The Literary Lounge

The Art of Paying Attention with Jen Shoop

• Jennifer Cash • Season 1 • Episode 1

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In the first episode of The Literary Lounge, author Jen Shoop discusses her debut book, Small Wonders: A Field Guide to Life’s Quiet Joys, a beautifully curated collection of essays, musings, and poetry that celebrates the art of paying attention to the everyday moments that make life meaningful.  

Jen and Jennifer explore Jen’s journey from childhood writer to published author, how her beloved literary lifestyle blog, Magpie by Jen Shoop, evolved from a passion project into a full-time career, and why vulnerability, curiosity, and resilience are essential ingredients of a creative life. They also discuss the ups and downs of navigating the middle chapters of life, the rituals that shape Jen’s writing process, the books she’s been loving lately, and her advice for aspiring writers learning to trust their own creative path. 

This conversation is a thoughtful reminder that inspiration often begins by simply paying attention and that the road to success is rarely linear. 

In This Episode

  • The inspiration behind Small Wonders
  • Why “attention is a form of love”
  • How Jen’s early careers shaped her writing 
  • From passion project to full-time career 
  • Connecting with readers through vulnerability 
  • Jen’s path to becoming a published author 
  • ‘Shaking hands with a blank page’
  • Navigating life’s middle chapters
  • The books Jen’s recommending 
  • What living a creative life means to Jen 


Meet Jen Shoop

Jen is the founder and author of the daily literary lifestyle blog, Magpie by Jen Shoop. She recently published her first book, SMALL WONDERS: A FIELD GUIDE TO LIFE’S QUIET JOYS, a collection of essays, musings, and poetry on the art of paying attention. Jen holds an advanced degree in literature from Georgetown University and has enjoyed a varied career in non-profit management, technology, and product design. Jen is an adoring wife to her husband, Landon (also styled as Mr. Magpie on her blog), and a loving mother to two young children. She lives in Bethesda, Maryland.  

Connect with Jen 

Blog: https://magpiebyjenshoop.com/ 

Instagram: @magpiebyjenshoop 

Purchase a copy of Small Wonders


Books & Authors Mentioned


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Jennifer Cash

Host, Creator, Producer & Editor of The Literary Lounge 

Instagram: @readwithjennifer 

Jennifer Cash

Welcome to the Literary Lounge. I'm Jennifer Cash. Come on in, take a seat, and stay a while. Each week I sit down with authors, booksellers, publishing insiders, and other special guests for meaningful conversations about books, writing, and the creative life. I created the Literary Lounge to feel like a modern literary salon, approachable and cozy, yet inspiring. A place where readers and writers gather through a shared love of story. Thank you for being here. Now settle in and enjoy this week's conversation. Today in the Literary Lounge, I'm joined by Jen Shoop. Jen is the founder and author of the daily literary lifestyle blog Magpie by Jen Shoop. She recently published her first book, Small Wonders: A Field Guide to Life's Quiet Joys, a collection of essays, musings, and poetry on the art of paying attention. Jen holds an advanced degree in literature from Georgetown University and has enjoyed a varied career in nonprofit management, technology, and product design. Jen is an adoring wife to her husband Landon, also styled as Mr. Magpie on her blog, and a loving mother to two young children. She lives in Bethesda, Maryland. Welcome to the Literary Lounge. I am so excited to have you joining us today to talk about your new book, Small Wonders. Congratulations on the publication of it. Thank you. Can you share just a little bit about the book?

Jen Shoop

Sure. So Small Wonders is a collection of essays, musings, and list poetry about the art of paying attention, slowing down and really living where your feet are and looking for the sort of hidden in plain sight acts of grace and acts of kindness and pocket change types of love that you can really miss if you're not slowing down and paying attention. And I write about this head on at some point in the book, but attention is a form of love, you know, like actually looking around your settings, your backyard, in your own home, and taking the time to pay attention. That is a really important and powerful but soft form of love. So this book is sort of about uncovering all those profoundly ordinary wonders in our daily lives.

Jennifer Cash

Have you always been someone who observes the world around you?

Jen Shoop

Yes, I think so. I remember when I was, I don't know, eight or nine, I read Harriet the Spy, and I was so obsessed with the concept of recording, observing and recording the world around you to sort of make sense of it. In her case, she's solving mysteries, but I that made such an incredible impression on me. And my best friend and I, Ellie and I, would sit in like the bushes of my backyard and write down all the happenings that were, you know, it was nothing interesting. It was like man walks by at 1.42 p.m. So yes, I think I've always been a like close up observer of everyday life. But I think that as I got older, I sort of started to get into that headspace of what's next, like looking for the next thing, trying to get a million things done. So, in some ways, this book is more about unlearning that. Whatever I learned in my like college through 20s to just be like speedboating through life. This is really the antidote to that. It's saying, no, well, wait a minute. Like, let's slow back down and pay attention. So I think this book is sort of it's so interesting. I don't know if you've experienced that in your trajectory as an adult, but I think a lot of it is like unlearning that click next behavior. Yes.

