Hello Zesties,
I’ve felt a bit overwhelmed lately so if I haven’t replied to your comments and emails, I’m sorry. I’ve just been opening the app to send the email and then retreating back into my bubble.
I love Substack and Instagram and all the rest for the ability to connect with other creatives but at other times I hate it because I want to crawl into a cave and not have to talk to anyone! I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling this way.
But we have to pick our social spaces and I’ve been out and about meeting people IRL and worrying about bills, which means less time for internet business.
1 Gigging
This week I’ve been travelling for gigs. On Wednesday I was in Chester for Lampoonery of the Shallows with Oliver Lewis. I got 25 minutes to do my thing and really enjoyed the space to talk about my poems and give them room to breathe.
On Saturday I was in Leeds for the Poets Talking Bollocks festival. So many great poets with such diverse voices. I love what Keith and Aqeel are doing. If you’re in and around Leeds get down to their open mic. It’s a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
2 What to do Once You’ve Finished a Project
I’ve put a line under my current batch of poems. They feel done. I’ve packaged them up in a pamphlet and now I’m working to get them published and performed. But that leaves a big vacuum of creative time. I have loads of ideas, including very specific poetry projects and 5 abandoned novels. I’ve been listening to Austin Kleon who says to Keep Going and Elijah, who’s retiring his yellow square project at the end of the year.
3 Channeling an Abundant Mindset
That vacuum between projects has given me space to evaluate my finances – or lack thereof. It’s so easy to spiral, worrying about money and getting into a scarcity mindset thinking about what you don’t have instead of all the wonderful things you do have. I’ve put some time aside next week to review the Creative Intentions I set at the start of the year. It’s time for a new focus with abundance at its heart.
4 Writing the Moon
There’s still time to sign up for Writing the Moon on Tuesday. This one has sold really quickly but there are still a few spaces left. Book now before it fills up!
5 Poem
Another Woman
~ Hannah Bonner
I wait for night to turn over within me. Then another woman walks out of the space where I have been. Like pine in an open window, and the light there, lengthening – and the rain. The rain. Its heaving. Its pulsing fold, its blue.
6 Quote
Poets: Is perfectionism making you delay the finishing of your poem, book or project. Be aware that this delay might make you miss your works season and all ideas have an appropriate season. Each season has to end for a new season to occur bringing growth, energy and renewal. If you’re constantly stuck in an old season and you can’t let go then no fresh ideas or energy can start sprouting.
~ Roger Robinson
7 Prompt
As we move into Autumn, and the leaves start to turn, think about the ways your own creativity has blossomed and bloomed, and is now maturing. Write about your golden age. Try and find a different metaphor - one that is personal to you and your creative practice.
I’ll see some of you on Tuesday for Writing the Moon!
Have a great week creating.
Lots of love
Lorna 🍊