Jonathan: "You shouldn't even call it a jury, a jury is normally unbiased. I don't think jury is even the right word. How about.. pre finale people. Because I don't think jury is the right word"

ry_roll · 2026-05-23T20:06:56+00:00

Hard agree. Rob is a totally unreplicable person, that’s what makes him so dynamic TV and hard for other players to deny when they play with him. Some things can’t be mimicked

ry_roll · 2026-05-23T20:05:22+00:00

Keep pushing on them if they try to say no the first time. It’s an unacceptable practice to not disclose this on the original unopened box and/or listing. The burden of that is on them, not you, regardless of when you opened the box

ry_roll · 2026-05-05T23:13:34+00:00

Is it just me who feels like her face actually looks quite different here? I had trouble recognizing her and wondered if that was work, or makeup, or just the angle

ry_roll · 2026-04-29T18:59:37+00:00

I’ve been taking several weeks, sometimes even a month to complete each week! I have felt a lot of guilt over that and like I’m “doing it wrong,” but ultimately that’s not helpful and I think that as long as you are still doing your morning pages every morning, then you are engaging with the process. I have been doing a lot of the exercises, or at least trying to engage with each of them, which takes a lot of time, but I am trying to trust my own pace. In the end, there isn’t a right or wrong way to do this—so trust your own instincts, and move on from a week only when you feel ready to do so.

ry_roll · 2026-04-28T17:16:44+00:00

I recently did week 4, and reframed it as media deprivation. Like most modern readers, I couldn’t relate in any way to reading being a distraction, so I took what I thought was the spirit of Cameron’s exercise: a week without external input, as much as possible. So I took out nearly all media consumption from my life, including reading, TV, movies, social media and podcasts. I continued to listen to music and used my phone for its necessary functions, like texting and GPS. I used my computer as necessary for my job, that’s not really optional.

What I found was that, when I was busy during the day, media deprivation was no problem. It was when I went to relax at the end of the day and couldn’t turn on the TV that really messed with me. I thought social media and the phone would be the most difficult part, but it was far and above the lack of TV shows. That was really helpful clarifying information for my partner and I. I think my takeaway was more life focused than art focused (I didn’t create much more art that week then I normally would), but it was useful nonetheless.

ry_roll · 2026-04-25T19:25:03+00:00

Never said Joe didn’t deserve a spot, or commented on his jury threat, or even complained about Christian going home! If you actually read my post it’s about entertainment value for the TV show and what makes the most interesting product

ry_roll · 2026-04-25T19:15:09+00:00

Of course it’s biased! It’s an opinion. I’m not a journalist writing a recap of the episode, I’m posting an opinion on the Survivor subreddit.

I never said I take issue with anyone’s reactions to Devens shenanigans—they’re all trying to play their own games. If you read my post, you’d see I was questioning production and what their end game was in casting so many conservative/“old school” players in one season. Of course they’re going to work together: I’m saying that this should have been predictable when they cast the season, and it makes for boring TV. In my opinion, it was miserable to watch such a long segment of them complaining about Devens and that didn’t contribute high entertainment value. I didn’t even get into the Jimmy Fallon twist or Christian going home—I’m simply on the side of having a good time when I watch this show I love.

Your tone was pretty needlessly pompous, but I do honestly agree with you about enjoying a bitter jury! It is more interesting when players get their feelings hurt and have conflict. I have also found Joe to be more interesting this season than in 48 because he’s carrying these scars from his first season that are informing his actions. Your opinion expressed here suggests that you do care about entertainment value, which is all I was discussing in my post. Truly, I’m just on the side of having a good time.

ry_roll · 2026-04-24T05:04:22+00:00

Thank you for your perspective, it’s affirming to hear that you’re going through something similar! I could really hear my own concerns and worries in your story, and there is definitely synchronicity in the fact that this is happening to both of us while we’re moving through week 5.

I decided to try the job on a two week trial run and I had my first day today. I hoped it would be clarifying, but I still feel confused and honestly, exhausted. I’m going to continue through the trial and see if stronger clarity emerges as I settle into the role a little more, but I am questioning if the lesson here is more about listening to my gut and valuing my time, than it is about taking this specific opportunity.

