Counterintuitive Editing: Finding Balance Between Inner Reflection and Outer Action + Writing Tips for 2025 with Sarah Chauncey

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Join me for a conversation with Sarah Chauncey, a veteran writer, developmental editor, and the author of P.S. I Love You More Than Tuna, as we dive into the inner and outer work of editing, the power of allowing rather than forcing, and why true creative flow often comes from stepping away from the keyboard. 

Episode Highlights

• 3:03 The Role of the Unconscious in Writing 
• 6:28 The Power of Not Pushing 
• 9:16 The Sunk Cost Fallacy and Your Writing  Projects
• 10:15 Your Book Is Not Your Identity 
• 12:27 The Counterintuitive Guide to Life
• 21:30 Writing in Imperfect Circumstances
• 22:28 The Inner Work of Editing
• 28:49 Negotiating with Your Inner Critic
• 32:96 Exercises to Navigate the Outer Work of Editing

Resources for this Episode: 

• “In Search of Lost Memories: How Nature Can Help Memoirists Remember” by Sarah Chauncey, published in the July/August 2024 issue of Writer’s Digest. 
• “ Everyday Wonder: How to Mine Awe from the Mundane” by Sarah Chauncey, published in the September/October 2024 issue of Writer’s Digest
• “Beyond BICHOK: How, When and Why Getting Your Butt Out of the Chair Can Make You a Better Writer” by Sarah Chauncey
• PS: I Love You More Than Tuna by Sarah Chauncey
• The Situation and the Story by Vivian Gornick
• The Off the Grid Podcast: Leaving Social Media without Losing All Your Clients 

Sarah’s Bio: Sarah Chauncey is a veteran writer and developmental editor, as well as the author of P.S. I Love You More Than Tuna, the first gift book for adults grieving the loss of a pet. In the early part of her career, she wrote for VH1, Comedy Central, MuchMusic and Alliance-Atlantis, along with entertainment websites and music magazines. Later, she pivoted to storytelling for organizations including NASA, McAfee and Intel. After a lifetime of mental health issues, in 2010, Sarah had a profound spiritual experience; she spent the next seven years mostly in silence and solitude, listening to life and taking notes. She writes the Substack The Counterintuitive Guide to Life, which helps readers develop mental health resilience by developing self-awareness. She also writes Resonant Storytelling, a newsletter for writers. Recently, she’s written for Tiny Buddha, Lion’s Roar, Modern Loss, Eckhart Tolle’s website, Jane Friedman’s blog and the Brevity blog.

Connect with Sarah: 

• Website: www.sarahchauncey.com
• Substacks: 
  •  https://sarahchauncey.substack.com/
  • https://counterintuitiveguide.substack.com/
  • https://morethantuna.substack.c

Connect with your host, Lisa:
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Produced by Espresso Podcast Production