Jennifer Cash

And I think it is. It's you can get really caught up in moving from next to next, and especially if you're in that work zone. I feel like when my was in my 20s, I was very much like very career focused. And it wasn't like, let me just pause and, you know, step outside and see what's happening in the office park or whatever it is to really observe the thing. You know, just like, I gotta get to the next meeting. I got to get to the answer this email. I know. I think it's nice to stop.

Jen Shoop

Yeah. It sounds so woo-woo, but I truly think doing that, like standing in your office park or wherever you are, and just taking a moment to actively like engage with whatever is around you, even if it's not very picturesque, but you're just like, wow, it's a beautiful day, or I see a bird, or I feel so lucky to have the sun shining on my face right now. That sounds very woo-woo, but it's actually so powerful. Uh and, you know, all we have for sure is today. So if we're not observing what's in front of us, like what are we even doing? You know, we could just like speed through the day and you know, I don't know. That is such a powerful through line for me at this phase of my life.

Jennifer Cash

Well, I want to go back a little bit to those early years in your 20s because I was reading on your blog that you described it as almost like having a squiggly path to getting to where you are now. And you've worked in a lot of different industries. So I want to go back a little bit to those years when you were busy and you're working. Did writing play a role in your life at that point? Or is this something that you've developed as you've grown older? Or did you always want to be a writer?

Jen Shoop

Yes. And I I've been saying that I've been writing this book since I was six. And I I know I was writing about different things back then, but that's really when I started to put pen to paper in a meaningful way. And I I knew even when I was a kid, that it just felt as natural to me as breathing. Like writing has been a part of my daily practice since I was a kid. I mean, I just I love it. I also have to do it. It's how I make sense of the phenomena of living. Sometimes I feel like I can't even unpack or understand what's happening to me until it's like dressed in words. But to your question, I have been writing since I was a kid. And then I went to grad school for literature, and so I was that was heavy on writing. And undergrad, I majored in writing-centric discipline. And then in every phase of my professional career before I took magpie full-time, was also writing heavy. And I was noticed for that in my different career stints. And so I would often find myself being tasked with more of the writing uh side of things, which was great. Any kind of writing is good practice. But yeah, I definitely think, I don't know if you feel this way too, but the path was so unclear in my 20s and even my early 30s. I was like, what am I doing? I'm on like monkey bars. I'm going from this to that. I don't see the path. And it felt very much like I was wool gathering, just like out in a field doing random things. But now I look back and the breadcrumb trail is for sure there. I mean, everything I did back then was rehearsing me for this moment. I see that now. I couldn't have seen it, especially like my husband and I launched a technology business back like 10 years ago. And now I think back and I'm like, what was I doing? That's such a strange aberrant from the rest of my life. But it actually has prepared me in so many specific ways for everything. For example, I had to do a lot of pitching for that startup company. And then I find that the lessons learned there have informed my ability to promote my book in the book tour. And, you know, public speaking, and then just having a resilient mindset to that's what you really learn in entrepreneurship, is you fail every day. And that's also part of writing. But anyway, all of those experiences deposited me here and prepared me for this.

Jennifer Cash

And when during that time, when you were launching a company, when did Magpie start? And how did you get that idea to start blogging?

Jen Shoop

Uh I started around 2010 and it was purely as a passion project. I was working at that time for a nonprofit, and I needed to exercise my fashion creative side of my brain. So it was originally called the fashion magpie. And I did it just for fun. And I didn't anticipate anyone was going to read it either. I just was putting it out there. And it was so fun and so fulfilling. And then it kind of grew organically over time. And gradually I realized this was really my life's vocation. And also, I was making more money off of my blog than off my day job. And so I thought, I think I want to explore this more fully. Mm-hmm.

Jennifer Cash

Where did that name magpie, like what drew you to that name and what's significant about it for you?

Jen Shoop

So the magpie, there's a definitely a bird motif, and I love birding in my personal life. But uh, the magpie is a bird that is attracted to shiny objects. So it will like create like nests out of disparate things. It will see like a piece of tinsel and go get that. And so I felt like it was a good avatar for the type of curation I was doing with fashion at the time. Um, I've since learned a lot more about magpies. One of my favorite traits of theirs is that they're extremely adaptable birds. They can thrive in so many different environments, often almost like astringent environments. Um, and I think that's a really powerful avatar for also entrepreneurship and writing. Like you have to be able to reinvent and adapt and change tack at a moment's notice. Absolutely. You know this.

