 There you go. Okay. I'm unmuted. Yay. All right. It's a it's 501. Ha ha. And it's watched me work. I'm SLP and we're going to do what we do. Every time we do this, we hang out and work together on our various projects for 20 minutes and then we use the rest of the hour for you to for you to ask me questions about your work and your creative process. It's just that simple and it's so effective. It's amazing. And so if you have questions about your work and your creative process is Zoe or is it so is it. Do you say so or do you say so. Hi, everyone. My name is Zoe Kim. My pronouns are she or her. I'm just covering for Lolly today and please have grace and patience with me as I have not done this before. So it finds, if I'm taking a moment to answer your questions. It's because I'm I'm figuring it out. So thank you. Thank you for your patience and advanced. We're so glad you're here. And so what we're going to do is we're going to start working. And we'll just all work together for 20 minutes. Here we go. It's that time. So should someone have questions you can either raise the raise your hand button or you can wave, and Zoe will unmute you and you can ask it. I usually do it. Anybody has any questions if not, I'll make faces. Oh, Lynn has a question so I think, Hey, Lynn, Lynn's waving or is she just waving he's just waving. If you could unmute her Zoe please. I just unmuted me. I have, I have a quick. First of all, it's lovely to see you. Great to see you. Yes. Where are you. At home. Okay. West Coast was very exciting. You're on the West Coast. No, you look like you're in Brooklyn. I said once you were on the West Coast, you were risen in a friend I remember. Yes, yes, yes. Yes. My friend Winnie. Yes. A great writer. Anyway, I find that I'm all I'm writing about is my family. I mean, I guess that's all I, it's not that it's all I think about, but these snapshots of moments in my life. Come to me like fully blown little mini scenes. I don't know what they are. I mean, I know they're like, they're like memory. They're like memories, but they're scenes and, and I don't know how to put them together, you know. So what's great is that they're coming to you what's great is that it sounds like you're writing them down right. Yes, I am. I have my with my timer. Yeah, see there you can so you don't but you don't have to worry about how to put them together do you I mean we do well you are worrying about how to put them together but I'm here to tell you that you don't have to worry about putting them together. Just write them down. Okay, yes. I mean, right. There's so many ways to organize things. Yes, but if you haven't written them all down you maybe you need to get to the point where you go. I've written enough of them. I feel like I've completed the task of writing them now I'm going to get into the task of organizing them. And how does one do that. Organize them. Yes. Get finish get to the task finish writing them. Yes, yes, yes, I, I understand what you're saying it's, it's, it's endless. It's like seeing a movie over. It might be endless and then then you won't have to worry about organizing them because you'll always be writing them. Okay. It's like it, what sounds like it sounds like you're having a such a huge amount of joy and ease in writing these is that does that correct. Yes, sometimes, you know, as sometimes pain but mostly joy, because they just, you know, and, you know, I find out I'm so Jewish. That sounds silly but I'm, I'm so surprised that I'm so Jewish. You know, this is this anyway anyway I'm taking too much time. So your fear is sounds like you're, I mean, I'm guessing that you are Jewish it wouldn't be like me finding out. I'm just sort of guessing that. Right. Okay, so, so you're discovering things that you're sort of just getting deep into your own self. I guess, yes, yes, yes, yes. Right, so here's a question that so what so it's a relatively enjoyable process that you're having was writing right now right. So complicated by introducing an aspect of the process is not even part of the process. Okay, I'm going to get very black on you, girl keep it simple. Why you gotta be doing that right. Just chill. It is simple. You don't have to make it something that it's not just right you're having fun what could be better. Oh my goodness. Enjoy it. Thank you. You're welcome. And I just bet you you're going to reach a point where you go ha. I'm good with the okay I'm good. I have a nice bundle of of these short, you know, snapshots or whatever you call them. And then we can talk about how you're going to order them, organize them. Thank you. I've missed you and I love you. Likewise likewise. Right back at you. It's just to fill the space don't get another question it's like you're you're writing. We talk about it last week you're writing your play or your novel or your song would and you're looking over your shoulder kind of trying to gauge what the audience might be thinking, you know, that's a, it's an important thing to think about at some point but not while you're doing the thing. So the same thing so sometimes we get consternated