It’s been a while!

I’ve aged since we last spoke! Been abroad! Been to the West Cork Literary Festival! Etc!

Was it a little bit dramatic to send out a blog post announcing three more books, and then dip? Mayhaps. Seventeen years in theatre will do that to you, I guess.

I took two weeks of rest in the sun and read a bunch of books to refuel my brain juice before diving back into writing. I legitimately believe I am most myself when I have space to read for six to eight hours a day. No one lets you sit in the dark with your precious tomes anymore, y’know? It’s not conducive to the Produce-Consume-Rinse-Repeat lifestyle we’ve built for ourselves.

What was I talking about? Oh, yeah. Having the mental space and energy to read books gives me the same feeling as having a big, nutritious, delicious meal when you’re hungry. You get to sit there and enjoy the flavours and textures, and you’re sated without being too full, and then you get to kind of laze about while you digest it all.

By the by, that’s another reason why I think AI regurgitation is overhyped mimicry. It eats and eats and eats, but it can’t digest anything. There’s a reason process exists. It’s all anyone ever asks artists about – “How did you do that?” Chewing is functional, but I also have a brain and tastebuds and memories and and and and–

This is not another blog post about AI (see: ART IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FUCKING CONVERSATION) but it’s been on my mind. How could it not be? It’s everywhere. Every bit of technology I own is trying to convince me to use their brand new AI feature.

Why bother crafting a text to your mom, am I right? Why bother enjoying the sensation of an oil pastel on paper, you’ve got your fingertips pressed against your screen protector, isn’t that much more beautiful? Oh, you’re experiencing chronic feelings of emptiness? Loneliness? Well, why not simulate a conversation? A friendship? A marriage?

(Even as I write this, the autocorrect system continuously suggests incorrect edits. What has happened? How have we ended up here?)

I’ve had a lot of time to read. To think. To write. To speak with other artists, and my loved ones. I feel better for it. That’s my point.