I re-read Edna St. Vincent-Millay’s poem “Afternoon on a Hill” yesterday morning, finding it tucked into the “Joy” section of my new Bright Poems for Dark Days anthology. I wrote about this exact poem during those early caliginous weeks of the pandemic years ago, when I was surviving each day by searching for one bright spot of color. My scansion at that time focused narrowly on verb choice, something that didn’t even come to the door on yesterday’s reading — another instance in which I find text as malleable as clay — but I was drawn then and now to the lines “I will look at cliffs and clouds / with quiet eyes.” I love this couplet. It captures so well my personal imperative as a writer: to care-ingly,* non-intrusively notice the world. I’ll never forget a podcast interview in which Rick Rubins, celebrated music producer, explained his approach to finding and cultivating new talent. He asks himself, “What’s making me lean forward?” I think this is core to any creative practice — the close looking, the leaning forward, the watching with quiet eyes.
It made me think, too, that there is something about writing that feels like fishing with an ambiguous rod:
you will often net nothing —
but you might reel in a trout, or you might reel in a whale,
and none of it happens without paying attention and casting out.
And God it feels good to fish anyway.
Thinking about this today because a reader wrote me a note a few weeks ago seeking encouragement in her creative undertakings. As she put it: “the wind sort of left my sails as I pondered what am I even doing, as someone who loves writing and sharing visual things I experience with people.” I replied: “I understand too well how those forces you mention can deter you, can unseat you, can leave you disenchanted. But keep creating! Keep going! There is a quote I think about often — “a bird does not sing because it has an answer; it sings because it has a song.” I return to this as a kind of ethic for writing. I do not need to know why I write, I do not need to know how it will be received. It does not need to ask for anything. It can just be a song.”
And I think somewhere amidst this webbing of thoughts today, I am consolidating a kind of manifesto for my own creativity that might be helpful to writers who find themselves disillusioned:
Shake hands with the blank page daily
Spend most of your time noticing the world, and watch it show up in letters later.
You do not need to know why you write.
Your job is to shape something and send it out into the world; the reader’s job is to determine whether it is successful. Frankly, the latter is none of your business.
All good writing begins with an bad first draft.
Think carefully about what you include and exclude in prose — some things are most powerful left hanging behind the curtains.
If you are uninspired, read something good.
Your writing does not need to ask for anything–in fact, should not ask for anything. It can just be a song.
Post-Scripts.
*Care-ingly is a Mary Oliver-ism.
+More advice on getting started with writing — this one is more tactical.
+Do you consider yourself creative?
Post-Scripts.
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+So many incredible sales going on right now. I want to highlight two items I wore yesterday that I am loving — first, my new Freda Salvador Brooke boots. We chatted about these over the weekend, but they are water-resistant suede and have a great, narrow silhouette up top and chic lug sole. J’adore. They are a Freda Salvador bestsellers season after season, and are 25% off through tomorrow only. Can’t rec enough. Did I mention they’re water-resistant suede? So, like, actually practical for sludgy winter weather. I got them in the brown suede — I actually think this color will prove highly versatile and useful. (But I wanted the espresso suede color, which was sold out in my size!) Second, my favorite Kilte cardigan! It’s $50 off as a part of their Black Friday promotion. I am in loveeee with this sweater. It is the softest sweater I own — almost has the feeling of a Barefoot Dreams blanket? — and of course I’m in love with the fair isle motif in those gorgeous blues.
+Shhhh – I’m not sure when this will go live, but at some point today, a little birdie told me that SoldOut will be launching a Black Friday sale that includes several of their viral, luxe basics (of which, as you know, I am an enormous fan), like their Iconically Soft tee. I have gradually replaced nearly all of my tees with these — the perfect fit, ultra-soft, and a thinner weight that tucks well (but is not burnout / not see through). My other Sold Out favorites: this scoopneck tank (sexy and opaque/a nice thick rib), their Everything Shirt (SOOO luxe — runs very oversized, FYI), and their featherweight cashmere turtleneck. All 25% off!
+Doen launched a second winter collection yesterday. This LBD is gorgeous.
+Stocked up on a few of these holiday sticker books for my daughter — she has loved these since she was maybe 3 years old! Still does!
+SO tempted by this velvet blazer for my son’s Christmas Eve outfit.
+I’ve written about this brand a lot lately, but I have become such a fan girl of Iris and Romeo. I have been using their foundation daily (picking it over Westman!) because I like the gel consistency during these drying winter months. I find it lays beautifully and does not feel at all cakey. I also more or less coerced my sister into trying their concealer — it’s my go-to. It provides a good amount of coverage but has a natural, dewy finish. I love it. I can’t encourage you more to toss a concealer into your cart for your next order! Last but not least, on the days/mornings I don’t want a full face of makeup, I love their Weekend Skin tinted moisturizer — hydrating, evens out skin a little bit, and gives you a great amount of glow. I actually just discovered they have a “warm glow” version (I’d previously used the ‘universal’ color) and ordered it to try.
+The play kitchens from Teamson are so adorable. We bought one for my kids a few Christmases ago and I still find it charming any time I go up to the top floor play room. Great, dramatic Christmas gift.
+Drooling over this Hermes-esque simple leather clutch in the emerald green color.
+Dorsey just launched these really cool lab-grown pendants you can attach to your rivieres for a different, more dramatic, look this fall. I’m intrigued by the emerald and tourmaline. Just something new and different!
+A propos of today’s post on leaning forward / observing / seeking: this necklace would be such a great gift for a creative. It’s also reminding me of a quote by Louise Gluck: “Anyone who writes is a seeker. You look at a blank page and you’re seeking. The role is assigned to us and never removed. I think this is an unbelievable blessing. I mean, to be seventy-eight years old and still looking–this amazes me.”
+Roz has some really beautiful holiday gift sets — buy this and stow the minis away for your next trip!
+New beauty brand alert: intrigued by these highlighters from Neen, which was just launched by the founder of Stila!