Luella Schmidt

Bolder, Braver, Freer On boundaries, bravery, and becoming

A new issue of A Low-Stakes Guide to Wonder is out: Bolder, Braver, Freer.
From High Noon to Jimi Hendrix to Zora Neale Hurston, this one’s about boundaries, defiance, and the voices that refuse to shrink. 💥

open.substack.com/pub/luellasc...

Aww thanks! Ken read it and enjoyed it and he just passed it to me.

We had him on the pod recently and he read a line in a gorgeous Irish accent. Hi Kim!

Cultivating Wonder The Art of Cultivating What Matters—In Writing, Life, and Beyond

💫 A Low-Stakes Guide to Wonder is back! 💫

What does it mean to cultivate wonder—to stay open, curious, & engaged, even as the world tries to harden us?

✨ Patti Smith & the thrill of discovery
👽 E.T. & nostalgia
🔍 The Good Place & feeling complete

#Creativity #Storytelling #Wonder

Remembering the 80s and E.T. E.T. is more than nostalgia—it's a lesson in love, loss, and wonder. Revisit the 80s classic and its connections to Gremlins.

E.T. is the 24th-best movie on the Top 100. This movie is a delight to revisit at any age.📞👽✨ If you love 80s nostalgia, hidden Gremlins Easter eggs, and feel-good movie magic, this one’s for you. What’s your most nostalgic 80s movie?

www.luellaschmidt.com/post/remembe...

The Big Soul We All Share A Low-Stakes Guide to Wonder: Inaugural Edition

Big news! I just launched my newsletter, A Low-Stakes Guide to Wonder—a space for storytelling, exploring the Top 100 albums, movies, and novels, and holding onto wonder no matter what rages outside. Subscribe & explore with me!

#Substack #Storytelling #Creativity #Movies #Books

Still Standing, Still Singing A Story Inspired by Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man

Shocking no one, it's a story about hope bwahahaha. But also strength. And overall badassery. Let me know what you think.
medium.com/mirrorinthes...

I also challenged myself to tell a whole story that would be entertaining even if you haven’t read the novel, but would be all the richer if you have. You'll have to be the judge of that. It's called 💥Still Standing, Still Singing💥.

She nurses him to health, feeds him, and allows him to get behind on his rent, only for him to leave her in a dramatic, disgraceful way. She’s not in the novel for long, but she’s significant. Mary’s story deserved more space, and I hope I did her justice. 😎

After the event, I wanted to write something about it, which became a flash fiction piece, just over 1000 words.

It's Mary Rambo's story.

In the novel, Mary is a kind, middle-aged black woman, who takes in our protagonist, the invisible man, after his ordeal at the factory.

If you’re interested, the audiobook is narrated by Joe Norton and it's very well done. He is so expressive and well-paced, he really makes the story come alive.🥇

It's my first post on Blue Sky! Woo hoo! Here's what I've been up to. On Wednesday, I hosted a Zoom event to discuss Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. It’s #19 on Modern Library’s Top 100 list, and wow—it was fantastic!