Tag Archives: spirituality

2014-01-30

The girl behind the counter just yelled energetically.  “I’ve got a yummy, yummy mango smoothie.”

A couple days ago, I read Found Poem — Tribute to Pete Seeger, composed of his songs and lyrics by Shawn Bird.  The poem was moving, and enlightening.

I was moved to leave a comment, and enlighten my ignorance.

Not sure on the exact meaning of a found poem, I looked it up.

Makes me wonder.  Is yummy, yummy mango smoothie an example of poetry found?

Perhaps when sung to the woman who paid.

2014-01-29

Lately, at home in the evenings, usually.  I think about my writing and where am I going.

Fog clouds my next couple-three steps.

In the story of me writing a book, I am just a little stuck.  I can’t decide.  Do I not understand what next I need to do?  Or am I having some trouble with the idea I am striving to communicate?

This is how it feels right now.  It’s not a loss of confidence at all.  It’s just a feeling of befuddlement.

Recently I wrote an absurd thought in my journal.

Just write.  Just get ideas down.

And yet, right now, it is so hard to do.

2014-01-27

My growth as a writer comes from realizing new things.  For instance, I notice when people write well.

Each time I encounter something new, that I like in others, I have to ask myself.  Is that something only to be envied?  Or can I be more like that?

When I notice these things, I have to try them out.  To see if they work for me.  And, then.

I have to ask myself.  Yes.  It works.  But, is this me?

It’s me, when it comes on its own.  It’s me, when it slips in, beyond the notice of my internal editor.

Still later, I’ll read it again, with my editor’s hat on my head.  That’s when I decide whether I keep it.

And, sometimes I leave that hat on for too long.  I have ruined decent pieces by dwelling to much on every last detail.  If I believe the piece originally had merit, I’ll set it aside, and work with it when I can see with new eyes.

But, maybe, sometimes.  Overworking a piece is the only way to discover it lacked something all along.  This is the point of journaling.  And it’s also why I still don’t post every day.  I’m working up to that level of consistency.

I believe some writers have gifts.  But, good writers grow.  And, it matters less where I start my journey than where it ends.  But, I can only make progress by trying new things.