In this post, I share what you might read on the back cover of this book if you were to find it in a book store or on Amazon. It includes a synopsis, an (imagined) review from Oprah (ha!), and an author bio.
Hi, Kelly. I'm excited to read more from you. Going down the false self/true self path myself at the moment and love learning from others about their own experience. Have a great weekend!!
Thanks for subscribing! It's great to connect here with someone else who is going down the same path (rabbit hole?). :) I look forward to hearing in the comments how my take on it does and does not match with yours. I know much wisdom is going to come from this for all of us!
Looks like this is going to be an incredible space. Looking forward to the opportunity to join in the adventure and witness the journey with you, Kelly!
I love this idea. My ideal self would be here for all of it - but in reality, I will probably just play catch-up several times throughout your journey. But I really just came here to say that I love the mental image of you having the Narnia lamp post right across the street.
Feb 3, 2023·edited Feb 3, 2023Liked by Kelly Flanagan
Maybe I'm being too analytical. I'm just in "editor" mode, considering the language of this ad and how it might be received by potential readers. I am excited about what is to follow of course.
1. The past tense in the first sentence almost makes is sound like it's gone. Like, "Kelly WAS a father, and WAS a successful psychologist " makes it sound like history that is done, like maybe he is no longer a father/husband and no longer a psychologist. I'm not sure how I might reword it at the moment but perhaps a little different build up saying you "got to" this place, a place of generally accepted and measurable success but found yourself suffering from depression or whatever phrasing works here. If the depression and anxiety are "gone" gone then I can see where this wording came from but unless you want that past to fade into non existence, perhaps there could be use for something that indicates how you carry the past with you, how you are not forgetting it or something. I'm just thinking of the message from Elijah where the past isn't really ever over or done, but part of who we are.
2. I get the need to be brief and to pop with some kind of shock or hook like a "psychologist with depression" and an "apocalyptic morning on a Marine base" but the first paragraph hits you with the first one then explains away the hook with the experiment and the year of discovery commentary. Then the second paragraph which may or may not have people still reading at that point has this larger hook with the whole apocalypse thing seems like it just wasn't soon enough. Again...I don't know how I would go after what I'm saying, but I think there could be some cutting and some reordering of the hooks and shocks that engage interest in readers.
This! I hope everyone sees this comment, JC! I love this kind of immediate feedback, because I don’t have to take a guess at what readers will be thinking a year from now after it’s already released and can’t be reworked. Thank you, I’ll take this into consideration. Welcome aboard, my friend!
I am living vicariously through you in your writing adventures. I've done similar for an uncle of mine who was less successful in getting stuff published and of course being an MA student in a humanities degree I was forced to read stuff adnosium and absorb it for the intent behind the fluffy and excessive words of PhD academics. All that to say this my friend is a pure pleasure.
I've secretly dreamed of writing a sci-fi novel since I was in 8th grade. My best friend and I even started on a few portions of it and some character development. We never took it serious after that year, but I've never forgotten the idea.
I was going to say exactly the same as JC in his first point. The past tense in the first sentence is weird. You are who you are now because of who you were/you played to be then. It sounds like you are not married or have kids anymore which is not it - if I may say so - Your family is so much present in your life. And as JC says it, the past is part of who we are.
For the rest, I think I am gonna chew a bit on it. It does wake up my interest though. looking for the new pages !
Wow. This is SO familiar to me! I've worked through a lot in my life, and at 74 I hope I still have lots to do. But I might not. I look forward to this journey. THANK YOU KELLY.
I am interested to see how - what I’m assuming will be - a personal awareness of IFS, clarifies the intentions and protections of the human heart. When I went to school to become a therapist, I thought I would learn how to help people. I never imagined the depth of character work and soul-searching that would be required to live authentically. Thank you for openly processing your own internal work. I’m looking forward to seeing how your personal application and introspection impacts my own journey, and also helps me love others well, empowering them in the present moment. I appreciate your transparency.
Lindsey, it is so good to have you here. They don't tell you, do they, when you apply for grad school, "You can only take people as far as you've gone, so you will have to constantly grow in order to consistently help people." So glad you've discovered that and discover us.
Interesting observation about IFS. I've deliberately avoided ever reading about it because I don't want to feel limited by it, but I think once this book is done, I'm finally going to dive in! :)
Thank you, Michele! It sounds like this book is going to be right up your alley right now. So glad you’re here!
Hi, Kelly. I'm excited to read more from you. Going down the false self/true self path myself at the moment and love learning from others about their own experience. Have a great weekend!!
