14. Rewriting your parenthood story w/ Emily Popek

What does editing a book and parenting have in common? A ton, actually! 
 
 As an editor, your job is to excavate through what you are given and pull out the best from the author. Same goes with good parenting. Your job is to direct your children, but allow them to have their voice heard where they can still shine.

Your writing and editing skills crossover with parenting more than you would think. You can use the concepts and skills you’ve refined over time to not only guide your children, but to advocate for them as well. Whether that be writing to your local school board or having challenging conversations with policy makers to create positive change in your community.

Having children doesn’t mean you need to stop writing or using your skills. If anything, you can elevate your abilities by having children by getting creative with how you use your skills.

Not to mention, kids’ imaginations are endless, so if you’re ever stuck on a story plot, you can always turn to your little ones for some brilliant inspiration.

Joining us on today’s episode is Emily Popek, a journalist, school communications professional, and mom of one pre-teen. Emily joins us to discuss how parenting and writing can intertwine, as well as how parenting has changed over the years, and how to reframe struggles in parenting and writing into opportunities, and much more! 

This is an enlightening conversation with so many nuggets of wisdom that you don’t want to miss. 

Tune in to learn more!

Topics discussed in this episode: 

• How children are great resources of inspiration
• The concept of a “throwaway book”
• Why Emily started writing a newsletter
• The importance of removing the idea of perfection when writing
• The camaraderie in the writing community
• The direction Emily wants to see her newsletter go
• Struggles in parenting in today’s society
• Just because parenting is hard doesn’t mean it is being done the wrong way
• The power in having challenging conversations in your local communities
• How strong communication skills can make an impact
• How and why Emily became a journalist
• Writing the elusive headline and catchy hooks
• Erin’s joy of editing
• Importance of finding an editor that allows you to showcase your voice
• The crossover between editing and parenting

About Emily:

Emily Popek is a journalist and school communications professional. Her newsletter about the intersections of parenting and education is at thinkofthechildren.substack.com. Emily and her husband are both graduates of Bennington College; they live in upstate New York with their 10-year-old daughter.

Get her newsletter:

• Think of the Children, https://thinkofthechildren.substack.com/

Connect with Emily: 

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmilyPopek
• FB page: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyFPopek
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilypopekwriter/ 

Books discussed during the show: 

• Mother Nature: Maternal Instincts and How They Shape the Human Species by Sarah Blaffer Hrdy
• Smile by Raina Telgemeier
• Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
• Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation by Anne Helen Petersen
• Cairo in White by Kelly Ann Jacobson

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