no, i haven't given up on sun showers
I come bearing apologies. To you, yes, but I’m also under no illusion that my oh-so-many readers (big LOL here) were waiting with baited breath for the next newsletter, and so I’m also (maybe mostly) apologizing to myself.
I started this newsletter to feel connected to other writers and artists, and to build up my writing practice. I’ve literally always struggled with keeping up a regular writing routine, and so literally always am trying to give myself little challenges and habits and responsibilities to be more diligent. So I did 365-day challenges and made tumblrs (no links here, don’t even try, buddy) and joined creative writing classes and then a writing group and wrote myself schedules of submissions and then, of course, started this newsletter.
Can you relate? Am I preaching to the crowd? Am I pondering into the void? Well, frankly, either option is okay because I know that the best way to hone any skill is practice. Practice practice practice and then do it some more.
Why? Because we love it and something inside us compels?
Yes, but also because there’s a little flame inside that can’t be ignored and that is the flame that yearns to publish. Why publish? External validation, I guess. I won’t lie. Honestly, I truly believe that most creatives want outside validation in some form, whether it be monetary, awards, the acknowledgment of others, all of it. And if you’re thinking to yourself, “no way, I am Charles Bukowski and this all just comes out of me with no effort whatsoever,” then fiiine. Good for you, and please don’t ever tell me that because I will resent you. Just kidding. Well, sort of. I would like to know out of curiosity, but don’t expect me to like you for it.
But anyway, by devoting myself to a weekly practice I not only strengthen my skills and voice, but also—ta-da!!—publish myself in my own small way. A glorified blog, yes, but so be it. Can’t get out there without a little discomfort, right?
So, yes, I come bearing apologies to you, and also to myself for letting one week turn to two, three, four, five, god how long has it been? I’m back on the horse, back in the saddle, back to it. Hello, friend.
Let's write. Let's connect.
prompt #19
In this messy, overwhelming world of death and life, joy and pain, today’s prompt is a question: what have you been putting off? What secret excitement or terrifying passion have you been avoiding and ignoring for fear of not giving it its due or for fear of failing or for fear of succeeding?
Write about it. List out the what, reflect on the whys. Slice through your avoidance and splay it open on the counter and pick and prod into its depths and take a real look. See the scary part. You weren’t avoiding it for no reason, after all.
So what is it? What have you been putting off?
(PS I’m counting my intro as my piece, so there ya go.)