Jennifer Cash

And yes, as your readership grew, like when you started to see how many people started following you regularly, how did that impact what you started sharing with your audience?

Jen Shoop

Well, I remember a couple years into sporadically posting on the Fashion Magpie, I put out a more vulnerable thought piece. I was expecting my first child, and I couldn't believe, put out something that was very off-topic. I was nervous about motherhood and I was thinking about all that. I was overwhelmed by the response I received from readers, and I thought, oh, okay. I guess that I could do more of this kind of writing. And that's when really the the magpie that as it now is, as it now exists, kind of began to come into being. I started to write more memoir style and musings, more about the stuff of living, like and the little things about living. Everyone looks like they're thriving, and you're like, oh, everyone's doing great. But actually, a lot of us are having these complex internal conversations about everything from what am I doing in my career? Everyone else seems to know. Why do I feel just the feelings of uncertainty that govern, especially younger years and comparison? And so I tried to name those things and grapple with them in an open way. And I think people want a place to do that because so often we're like pushed to perform or wear a mask in certain settings, whether it's professional and motherhood at school, whatever. So anyway, that's sort of when I started to see more of a connection with readers.

Jennifer Cash

Well, your writing is very relatable, so I can see why people gravitate toward it. And as I was sharing with you earlier, I've personally found between both in the book, but also reading on the blog and on your Instagram, you can find something I feel like for any any season of life, whether you are in those early years of trying to figure out those next steps, or if you are in motherhood. And honestly, even for people who are in that season of life, probably of even like they have grandchildren or just looking back. I mean, I really do think that your writing is one that really can touch so many different generations. Gosh, thank you so much. That makes me feel wonderful. When you were starting to write, did you ever think, oh, this could one day turn into a book? Or was that just something that surprised you as it came about?

Jen Shoop

I do feel like I've been pointing myself in the direction of being a published author for a long time. But interestingly, on the side, I write fiction. And sometimes I publish a stray chapter here or there on my blog, but pretty sparingly. And so I had been sort of thinking about like maybe dipping my toe in that type of writing, and that would be the path to becoming a published author. So it kind of surprised me that actually, I don't know why. This is like a life lesson that continues to come up time and time again for me, is you know, I'm looking over here, and then the everyday thing is where the heartbeat is, you know, what I'm doing every day. That's what people obviously wanted more of. So that's how the book came to be. And like an acquisitions editor approached me and asked me if I wanted to create a book, essays similar to what I published on my blog. And so I it makes complete sense now that I look back.

Jennifer Cash

I didn't realize you were into fiction writing as well. So is that something that you would want to explore too?

Jen Shoop

Yes. And I have a fairly complete manuscript for this one project that I'm really excited about. So I'm trying to manifest the energy to finish it this summer somehow and then go down that scary path of finding an agent and all that. It's such a confusing process, and it is. Yes, it seems like everyone finds a different way in. Like there is no one pathway to get there. So that's even more terrifying. But anyway, we'll we'll figure it out one step at a time.

Jennifer Cash

From talking to several authors, there is no one path for everybody. Truly every person's entry into publishing looks very different. And luck is a really big part of it, too. It's just getting it in front of the right person who's gonna give you that one yes. I know.

Jen Shoop

Yeah. Or persistence, you know, like having the mentality that you're not gonna find your age in in the first few tries. Like you have to keep getting up. But so that's so interesting because I feel like that's yet another way that I mean, and so we'll see where this goes. But I do think resilience is a big piece of it and being open to, for example, for me, I had no idea that this would be the my my chance to become a published author, you know? And so who knows what will even happen with this fictional project. Like maybe that won't come into be, but maybe something else will. Maybe I'll do a second Small Wonders installation. I also have never written screenplay before, and I know that's a completely different type of writing, a different art form. But I also have ideas for screenplays, so who knows? The writing world is my oyster. I have so many ideas.

Jennifer Cash

That's exciting. I mean, that's always a good thing to have more ideas. That's a wonderful position to be in. It's fun. I love to write, so I have thousands of ideas that I keep. Well, I would love it if you would um read a piece from your book to share with our audience.

Jen Shoop

Sure. So I was going to read Ten I Love You's, which I'm reading it because I mean, this really helped me reach new readers on Instagram. Um, I think it's been seen almost two million times.

Jennifer Cash

Wow.