because we combine process, we combine aspects of writing that actually don't need to be combined, they can be separated and that would make them us happier and process more effective. Looks like Larry's got a question. Awesome. How are you. Good to see you. It's really good to see you too it's been a long time I've been, you know, my cycle is that I teach during the year and get consumed and traveled for a bit and then I have a little bit of summer. And then I come back to my, as you may, you may or may not remember my Sisyphean Sisyphean Sisypheas play. So, I just really I didn't really have a question I just kind of wanted to share something you said to me that really helped and spread the spread the love. Because you gave me a mantra or like an affirmation, and you said to me the last time I checked in with you. Because you know I've been working on this for a long time, and you just gave me this very unlocking kind of affirmation you said, I am finding ways to finish beloved projects. And I've just been saying I have been finding ways to finish beloved projects. And I just wanted you to know that I've had a lot of unlocking of barriers that I've been struggling with and have now an outline. You also once gave me the advice of stop writing and edit because I have way too much material. And so I have like an outline, and all the material I think to plug into that outline exists. And I'm just at this like precipice of, like that feeling of oh I think I know what to do. So, I'm just looking forward to the time ahead because I feel a sense of direction and clarity, and a lot of it came from, you know, bringing my problems here and I just wanted to thank you. It's out of you Larry. I love the gesture. Can we can we think of another monster like I know what to do. And I'm enjoying my writing. I know what to do. I know I know what to do and I'm enjoying my process. Yeah, I'd like your gesture to. Yeah, yeah. Thank you so much. I just said I just appreciate that and I will definitely use your, your latest mantra. I know what to do, and I'm enjoying my process. Yeah, yeah, just like that you know, and that's again I mean we can always use that you know just when we use those those that positive self talk I know it. The positive self talk it's interesting it's great Larry because your mantra, it's effective because you combine a mantra with action. You actually do you weren't just sitting around or at a cocktail party with a drink in your hand running your mouth you know what I'm saying you actually allowing your words to make themselves manifest. You know, and that's really really great so you combine your your positive self talk or mantras or self hypnosis or whatever you want to call it you combine it with action, and it helps you get there so well done. Good job. Thank you really appreciate it. Oh sorry and the cool thing about that is once you realize that that kind of thing works. You can keep using it, because that's the spirit saying hey, you're on to something Larry. Yeah, I was like, you know. Appreciate you and appreciate this thing that is here. Thank you. Likewise, so do I love you just. Lexi lens happy. Also started thinking. Last week, were you asking about like this kind of play or this kind of play was that I'm just, you don't have to answer you can just like nod your head or you I mean I'm not putting you on the spot. But I just wanted to share something with the group that. What happens in one's, you know, career if you want to call that or one's practice is that we can we need to do the things that we want to do, because say you really really don't want to write, you know, the horror films, right. You want to write rom coms, but you write one horror film because it's going to, you know, do you think that's what you should do it doesn't even pay much you're just going to do it anyway. You start, someone's going to call you up to write another one. You know, you're going to be writing horror films and wishing that you had been writing rom coms to me it's interesting if we really got a, we got to put out into the world as much as we can. The thing the kind of thing that we want to do. I was hanging out with a former student a minute ago earlier today and she said, I want to direct music videos. I'm going to wait for someone to come to me with a bed and I said, well, do you know anyone who plays an instrument she said, well, yeah, I said, well, do they sing a song, she said, well, yeah. But they haven't written their own it's a Harry style song and I said, well, why don't you make a music video of your friend singing a Harry style song. You're starting to do the thing that you want to do. Right. And then you, you get called in a way to do more of it. So it's it's always best to err on the side of the things that you would like to do, rather than the things that you don't want to be doing. You know, but it's what I'm discovering. Anyway. So thank you for that ace because I was thinking to you when I was talking to her going to just do the thing you want to do, you know, do the thing you want to do. So it's helpful. I'll make faces. Hello. I'm