Dear fellow writer,
Welcome to Swordswings, my monthly podcast series for writers in motion. These recordings are intended for you to listen to when you’re moving around — which is a great way to get your writing moving as well.
Today, you’ll learn how playful penguins can help you become a more productive writer — yes, really! As for grumpy poodles . . . . well, you’ll have to come along on my walk to find out their role in the story. (Hint: It has to do with a scene in Goethe’s Faust).
These podcasts are my thank-you gift to my wonderful paid subscribers. Members of my WriteSPACE community can download the audio files and transcripts of all Swordswings episodes from the Audio section in the WriteSPACE Library.
Here are some of the books that I cite or allude to in this week’s podcast:
Barbara Fredrickson, Positivity: Discover the Upward Spiral That Will Change Your Life. New York: Crown Archetype, 2009. (See page 231 for the penguin study).
Ingrid Fetell Lee, Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness. New York: Little, Brown Spark, 2018.
Susan Magsaman and Ivy Ross, Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us. Canongate Books, 2023.
Kelly McGonigal, The Joy of Movement: How Exercise Helps Us Find Happiness. Avery, 2021.
Helen Sword, Writing with Pleasure. Princeton: Princeton UP, 2023.
You might also enjoy:
Happy Penguins (blog post - with a quote about penguins by John Ruskin)
Happy Penguin (YouTube video - with danceable music by Caitlin Smith)
Thank you for supporting Helen’s Word. If you’re a paid Substack subscriber but not a WriteSPACE member, you can use this special discount code to unlock premium access to hundreds of additional writing resources including live workshops, exclusive videos, whizzy diagnostic tools, and colorful weekly prompts. I’d love to see you there!
Kia pai tō koutou rā (have a great day) – and keep on writing!
Helen
Books on writing by Helen Sword
Writing with Pleasure
Princeton University Press, 2023
Air & Light & Time & Space: How Successful Academics Write
Harvard University Press, 2017
Stylish Academic Writing
Harvard University Press, 2012
The Writer’s Diet: A Guide to Fit Prose
University of Chicago Press, 2016
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