Jen Shoop

And been shared like 20,000 times or something like that. But I think this is because it really strikes a chord. So it's about looking for the hidden ways that people let you know that they love you. Um 10 I love you. How did you sleep? A full tank of gas waiting for you in the car, a sticky note reading, heat at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes. Your dad wandering around in your backyard tearing up weeds, a text message replying, Yes. The doorknob mysteriously fixed, an email reading, saw this and thought of you, a string of hard emojis, your favorite flavor of yogurt stocked in your mother's fridge. Tell me everything. I love that. So beautiful. Thank you. What about those particular uh I love you? Why do you pick those? Honestly, the genesis for this piece was actually watching my father-in-law. I say my dad, but I my father-in-law was wandering around our yard one day and just tearing up weeds and like making comments about, oh, this needs more sunlight, or and I just thought that's his way of showing love, you know? And there's this great poem by UA Fanthorpe where he says, I'm gonna botch the exact terms, but there's a kind of love that is maintenance that knows where the WD40 is. You know, like those people who they maybe can't say it or they don't feel comfortable saying it, or being super affectionate, or don't want the physical touch, whatever it is, but who show you in those little actions, those like acts of service or just thoughtfulness that they truly care about you. And so I saw my father-in-law do that, and I that sort of made me think about oh, what are some of the other things that people I love? Like my mom always will stock my favorite flavors of like spindrift and my yogurt or whatever my current if I've even mentioned a snack once to her, I will find it in her house. I mean, she's so thoughtful like that. So that was sort of the genesis, and then I teased it out and thought about other hidden ways and um that kind of coalesced into that piece.

Jennifer Cash

Well, I love that it encapsulates really a little bit of all the loves. Love between family, love between friends, love between partners. I mean, it really is something that can relate to all those different parts of all the loves that we have in our life, not just romantic love. Yes, yes, exactly. That brings me to list poetry because I know that's something that you're known for in a lot of your poems that you'll share on Instagram and even within Small Wonders. How did you get into Lisp poetry?

Jen Shoop

I don't know. I backended into it when I first started working on that type of medium, I guess, I actually was writing it for my blog. I was making lists of things, but I wasn't thinking of it as poetry. I would be like, oh, what are some things I find randomly chic? For example, that one was very popular as well. But I wasn't writing it in like a poem structure. I was just literally creating a list. But the ordering is really the sequencing is really important as you know, and I knew that I was applying like writing craft to it. And then when I was adapting it to Instagram, it sort of took on this like unique square shape. Yeah, I I still feel itchy under the title of poet. Like I don't identify with that moniker. I don't know why. I f I understand myself to be sort of an essayist or a or a writer, but poetry feels so next level or something. But anyway, I guess it is a type of poetry.

Jennifer Cash

Well, I feel like it's an accessible type of poetry. Sometimes people, I think they hear poetry and they immediately think back to what they learned in high school or something that's really deep and you need to really analyze it. But I feel like the list, it's something that you can gravitate to and relate to, and you're like, oh yes, I get this. And in fact, I I took a list poetry workshop with you through Bond and Grace. Right. And I have found um that it's so helpful even in fiction writing because if you get stuck on a scene, one of the examples is like in an airport. And I started thinking, okay, what are the things that you observe in an airport? And it's people embracing after they haven't seen each other in a long time, not just the everyday things. Yes, you've got people rolling luggage, but what are the little small emotional moments? And I think that is so hopeful. And I learned that from you from that workshop. I just think it's such an interesting craft practice that you can put into other forms of writing.

Jen Shoop

I love that. I love that cross-pollination. And isn't that so funny how you do that? You could be listening to someone talking about pottery and something about their technique or the way they talk about their craft turns on a light bulb, be like, oh, right. I could try that over here. I love that. Thank you so much for sharing that.

Jennifer Cash

It's a great way when you feel stuck and you want to get that creativity flowing again. Um, and that brings me to your writing process. Do you have rituals or practices that you do, or are you someone who just gets up and jumps into their writing? What's that process for you look like?

Jen Shoop

Definitely you have rituals. Um, I try to write in the morning. I call it shaking hands with a blank page. I try to do this daily, but for me, I have to read first. Um, I always read before I write, usually poetry, something really short, a specific poem or a little essay or something. That's sort of like limbering me up to write. It's sort of like stretching before exercising. And then the other thing, I typically begin writing by hand, like hand drafting. I always say try to find if you're stuck with writing, try to find something that feels very low stakes. And to me, just like writing on a scrap of paper on the back of a notebook page, on the back of a receipt, feels very throwaway scrap-like. It's not precious. So I find that really helpful. Those are a few things that I do to kind of get the creative engine started.

Jennifer Cash

Those are all very interesting practices. What poets inspire you? Do you have favorites that you gravitate towards?