assuming my exercises. Yeah. Yeah. Am I unmuted. Yes, you are Louise. Yes, I can hear you. Okay. So, again, I'm making a comment. And I, let me just preface this by saying, I found out about. Well, I remember vaguely when you reading about your starting and watch me work some time ago. Okay, so I put that aside and then when the pandemic hit a friend of mine told me she said, check out watch me work. So I started checking out watch me work in 2020 off and on. And so what I found, though, is that my powers of observation. And I think I brought this up before have like grown stronger, because I just kind of tune in to conversations and tune in to people. I live uptown and some of what I see. I mean, there are wonderful things about it, but there's some things that I see that are just like not pretty at all. You know, there's kind of no way to spend it. This neighborhood guy, you know, I don't I don't have to tell the group about it's actually going on all over the country, you know, these people who should be institutionalized whatever but anyway focusing on this one guy who's in the neighborhood, who bags, you know, he has raggedy clothes. And one day I was going to the store and he was just like out there on the street sleeping. Half his clothes hanging off. And I eat. But then what happened was, I was going in one direction so I was come back in the other direction. It was like, he woke up. And it was like, all right, time to get up, time to get up, you know, gotta gotta go begging. That's that's what I do. That's what I do. Gotta get up. And he got up and next thing I know he was gone around the corner. So that just like really kind of got to me in the sense that, you know, because we can always judge where a person's at. What they're feeling what their motivations are, but maybe just observing some someone not that they're not in pain or suffering or whatever, but from their point of view. And I can surmise that just in terms of however you create of just having that kind of openness. And I just credit listening to all the people listening to your pearls of wisdom that you drop. And it's been helpful personally. You know, just, you know, just go about my business in the world. And with my work. I'm so pleased to hear that. What a beautiful story about the one of the people who lives in your neighborhood. Yeah, you know, this is what I do. This is who I am. You know, so I mean that is a story within itself, but it just, it just, it just was something to behold. And how much it sounds like how much you learn or how much we all can. I mean, you help us remember how much we all can learn by something I was reading a couple weeks ago. And what we thought in my head were either positive, optimistic, compassionate or kind. Or or some variation of that, you know, so that yeah so you can look at the fellow on the street and see him with compassion. Instead of something else. You can just like, like I say, you can just put some love on it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it was just really, really interesting. But then you see I write it down, you know, because you forget the things that influence you that happen to you. You know, so anyway, you write it down. And what what what the compassion that you can show the stranger, right, because you were showing him compassion by withholding like, you know, we can all and he, you know, talk about. You know, I can put my hands on my hips and work my neck and say something about somebody right, but by withholding that and giving that person instead some love or some compassion. You're also becoming more compassionate to yourself. You're also teaching yourself to become more compassionate to yourself and the more compassionate you are to yourself, the better the easier it is to get a first draft done. Because you're not so judgey, you know, or we are not so judgey, you know what I mean, the easier it is to get that second draft done. Make time in the day for to get the work done. All those things if you're kind to some stranger, right. The easier for you to be kind to yourself and the kind yard yourself and the easier it is to get your work done. So, so just selfish like that. Okay, yes. No, just because you know kindness and compassion is just a way of like helping yourself. You know, you know, That's really cool. That's great. Thank you for that. That's so great. Thank you, Louise. Wow. So smart today. I just wanted to, I was so moved by Louise's experience and I, it reminded me why I love New York, you know, and reminded me of one of these moments in my life. When I was walking home one night it was really cold it was winter was just, you know, and you just wanted to get home. And I saw this homeless woman. It was so cold that when I looked at her face. She said, there was like a little icicle on her lashes. That's how cold it was one of those winters. And I said, How are you doing. What do you need. And she said, I need food. She was living in a shelter with her kids. And I said, Well, let's go. And she looked at me like I was crazy, you know, and I said, Come on, come on, come on. And