We’re looking forward to introducing you to L.L. Bauchet & Rae Ann Johnson & April Clement & Adam Parson & Rachael Nash. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning L.L. & Rae Ann & April & Adam & Rachael , it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Welcome! We are “The Hand Writing Group” based in Los Angeles. We all come together to write once a week every Tuesday evening and now making a short documentary. Who knows what else we will create, but it all births first from our writing:
RAE ANN JOHNSON: Anytime I am exploring, I lose track of time. Whether I am exploring a new area, characters on a page or visiting a coffee shop that was previously unknown to me, I am in my happy place.
L.L. BAUCHET: Leaving Los Angeles, CA and going to the vast open Sonoran Desert near Anza Borrego. Something about touching my feet to the bumpy desert sand clears my spirit and mind. I have better transmission of stories to write.
APRIL CLEMENT: Stream of Consciousness Writing, a walk on the beach, Vinyasa Flow Yoga Practice, Reading a good book or watching a good movie, Listening to music
RACHAEL NASH: I get lost in writing a good story. I can get lost in the places and situations I write on paper. I am able to purge what I need to. I also get lost in my photography. I go into a zone that takes a while to snap out of. I get lost in reviewing the photos. I am out in nature when I can be. Creating art heals the soul that nothing else will.
ADAM PARSON: The morning walk with my dog, with no phone, early in the morning is hands down one of the best ways to lose track of time because it’s just me, him and the stillness of a starting day. Can’t beat it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
RAE ANN JOHNSON: My name is Rae Ann Johnson and I am currently writing a survival drama, feature film script with two female leads that are best friends. I am also really proud of a documentary that I am currently filming with my favorite creatives, I call the Core 4, in my writing group.
L.L.BAUCHET: My name is L.L. Bauchet and have in the works a novella series that I publish in “mini” chapters on Substack. At one time, I had this idea that I had to publish a full length monstrous novel but then realized that’s not the case. With tools like Substack, I am publishing in real time in small increments. Done is better than perfect. My writing took off in quantum leaps once I became part of the writing group with Rae Ann and other fellow writers in Los Angeles.
APRIL CLEMENT: My name is April Clement, and I write contemporary fiction, short stories, poetry, and I keep a daily journal. What flows from my subconsciousness into my fingertips is my own life experiences intertwined with realistic characters learning life’s lessons. A healing journey that is influenced by a touch of the spiritual or supernatural realm.
RACHAEL NASH: My name is Rachael Nash and I write non fiction. I have always been interested in human nature and what gives people quality of life. I joined the group a handful of months ago. I really appreciated the fact that we are all older with more life experiences to write about. I would be open to expanding the group to welcome a more variety of ages and backgrounds.
ADAM PARSON: My name is Adam Parson, and I am a choreographer first, which puts food on the table, and I have written a memoir and since joining the writers group, I’ve produced my proof of concept video and I’m currently in the process of completing a pitch deck for my upcoming 10 episode TV Action/Drama.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
RAE ANN JOHNSON: In elementary school. I would write these creative short stories, more like tall tales, and I always received encouraging comments from my teachers, especially Mrs. Oliver.
L.L. BAUCHET: Working on creative projects where I had to go deep into myself and pull something out into the material world – that’s my earliest memory of feeling powerful.
APRIL CLEMENT: My earliest memory of feeling powerful is when I gave birth to my daughter after experiencing multiple pregnancy losses.
RACHAEL NASH: I was five or six when the neighbors had a garage sale, They were selling a horse on springs. I had the money to buy it. I had the purchase power for my first bid ticket item.
ADAM PARSON: I was running a race around a track in Africa and for a month I wasn’t placing. Then my grandmother came over from New York. She watched me run and explained I wasn’t breathing properly. Once she showed how to take air in through the nose and out the mouth, I was consistently in the top three across the finish line. I felt invincible and that was all down to my grandmother.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
RAE ANN JOHNSON: Suffering teaches you to be persistent and to self-regulate your emotions in a healthier way. It also makes success, in business or relationships, that much more valuable.
L.L. BAUCHET: Suffering has taught me that no matter the level of success achieved, you still carry you with you. Nothing can change that – money nor success.
APRIL CLEMENT: Suffering has taught me perseverance, and to trust my own intuition. If I would have given up on having a child (like so many people encouraged me to do) my daughter would not be here today. I’m also learning to let go of attachment to the end result of a goal or quest. To let things flow and trust in Divine timing. I’m learning to stop fighting with life when it creates obstacles to re-align my direction to new shifting personal values and to people who support those values– such as this Writing Group.
ADAM PARSON: Failure is a gift. If you look at the suffering from all angles and not just the view in front of you, you can process your suffering quicker and GET GOING.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
RAE ANN JOHNSON: I have a docu-drama that I have been slowly writing for years that I have not talked about publicly but it is never far from my thoughts. I hope to move it to the front burner soon.
L.L. BAUCHET: I had this belief to explore the world on my own terms, and write. This belief stayed out of reach for so long. Now I see the belief coming to terms with my physical reality. The belief amped up with “the Hand” as I call it – the five of us writers committed to surpassing our invisible walls.
APRIL CLEMENT: I ’m committed to discovering and living by my own authentic voice. To keep pursuing understanding of the unknown (what’s beyond sensory perception). I’m committed to writing and completing my novel, Starfish.
ADAM PARSON: I started writing my memoir in 2001 and never gave up on it. Even when a dog (not my dog) knocked the hard drive onto the floor and it shattered, destroying 10 years of writing, I’m almost done and ready to edit.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
RAE ANN JOHNSON: I would stop working my day job immediately so that I could spend every minute traveling, writing and spending time with loved ones.
L.L. BAUCHET: I’d hurry the hell up and finish this damn novella series, Mission Liberty, and make it into a novel and find a literary agent ASAP. Of course I’d go straight to New York City where my adult kids at, and stay there for a bit.
APRIL CLEMENT: I would stop living by other people’s standards, and trust my own.I’d build my dream healing center and shala, pamper myself, write, and study ancient texts and philosophies such as the Vedas. I’d dig more into the history of Itza. I’d spend time with my loved ones, find ways to heal, and to help others to heal.
ADAM PARSON: I would stop worrying about where money’s gonna come from and I’d travel to more places. I’d learn more languages to be able to talk to more people. I’d start a junior version of my dance company, Commonality.
Image Credits
Taken by “The Hand” Writing Group at our various events.
