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Rowan Mangan

Writer. Mom. Wild Inventurer.

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The Two Things Your Creativity Needs From You

July 26, 2022 Leave a Comment

Last week I had a list-related freakout. I wailed and moaned and lamented. It was something to see, friends. “It’s too muuuuuuch,” I wailed. “I caaaaaan’t,” I moaned. Martha, being a sympathetic sort, said, “You must have a really long list.” “But that’s the thing,” I lamented. It’s not the length of the list. It’s the breadth of it.” […]

Filed Under: Parenting inventures

What to do with your newborn creative idea

July 19, 2022 Leave a Comment

Dear friends, It was born a couple of weeks ago: the idea for a new novel. I was sitting at my kitchen table, chatting with a couple of friends when I felt it appear. It wasn’t a dramatic moment, but it was a very clear one. It rustled. “Ah,” I thought. “It’s arrived.” I knew […]

Filed Under: Parenting inventures

The Joy of Getting to Zero

July 12, 2022 Leave a Comment

Dear ones, What’s the best term for friends who have become family? Friemilies? Famends? Anyway, Julie is one of my those. We haven’t seen each other since before the pandemic, and this year she flew across the country with her eight-year-old son to be with us for her birthday. That night, we curled up on the […]

Filed Under: Work inventures

Toads with Teeth: on talking to our fears

July 5, 2022 Leave a Comment

Dear ones, I’ve been thinking about change these past few days. Specifically, I’ve been thinking about its big white scary teeth. Last week, my toddler made a very amazing discovery: a toad. (Bear with me.) It was on our back patio, where we gather in the late afternoon to commune and watch the forest. Lila responded […]

Filed Under: Parenting inventures

A Radical Heart

June 30, 2022 Leave a Comment

Dear ones, I’ve been living in my heart this week, watching as some mighty structures crumbled and fell all around us. They looked so strong, didn’t they? Strong as the Capitol building. Strong as the Supreme Court. But they were flimsy all along. Living in my heart in the past days has meant taking myself […]

Filed Under: Parenting inventures

Time cram

May 19, 2022 Leave a Comment

Dear friends, A couple of days ago, I was reflecting on the need to build some more exercise into my week. Nothing extreme: just get this old body moving around a bit. We haven’t been City Mice* for a few weeks, and without the constant incidental walking I do in New York, I’ve started getting […]

Filed Under: Parenting inventures

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WE DID A HARD THING! Marty and I got to speak to WE DID A HARD THING!

Marty and I got to speak to the magnificent @abbywambach and @glennondoyle recently about our “deeply satisfying domestic arrangement.”

Even though it was a little scary, we had a blast—so much laughing and love and truth-speaking. Such truly lovely peeps.

Feeling very grateful for all the supportive and encouraging messages we’ve been getting since the episode aired. Y’all are gorgeous. 

I popped the link to the episode in my bio.
Excited to catch up with my cousin @drewk81 tonigh Excited to catch up with my cousin @drewk81 tonight. It’s been over 20 years since this photo was taken, and in that time we’ve really cheered up. #grunge #coffee #family #angst
On this BeWild Files episode of Bewildered, listen On this BeWild Files episode of Bewildered, listener Bryony is trying to explore her/their identity beyond the binaries of gender and sexuality. As Martha reminded me, I’ve got the perfect litmus test for anyone trying to determine whether or not they are lesbian. Google the song “Arrow” by Cheryl Wheeler, give it a listen, and by the end of it, you’ll know! (This is just math, people.) 

@themarthabeck 
@bewilderedpodcast 
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#bewildered #podcastinglifestyle #funnypodcasts #selfhelppodcast #spiritualpodcast #podcastshows #podcastoftheday #podcasterlife #funnypodcast #podcastersofig #podcastingtips #podcastofinstagram #podcastrecommendation #podcastlifestyle #newpodcastepisode #womenwhopodcast #instapodcast #newpodcastalert #podcastseries #podcastepisode #podcastcommunity #podcastmovement #podcastsofinstagram #podcastaddict #podcastinglife #writerofinstagram #podcasthost #newpodcast #podcastersofinstagram
Have you ever found yourself becoming deeply inter Have you ever found yourself becoming deeply interested in things you’ve never thought of before in your life? That could mean that you’re supposed to become something you’ve never thought of before. Whenever we’re on the brink of a major transformation in our lives, the culture will immediately try to push us away from our curiosity and back to “stability.” In this episode of Bewildered, Martha and Rowan remind us that we’re part of nature, and because nature is always changing, we too are always being and becoming. Don’t miss this enlightening and entertaining conversation about following your curiosity down the rabbit hole and allowing yourself the space to become who you’re meant to be.

