Hello Reader,
In the closing session of a somatic certificate program, Linda Thai said to us, “We love each other into becoming.”
As a writer, I also see how I love my book into becoming.
I just finished a book writing sprint with my dear writer friend. We didn’t co-write but we did exchange accountability check-in’s.
We both started writing our books six years ago in March. Six years is a long time to hold a parallel world in the heart, body and mind.
The pressure of a structured time constraint has often been fruitful to me, regardless of art form. With a creative deadline or performance coming up, I immerse myself deeply.
But the immersion isn’t longterm sustainable. I weave in choice-points with downtime to touch grass, go analogue, pick up my guitar, move my body.
I met my goal of ten writing sessions with flexibility about when those happened over a couple of weeks.
I had so many a-ha moments at the structural level. I deepened thematic connections with fertile research, and dropped in to write scenes at the line-level.
In reference to James Sacré’s poem “One day writing will become too difficult,” translator Youmna Chamieh says “the poem says, writing is an act of the living; that’s why it carries within it the knowledge of an inevitable end.”
“The inevitable end” doesn’t scare me so much as it drives me these days. My time and energy is finite. How I give my attention is how I give love.
Yes, I will finish my book and write “the end,” after I take it as far as I can.
In the meantime, I want to love well, in this body, in this body of work, in relationship to each other's becoming.
Reflection
What is yours that is finite that you treasure? How can you honor the finite today? What/who/how can you love into becoming?
Resources
My Creative Updates & Offerings
I am moved to share that I completed a 12-week certificate program in “Somatic Embodiment & Regulation Strategies,” led by Linda Thai. I've already started bringing some of the learning into my own body, as well as my workshops.
I'll be teaching creative writing residencies with Literary Arts Writers in the Schools again this semester.
Community & Care
Rememory: A Poem (Opening Reception): Ebony Frison and Stephanie Adams-Santos, both Portland-based artists and poets, come together to create a space to recall, reflect, and hold grief. Friday, April 3rd, at Ori Gallery, in Portland, Oregon.
From NPR on building community.
Writerly & creative resources:
Words of Mouth, a weekly newsletter with creative opportunities.
Legal tips on writer small press contracts.
A non-exhaustive list of writing (and art) residencies in the so-called US.
Long COVID resources:
In honor of International Long COVID Awareness day and my partner who lives with Long COVID acquired ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), here's a few resources:
From Kim Moy, Caregiver Wisdom resources for chronic illness caregivers.
Long COVID Essentials, a resource sheet series and from RTHM a Long COVID treatment guide.
The Sick Times Drawing the elephant: Nine artists illustrating Long COVID and the ongoing pandemic and from artist Nyx Mir, This is what it feels like: Artist visualizes Long COVID symptoms.
Soft Pants for Your Mind
This comic by Amanda Awanjo made me smile "My Sensible Work Pants Have Chosen Violence."
Strange film that I loved on Kanopy — perfectly a strangeness, wordless 15 minute documentary of three cosmic donkeys clopping around.
Fiona Apple covers Sharon Van Etten’s “Love More."
Notes & Citations
a James Sacré poem translated from the French by Youmna Chamieh: https://poets.org/poem/one-day-writing-will-become-too-difficult
Let’s resource! Let’s play! Let’s happen to notice, together.
In peace,
Vanessa Micale
Founder of Poderosa Voz LLC
(she, they, ella)
P.S. You can show your support by sharing this micro-newsletter with a friend, or you can send me a digital tip and treat me to a pastry.
P.P.S. Sharing resources is one of my love languages. Is there a resource related to somatic and creative realms you want to see or you know of? Hit reply and let me know.
