the artist googles “how to be an artist”
In which I learn what I already knew: Being a writer and artist means practicing. It also helps to play — and celebrate small wins along the way!
Tag: gertie manuscript
the shake-up is shaping up
The new approach is like sensible shoes: not quite as sexy but less pain, more mileage. At least that’s the idea. And so far, so good! I’ve been keeping up with art and writing by doing at least one small thing each day, and it’s helping me reconstruct the idea of myself as a poet and artist.
a new approach to writing goals
I’m going to focus on positivity and pleasure. I’m aiming for encouragement, support and satisfaction. I’m interested in building on what I’ve already learned about who I am and where I can imbue my process with possibility.
what comes after ambition
I’ve embraced productivity as a synonym for success for so long that it’s hard now to accept my desire for something else in its place.
poets were not meant to portage
The boats are heavy. My hands are soft. The portage “saves us” from a series of rapids and falls but is so taxing I joke that, next time, I’m just going for it.
what does success even look like?
I took the summer off, almost entirely, from any of the familiar measures of writing productivity. Here’s what I did instead.
“luckily for margaret”
I just finished re-reading* Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret in the context of a manuscript I’m working on in which the speaker confides in and seeks guidance from an alter ego named Gertie. I’m not 100% convinced I can pull it off, but I’m following it where it goes and using my writing journals to get me there.