I loved this piece, Brian. It's hypnotic to listen to you describe your daily routine. I wish I had that kind of discipline. I'm more like a neurotic hummingbird flitting from one task to another as one bloom seduces me more than the last, or on the flip side, something threatens to boil over if left unattended.
Thank you Ben! I have those moments too. I think the idea of Ritual is one that I missed in this piece and would be a better description of the things I do to try to inspire creativity. Routine is one thing, and its fine, but it is different for everyone like you are expressing. But ritual? I imagine most who are doing the work are doing have some ritual to help bring it into the world!
Your openness has made a home that welcomes the Muse’s song every morning. I feel like you’re mindfully creating conditions to thrive. At the same time, it seems like you’ve kept things simple and playful—full of good humor—the word “fun” leaps out at me :) Your habits keep you always topped-off, always ready to engage the Muse *whenever* she visits. Or *wherever* like up at the lake, when your devotion to your morning ritual brought the joy of this poem to life! Sometimes the right conditions can awaken us in a new way, and then you just let love guide your hand across the page. Really now—what’s better than that?
"While none of the nine sister goddesses have ever stopped by and knocked on my door..." -- I would argue they are sweeping into your room each morning, knowing you are sitting there being open and ready for them.
I'm struggling at the moment to find a routine, despite this week having something wonderful that was very inspiring and motivating. Reading your words helps me affirm what I want in my creative life in terms of motivation and routine. Thanks as always for being so open, and sorry for being so slow to get to this.
It does seem like the Muse appreciates a habit life as much as it does spontaneity. Apollonian and Dionysian and all that mess (that’s how Baron Fig caught my eye!). Does your composition medium change up, too? Do you always write by hand? I try to every now and then—I’m often found with a Field Notes in my shirt pocket, and I used to use it multiple times a day when I was teaching—but for some reason I rarely compose an entire poem by hand. I’ve been wondering what it would take to be more disciplined with my writing habits, to create a habit that literally every writer I look up to says is crucial.
Thanks for the comment Andrew! I like your point about spontaneity. I wonder if having a few habits creates more space for spontaneity throughout one's week?
I do almost every draft by hand, including at times rewriting an entire poem draft in clean form (without the strike throughs and arrows and side notes...) just to get a full, fresh feel of the piece. Once it feels like a relatively complete poem, I move it to the computer for final editing. Sometimes once typed, it's done, and other times the editing process takes months and the final does not resemble what was in the notebook. But there is something I love about spending a lot of time with each piece on paper.
I loved this piece, Brian. It's hypnotic to listen to you describe your daily routine. I wish I had that kind of discipline. I'm more like a neurotic hummingbird flitting from one task to another as one bloom seduces me more than the last, or on the flip side, something threatens to boil over if left unattended.
Thank you Ben! I have those moments too. I think the idea of Ritual is one that I missed in this piece and would be a better description of the things I do to try to inspire creativity. Routine is one thing, and its fine, but it is different for everyone like you are expressing. But ritual? I imagine most who are doing the work are doing have some ritual to help bring it into the world!
Your openness has made a home that welcomes the Muse’s song every morning. I feel like you’re mindfully creating conditions to thrive. At the same time, it seems like you’ve kept things simple and playful—full of good humor—the word “fun” leaps out at me :) Your habits keep you always topped-off, always ready to engage the Muse *whenever* she visits. Or *wherever* like up at the lake, when your devotion to your morning ritual brought the joy of this poem to life! Sometimes the right conditions can awaken us in a new way, and then you just let love guide your hand across the page. Really now—what’s better than that?
Not much! It is quite the feeling to live from that place, even if only every so often! Thanks as always for reading and your thoughtful comments!
Brian, I am releasing a deep, soft sigh. This is an absolutely beautiful piece!! Truly lovely. Thank you for sharing! XO
Thank you for reading it Danielle! A sigh is another great descriptor to how this piece made me feel as well. A type of letting go...
Beautiful! We all need that. And more often. XO
Love all of this, Brian.
"While none of the nine sister goddesses have ever stopped by and knocked on my door..." -- I would argue they are sweeping into your room each morning, knowing you are sitting there being open and ready for them.
I'm struggling at the moment to find a routine, despite this week having something wonderful that was very inspiring and motivating. Reading your words helps me affirm what I want in my creative life in terms of motivation and routine. Thanks as always for being so open, and sorry for being so slow to get to this.
Ever any need to apologize. Plus…I think I’m usually popping into your chat about a week late🙃
I’m glad this felt affirming for you!
It does seem like the Muse appreciates a habit life as much as it does spontaneity. Apollonian and Dionysian and all that mess (that’s how Baron Fig caught my eye!). Does your composition medium change up, too? Do you always write by hand? I try to every now and then—I’m often found with a Field Notes in my shirt pocket, and I used to use it multiple times a day when I was teaching—but for some reason I rarely compose an entire poem by hand. I’ve been wondering what it would take to be more disciplined with my writing habits, to create a habit that literally every writer I look up to says is crucial.
Thanks for the prompt to contemplation!
Thanks for the comment Andrew! I like your point about spontaneity. I wonder if having a few habits creates more space for spontaneity throughout one's week?
I do almost every draft by hand, including at times rewriting an entire poem draft in clean form (without the strike throughs and arrows and side notes...) just to get a full, fresh feel of the piece. Once it feels like a relatively complete poem, I move it to the computer for final editing. Sometimes once typed, it's done, and other times the editing process takes months and the final does not resemble what was in the notebook. But there is something I love about spending a lot of time with each piece on paper.