“The clouds this morning? Deliberate low; thick and ghost smoke.”

I stood at the bus stop today, saying this and other randoms off the top of the dome, catching the words in tiny speaker swaddled by gloves. I’ve been carrying my dictaphone around again. This week has been a full on wrestling match with writer’s block—block, that is, when I sit down to write. When I’m out and about my mind is on fire, but I don’t always have the immediate means to tag it down. Renee and I used to carry our dictaphones around to collect noises for the stage. One time she brought me birds and I had the religious man shouting scripture from the corner of Smithfield and Fifth. I’m glad to be in the habit again. I like to spin the tape back and listen to the one-liners—now that it’s been a few days the pieces of thought have formed a paragraph.

Another huuuuge help, the book “Writing a Memoir” by Judith Barrington. Right now I’m reading about keeping a memoir grounded–as in reality and world, not just in the mind of the author. I could go on and on but all you need to know is I adore this book. Oh! And multiple writing exercises at the end of each chapter, and they aren’t ridiculous. Instead, they are mighty helpful.

Me – 1
Writer’s Block - 0