Listen: May 2019

Writing With Your Ears
 

I'm struck lately by how valuable listening can be to a writer, another way to hone attention and learn about craft. While I do still prefer reading a printed page, podcasts really have become another art form to admire and learn from. (Plus you can listen while you drive!). There are, of course, podcasts about writing--don't miss Liz Gilbert's Magic Lessons, which is guaranteed to put some wind in your creative sails (and if you don't have her TED talks bookmarked, do that now). I am also a fan of Darken the Page and The Need to Fail (a primer on my favorite topic, the importance of failure). But there's a lot of story out there too, and one of my favorite examples of this is Heavyweight. Each episode examines a moment in a person's life they want to go back and change or resolve somehow. There's a narrative in each episode--a beginning, a middle, and an end--with surprise and emotion along the way. It all adds up to great storytelling.

And last but not least, my morning accompaniment for a long, long time: KEXP radio out of Seattle, which is so much more than an independent radio station--it's a community, and one that every listener is invited to be a part of. For a taste of what they offer and how listening can make you feel a part of something bigger, tune in this Thursday May 23 for Music Heals: Addiction & Recovery, a full day of on-air programming dedicated to music’s power to heal, overcome addiction, inspire recovery and reduce the stigma around substance use disorder. Another thing they do every year that is indescribably powerful is The Mom Show, a dedication to all those we've lost. If you ever want or need to sit in a space of grief (a thing I think is not emphasized enough in our culture), this one's for you. 

There are so many ways to tell our stories and have our stories heard. Tell me about what's filling your ears and heart, and let's all keep listening.

I'm a little behind on my library stack, so this month I'm sharing this drawing from Eleanor Davis's book, How to Be Happy, shared with me by Writer Claire (thanks, Claire!). I'm going to print it out and post it above my desk, as it sums up 90% of the writing advice I ever need (the rest pertains to my overuse of em dashes and the words just, still, seem, and all).

Keep writing. Tell your story. You have plenty of time. 

The Shape of Stories  

As some of you know, I am married to a statistician, who sees the world in a beautifully organized way. He is also a Kurt Vonnegut fan. If you, like my spouse, value all that logic can show us, you may enjoy this video of Vonnegut charting story on an x-y axis.