Hi there,

I’m so happy to have you here!

I’m Harper Spero. I’m a business coach, podcast host and writer.

I was diagnosed with a super rare immunodeficiency (as in, 300 of us worldwide) called Hyper IgE/Job’s Syndrome when I was ten years old. I was extremely ashamed about having an illness so instead of managing it, I ignored it. I pretended it didn’t exist and kept it a complete secret aside from my immediate family. My friends knew nothing.

In my late 20s, I could barely walk two blocks in Manhattan without feeling like I was going to collapse. After a negligent general practitioner provided me with antibiotics and inhalers that didn’t help, a pulmonologist found a golf-ball-sized cyst in my right lung. On March 5th, 2012, I had 1/4 of my right lung removed in a surgery I was told I potentially wouldn’t survive.

It was then that I realized I need to stop hiding and instead share my story. I filled my friends in on what my condition was and what the latest developments were. I started writing about my experience, taking writing classes and joining writing groups. My first published essay was for MindBodyGreen (don’t judge it, it was eight years ago! I’d like to think my writing has vastly improved since then).

MADE VISIBLE

In July of 2018, I launched Made Visible, a podcast sharing stories of people living with or affected by invisible illness. The podcast was featured by TheSkimm, Health magazine, SELF, Apartment Therapy and Well+Good. 

After releasing 100 episodes, I decided to stop recording. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I knew it was the right one--especially because soon after, I launched the Made Visible Writing Class. I’ve been writing about my own invisible illness for many years, so creating this class is a perfect intersection of my interests. It’s amazing to help people discover the illness stories they want and need to tell. 

ABOUT WRITING PROMPTS

Writing prompts are a helpful way to get in a creative zone and start writing. Oftentimes without them, we could stare at a piece of paper or a blank document on our computers waiting for the creativity to strike. It doesn’t always work that easily.

Oftentimes I’ll hear someone speak on a podcast or at an event and their words will inspire me to write.

I love prompts so I wanted to share prompts that I’ve created or been inspired by with you.

Each week, you’ll receive an invisible illness writing prompt. Sometimes it may be a single word and other times it may be a question with several layers. Sometimes they’ll be concepts I come up with and other times inspired by writers I admire.

My writing teacher always reminds me of the importance of writing first drafts with pen and paper instead of typing it. Don’t edit or proofread, just let the pen take over the paper.

I’m a fan of personal essay writing. It’s rare to get me writing less than 2000 words. I encourage you to write personal essays, short stories, lists or poetry. Choose your own adventure — there’s no rules here!

I hope you enjoy writing as much as I do.

Much love,

Harper

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Write about your relationship with invisible illness using prompts and questions to guide your writing.

People

Founder of Made Visible. Business Coach. Podcast Host. Writer. Native New Yorker. Chasing Sunsets in Tel Aviv.