it was a moment in my life that I'll never forget because he was this lovely woman. And we went to a, you know, a supermarket I said just get what you need get what you need for the kids. And we walked through and, and, and she was very shy in the beginning she she had a, you know, we had a card and she was very shy she was just getting canned foods and stuff like that for the kids and, and as she relaxed I said no really. You know, just whatever, you know, it's really cool. I had a good job today, you know, just want to share it with you. And all of a sudden this tripled cold, you know, lovely woman started to relax, and I saw her. And she was full of life. This, this homeless woman who we often pass on the street. She was full of life and she started getting things that maybe would be more than she needed which was great. And then she reached for a carton of cigarettes and she looked at me like I was going to judge her as a man, you know, go for it, go for it. It's bad for you but go for it. And we left there with bags and I took her to the shelter and in. She said, I just, I'm going to get a job now. That's part of the story but would you explain to me, and what I experienced in New York, this hard harsh world that we live in is that people, you know, people. When you get to see another human being like you saw that guy. They are another human being living their, their life, their story in their way. And it was a profound revelation to me to the she let me see her. She let me see her and she was so much more than that homeless woman on the street. And that's what I love about this city. You know, as a man. So thank you for sharing that. Because it reminded me of somebody I met and I bet you she got a job. You know what I mean. I think that's a really beautiful story. I appreciate you sharing that. Yeah, I agree someone just put in the text you should write that one down. Someone just had a comment and I agree. And just to build off with the. What if. So, you know, everyone is our teacher. I hear you tell that story and I asked myself, can you do what you did for her, can you do that for yourself. You really go to the gut, don't you. Yeah. That's that black. No. That's what we do. No, but no, but honestly, you know, you know, I mean, we take that we take that story and it's a beautiful story and it's a beautiful interaction you had. And because we're in watch we work right now I just have to ask yeah, can you can you do that to yourself can you take yourself to the store. And let Lynn get anything she wants the cake, the cigarettes, whatever you know the wine or whatever I know what kind of store it is you know, the fancy. It's just, you know, it's just, you know, the amp at that time. I'm just asking, could you take Lynn to the store, whatever store she wants, and let her fill her basket with whatever she wants. Do that. Right. That's, that's harder for me. I'm not sure I've learned how to do that yet. Oh, this is we're going to jump off a Larry's idea. I'm learning how to take myself to the store. And when I take myself to the store. I'm learning to give myself anything I want. But there isn't much that I want. I mean, you want to learn how to work. Come on girl, please. I'm learning just anyway, who cares, who cares if there's nothing you want. I'm learning to take myself to the store. And when I take myself to my favorite store I'm learning to give myself anything I want. Take myself to the store. And I'm learning to give myself. I'm learning to give myself anything I want. Yeah. Yeah, that's lovely. That's fun. Hey Lou, how are you. Hey Zoe, could you unmute little place. So he's doing great by the way let's give a hand to Zoe. He's going to unmute. There you go. Thank you. Thank you. Hi. So this is, yeah, I'm feeling today I'm feeling today. Thank you Larry. So I got some incredible news about my work. I want to share it and it's also, I think it's laddering up to all of this, because the incredible news I got about my work. Made me believe in my work more than ever, and that feels really good, but also I'm pissed about it because why can't I just love my own work why is this, why is the news thing. I think that's going to be my question a little is like the balance between the approval and taking myself. I'm picking up so much today so thank you. But I found I can't share it because I asked not to share it but I want a fellowship for a thing that'll get announced and they told me that there were 4,300 people who applied and 15 received it. And I was like, Oh, this fucking thing, you know, just like sent it in January. And then they emailed me and I opened it and I screamed and my husband thought I was. Oh, yeah, really wrong. And I'll tell them about it when I can because they were like do not all caps. Yeah, good, good, good. Yeah, yeah. That's the part that it happened and then I'm having this experience and what I also want to say is what I sent them, I loved my first experience with getting recognition on this level for something that I was so like. And so now I'm here and I've worked to do. I've worked since I got this news like