hello lovely child

Cut, cut, cut. But don't waste the Jesus bandaids. And read everything by Kurt Vonnegut.

Don't use up all the fancy bandages in a day. I know. It's hard. They're pretty and bring more comfort than Hello Kitty ones.

I love Vonnegut's voice, don't you? Here's what he once said about writing:

1. Find a subject you care about.
2. Do not ramble, though.
3. Keep it simple.
4. Have the guts to cut.
5. Sound like yourself.
6. Say what you mean to say.
7. Pity the readers.

As quoted in Science Fictionisms (1995), compiled by William Rotsler.

Quiet your thoughts by picturing mice or don't.

Anne Lamott references a great tip in Bird by Bird (the most helpful book I've read about writing).

Many writers experience chatter in their brains even away from the notebook or laptop, and she says in order to bid goodbye to it (and SLEEP!), she imagines the thoughts are little mice. She picks each one up by its tail and drops it into a jar before replacing the lid.

I find this exercise to be effective EXCEPT when I'm mouse phobic. Which is all the time. Carefully weigh your options before picturing rodents or touching those miserable tails.

Instead, go online and devour the work of cupcake bloggers. Or imagine Edward Cullen breaking the neck of each racing bad vampirish thought.

But you know what honestly works? Deciding to record these ramblings (however odd they come to you) for future exploitation and fortune. KNOW that this chatter is going to make you millions. Then a miracle happens. Lucky for you, all the juiciness and the voices and the potential for wealth will be gone.

image, Christina Romeo

Hold on loosely.  WRITE EVERYDAY WHETHER YOU'RE INSPIRED OR NOT

It is tempting to rush the words when inspiration comes - to grab immediately and squeeze thoughts aggressively from consciousness in order to own them.

But handling them gently for a little while is often preferable. Time allows ideas to deepen. Of course, this is never good advice to follow when you have a deadline.

This tendency to rush in grows in strength as I gain more writing experience. It is a response pattern consistently reinforced by the online revolution, Carpe Diem messages everywhere, and self-imposed pressure to produce. It's easy to get entangled. So I have to be intentional as I wait on synthesis and magic to happen on their own time. And I have to trust they WILL happen.

*image, mighty to save

Just notice.

Sage advice dating back to my counselor training days. Just notice doesn't sound heavy. But it is.

What is REALLY being said in the conversation? What is left out? Why is your stomach upset when you do that? Why is your energy zapped around her? Did you see the way the robin just chased the butterfly around that Maple?


Just notice then chew on it. Develop it and discover what it means. Don't expect readers to jump up and down about your awareness. Unless. You can make them care by writing something honest and writing it well.

It is incredibly hard not to suck.

Tonight I've been editing essay stuff written in the last few weeks (some of it was even posted), and it's all crap. All.

I am disgusted

and overwhelmed

and thinking I may need a break, a change of scenery, a new career, or stronger prescriptions.