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.
Hello đ Iâm Candela Niesl and this is #1 of â100 Words Voyageâ. 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? Letâs 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 âMorning Pagesâ routine. Began my brand new journal (made by Dermond EncuadernaciĂłn) and wrote 3 pages while having breakfast.
Wanna join any of these experiences? Donât hesitate and write me back đŠ
Why are you here?
I have your email saved in my âdatabaseâ.
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 đ„ đ„ đ„ you are officially welcome to the â100 Words Voyageâ.
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 youâll 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? Letâs go đ
Hello from Mar del Plata, a coastal city 4 hours away from Argentinaâs Capital City!
I think Iâve already covered my 100 words, but letâs 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.
Iâve always struggled with writing, even now. No matter the language. My head goes around ideas such is âThis is not good enoughâ, âwho will read me? And why?â, âHow can I get betterâ and if I feel I am not getting there âWhy should I share?â. The famous âImpostor Syndromeâ 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) itâs 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 peopleâs 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: weâll never be able to do so. So why donât 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.
Youâll 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? Iâll never be them, but I write either way and Iâve 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 donât know how to stabilize themselves anymore. Worth it? You have no idea. (Or maybe you do, and Iâd love to hear your story too).
So, will you join me?
If you enjoy how your fingers move across your computerâs keyboard or how your pen feels against a sheet of paper while putting into a blank page every idea thatâs going around your mind, you belong here! Welcome, fellow writer đ«!
Hereâs why you should write 100 words today:
Why not? Hereâs raining, cold, and my Spotify âwriterâsâ 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 âout thereâ 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 âbaby stepsâ). â100 wordsâ doesnât 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 Victoriaâs love life), let me share this with you:
Today, write about the sky. Whatâs in it? Whatâs 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, whatâs your relationship with this piece of infinity thatâs above you?
Why the sky? Itâs 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 Iâm a native Spanish speaker, Iâve 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.
Letâs get better at English & writing together. Maybe this is not your âcomfort zoneâ 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 â100 Words Voyageâ but also enjoy the Spanish language. You can follow me on Instagram and also listen to my podcast, âThe Unexpectedâ.
If you like what I do and would like to support my work, here you can invite me a drink in Argentina đŠđ· or buy me a beer if you are in any other part of the đ.
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.
Thanks for beginning this journey with me đ 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 đ
Bon voyage!