Welcome to the "100 Words Voyage"

"100 Words Voyage" is a one-way journey for those who enjoy stories, writing, reading. Well, basically all that has to do with one of the most stunning worlds: the literary world.

Jan 31, 2021

Hello 👋 I’m Candela Niesl and this is #1 of “100 Words Voyage”. It's a newsletter about writing, life, challenges and how to plan your next piece of art.

Every weekend, I aim to share with you a piece of myself and invite you to write your 100 words. Are you ready to go on this journey? Let’s do it!

My top 3 (not so) unexpected episodes of the week:

I began my On Deck Writer Fellowship journey. An 8-week program in which writers from around the globe learn how to improve our writing skills, which platforms are considered allies, and how we can develop our style and voice. All along with workshops, expert calls and on live editing.
I subscribe into this 30 Day Yoga Journey by Yoga with Adriene and tried to begin my meditation routine with Oak (a free app).
I started this “Morning Pages” routine. Began my brand new journal (made by Dermond Encuadernación) and wrote 3 pages while having breakfast.

Wanna join any of these experiences? Don’t hesitate and write me back 🦄

Why are you here?

I have your email saved in my “database”.
You left your email in my Instagram box.
I thought this brand new newsletter and personal writing adventure could be of interest to you.
I know you love or giving your first steps into writing.

And now 🥁 🥁 🥁 you are officially welcome to the “100 Words Voyage”.

So, what is it about? As the title suggests accurately, it is a voyage (aka journey or trip) through your and my daily 100 words.

Every weekend you’ll receive an email with my unexpected episodes, a random photo and its context (taken by me or any other person), and a 100 words random idea that will invite you to write 100 words (or more) every time.

Shall we get this 100 words voyage started? Let’s go 🚀

**Place: Villa Victoria, Mar del Plata**. The summer house of **Victoria Ocampo**. Who was Victoria Ocampo? An Argentinian aristocrat who was the first woman in the country to have a driver’s license. Was fired from her girlfriends’ club because she used short sleeve shirts and smoked a lot, two things related to the “men’s world”. Founded *Revista Sur*, a magazine in which writers from all around the world were invited to share their point of views and stories. She translated every article that wasn't in Spanish. Had really bold and adventurous love stories, most of them are written in her Autobiography III, known as “The Salzburg Branch”*/La rama de Salzburgo.*

Hello from Mar del Plata, a coastal city 4 hours away from Argentina’s Capital City!

I think I’ve already covered my 100 words, but let’s face it: the first newsletter is always a little bit longer. One needs to organize, introduce, invite and show what you, readers, are going to be part of.

So here we are.

I’ve always struggled with writing, even now. No matter the language. My head goes around ideas such is “This is not good enough”, “who will read me? And why?”, “How can I get better” and if I feel I am not getting there “Why should I share?”. The famous “Impostor Syndrome” which happens to every individual exposing itself out there. (Doesn't it?).

To fear what other people may think of you is not bad when it works as a filter. A filter that, for example, invites us to evaluate if what we are about to say (or write) it’s about to hurt someone's feelings or if we can put that review under kinder words and tones than the impulsive ones we are about to throw out.

But to fear other people’s opinions can also be our enemy. For example, when we limitate ourselves thinking that we are not going to be able to satisfy ever mind, every soul. (Spoiler alert: we’ll never be able to do so. So why don’t enjoy the ride likewise?). Also, when that fear invites our souls to go deep and hide instead of showing 50% proudly, 50% humbled how we live, enjoy and see life.

You’ll be surprised by how many new people you can come across with when you put a little bit of yourself out there. Writing from experience, I was always afraid of not being liked or that my writing will be left aside because I am not Jorge Luis Borges or Victoria or Silvina Ocampo. But, guess what? I’ll never be them, but I write either way and I’ve found people and readers and you just by taking my chances.

Although frightened, I gave myself permission to write, to enjoy the voyage and to let my words be known. So, here I am, writing my first 100 words in a brand new newsletter and sharing them with you.

Afraid? My legs don’t know how to stabilize themselves anymore. Worth it? You have no idea. (Or maybe you do, and I’d love to hear your story too).

So, will you join me?

If you enjoy how your fingers move across your computer’s keyboard or how your pen feels against a sheet of paper while putting into a blank page every idea that’s going around your mind, you belong here! Welcome, fellow writer 💫!

Here’s why you should write 100 words today:

Why not? Here’s raining, cold, and my Spotify “writer’s” playlist is going on and on. I share this mood with you to put you up to the task.
Putting your thoughts, feelings, words and/or even stories out there (and by “out there” I mean into a piece of paper or blank digital space), is a way of beginning this writing voyage and discovering your voice, interest and inner-self.
100 words are just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many words, sentences, paragraphs waiting to be written by you. But, like every journey, you have to give your first steps (also known as “baby steps”). “100 words” doesn’t sound so terrible, does it? A century of words. Your words.

And, if you do not know what to write about but you are willing to start this bold and adventurous voyage (such as Victoria’s love life), let me share this with you:

Today, write about the sky. What’s in it? What’s it like in your part of the world? Rainy? Cloudy? Sunny? Full of stars? Dark and empty? What makes you feel? Now, take a deep breath, what’s your relationship with this piece of infinity that’s above you?

Why the sky? It’s something we all have in common. It is also proof of the existence of limitless infinity.

Last but not least. You may ask yourself (or me) why this newsletter is in English?

I love the English language, learned it from a young age and want to keep on improving at it. Although I’m a native Spanish speaker, I’ve always felt this strong attraction to the English language and the literary world so here I am.
To get better at something, one must practise that skill every time one can.
Let’s get better at English & writing together. Maybe this is not your “comfort zone” but here we are: finding new things and giving our baby steps together. After all, life is a little bit about that, is it not?

Before this first voyage comes to its end:

If you liked this #1 “100 Words Voyage” but also enjoy the Spanish language. You can follow me on Instagram and also listen to my podcast, “The Unexpected”.
If you like what I do and would like to support my work, here you can invite me a drink in Argentina 🇦🇷 or buy me a beer if you are in any other part of the 🌎.
You can also share this newsletter if you think it would be of interest to any of your friends, family, partners or just casual people you meet out there.

Share 100 Words Voyage

Thanks for beginning this journey with me 🚀 I hope you write amazing stories and take as many chances as you need to post them out into the world. After all, we are made of the stories we tell/write.

See you next weekend 👋

Bon voyage!

100 Words Voyage