a week and a half ago, the frequency of it. I'm more in this place of okay yeah let's just keep going let's just keep going, and then I'm just finding myself like disappointed a little like why. Why does it take some anonymous group of people I may never meet, giving me this approval to feel this good. That's your class. Maybe I've just disowned myself from the group it sounds like a humble brag but it's true this is how I think you know I'm just like, why, why do I care so much I don't know do you know it's like. Yeah, yeah, yeah, like keep it simple. The universe just sent you a letter saying, Lou, good job and you're like, I don't know why I need the universe sending me a letter saying Lou good job to feel good about my work. Hey, yeah, I got a Tony award. I carried it around all fucking night and people are like, SOP. I didn't know you care. I cared. I was up on that stage in a pink dress. Hey, it's okay. I was happy. I appreciate getting validation from my peers. I know the names of all the people who voted for whatever I don't care. Right. I all the couple things I care about. I asked myself. You can ask yourself this. Am I deserving Lou are you deserving. If the answer is yes. I collect $200. You know, if you're not deserving, then we can you could sit there and say shit. I pulled a fast one. They didn't notice but I feel like shit, because there is work that sometimes is lauded that is kind of me. Right. But you ask yourself, am I deserving. If you can say yes I am deserving I put the work in. It's excellent work. I love it. I'm proud of myself I really worked hard for this. Yes, I am deserving. Yes, get up on the podium. Take a bow. You know what I mean. I mean, just like Jesse Owens in the Olympics he said they're gone. Gosh, I don't know. Babe Ruth anybody Venus Serena, whoever you like. LeBron, whatever. Right. Right. You did the work. I've done the work. I'm doing the work. And along the way there are some prizes. You do that you're doing the work and along the way you won a prize. Yeah. What's not to like. That's not a black thing I don't think that's from another culture. What's not to like right. What's not to like. Yeah, why are we why are we what right. Right. No, you're right. You're right. You're right. It's just the frequency and now I'm like why you know yeah whatever mommy daddy stuff I'll take you to my therapist but it's like, I don't know it made a difference you know it's made a difference this week. The difference. I'm doing the I'm doing the work and people are noticing and it feels good. Yeah, I am deserving. And again, if when one is not deserving and one way, and I tell people, I have the great fortune in my career. I have always won an award that I deserved. I'm always, I'm never running up there grabbing something and knowing like oh shit. I didn't work. I just kind of pulled it you know, no, no, no, no, no, no, because I always do the work. So I'm always going to be up there because I did the work and then some and so much because why do I do the work because I love the work. It's fun. Yeah, it's enjoyable and the university is just saying good job blue. Thank you. Yeah, I think I think the other big lesson like I already said a couple times it's just I sent them what I loved. I think that's what's blowing my mind the most just further to ACES question and your call like just the like, I just wanted to offer that to because I really didn't think about the panel I didn't think about who was going to read it. I sent them what I loved. And that just feels like that's the biggest win maybe right now for me. So great and that's the universe telling you yeah, keep sending them what you love. Yeah. Don't send them what you think they want to hear you know I mean, keep sending them what you love. That's what you need to keep sending them. Yeah, and I also got like, I should say this, like four rejections from journals that week that same week, like just like no thank you no thank you and I was just like okay, okay, you know. So just to say like, you can't know maybe, I don't know you just can't know. So you just keep going, you do the work right or you can know. You send them what you love. Yeah, know what you love. Just keep sending them what you love. That's all you that's, that's, you know, that'll take care of most answer most questions. Yeah, no, I'm choked up. Thanks, I'll be thanks every minute. Oh, so proud of you. Me too. Wait for the official announcement. Yeah. I'm able to with everybody. Thank you so much. Yeah, it's good with the emoji. She's good. She's got a like a, yeah, we're in a copia of confetti going. I just want to acknowledge the time and it's five. 559 we can like, inhale, exhale, and I'll see you all next week. Is that right so. She did such a fantastic job. She's also an amazing playwright. I hear so next time. No, no, no lies lies somebody's lying on you. Well, you're an amazing human. Thank you. And if you have questions of your own Zoe and you want to join in even next time if you help host, you're welcome to ask questions. Okay. Okay, we love you guys. We'll see you next week. Thanks. Bye.