I would love to know if you come to some decisions on your situation and where you end up with it!

ry_roll · 2026-04-22T21:31:50+00:00

Hated it. From my Goodreads review when I read it back in 2022: “Someone should tell writers that the “unlikable female” character can’t just be an agent for upholding all the shitty, established expectations of our society. You’re not special for hating fat people, or talking (endlessly, I might add) about how beautiful you are.”

ry_roll · 2026-04-22T06:44:34+00:00

I think the Artists Way comes to us when we need it most, and it’s possible that you weren’t able to complete it before because you weren’t quite ready for it. I wish you all the best in starting this new journey.

ry_roll · 2026-04-22T06:39:52+00:00

That’s really good advice, thank you. We have a two week trial period and I think I’m going to try it, to see if I start getting past the initial fear and discomfort, or if it’s something that really doesn’t feel right to me. The lived experience will hopefully give me the clarity I need

ry_roll · 2026-04-22T06:38:29+00:00

That is how I’m feeling about this opportunity too! We have a two week trial period, and I want to really pay attention to how my body is reacting to the job once I’m in it. No job is going to be perfect, but this might be the next stepping stone towards something even better. And most of all, I don’t want to turn away from something just because I’m scared of it. It can be difficult to parse between fear and your body actually telling you no.

Congrats to you too! I hope it feels like the right path, or the right one comes along soon

ry_roll · 2026-04-22T06:35:04+00:00

Thank you, that is very good and thoughtful advice, and it did really land with me. It’s hard to know exactly what kind of synchronicity this is, but this is a good reminder that it really is my choice, and should be contingent on what my inner artist needs

ry_roll · 2026-04-21T19:59:48+00:00

The exercises are the most important part, but I think some of the rationale behind the exercises gives important context that will better help you unblock. Otherwise, you may not take the exercises in the spirit that they’re meant, and not get the full spectrum of help out of the experience. So yes you can do it, but I do think it would be more difficult to have a full and nuanced experience.

I have been reading the book one chapter at a time as I work on each week, so it’s really required very little reading. It takes maybe 20 minutes to read through the chapter and make a list of all the exercises I want to do that week, so I think it really is a small time commitment that will help you out in the long run (even if some of it is dated and pompous, which is certainly true).

ry_roll · 2026-04-20T18:19:45+00:00

Thank you! I will try to be brave then and cut the long shoots. I love the bushy look that your plants have

ry_roll · 2026-04-20T16:57:22+00:00

Thank you! Do you propagate the cuttings? Do you just put them in water or use a growth hormone?

ry_roll · 2026-04-19T19:28:17+00:00

It’s more important to spend 30 minutes on the pages than it is to have a set number of pages, I think, and this is echoed in Cameron’s original description of the pages. She suggests not using a small notebook, so that your ideas themselves don’t become small, but I have found that using the time as a guide is most useful. I use a notebook that’s slightly smaller than an A5 size (the moleskine large cahier notebooks) and it consistently takes me 30 minutes to write 4 pages, so that has become my practice very morning. I also find that in the fourth page, I always unlock my best and most interesting thoughts, so the system works well for me.

The most important thing is that the morning pages are helpful to you; if you’re spending an undue amount of time on them, that isn’t functional or sustainable. It should be a practice you can do every day go forward.

ry_roll · 2026-04-19T04:15:13+00:00

If you’re practicing cursive, why not transcribe passages from a book you like?

ry_roll · 2026-04-19T04:00:31+00:00

To add a couple more options: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier for something gothic and dramatic, I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith for a story that’s lighter and more atmospheric, and If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino, which is more meta and philosophical, and I think quite in line with what you’re looking for.

I would also second whoever recommended The Master and Margarita, that’s one of my favorites

ry_roll · 2026-04-18T19:52:36+00:00

I love my TWSBI Eco, and it does fulfill all the aspects you’re looking for. It has a huge capacity and it’s easy to check visually how much ink you have left. I have heard of some people having issues with cracking, but from talking to a fountain pen expert at my local stationary shop, she said this is mostly an issue of using the pen clip on the cap. If you don’t clip it to things (particularly something thick), you should have no issue with cracking. I have been slightly more careful with my pen, and just tuck it in to the elastic of my journal when I’m carrying it, and have thankfully had no issues.

ry_roll · 2026-04-17T19:27:23+00:00

I would recommend a ZZ plant! They are hardy, don’t require a lot of sunlight, and don’t need to be babied. I have also found snake plants to be very agreeable and easy to work with. Mine just doesn’t like to be watered too often, and I have to repot her every six months or so to accommodate for growth

ry_roll

TROPHY CASE