Thanks for subscribing! It's great to connect here with someone else who is going down the same path (rabbit hole?). :) I look forward to hearing in the comments how my take on it does and does not match with yours. I know much wisdom is going to come from this for all of us!
Looks like this is going to be an incredible space. Looking forward to the opportunity to join in the adventure and witness the journey with you, Kelly!
So glad you're here already! :)
Eager for the Journey!
Welcome aboard, Amanda!
Love this and can’t wait to be part of another journey you’re leading the Loveable community thru!!
This one’s going to be particularly fun, I think, Heather!
I love this idea. My ideal self would be here for all of it - but in reality, I will probably just play catch-up several times throughout your journey. But I really just came here to say that I love the mental image of you having the Narnia lamp post right across the street.
Awww, thank you, both for dropping in every once in a while and for letting me know you like that image as much as I do!
Maybe I'm being too analytical. I'm just in "editor" mode, considering the language of this ad and how it might be received by potential readers. I am excited about what is to follow of course.
1. The past tense in the first sentence almost makes is sound like it's gone. Like, "Kelly WAS a father, and WAS a successful psychologist " makes it sound like history that is done, like maybe he is no longer a father/husband and no longer a psychologist. I'm not sure how I might reword it at the moment but perhaps a little different build up saying you "got to" this place, a place of generally accepted and measurable success but found yourself suffering from depression or whatever phrasing works here. If the depression and anxiety are "gone" gone then I can see where this wording came from but unless you want that past to fade into non existence, perhaps there could be use for something that indicates how you carry the past with you, how you are not forgetting it or something. I'm just thinking of the message from Elijah where the past isn't really ever over or done, but part of who we are.
2. I get the need to be brief and to pop with some kind of shock or hook like a "psychologist with depression" and an "apocalyptic morning on a Marine base" but the first paragraph hits you with the first one then explains away the hook with the experiment and the year of discovery commentary. Then the second paragraph which may or may not have people still reading at that point has this larger hook with the whole apocalypse thing seems like it just wasn't soon enough. Again...I don't know how I would go after what I'm saying, but I think there could be some cutting and some reordering of the hooks and shocks that engage interest in readers.
This! I hope everyone sees this comment, JC! I love this kind of immediate feedback, because I don’t have to take a guess at what readers will be thinking a year from now after it’s already released and can’t be reworked. Thank you, I’ll take this into consideration. Welcome aboard, my friend!
I am living vicariously through you in your writing adventures. I've done similar for an uncle of mine who was less successful in getting stuff published and of course being an MA student in a humanities degree I was forced to read stuff adnosium and absorb it for the intent behind the fluffy and excessive words of PhD academics. All that to say this my friend is a pure pleasure.
I've secretly dreamed of writing a sci-fi novel since I was in 8th grade. My best friend and I even started on a few portions of it and some character development. We never took it serious after that year, but I've never forgotten the idea.
I feel very fortunate to get to benefit from your literary passions!
Take a look at the edited first paragraph of the back cover. Thanks again for your feedback!
I was going to say exactly the same as JC in his first point. The past tense in the first sentence is weird. You are who you are now because of who you were/you played to be then. It sounds like you are not married or have kids anymore which is not it - if I may say so - Your family is so much present in your life. And as JC says it, the past is part of who we are.
For the rest, I think I am gonna chew a bit on it. It does wake up my interest though. looking for the new pages !
Super helpful! That was a total blind spot for me but I can see exactly what you are both saying. Thank you, Tiphaine!
Wow. This is SO familiar to me! I've worked through a lot in my life, and at 74 I hope I still have lots to do. But I might not. I look forward to this journey. THANK YOU KELLY.
I'm so glad to have you and your wisdom with us on the journey, Nancy. Here's to many more years of journeying and growing!
I am interested to see how - what I’m assuming will be - a personal awareness of IFS, clarifies the intentions and protections of the human heart. When I went to school to become a therapist, I thought I would learn how to help people. I never imagined the depth of character work and soul-searching that would be required to live authentically. Thank you for openly processing your own internal work. I’m looking forward to seeing how your personal application and introspection impacts my own journey, and also helps me love others well, empowering them in the present moment. I appreciate your transparency.
Lindsey, it is so good to have you here. They don't tell you, do they, when you apply for grad school, "You can only take people as far as you've gone, so you will have to constantly grow in order to consistently help people." So glad you've discovered that and discover us.
Interesting observation about IFS. I've deliberately avoided ever reading about it because I don't want to feel limited by it, but I think once this book is done, I'm finally going to dive in! :)