Encouragement Archives - Lisa Swander

Hello, I’m Your Friend Who Always Gets Motion Sick

I get motion sick easily. Like, really easily. Beyond the reasonable range of human motion sickness. I know even the most stalwart inner ears get a little woozy on the usuals: windy roads, unventilated schoolContinue reading

Lisa SwanderApril 14, 2023April 13, 2023

Encouragement

The Age I’d Like to Be

An ideal age is tricky. Unless you shoot outside the human lifespan, you’re presumably going to live past the age you pick. And then what?

Lisa SwanderFebruary 17, 2023February 17, 2023

Encouragement

The Job I Want When I Grow Up

Writing is what I wanted to do from a very early age, so I’m already living the epilogue of my own YA book. But I do have a dream or two left.

Lisa SwanderFebruary 3, 2023February 3, 2023

Encouragement

Non-victory Victories

So no, I don’t have an agent or a publisher, but behold! I’ve done a bunch of things I didn’t think I could, and those are still victories.

Lisa SwanderSeptember 2, 2022September 2, 2022

Encouragement

You’re Already Doing Hard Things

“You’re already doing hard things,” my therapist tells me. Over and over. That’s because my unchecked thoughts tend toward catastrophe.

Lisa SwanderAugust 19, 2022August 19, 2022

Encouragement

Making Space for Rage and Empathy

If you’d like to sit next to me, I’m here, in a small space where I can hold my rage and empathy together, and there’s room for everyone.

Lisa SwanderJuly 1, 2022July 1, 2022

Encouragement

Why You Might Be Too Comfortable

I’m a big fan of comfort. Take right now, for instance. I am sitting inContinue reading

Lisa SwanderMarch 18, 2022March 18, 2022

Encouragement

Being a Little Kinder Than is Necessary

This week, I listened to a Hidden Brain episode about the Liking Gap, a well-researchedContinue reading

Lisa SwanderMarch 4, 2022March 4, 2022

Encouragement

Critical Hearts

This week, I met with my editor and I played some Zelda. I don’t mindContinue reading

Lisa SwanderFebruary 18, 2022February 18, 2022

Alleged Humor

Notes on a Quarantine

Like most people living in non-island nations, my children and I contracted COVID recently. ItContinue reading

Lisa SwanderFebruary 4, 2022February 8, 2022