Jen Shoop

I mean, Mary Oliver, I speak about her a lot. I mean, some of the book is actually a conscious homage to her. Like, love her poetry. And I read a lot of her. Um, my favorite collection of hers is called Owls and Other Fantasies. I love Anne Lamotte. She's not poetry, but she's she's an essay. I love to just flip open and read a little blurb. I actually have my penguin anthology of 20th century poetry right behind me. One of my favorite things to do is. Open to a random page and see what the poetry gods have in store for me and read that and see what's going on. Uh and then another one that I draw from that's maybe a little idiosyncratic is Edith Hamilton's Mythology. Do you have this book?

Jennifer Cash

I don't, but I think I heard you talk about this in Charleston at Ladybird books.

Jen Shoop

And I remember Grace saying that she also loved it. I think she was really into it. Anyway, it's sort of a textbook about Greek mythology, but the writing is spectacular. I mean, it is propulsively poetic. It's getting at these underlying human forms, you know, like the storytelling is so next level. So sometimes I'll just open and read like a little bit of one of the myths. And it sounds very like maybe a little bit like Ivory Tower to be doing that. But I I have to tell you, the writing is so crisp. It will make you a better writer. Like it makes me a better writer to observe that.

Jennifer Cash

I'm definitely gonna have to check that one out because I don't read a lot of mythology. I haven't read a lot since school. Um, but I'm gonna have to revisit it. And that sounds like a really interesting book to have on hand. You'll love it. You'll love it. And um, going back to your book, I'm curious a little bit about the layout and organization. It's about nature and marriage and love and motherhood. So when you were designing the book and planning out the book, did you have a lot of say or input when you were doing that layout process? Or is there kind of an intention of how the book is organized?

Jen Shoop

Yes. I worked with a very author-forward publisher. The editor gave me a huge latitude to organize the book as I wanted. And I loved making these little collections around themes that I write about commonly. So, like the inside of things, motherhood, love that you mentioned, outdoors obviously plays a big role. And even language itself, there's a whole section about that. It's basically all the things I love to write about. I was able to actually use a lot of my archival work in the book. I began by collecting the pieces that I thought might be a good fit for the book and realizing, okay, these themes kind of go together. And it was so, it was such an interesting and different. I've never created that way, but it was really fun.

Jennifer Cash

I loved the layout because I feel like it's one of these books that there's so many different ways to read it. You could pick it up, read it straightforward like a regular book. But then I think what I've really gravitated toward, as I told you, I call it one of my nightstand books, one of those that you just leave out on the nightstand because it's always in reach if you want to reference back to it, because it's very digestible, like bite-sized pieces. You could do it like just daily as like almost like a morning devotional. But then I love that you can turn to whatever section or just bookmark whatever piece that speaks to you, and then you can go back and back. And I think that especially for readers who maybe don't have a lot of times to sit down and read like a big novel, that they have something that they can turn to, keep with them. I like the size too, is so small that you could keep it in your purse on your nightstand, wherever. Um, and it just is such a beautiful book to also give to people.

Jen Shoop

Oh, well, thank you so much. And I'm I'm so glad to hear that. And I have to give a lot of credit to again the publisher who I mean, helped me. I mean, I had obviously direction in the how this turned out, but I just couldn't be more thrilled. Like they came up with like the nameplates for the titles and the blue pages. I hadn't even thought you could publish on blue pages, and I think that they're so creative and I feel so lucky to have worked with them.

Jennifer Cash

Did you have any say on the cover or in that design process?

Jen Shoop

Yes. It's Cosmos Flowers, which I love. Uh but they sourced the artwork, but we went through a pretty long process of matching photographs with the writings and making sure there was resonance and that it felt on brand. There was a definitely a long process of matching and coordinating what went where.

Jennifer Cash

You can tell a lot of thought really went into the book.

Jen Shoop

Oh, and that's that makes me feel so good. Thank you.

Jennifer Cash

You're welcome. I wanted to go back just a little bit to those early careers. And I know you mentioned that you can see now how you took things with you. But I'm curious too, um, what did those teach you about your writing?

Jen Shoop

I think that the earlier phases were about building up comfort with failure, resilience, self-trust, and also a good amount of humility. I'm sure everyone feels this way earlier in their career, but I still carry that with me, the feeling of like not knowing how to do things and being at the very bottom of the heap. And I mean, I think all those are powerful lessons that I still carry with me on a daily basis. I mean, for one really specific example is that the old adage of if you build it, they will come. I mean, that's a complete fallacy. For example, with my blog, I've been working on this for years. It's not like an overnight success thing. And I kind of came into bring that spirit to everything I do. I just know it's gonna take a lot of work, a lot of tries, a lot of drafts. So I think I carry a lot of that. But I I just think that my younger years really taught me about resilience and being comfortable with failing and getting back up and trying again. I publish daily on my blog. So some days I really, it's a swing and a miss. I mean, and I will never know what readers are thinking. Sometimes people will critique, but I mean, from my own perch, I'm like, oh, that just didn't work. And I'll look back and think I didn't word that properly. So I think a lot of the earlier in life lessons were about building up a comfort with rejection, with failure, and just being like, okay, brush that off, reset, keep going.

