1. Today’s Alchemical Lesson: Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. - Aristotle
   1. What does this have to do with being a writer, anyway?
   2. EVERYTHING
   3. It’s trite to say ‘know thyself’ with the expectation that it will automatically happen; it takes work. It takes VULNERABILITY.
   4. But so does the best writing. Your best work, even in the most trope-y genres, will reflect the vulnerability you put into it as a writer.
   5. I spent many years ignoring myself, trying to change myself, denying who I was. Not just as a person but as a writer.
      1. Trying to write things that did not interest me
      2. Giving up on dreams of becoming a published author
      3. Hiding the things that gave me joy (writing fanfiction)
   6. How I learned about myself, as a writer:
      1. Start writing things that interest me (thank you, fanfiction!)
      2. Figure out what kind of writing career I really want
      3. Wallow in the things that give me joy
   7. Write what YOU want to write, what you want to read, what you want to share.
2. TAKEAWAY: Know what you love to read and write, and write what you want to read!