The Things My Brain Ate

On building inspiration shelves and more.

Hi friends.

I’m in Savannah, teaching a workshop and doing some events tonight. On my way here I had a two-hour layover in Nashville, where I had a productive moment. I sat down with a large coffee, and it was swill but it was still potent, and I had nowhere to be but just there, and suddenly my head felt clearer than it had felt in weeks, and I whipped through some (not all, sorry some of you out there) of those lingering emails and I felt like I was the champion of the world.

Then I got to see Tricia last night, and Jason, too, and it was fun to see him alive and in-person, especially as we had only met once before the pandemic. We ate fried chicken and played pool in a dive bar and even though I am very happy in my new home I was glad to take a break and be away from all the unpacking and strategizing and trying to figure out where things go. I have been trying to solve the problems of a house for weeks, but there was nothing I could do but just live and be out in the world for the last 24 hours and it was nice.

Tricia and I are very corny about writing with each other which I appreciate. (I would rather ride out this part of my life and career with sincerity rather than cynicism if I can help it.) Like in our universe it is a good thing to be obsessed with all the little things that make up being a writer.