Yvette Keller

Category: Article

  • The Unasked Question: Emily Randolph-Epstein Asks Why

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    Yvette
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    It seems the safest question to ask when you meet anyone new: “So, what do you do for a living?” Did cocktail parties of the 50’s give us this dreaded question? Because I wish it would die already, or become as much tongue and cheek as “How about those Dodgers?” I do so many things.…

  • Finnemore Fridays: The Human Condition

    Finnemore Fridays: The Human Condition

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    Yvette
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    Identifying habits is hard but rewarding personal work. For example, I know I can be irritatingly stubborn about things I “know” are “right.” I recognize this is a bad habit, but it makes me feel safe. At a young age, I felt that no one listened to me or believed me when I had an…

  • Finnemore Fridays: When in Rome

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    Yvette
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    Impostor syndrome has me down today. Worry that no one will ever like anything I write, because I’m not a real writer (or not a real good one), and everything has been done, and I should bin it all and get a ‘real job.’ As the sketch points out, Rome wasn’t built in a day.…

  • The W-X Factor Part 1: Writers and Peers

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    Yvette
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    TL;DR (aka executive) Summary: Episode 2.29 of Write Right Podcast spurred my thoughts about how the Writing Excuses Cast and Staff got it right and created a learning community on the WXR Baltic Cruise. From modeling, to clear agreements, and creating safe space, they facilitated strangers becoming a team, and ultimately, peers. ∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼∼ In my goals list…

  • Finnemore Fridays: Procrastination, Anyone?

    Finnemore Fridays: Procrastination, Anyone?

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    Yvette
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    Ahhh, procrastination is such a useful tool for getting everything done except what you should be doing. Here’s a funny little song to enjoy as you head into a weekend full of chores that need doing (so you’ll probably binge-watch something great).    

  • Melanie Marttila: The Writing Excuses Retreat, part 3

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    Yvette
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    Melanie lapped me again on the track of travel blogging, so I’ll share her version of Part 3 to keep your appetites whetted. Some things were different for me: I didn’t wake up at stupid o’clock because I spent two days in Vienna, adjusting to the time zone shift. I thought the gorgeous islands on…

  • Wien…er, schnitzel

    Wien…er, schnitzel

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    Yvette
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    Overcoming jet lag by adding a quick two-day visit to Vienna probably wasn’t the best plan. It just made me sad to leave. The visit was relaxing, welcoming, and left me desperately wishing I had more time to spend. Mark and I waved goodbye to our driver in CA on a Tuesday afternoon. We arrived…

  • The Picture Game: A Sample Entry

    The Picture Game: A Sample Entry

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    Yvette
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    I thought I would start giving you more samples of my writing. To be honest, I wrote for 10 and edited/added for 20 minutes. Here’s an example of what I write when I’m playing the picture game. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Picture Game is a daily writing exercise for anyone who wants to participate. The rules are easy. 1…

  • Trust the Process. Follow the Process. Do NOT skip any step in the process.

    Trust the Process. Follow the Process. Do NOT skip any step in the process.

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    Yvette
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    In my work-life, I continue to learn the difference between an amateur voice actor and a professional one. Amateurs may “know” what to do, but haven’t repeated the process enough times (or recently enough) to do a task without a checklist, cheat sheet, or laborious pre-work. Professionals have gone through the process so frequently and fastidiously that…

  • What’s Casper The Friendly Ghost Got To Do With This?

    What’s Casper The Friendly Ghost Got To Do With This?

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    Yvette
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    A day after my post about ending friendships and not wanting to be “ghosted,” the brilliant Emily wrote a piece offering an opposing viewpoint. I’m reposting it below and coining a new term: Diablog. (might not be new. didn’t bother checking) I strive to be fair and have open discussions about important things. Like childhood cartoons.…