#65: The Sun’s in My Heart
Thank goodness, because this rain is interminable! Or, an update on some creative projects, and summer so far.
We survived graduation week, and with it, the month of June: Thirty days of near-freezing temperatures that then swung into full tropics humidity - complete with more than 8 inches of rain, most of which we got in the last two weeks, leading the entire province to dissolve into une folie aux milles.
On the plus side, this has given me ample time to catch up on/indulge in various creative projects.
Remember the temperature blanket project? We’re halfway done!
Of course, had I done this by precipitation amounts instead, it would be mostly whatever colour I attributed to “biblical”. (Probably a nice stormy blue.)
The progress on writing a book of poetry continues.
The Dingbats* notebook gifted via
and his anniversary draw is one-third complete. Originally, I thought I would write 3-4 pages a day. I’m still trying to write daily, but June proved challenging as I also recorded (then, needed to edit) four podcast episodes.I know, excuses. But my brain had reached full cognitive load, and I didn’t want to loathe the exercise. I want to finish this, so I’ve altered the plan to be 15 min a day (my tried and true dissertation trick).
As I mentioned in an earlier note this week, the goal is to fill it without looking at anything I’ve written (thereby reducing procrastination by navel gazing). Then, I’ll get a new notebook, and begin sampling and revising from this repository of what, I suspect, will largely be offal (and awful). I’m firmly in the camp of, “Write first, then edit”, and engaging in this bloodletting is key to unearthing the healthy literary tissues.
I’ve also been mulling over themes or ways to arrange the book, but nothing firm; I don’t want to constrain the pieces by any one theme just yet.
This is all a foreign concept to me. The only “book” I’ve previously written was my dissertation, and both the format and content is rather prescribed. So I’m sharing the process with you, not to indulge in any inflated sense of self-importance, but to hold myself to account and, also, to welcome you to share your own experiences in the comments.
Speaking of writing and getting the creative juices flowing, one trick I have used when I wanted to write these last weeks is “blackout” poetry: You take an existing piece of writing - such as an aged, barely-together paperback on psychoanalysis - circle the words you want to keep in your poem, then strike through the rest.
It’s become an obsession. Finding the works and piecing something together is just enough of a puzzle, and crossing out big sections of text with a Sharpie marker is beyond satisfying. Adding artistic flourishes around it is optional, but also recommended.
As the skies begin to turn blue again, I’m feeling rejuvenated, but also grateful for a toolbox of creative projects for the days when the slump is felt in earnest.
I’m also grateful for all you fine folks! Thanks for reading and reaching out in comments and emails. If you haven’t yet, introduce yourself and share how your summer is going so far. I’d love to hear from you, or meet you!
Happy summer, Bryn! Loving the blanket, and yes, had you done it for precipitation...yeesh. The last month would have been something.
I’ve not put anything in my notebook from Mark already but you’re pushing me to start the project I want to put in there!
I love the blanket! If I had one it would be mostly red for the temperatures this summer 🔥 I love the idea of writing a book of poetry. It’s something I’ve always considered doing, just for fun. Poetry says so much that prose tends to obstruct .