Jennifer Cash

I feel like knowing a little bit more about your background, you've lived a very full and varied life between not only having worked in different industries, but also living different places. I'm curious, with all those different experiences, do you feel like that has helped you as a writer be able to dig deep into all those different um phases of life that you've lived?

Jen Shoop

I'm sure. I think it just gives me more referent points and more versions of myself to plumb and see, think about from different angles. Um someone had asked me at one of my book events if I would thought I would be capable of writing this book in the same way if I wasn't a mother. And I thought that was such a complex question. I mean, it's so hard to tell. You only have the version of yourself that shows up today. But I almost feel like there are all these like it's like a pastiche of previous versions. Some shine through, some are a little more opaque at the bottom of the pile. But for sure, every day we're changing and incorporating, especially in writing. You know, the the sun could be laying a different way on the tree, and that changes my perspective on things, you know. So just I think, but staying keen to the new experiences of every day, and also specific to the craft like language acquisition, I'm always looking for new words. I I keep like a list of new words I'm coming across, or like themes or characters, or I'll hear an offhanded comment at the pool, and I'm like, uh, that is a great quote. I need to include that somewhere. And even sometimes, and I hate to live in any kind of negative space, but even sometimes if someone says something cruel or observes some unkindness, I think to myself, I'm gonna put that in a book sometime, or like make that a part of a fictional story. Like, I can't believe someone would say that. That has to be put in a fictional. So anyway, I draw from everything, I think.

Jennifer Cash

I think that's such a unique part of being a writer, is all those little moments and instances, you kind of file them away, and it's like this is for that one-day folder. I've also experienced that too. You hear something and you're like, I need to use this somewhere, somehow.

Jen Shoop

This belongs in a book.

Jennifer Cash

Yeah. Yes, exactly. Or you meet somebody that is just so unbelievable. I've had people I've worked with in the past, and you're just like, okay, you cannot make a person like this up. Like you're gonna be a character one day.

Jen Shoop

I love that. I love that. And it also, don't you find it gives you a little bit of helpful creative distance where you can kind of maybe laugh at things that you know, you're like, oh my gosh, this is so absurd. This is just absolutely strange. Or on the flip side, I feel like writing gives you that creative space to also see like really beautiful things that maybe having that creative practice of like distancing yourself enough to be like, that is so beautiful that someone said that. Like, what a beautiful way to say that or express that, or my God, that's so kismet. That's like cool coincidence. Like, I can't, it's almost feels like it was written that way, you know.

Jennifer Cash

Yes.

Jen Shoop

I love that. Writing is such a giving practice.

Jennifer Cash

Looking ahead, do you have any other projects on the horizon?

Jen Shoop

I'm trying to find a way to finish this fictional manuscript because I would really love to see that through. I am gonna be releasing prints of some of my uh work on I'll be selling them on my blog, but we're gonna do like this really beautiful letterpress cards that we've been working on. So anyway, that's gonna be really exciting. Oh, yeah. But the main thing is, yeah, that's been fun and also way more like design work than I had thought. But really I'm so excited about that. But the main thing is I continue to write daily on my blog, and that's always gonna be the place that I love that practice. I love that space. The community there is so wonderful. I feel so lucky, but that still consumes a full workday. It's a lot of work.

Jennifer Cash

For our listeners, if they aren't familiar with your blog, can you tell them a little bit about what they can find on the blog?

Jen Shoop

Yeah, so it's a mix. I mean, I always say a woman contains multitudes. And so this is a place where you can sometimes show up and find fashion roundups, sometimes show up and find an essay on grief. There's motherhood, there's book reviews. Some of my book reviews are my most engaged with posts. And so we choose a book every month, and then I'll write a review and I'll include book club questions and collages. It's so fun. Like I love going into like an immersive like a magic dreamcasting the book and all that stuff. But you can find a mix of different types of writing. Some of it's list poetry, some of it's musings, memoir, random observations. So it's a mix of everything. The comments section are is incredible. Like, okay, so for example, you published something about an upcoming trip we're taking to London with our family, and the depth of thoughtful comments and suggestions that are in the comments. I mean, a gold mine, if you're going to London, check that out. But then I'll write like a poem the next day, or the next day I'll write a book review. So it's a mix of everything.

