You guys,
Exciting news: I’m going to be the lead alumni mentor for the upcoming Write of Passage cohort that starts at the end of this month!!
Over the weekend we had our alumni mentor kickoff call. I am so pumped to be leading this new group of mentors.
Full disclosure, when David Perell and Will Mannon first proposed the idea, I hesitated.
I have a history of saying yes to things people think I’ll be good at, as opposed to things I actually enjoy doing. Like when my writing group thought I’d be an amazing producer for our short film and I turned into an absolute lunatic trying to organize everything. All I wanted to do was hang out with the actors. Instead I had to drive around LA looking for nicotine-free cigarettes and tanning goggles.
But this is not the same thing.
I loved my responsibilities as a mentor last cohort. And students seemed to get something out of my sessions. It's fun and gratifying to teach things that feel natural to me but don't come as easily to others, like being vulnerable and using personal stories to connect with the reader.
The lead mentor role will also help me grow in other ways. It will push me to speak better in front of a group, think on my feet, facilitate discussions, and collaborate with an awesome team.
I also feel like I’m in a little secret club with David and Will. Like a freshman hitching a ride to practice with the seniors. But don’t tell them I said that. I want them to think I’m cool.
Essay of the Week
I recently gave a video testimonial for Write of Passage.
When I finished the call, I felt like I had only scratched the surface.
So if you’re thinking about joining the next cohort, I wrote about how to get the most out of your Write of Passage experience.
Best Show of 2020
I binge-watched Season 1 of Ted Lasso.
Just so you know, binge watching for a parent with an infant means it took me two months to get through it even though I loved every second of it.
It’s easy for me to take notes on things I read and listen to, but I haven’t mastered taking notes on television and movies. Fortunately, Nate Kadlac and his co-host Reza Saaedi reflected on the show in a recent podcast. They also encouraged listeners to “think a little deeper about the things you’re watching.”
Such a great idea. Maybe I should start a podcast. Or get on Clubhouse.
Anyway, since the theme of today’s newsletter is Write of Passage, I’ll leave you with this:
If POP Writing were a person, it would be Ted Lasso. He’s personal, playful, and observational.
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Until next week,
Charlie
Your mentorship last year was invaluable, and I can’t wait for the sequel. And thanks for the shoutout! That was a fun episode to record.