I’m starting today with so many things I want to do and even more ideas. It’s both wonderful and frustrating. Certainly invigorating, though also easy to become paralyzed by decision overload. Here’s an attempt to share a little bit of what it’s like inside my head right now…
There I always something profoundly sad bout dogs in clinics and shelters. Perhaps because on some level we can all relate.
As an aside, the dog in the photo is from the clinic I work at and he is not snarling—he had an accident a while back and that old injury isn’t why he was visiting. He was simply so striking that I couldn’t resist taking a picture and that one in particular ended up matching so well with today’s poem that I had to use it.
And here…we…go…!
Ever consider how hard it is to separate the creator from the creation? Even when you know the creator? It’s an odd challenge for people on either side, both for producer and appreciator.
Nope, I didn’t forget today’s poem. I woke up this morning, sat in my chair with my notebook and a mug of coffee…and nothing. This doesn’t happen to me. I don’t get blocked! But I did. In large part this was because I couldn’t select my subject matter. Three guesses what I finally settled on. Funny how just picking something and giving yourself permission to suck, just so long as you move forward works. Or at least that’s been my repeated experience. Anyone else?
Today’s poem brought to you courtesy of that horrible feeling that hits you in the gut about 15-30 minutes after you’ve done something that makes you ask: “did I actually do X?”
Was thinking this morning about character agency in storytelling and how powerful a force it is. Remove it and you remove the heart and soul of the story. That got my thinking about agency in our lives. How do we express it and what happens when we do?
Another poem produced in the rush of my lunch break. I need to get back to my morning writing and branch out a little more with both my form and subject matter. Another block pulled and placed…
Feeling very meta today about the act of creation and the way we play with ideas and stories in our minds. I’ve had one in my head for half a year now, more or less stagnating, watching all my other ideas pass it by. Then a few days ago I had a new idea, one that would be a stretch to make work. It had heart and structure but lacked originality. Then came the old idea, which I think has a great concept but the characters weren’t leaping out at me and the story wasn’t wanting to shape. They came together like they were meant to be. It’s tough letting go of pieces of each of them, but the new thing is far more powerful and I can’t wait to bring it to life.
The newest addition to our home continues to inspire. She also continues to get so excited she forgets she’s supposed to go to the bathroom outside or on her puppy pad.
The Everyday Poet 