You can listen to the full episode on our website, link in the bio, or on your favorite podcast app.

@themarthabeck 
@bewilderedpodcast 
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#bewildered #podcastinglifestyle #funnypodcasts #selfhelppodcast #spiritualpodcast #podcastshows #podcastoftheday #podcasterlife #funnypodcast #podcastersofig #podcastingtips #podcastofinstagram #podcastrecommendation #podcastlifestyle #newpodcastepisode #womenwhopodcast #instapodcast #newpodcastalert #podcastseries #podcastepisode #podcastcommunity #podcastmovement #podcastsofinstagram #podcastaddict #podcastinglife #writerofinstagram #podcasthost #newpodcast #podcastersofinstagram
There’s a sort of undefined time when you're bec There’s a sort of undefined time when you're becoming a new version of yourself, but you're not there yet and don't quite know what's happening. As Martha points out, there's no set of concepts or even words in our culture to describe that period that exists between the letting go of the old self and becoming the new self. Our culture doesn’t have a name for it because it doesn’t ever want to acknowledge that we, like nature, are always changing. Rowan calls this undefined time “the space for dreaming,” and in this episode she and Martha explore the beauty and delight to be found there. Be sure to check it out!

You can listen to the full episode on our website, link in the bio, or on your favorite podcast app.

@themarthabeck 
@bewilderedpodcast 
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#bewildered #podcastinglifestyle #funnypodcasts #selfhelppodcast #spiritualpodcast #podcastshows #podcastoftheday #podcasterlife #funnypodcast #podcastersofig #podcastingtips #podcastofinstagram #podcastrecommendation #podcastlifestyle #newpodcastepisode #womenwhopodcast #instapodcast #newpodcastalert #podcastseries #podcastepisode #podcastcommunity #podcastmovement #podcastsofinstagram #podcastaddict #podcastinglife #writerofinstagram #podcasthost #newpodcast #podcastersofinstagram
I’m having a flare-up of chronic illness today, I’m having a flare-up of chronic illness today, so this picture shows me trying to WFB (“work from bed”) on my Wild Inventures newsletter. Hilariously, @themarthabeck captured in this photo the fact that I have by my side a copy of “Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity.” 

Because when you’re stuck in bed, you really need to be reading about intense productivity, right? 

I crack myself up.

A note to my lovely paid subscribers on Substack—today’s Q&A will be coming to you in audio podcast form. This is the scene of the podcast.

(If you’re wondering about this whole Wild Inventures/Substack thing, you can sign up for my free weekly newsletter, or pay a little and get lots of fun extras. The link is in my bio.)

Oh, and no, I didn’t read a lot of the book today.
Do you want to write a memoir? This is my mum, Pa Do you want to write a memoir?

This is my mum, Paula Keogh. She’s a Memoir Coach, and as of RIGHT NOW she finally has a few places open for new clients. 

Her work meets clients where they are, whether it’s the beginning of the process where they need to talk through their project, or further along where they need more detailed advice on the craft of storytelling. 

Paula has a PhD in creative writing. Her memoir, The Green Bell, was critically acclaimed and shortlisted for prestigious literary awards.
She knows what she's talking about.

A previous client said: “[Paula] was my sounding board, she kept me on track and accountable for my work… she’s warm and encouraging and incredibly smart. If you’re like me and want to (finally) write your memoir, she will get you there.”

Another said: “Working with Paula was an absolute gift. I found her at a time when I didn't have the courage to keep going, where I felt absolutely lost. Through her guidance, I was able to develop the characters in my memoir, identify the most important themes in each chapter, and develop my narrator's voice. She also encouraged me to dive deeper, to look at the psychological and spiritual elements of the story. ”

If you’re interested in chatting with Paula to see if you’re a good fit, she offers free introductory calls. 

Go to her website (linked in my bio) to find out more and book a session. Or, if you’re really keen, you can DM me for her email address.
It's Throwback Thursday o'clock!⁠ ⁠ As regular It's Throwback Thursday o'clock!⁠
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As regular readers might remember, I’m revisiting writing my first draft of Goat Street on the wild western coast of Ireland back in 2015. Every night after I finished writing, I published a short post about the day’s happenings. These Throwback Thursday posts are the historical record of that time. 😉⁠
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👇 👇 👇⁠
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April 17, 2015⁠
Day 7⁠
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Today, a new item!⁠
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TALLY⁠
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Today: 2607 words. Total written in Ireland: 17,339 words⁠
Total manuscript: 51,439 words. Target 80,000+ and/or end of book, whichever comes second.⁠
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Update from the cottage: Jandy Malone is missing! But we're trying not to worry, perhaps she'll be back tomorrow to yowl at us from the windowsill once again. ⁠
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Maude is still pregnant, and not too happy about it. ⁠
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No one has eaten any of our lambs, as far as I can tell. ⁠
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Paula is learning everything about 19th century female astronomers and observing flying fish in the wild (not to mention enduring me!). ⁠
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Meanwhile, I'm arse-deep in hypothetical genealogical research, and if if wasn't for my brilliant and generous helper, Catherine O'Connell, I'd be ready to throw this book into the Atlantic.⁠
Martha and Rowan are taking a brief break, but the Martha and Rowan are taking a brief break, but the podcast is still here for you! This week we have another "Best of Bewildered" episode for you to enjoy.

