Write Speak Play with Nanci Arvizu

Stories, culture, community, and the occasional well-earned rant, with Nanci Arvizu.

Stories, conversations, and new beginnings—with curiosity and a little attitude. Join Nanci Arvizu for reflections on work, creativity, community, and finding your voice when life changes the plan. This next chapter begins with The Vine Economy: exploring what grows when we share food, ideas, and opportunity. Pull up a chair. Let’s see what grows. nanciwrites.substack.com

  1. 08/01/2022

    The Experiment of Life

    Roof Deck View North July 31, 2022, Nanci Arvizu, personal collection I am practicing patience. Or maybe I am practicing to be a patient? Maybe I am already a patient -being studied by some omnipresent energy who wants to know how far a human soul can be tested. I listened to my friend and Astrosonic guide, Jennifer Gehl share affirmations as Leo glides into New Moon Activation, and I feel like what I’m feeling is confirmed - it’s okay, this stuff that is happening. This stuff needs to happen and I can not allow what is happening to cloud my vision I must allow the path to unfold and trust everything is going to be okay if I pay attention to the signs, breath, and believe. The hardest part is believing. Believing the changes I want/need so badly to happen, will. And they will happen the way I want - the way I need them to - quietly, calmly, and as if it wasn’t my idea. I think Jennifer says this perfectly in this month’s High Vibe Astrology meditation, “… and the highest good always prevails …” It’s happened again. Something I have poured my heart and soul into - instead of working on my own stuff - is making me feel like I’ve been doing what I’m best at - spinning my wheels. I am really good at avoiding the things I need to do so I can do the things I dream of doing. This is a most frustrating personality flaw. But, this life thing has a way of grabbing me by the wrist and dragging me, sometimes kicking and screaming in a fake temper tantrum, where I need to go. (That’s some fine weaving into my story of BJA/Greenday ❤️ right there.) And right now life is dragging, pushing, and finally, showing me small glimpses of what if… What if I - Do the Scary Stuff?Allow Life to Show Me The Way?WAIT?Breathe? Leap? I’ve been here before. I remember the moment clearly. February 2019. My friend Jeri had been gone for a few weeks, and I was still reeling - from finding her, gone/deceased, alone but for her beloved and loved dogs, the aftermath of clearing out her home and then not speaking at her funeral had pushed the lava of my anger to the top of the volcano, and I was about to blow. I had gone out to Rancho Milagro to talk with Vanessa Kohnen about it, I feel this need to leap. At that moment I also remember thinking that Vanessa is an angel. In just a few words, and a really great hug, she calmed the volcano. It may not have been all the way, but it was enough to be what I needed. ❤️🙏Vanessa. I wanted to stir the pot. I wanted to encourage, poke, prod, and drag women and their stories out of the dark. I had become physically sick from the silence - the forced silence of women and our stories. And specifically, me and mine. I wrote a few books during this time. They were books of the moment, things I needed to get out of me in a way that wasn’t screaming my pain from rooftops. Those stories manifested in essays, poetry, and, my favorite; twisted fiction. This brings me to the Broadway Hit, Wicked. I was lucky enough to see the play with Kristin Chenowith and Idina Menzel just as it was taking off in Los Angeles. A woman from the neighborhood had tickets and I volunteered to drive. The seats were 3rd row from the stage, just off to the right a little. It was such an amazing experience, and an incredible story, I took my daughter to see it a couple of days later. Two days ago while cleaning out a bookcase filled with DVDs and CDs - don’t laugh! I’ve kept them and TWO DVD/CD players for decades! - I came across the soundtrack to Wicked. I didn’t keep the CD, it went into the it’s-out-of-here-bucket. Instead, I downloaded the album to my phone and played Defying Gravity at maximum volume, singing like I’m a broadway star all the way to the donation drop-off. Yes - the signs are saying - leap. I spent a day looking up calls for submission deadlines. I discovered I missed the Coverplay Screen Play Submissions Contest. Again. I am determined to submit my screenplay next year. I’m also committing to one submission a month on top of working on my latest work in progress, Red Flags or Flowers, a collection of poetry, personal essays, and fictional stories, sharing my story of transgenerational dysfunction, narcissistic abuse, and sexual trauma and using the power of writing to heal. Yeah, it’s a lot. This means establishing a writing habit, even in the chaotic midst of moving and dreaming of, - no, planning for - a very different life. One that includes a job, a steady paycheck, and if I’m lucky, a little socialization and good benefits. Will I keep writing during this time? Yes. I will continue to write because I know how healing writing can be, and I still need a lot of healing. I spent the month of April writing one Haiku a day. Here is the one I wrote on April 30th, and here is a link to the series. Rhythm of the wordsAre forever in my mindWriting heals the broken soul Nanci Writes, Write Speak Play, and Red Flags or Flowers are reader-supported publications. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. I’ve been writing on Medium for a long time, sharing essays, personal stories, poetry, and, my favorite - fiction. Medium is a platform where a global community of readers and writers cross paths to share ideas, experiences, and dreams. Support my work and read everything else Medium offers by subscribing below. Thank you! What about you? What is the Universe trying to tell you lately? Are you listening? How’s it working out? Are you ready to leap? Roof Deck Veiw North July 31, 2022, Nanci Arvizu, personal collection Get full access to Nanci Writes at nanciwrites.substack.com/subscribe

