I'm Back

I’ve convinced myself that 4:00 a.m. is the magic time to write. There’s a secret portal open at this hour where your mind is in a dream like/awake like state where creativity without judgment is in abundance. I think Elizabeth Gilbert alluded to this in a podcast (or was it her book, Big Magic?) I’m not sure, but I heard it once and have held onto it ever since. Unfortunately, 4:00 a.m. is also the magic time to sleep. And there are few things I love more than sleep.

Alas, I did not get up at when my alarm went off this morning. So here I am at 1:18 p.m. trying to write while I stare at Goldie’s monitor, hoping she naps for an hour longer.

I’ve tried to rename this substack (newsletter, post, email? tbh I don’t know what this is) doesn’t matter, I suppose. Whatever this is, I’ve tried to name it Come On, Kid. As in, Come On Kid, This Is Your Dream. Because on the mornings when I actually do get up at the magical hour to write, it’s usually because I hear the muses I’ve begged to come back whisper in my head, Come On Kid, This Is Your Dream. And I get up. However, sometimes if I’m extra sleepy and refuse to move and the muses are feeling sassy and like they really want to get something out they’ll follow it up with a more stern -seriously get your ass up, stop acting like this is physical labor we’re literally just telling you to get up so you can go play in your head and write little words on your computer like you *sometimes* love to do. Stop making such a fucking big deal out of everything. But I appreciate their kind words first.

I sometimes worry I’ve forgotten how to write because I took such a long break after publishing Birdie & Harlow. I also worry I’m just a little more cynical now because there was a time when I hoped Birdie & Harlow would be my way out of grinding on social media only to find out publishing a book is a deeper way in… Such is the case when you get a book deal in a social media world.

Speaking of, I want to use this space to ramble (clearly!) but also to be helpful if I can. Helpful in a way beyond LOOK AT HOW I CURL MY HAIR *there is nothing wrong with wanting to curl one’s hair* but for the sake of what I’m saying here I mean I’d like to help those stuck in a rut for writing, or those who want to know more about publishing, etc. (I don’t know what etc means here, I just added it so I had more than two things.)

I have to go now, but I’ll leave you with the plan I’ve written down for today about how to get words on the paper.

Just write something shitty.

Then correct it later and make it less shitty.

Finally, make it not at all shitty and very much enjoyable.