Jennifer Cash

I do love your reading section. And I'm just curious, since this is the Literary Lounge, what are some books that you've read recently that you recommend? Just finished Whistler by Ann Pachet. Did you read it? I have not. I I'm a huge Anne Patchett fan, and I still have not read it because I've been doing some other reading for the podcast. It's sitting right on the top of my pile, though. And every day I see that beautiful horse cover.

Jen Shoop

Well, you are in for a treat. It is spectacular. It's signature patchet. Great in all the right ways, like rich family drama. She's such a keen observer of humanity. Uh, I love her dialogue. I love the way she draws her characters. It's just beautiful. And it's so unhurried and unperformed and effortless, you know? I don't know. She's a wonder to me. I love that. I've been reading all those Buzzy books yesteryear, Strangers. Oh, I read um Tayari Jones Kin. Did you get that one? That's also on my TBR. But I've heard wonderful things about that book. It's incredible. It really, that one knocked me out. I mean, the scope of her writing, it kind of reminded me of Demon Copperhead by King Solver. Very different topics, but just the complexity of the narrative is mind-blowing. You all appreciate it as a fellow writer. I don't know how. I mean, it's astounding to me. She is so talented and the writing is excellent, and it's but it's also funny. And uh that one was fantastic. It's been a good year of books, don't you think?

Jennifer Cash

It has. I cannot keep up with how many have been coming out. And I mean, I feel like this is like the problem in publishing of like there's so many books, but then there's also the backlist books that you want to go back and read to from authors, like once you discover them. It's just so many. It's hard to I know read them all. That whole saying, so many books, too little time, I feel like that really rings true. I know it's so true. Yes. What advice do you have for someone if they're listening and they're in that season of life where maybe they've had several different jobs. Maybe they are thinking about pursuing something creative and they just feel stuck and they feel like everyone else has got their life figured out.

Jen Shoop

What kind of advice would you have for someone in that stage? Gosh, well, first empathy, because I've absolutely been there at so many junctures in my life. But I think there's a few things. One is that old chestnut, like comparison is the thief of joy. And really trying to like disentangle yourself from comparing yourself to someone else. Don't be looking for directions from someone else who has no idea where you want to go. Um, and so really trying to shed that and dial in on just you're where you're meant to be right now. This is like your one life and it's unfolding exactly as it should be. It's so hard to hear that when you're in that moment. It's so hard to be in that those like uncertain middle of things. But honestly, life is a lot of middles. Like that's what I've learned. Um, it's pretty rare. That's why when my book came out, I was like, wow, this is a strange feeling. I can see I've accomplished something, and this is like a big marker. I went from being an unpublished author to a published author. I completed this work product and it is in the world. I can't tell you how rare that is. I feel like most of life is just a bunch of like small win, a small setback, a small win. I think it's a lot about celebrating small wins, not comparing yourself to anyone else's thing, focusing on the everyday pieces that give your life meaning. And also, this is such a jumble of thoughts, but I think sometimes when we're in that moment of transition or uncertainty, we're just so focused on the next phase. This is today is like all you have. I know I said this before, but this is not a rehearsal. We're not like in the green room. This is it. Someone said recently, don't imagine today as if it's your last, but as if it's your first. You know, go into it with like a curious energy versus any kind of expectation. But trying to like live in that space is I think is really helpful. And then with specific regard to someone who's trying to figure out if it's the right time to start down a creative path, just do it. Begin. There is never gonna be a day that's like, well, the clouds are parted and it's clearly my time to start. It's never gonna feel correct. You're never gonna feel ready. You're never gonna have enough money to do it, you're never gonna have enough time to do it. Life is not gonna slow down to accommodate your desire or your ambition. You have to just try. And you're gonna fail. And it's been really awkward and creaky at the beginning. And it's so uncomfortable telling strangers. I'm sure, even like, I don't know if you've experienced this, even starting your own podcast. I hope not. But it's can be like a little bit uncomfortable socializing an idea that's like a new endeavor. Absolutely. I feel for you. I mean, I I've gone through that so many times. For years, I wouldn't call myself a writer because I was like, I'm just doing this little thing over here. And but just start and you gotta get through that. And then eventually you'll look back and be like, actually, that you learn a lot in those early first thing attempts. And it's great and so brave. And you'll never regret trying.

