Friday Boost: Hope and Joy

Accentuating the positive in trying times

The skies open up and all is well - Author’s photo

Welcome to Friday Boost. I’ve been a real downer lately, I know, and I wouldn’t blame you if you see this in your inbox and just pass it by. But wait! Don’t!

Consider this your Friday R&R. Your end-of-the-week rest and relaxation. The real world can wait while we take a break and just enjoy.

Some of the writers today are new to me, but maybe not to you. I found most of them in the comment section of Substack’s great Thursday Shout-Out Thread, a monthly Office Hours feature where writers can introduce themselves, as well as brag up other Substack writers. I found so many I could have shared, but I wanted to stick with ‘Hope and Joy’ today. So here are my picks.

If you like what you read on our Friday Boosts, let me know here, but be sure to let the writers know, too. This is all about them!

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In “Writing Something Joyful”, Anna Codrea-Rado writes this: “What I realise now is that I wrote that piece because I needed to read it.” I plucked that one sentence out of so many others I could have chosen, but you’ll just have to read it. I’m going back now to read it again…

Writing something joyful

Josh Pillay at ‘Wait! Just Listen’ writes about the value of kindness in times of turmoil. He looked at video livestreams by ordinary citizens in war-torn settings and came away with hope.

The army of kindness

In TypeTown, Neil Barraclough writes about typewriters. That’s it. All about typewriters—and I’m in heaven! You know how I love typewriters (see below). I found it hard to choose just one essay, so when you get over there be sure to look around.

TypeTown #2: This place raises the bar

I found Ami McKay’s ‘Lost and Found’ and I couldn’t be happier! I chose her essay, ‘The Cure for Longing’ right away because, why wouldn’t I? It seemed to fit right in. And the pictures… Sublime. But, what? Typewriters? Seriously? Yes. Seriously.

lost and found

So, because the theme seems to be typewriters, I thought I’d throw in my own essay about the love of my typing life.

Writing on Real Paper With White-Out

¡Hola Papi! is just insane fun, and John Paul Brammer takes us on a wacky ride in ‘Six Sentences I Can’t Forget’. If you think his Abuelo is a hoot, wait till you meet his Abuela. And all the others.

Six Sentences I Can't Forget

See you soon, Everlastings. As always, I’m thrilled that you’re here! But now you really need to get back to your writing. 😘

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