That Place You Love: Gimme Truth Zine
Round-Up on Adornment; Next-Up Accolades; Welcome Subscribers
All content on TPYL is written by flesh & blood human beings.
The data informing their choice of words was uploaded over years of life experiences. Rest assured, you’re reading real people’s stories here.
That Place You Love’s weekly posts are 3-minute “flash” essays on a theme followed by a prompt to write & share. There’s no pay or pledge wall. No crosstalk or analysis. It’s easy to go back and read, reflect & respond on earlier posts.
According to the stats, That Place You Love is read across 12 US states (up 2) and 7 countries (up 1) with 300+ subscribers. I know a lot of people in a lot of places, but there are many new subscribers who I don’t know… and that’s super exciting!
A sincere welcome to new subscribers!
The goal of this project & how it works…
You are invited to write about truth, lies, and the difference between them, to flex your writing muscles and refine your BS radar. I’m going old school and calling TPYL a Zine (a noncommercial often homemade or online publication usually devoted to specialized and often unconventional subject matter.)
TPYL had a massive turn out for the fourth Episode: Adornment
I wrote about stealing a pair of amethyst studs from a close friend and never wearing them. 40 years later I still can’t explain my actions.
New contributor Melissa wrote about her one remaining indulgence in her personal war on plastic: blue hair dye.
New contributor Carol M wrote about breaking bad at sixty and rewarding her liberation from “good girlness” with a badass literary tattoo.
New contributor Amelia wrote about how growing up bohemian in a 1950’s beauty business family led to a lifelong conflict with ornamentation.
Alex shared his ambivalence of his wedding band as anything more than ornamentation until he felt naked without it.
Carole D wrote about the promise of a rhinestone pin by a teenaged admirer who didn’t have the nerve to follow it up with a kiss.
Zig wrote about how her body is evidence of her experiences with physical markings she would rather cherish than regret.
Intact Animal wrote about his one vanity – the barbershop – and how his trust in his veteran barber extends to a closet full of walnuts, honey and olive oil.
Shirlé shared her trick for adding 30-inches of hair extensions in honor of Lisa Bonet with bonus points for swirling leg hair design!
Autumn admitted that indecision was to blame for never getting a tattoo until the death of her “furever” dog inspired her to commit to the ink.
Susan wrote about her empty pocket obsession with high fashion and the disappointment of ornamentation that doesn’t last through the dance.
Pascale shared how a pair of emerald running shoes are as enchanting as any piece of jewelry... if you’re a runner!
New contributor Wynn Tu shared a post in last week’s Confidence about leaning on her training as an actor to prepare for conflict.
And Shirlé shared an anxiety-fueled rollercoaster tale of opportunity and rejection in her music career in the Confidence episode.
READ & HEART these writers & SHARE your own story in the comments.
Next Up: Accolades
It’s awards season in the music & film industries. On Monday, I’ll write about Accolades through the lens of truth and see what I come up with as a prompt.
How have Accolades played a part in your life? Deserved, denied, cherished, ambivalent, rejected? Remember, John Lennon gave his back to the Queen.
Subscriber Housekeeping
If you would like to continue receiving flash (3 mins) creative nonfiction writing & prompts about truth, lies, and the gray area in between, do nothing.
If you know someone who would enjoy being nudged into writing in a comment-free all-are-welcomed zone, pass this along for them to subscribe.
If your inbox is overburdened and you just can’t take one more newsletter, deactivate or unsubscribe below.
I won’t take it personally. Honest.
More to come on Monday….
Have a great weekend.
Sincerely, for real.
Michelle