creativity is simple
Hi, friend. ✬
Thank you for being here, for being curious with me.
I arrive home to find a robin feasting from the olive tree. Forget the groceries in my car.
The last time I paid close attention to this tree was many moons ago. I bit and spat out the raw olive, shocked by its bitterness. There weren’t many olives back then, but the fuller branches now could be seen several feet away.
The robin leaves, and I inspect the tree for shiny olives. Yesterday’s rain must’ve plumped them. The taste is the same. Standing there, scrolling for information, my phone tells me I need to cure them. I proceed. I fill two gigantic jars and change the water daily.
This is a creative act.
Soft Memory Prompts of the Month
We tend to remember big events and big emotions. Here, I’m aiming to redirect your tending to softer memories or small moments (sometimes trivial ones) with simple prompts. Gentle, present, not-so-profound thoughts are welcome here.
Mine are…
tenderized
fires, politics, access, money, our cats, my neck, due dates
plush and lush
oatmeal with coconut sugar, strawberry gummies, new bangs and hairdo
here, just here.
daily breaking news, office work, my wardrobe, 5am wake-up calls
Sonic Memories, workshop coming soon
I’m putting together a memory weaving workshop about keeping and shaping voice memos and field recordings. We’ll put together these audio fragments into a creative piece like a mini audio zine or collage. If you’re interested, reply to this email, and I’ll let you know when it’s open for enrollment.
Featured on The Daily Egg
Shapeless Clouds was featured on The Daily Egg. I mention by personal zine Tangents, which sprouted as a virtual tiny newsletter to friends and family about life updates told in tangential micro-blog entries.
Back in the fifth grade, my friend shared her family’s seasonal newsletter, published by her aunt (who was based in another state). I didn’t think much of it back then, and I so get it now.
❃❃❃
Sending gratitude,
Stepfanie