Returning, the Inner Shitter, Doubt, & Reading an Excerpt From My work-in-progress Memoir

The speaker is returning to her writing life and all creative aspects after a hiatus. She traditionally hosts a monthly Salon Wild but hasn't been able to due to life commitments. She introduces a mini Salon Wild on the topic of "fame" and plans to share snippets from her memoir, which touches on fame and longing. She emphasizes the importance of building the 'muscle of returning' to creative projects, especially when facing setbacks, and how this is crucial for her dream of becoming a published author.

After stepping away from her work for two months, the speaker experienced significant doubt and her 'inner shitter' (inner critic) constantly berated her. This led her to revisit her own book, 'The Artivist,' particularly a section called 'Doubt,' which she wrote about the creative quest. She describes how the universe abhors a vacuum, and when she wasn't creating, negative self-talk filled the space.

The speaker reads an excerpt from her book 'The Artivist,' focusing on the 'doubt' stage of the creative quest. This section explores how creators talk themselves out of their ideas and abilities, compare themselves to others, and feel guilt and shame about pursuing art, especially for marginalized communities who often face systemic barriers.

To silence her inner critic and return to sharing, the speaker reads an excerpt from her work-in-progress memoir, provisionally titled 'The Fame Book.' This section, titled 'Stars,' was initially considered as the opening of the book. It recounts a childhood memory of her father teaching her about constellations, fostering a sense of awe and wonder, and her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut, secretly wishing to embody the stars themselves.

After reading, the speaker expresses a feeling of relief and liberation from sharing her work. She thanks her audience for being part of this 'first journey' of sharing her memoir in process with the world. She invites comments and questions about her work and upcoming programs. She reaffirms her commitment to returning to her creative work and sharing the process.