Jennifer Cash

I went for all of my 20s. I would write just like at the end of the day, just kind of towing around in fiction. Never told a soul until my 30s. Oh. I finally was like, Yeah, I have dreams of publishing a book. And then, you know, you get mixed reactions, but you know, I think it's one of those things a lot of times people do keep that close to their heart because they are scared. And it is a vulnerable art to put yourself out there, whether it is through writing or music, any of those different fields of creativity.

Jen Shoop

No, and then for you, I'm glad you have put that out into the world. I think that's a big like piece of it is hitting publish or announcing yourself or just getting over the hurdle. That's huge. That's like probably 90% of it.

Jennifer Cash

Yeah. And that's a scary thing. I think too, and that comes, I think, with maturity of like no one cares as much as you do. Oh, but in your mind, it can seem like, oh no, if I tell people, they're gonna judge me. But they're not caring as much as it means to you. No. But it's no one you've got that dream, put it out there, because you just never know where it might lead.

Jen Shoop

Right. And usually even if it doesn't lead to the maybe the outcome you're looking for, there's like a, there's so much meaning in making the tracks, like just learning about yourself. I think writing especially is about self-discovery. So, like that is something you will have forever. But second of all, almost always there are these happenstance beautiful things. And like even meeting you, Jennifer, like this wouldn't be happening if I if you hadn't put yourself out there and I hadn't put myself out there, you know? Right. And so there's so many great like life connections, self-discovery. And then a lot of times you finally put something out there into the world, and that's so rewarding in its own way, you know? So Yes, it is.

Jennifer Cash

Yes. Well, especially when, you know, you get that positive feedback. And especially I think it matters more when it's like someone that's not in your inner circle. Like when you do put something out like on Instagram and you're like, wow, people are reading this or resonating with this. I think that feels like it would be really rewarding.

Jen Shoop

Oh, I have to just say the coolest thing happened to me. Instagram Discover just served up to me, a girls' house tour. And I was like, wow, this is beautiful. And then I saw in one of the shots, she had a framed piece of my work from a collaboration I did with my the artist Insley, who's so talented. Um, and I was like out of my mind excited because I mean, I could not believe it. I like had to stop and like rewind and then like take a screenshot. I was like, I can't believe it is so surreal to see your work out in the world. And I mean, that's been so cool too about having like a physical version of my work with small wonders, seeing people like share it on Instagram or take a photo of it. I mean, that is like the wildest moonwalk. But anyway, very exciting.

Jennifer Cash

Well, my last question for you is what does living a creative life mean to you?

Jen Shoop

It's so hard because I can't think of it any other way. Like it, I don't you think it comes like naturally, like to create something every day? But I think it's about daily practice. It's not as glamorous as it sounds. Like I think you think about writing or being a writer or an artist, and you're like in a cafe with a cigarette or something. And really a lot of it is is daily commitment to the blank page, seeing what comes out, trying again, trying to shrink the gap between my current capability and my aspirations. And I'm still shrinking that gap. It's a daily commitment showing up, trying over and over again. And then I think it's also about just being curious about the world around you and like looking at everything and chasing what makes you lean forward. Creative life is about curiosity and practice. And if you can do those two things every single day, that's it. That's great.

Jennifer Cash

And before we let you go, um, I would love if you would close us out with one more piece from Small Wonders. Before I have you read that, uh, can you let our listeners know where they can find and connect with you online?

Jen Shoop

Yes. Um, so I publish daily on my lifestyle blog, magpie by jenshoop.com. Um, I'm also on Instagram and I publish a lot of stories and feed posts there too. And that's at Magpie by jen Shoop. You can order Small Wonders anywhere books are sold, or on my site, you can get a signed copy, and I'll include like a little print. So anywhere you prefer to shop though. Well, I'd love to hear another reflection from Small Wonders. I'm gonna read synonyms, and this is kind of getting back to some of the conversation we had earlier about creativity, this idea of building a creative literacy with the everyday things that are around us. And so that's sort of the impetus for this piece. Synonyms. Outside my dawn window, the red bird sits and sings, busy and full-bodied. It has never missed a sunrise, an occasion for praise. It warbles for connection and also for safety, a watchful witness to the world. Inside, I pay attention in my own way. Finding myself somewhere between the caps lock and the return. It sings, I write, but there are two ways of saying alleluia. That's beautiful. Thank you. Thank you so much for joining us today, Jen. Thank you so much. This was such an honor.

Jennifer Cash

Thank you for joining me in the Literary Lounge. If you enjoyed today's episode, I'd love it if you would subscribe, leave a review, and share the show with a fellow reader or writer. To continue the conversation, follow along on Instagram at theliterarylounge.co and subscribe to the literary lounge on Substack. I'm so glad you're part of this community. Until next time, keep reading, keep writing, and I'll see you back in the Literary Lounge.

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Jennifer Cash

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