You can listen to the full episode on our website, link in the bio, or on your favorite podcast app.

@themarthabeck 
@bewilderedpodcast 
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#bewildered #podcastinglifestyle #funnypodcasts #selfhelppodcast #spiritualpodcast #podcastshows #podcastoftheday #podcasterlife #funnypodcast #podcastersofig #podcastingtips #podcastofinstagram #podcastrecommendation #podcastlifestyle #newpodcastepisode #womenwhopodcast #instapodcast #newpodcastalert #podcastseries #podcastepisode #podcastcommunity #podcastmovement #podcastsofinstagram #podcastaddict #podcastinglife #writerofinstagram #podcasthost #newpodcast #podcastersofinstagram
RUSTLINGS In the past week, something interesting RUSTLINGS

In the past week, something interesting started happening. I felt it as a kind of rustling within, as if something small and tentative was starting to move around. I couldn’t see it yet, but I could hear it. 

A new story.

This is SUCH delicious news. I’ve been in limbo for a while as my first novel bumps around the desks of editors in the hope of finding a home. It’s hellacious. It’s like watching your heart being slowly, slowly lowered towards a meat grinder. At any moment the pain could begin. But it hasn’t. It’s just… waiting.

And so when this new story started its rustling, I was thrilled. Because it means I get to play again! It also means that I can let go of the other story. And it’s time to let go of it. I need to relax the fists that have been gripping that story way too tight for way too long.

Creativity kills fear. So I’m going back in. I’m going to offer this tender heart back to the gods of story. 

Because what else are we here for?

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The rustling of a new creative project is the topic of my Wild Inventures newsletter next week. If you haven’t subscribed and want to chat about creativity, subscribe via the link in my bio! xx
Loving this huddle! Happy birthday, Brooke! Loving this huddle! Happy birthday, Brooke!
I'm making video! So excited to be expanding wha I'm making video! 

So excited to be expanding what I do over at my Substack newsletter community. In addition to the regular weekly newsletter for all subscribers, I'm now also posting an audio AND video version of each essay for paid subscribers. Inevitably, these involve some chatter and editorializing and a little silliness. Please come join the community if you like Wild Inventures of any kind. Link in my bio. x

#substack #substacknewsletter #substackwriter #newsletters
Throwback Thursday is extra escapist this week. Throwback Thursday is extra escapist this week. 

As regular readers might remember, I’m revisiting the writing of my first draft of Goat Street on the wild western coast of Ireland back in 2015. Every night after I finished writing, I published a short post about the day’s happenings. These Throwback Thursday posts are the historical record of that time. 😉

👇 👇 👇

April 16, 2015
Day 6: Word count 3053

Writing was a slog, but I got in a gorgeous walk this afternoon. It's the furthest I've gone so far, up and over the mountain. (It might be a hill.) 

The standing stone at the top can be seen from our place, looking like a toothpick. I wonder how I can find out what the ancient Ogham script on the stone means... maybe "watch your step". 

The ocean is the colour of the goddamn Caribbean today. WTF?
It's been a time, friends. I've written about it It's been a time, friends. 

I've written about it in an essay that will be sent to all my Wild Inventures subscribers tomorrow. The piece is called "A Radical Heart."

You can sign up for my newsletter by following the link in my bio to the Substack newsletter community.
Words fail me. So I go back to the source. Words fail me. So I go back to the source.
For Throwback Thursday, I’m off down memory lane For Throwback Thursday, I’m off down memory lane for the writing of my first draft of Goat Street seven years ago. I took myself (and my mum!) on an intensive writing retreat and finished the draft in 30 days. (The rewrites took *just* a little longer.)⁠
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Every night after finishing writing, I published a short post about the day’s happenings. These ended up becoming a fun record of the process. ⁠
👇 👇 👇 👇 👇 
Day 4
2794 words.
Thanks for your encouragement to continue this! You may live to regret it.
Today was: 
- baking brown bread (my first loaf!)
- islands of sunlight on the sea
- new four-legged friends
- trying to write about the magic and mayhem of a trad session at an Irish pub

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