Or as that obsequious character, Uriah Heep, in Dickens' book David Copperfield would say " I'm umble, I am."
I don't feel too insecure right now, but that feeling is not based on anything external. I'm not writing much these days - not since the Tibetan New Year on February 16th. I have 97 thousand words on the memoir and I'm letting it steep. Or cool off, or whatever fat sketchy manuscripts are supposed to do.
The closest thing to a writerly project I have on the go is that I'm designing a chapbook of my poetry. I'm doing it as an assignment I've given myself on the Sketchbook Skool Kourse I'm taking called Illustration Nation. It is the 14th SBS kourse I've signed up for. I entered a chapbook contest this month and then decided I'd publish it myself if I can't find someone to publish me. Self-publishing a chapbook is a perfectly old and honoured tradition and being able to design all the elements from the cover to the end papers, illustrations, typography and dingbats seems deeply fun to me right now.
The other reason I'm writing less is two-time. I've had a persistent dry cough for going on three weeks and I'm substituting at the Innu school on the reserve near here. It is wildly fun BUT exhausting. Next week I'll be the gym teacher all week. May I tell those of you who don't know me - I'm not the phys ed type, but I did it three days last week and had a ball. At the end of the day all I can manage is to moan on the couch.
So writing? Not so much.
As to this month's question "How do you celebrate a writing achievement?" Hmmm...If I were at home in Nova Scotia I'd go out with the fella to a great place to eat. Here? Uh...leap about shouting huzzah? I did feel good that I had poetry published in the Newfoundland Quarterly in December, but I guess I'm old enough or finally smart enough to not make too big of a deal over success or failure. The satisfaction seems to be in the work alone, and that's got to be enough.
Can't wait to see what you all get up to!
7 comments:
Congratulations on the memoir and publication in the Quarterly! You have a lot to be satisfied over. Hope the cough is better soon!
Hope you're feeling better soon, Jan. I know just what you mean about letting a manuscript 'sleep' for a bit once it's written. I think that helps us get back to a writing project with fresh eyes.
Substitute teaching--been there. I'll bet your students would be glad to help you celebrate your writing victories. Happy writing!
Congrats on publishing your chapbook! And yup - the satisfaction definitely comes from the work itself ;)
Congratulations on your successes! Are you in Newfoundland? I love the musical Come From Away about the kindness shown there during the crisis of 9-11 terrorist attacks in the USA.
Good luck subbing in phys ed! Subs need combat pay!!!
Mary at Play off the Page
I wish you'd share a link to your poem. I'd love to read it.
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