What Happens When Women Write

I spent last weekend in Portland, Oregon, enjoying a birthday celebration for Kayla Fioravanti of Essential Wholesale. Among the fantastic things we did was to watch the new movie, Julie & Julia. Based on the true stories of the lives of chef Julia Child (brilliantly played by Meryl Streep) and New York-based writer Julie Powell (played by Amy Adams), the movie chronicles Julie’s journey from frustrated cubicle dweller to empowered woman on a mission, and Julia’s journey from frustrated housewife to empowered women on a mission.

In this final scene from the movie (yes, I snapped a photo from Row 2), Julie poses in front of a photo of Julia in the Julia Child’s kitchen on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. The scene captures the essence of what it means to be a woman of influence. Julia’s fortitude touched Julie in ways that were as unplanned as they were magical.

Both women loved to cook. And besides being female, married and frustrated, Julie and Julia had one other significant thing in common: the written word.

Julia recorded her thoughts on an old typewriter and two pieces of paper with a carbon sheet between so she could have two copies. Julie used a laptop and a blog. No carbon, no paper needed.

Decades and oceans apart, each woman used the written word to express an almost maniacal passion for cooking. In so doing, not only did they discover a new lease on life, each also discovered a new career as an entrepreneur.

Julia Child went on to become a celebrated chef, television show host and cookbook author. Julie extricated herself from an uninspiring job to become the writing career of her dreams.

And it all started with the written word.

Neither woman knew what was going to happen when she started recording her thoughts. Neither planned to become a published author. Neither planned to be in television or the movies. They planned nothing, except to explore a passion and use the technological means of their time to share it with the world.

Using the written word to express ourselves in ways that inspire, encourage, inform and entertain other people is the only means we have of changing the world. It was the same in Julie Child’s time and it’s the same in ours.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Even in our advanced digital age, it is still heartfelt communication, not technology, that makes the world go ’round. And blogging is an unsurpassed way to make that happen.

Question: If you have seen Julie & Julie, what did you think? Did you notice that, as each woman expressed herself, she grew more confident and excited about life? If you’re a blogger, has blogging done this for you?

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Tagged as: amy_adams, Blogging, julia_child, julie_and_julie, julie_powell, meryl_streep, writing

posted on September 21, 2009 ·

http://www.maryleebendig.com/ Marylee Bendig

I believe Julia Child was filling a void in her life. It is sad that she wanted a family like her sister and wasn't able to have children. Who knows how the story would have ended had she had children. Just a thought, My own perspective.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Indie_Business Indie_Business

You may be right. I know lots of people who fill voids by doing something different. If that's the case with Julia Child, it's exciting to know that we can live without something we want desperately, yet still make ourselves happy.

http://www.maryleebendig.com Marylee Bendig

I believe Julia Child was filling a void in her life. It is sad that she wanted a family like her sister and wasn't able to have children. Who knows how the story would have ended had she had children. Just a thought, My own perspective.

http://www.essentialu.typepad.com/ Kayla @EssentialU

Love this: "Decades and oceans apart, each woman used the written word to express an almost maniacal passion for cooking. In so doing, not only did they discover a new lease on life, each also discovered a new career as an entrepreneur." We all can use our "manical passion" of our own interests to create our own carreer paths and lives as entrepreneurs. Really if you aren't passionate about what you are doing now…do what you are passionate about doing!

http://intensedebate.com/people/Indie_Business Indie_Business

Ditto what Kayla said about doing what you are passionate about! Kayla, I have you to thank for these insights. After all, had I not been with you in Portland this past weekend, I would not have seen Julie & Julia. Not this past weekend and probably not ever. I love you for that and so much more!

http://www.essentialu.typepad.com Kayla @EssentialU

Love this: "Decades and oceans apart, each woman used the written word to express an almost maniacal passion for cooking. In so doing, not only did they discover a new lease on life, each also discovered a new career as an entrepreneur." We all can use our "manical passion" of our own interests to create our own carreer paths and lives as entrepreneurs. Really if you aren't passionate about what you are doing now…do what you are passionate about doing!

http://www.HereWeAreWithLuci.com/ Luci Weston

I don't believe Julia Child was filling a void because she couldn't or didn't have children. Her passion was food, eating, creating, and sharing that love with those she knew and those she would never know. Even if she had children of her own, she did not seem to be the type of woman who would abandon her deep passions for motherhood. In her own brilliant way, she has and will continue to mother generations through her persistence and unique voice (and I don't mean vocal resonance) by setting an example as a true trailblazer.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Indie_Business Indie_Business

Luci: You are so right about her mothering through the generations. Just imagine how many lives each of us as women touch and never even know about it. Blogging just extends that and multiplies the power of women on a mission to improve not only their lives, but the world. You're certainly doing that with your blog and radio show — women you don't even know are being touched and encouraged. It's an exciting thing to watch!

http://www.HereWeAreWithLuci.com Luci Weston

I don't believe Julia Child was filling a void because she couldn't or didn't have children. Her passion was food, eating, creating, and sharing that love with those she knew and those she would never know. Even if she had children of her own, she did not seem to be the type of woman who would abandon her deep passions for motherhood. In her own brilliant way, she has and will continue to mother generations through her persistence and unique voice (and I don't mean vocal resonance) by setting an example as a true trailblazer.

http://www.ladolcedivainc.com/thesweetlife/ La Dolce Diva

I agree with Luci. I think Julia celebrated true Joie de vivre. She obviously loved her husband and had passion for life…which finally found it's voice in cuisine.

I think the movie portrayed her as sad at points because she couldn't have kids, but I don't think she woke up every morning thinking- "oh, I don't have a child to raise so let me go to the cordon bleu and then edit a book for 8 years."

I wish the movie had been all about Julia. I found the blogger "Julie boring and whiny. But- that may have been just the actress.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Indie_Business Indie_Business

Jennifer: At one point, I remember thinking what a great movie Julia Child's life would make on its own. There must be a documentary of some sort out there somewhere. Ken Burns should do it. That would be nice. I remember also being enchanted with how Julia and her husband loved each other. It was so wonderful, especially when they got frisky. That was sweet. As for Julie being whiny, I think I would have been whiny too if I had to cook in a kitchen that small! LOL! Thanks for stopping by Diva!

http://www.soapqueen.com/ Anne-Marie

I love blogging; it's a wonderful way to communicate with people you wouldn't normally get to share thoughts, feelings and experiences with. It certainly opens up an entirely new world for a new group of friendships that I appreciate.

I loved the movie too – and was happy when Julie finally got to be happy and more empowered. It just goes to show that doing what you love really can and does pay off in the long run.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Indie_Business Indie_Business

Thanks, A-M. I remember feeling all tingly inside when Julie's husband sat down with her and encouraged her to start a blog. I knew what a treat she was in for and it was fun to be on the outside looking in at someone, knowing that a whole new world that they could not imagine was about to open up for them!

http://www.soapqueen.com Anne-Marie

I love blogging; it's a wonderful way to communicate with people you wouldn't normally get to share thoughts, feelings and experiences with. It certainly opens up an entirely new world for a new group of friendships that I appreciate.

I loved the movie too – and was happy when Julie finally got to be happy and more empowered. It just goes to show that doing what you love really can and does pay off in the long run.

http://www.scrubzbodyscrub.com/ Roberta Perry

Ladies, I could not have said it better myself! Thanks for putting it out there.
http://www.scrubzbodyscrub.com Roberta Perry

Ladies, I could not have said it better myself! Thanks for putting it out there.
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What Happens When Women Write

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