  2. 07/23/2022

    Podcasting on Substack

    If you’ve known me for long, you probably know I’ve dabbled in podcasting. It started in 2009 with Page Readers interviewing self-published “Indie” authors who, at the time, were considered renegades bucking the system of gatekeepers keeping the small-time writer from their shot at ‘real’ publishing. The show lasted a couple of years until I suffered from the burnout of running a hobby like a business that paid like a hobby. I shut down the show to focus on the book development and editing word that did pay almost like a real job. By the end of 2018, I was starting thinking of starting a new podcast with a slightly different focus. I would still talk about stories, but this time the stories would be from women who are sharing something they’ve had to learn to heal from - or were still in the process. I didn’t get around to actually launching Write, Speak, Play on Anchor.fm until the beginning of 2020. Then March happened and the upheaval in everyone’s lives meant my guest lineup changed, guests canceled as they wrangled child care or changed work schedules. I let this idea slide a bit. There were a couple of interviews here and there. The Write Speak Play podcast still exists - it’s just not consistent. The format changes, one episode might be all me, and another might have a dash of poetry or an essay written by someone else. And as far as an episode release schedule - forgetaboutit. For the moment at least. Long story short (HAHA) I thought I’d try the podcasting feature here on substack and see how it goes. It means there won’t be a pre-recorded intro or outro (fancy speak for the last couple of sentences before signing off), it will just be me saying hi, sharing what’s been going on, and then saying bye. I don’t plan to have a script, just good notes to go by. (I’m putting into practice the tools I’ve learned to present a good speech or tell a great story from the amazing instructors at PVCC!! Thank you!) Let me know what you think? Got anything questions you want me to answer? Did I start talking about something and forgot to finish? Your feedback and support are appreciated. 🌱 Garden of Neuro Institute Website A Safe & Brave Space Anthology of Poetry and Art Volume 1 My experience in the Inner MBA Get full access to Nanci Writes at nanciwrites.substack.com/subscribe

    Podcasting on Substack
  3. 05/14/2022

    The Inner MBA

    Where I was and how I got here is not a mystery to me. Everything happens for a reason. When the student is ready the teacher arrives Perfect timing. Consciousness is defined as awake This is my favorite line from a poem I wrote during this course, inspired by the women who have come into my life since  - well since everything began to change. I was in the muck, the muddle, the mud. Mid-life and I'm lost, I'm angry, and I did not know what to do next. Other than to write. I’m so grateful I followed my pen. Writing led me to cross paths with a specific person who through her gentle guidance and wisdom became a light during a very dark time. It started with a conversation, then an exchange of ideas, observations, perspectives, experiences, and visions. There were books to read, and things to research and discuss.  The seeds of something amazing were planted. The Inner MBA became a part of the quest I needed to take along the path to get me where I needed to go. The experience has changed me. I am a different me now, and I know it. I am excited knowing I will be different down the road, with every new experience, lesson, and discovery. I am ready to be in this constant state of change. Acceptance. Awakening. Consciousness. The next step? Where do I find the place where I can continue to go higher in this one mind of mindfulness? Where can do the work that is meaningful for myself and to others? Listen, learn, change, share. Intention Attention Manifestation I plan to use IMBA and the connections I’ve made here to begin a new chapter in my life Hire me, teach me, help me build my wings. I wish to help other women like me do the same.  What is the thing I really want?  To help women earn their incomes doing what they love. To tell my story. To encourage and hold space for women to tell their stories. Freedom. Safety. Control over my future. The Inner MBA became a part of the quest I needed to help me to get to where I needed to go. And now I will take what I have learned and continue on into what is next.  And I will work to make what is next, good. Get full access to Nanci Writes at nanciwrites.substack.com/subscribe

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Stories, conversations, and new beginnings—with curiosity and a little attitude. Join Nanci Arvizu for reflections on work, creativity, community, and finding your voice when life changes the plan. This next chapter begins with The Vine Economy: exploring what grows when we share food, ideas, and opportunity. Pull up a chair. Let’s see what grows. nanciwrites.substack.com