anyway - shhh, don't tell anyone). I learned a lot again - it's great to check in with you with these podcasts every month. My takeaway is the 'zoom out' thing - that's great advice!

I'm continuing to plough my own furrow with my Substack - I'm writing what I feel like writing and enjoying every moment of it. 😊

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Claire Holden's avatar

Thank you Rebecca! I love the idea that as our podcasts get longer and longer you have to listen faster and faster!! Yes the 'zoom out' thing is making a huge difference to how I feel about it all. And the longer I write and read on this platform the more admiration I have for you and your work, both in glorious content and the way you approach it. And thank you as ever, for commenting on both our Substacks ... that always makes me smile! x

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Rebecca Holden's avatar

Such lovely things you've said here, Claire - thank you! 😊

My life has changed no end since I first discovered that I could turn up the speed on podcasts and YouTube videos etc! I much prefer taking on information at high speed - and it encourages me to get busy with whatever task I'm teaming my listening with.

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Claire Holden's avatar

That's really interesting! I think I've realised over time that aurally is one of the quickest ways for me to feel overwhelmed. I've barely listened to music since I had my daughter, she brought a whole lot of noise to my world! And I don't do audiobooks very often, but when I went for Atomic Habits at the weekend I tried at 1.2x (when I saw the difference in listening time!) and found it WAY too stressy! I like sloooooooow and quite quiet, it appears!

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Rebecca Holden's avatar

Gosh! We have such similarities and differences here! I don't listen to music but I grew up on Radio 4, and if I'm doing housework or the ironing, or I'm in the kitchen elbow-deep in my big passion - cooking - I'll usually have that on. Or a high-speed podcast! If there's literally anything else going on at the same time, though, I can't do the listening thing at all - I have to switch it off.

I can't have any audio on when I'm writing or working or thinking or walking - my brain would beg for mercy! But when I AM listening, I'm really listening - and unless it's live radio, where I have no choice, I much prefer to compress my audio into less time! 🤣

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Claire Holden's avatar

Yes, I can't multitask and listen and DEFINITELY not write!! That blows my mind that most people do that! I haven't listened to R4 for so long. I had to ban myself from starting the day with Today as it made me stressed and FURIOUS before my feet even hit the floor!

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Rebecca Holden's avatar

🤣

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May 2, 2023
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Helen Redfern's avatar

Enjoy! 🦮

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Claire Holden's avatar

I LOVE that I get to go on dog walks without the responsibility of owning a dog! 😂👏🏻💛

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May 2, 2023
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Claire Holden's avatar

Perfect balance ... entertainment and gentle encouragement! Thank you so much for the walk! :)

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