Missed what would have been your fifth Montaigne bd conversation with Sam so I reread the last one. Enjoyed his observing Derrida getting into an old car. Digressed on to Derrida, not convinced that structuralism has anything over Husserl's phenomenology, sorry Jacques. Surprised by Derrida's Freud's postcard book, which reminds me of the beautiful Griffin and Sabine books that lead to J.J. Abram's amazing Ship of Theseus compilation of inserts and on to Lou's salome in Freud's Own Cookbook by James Hillman. As usual your substack and blog sidebars provides a jumping off place for the day's reading.
There are so many good things in this one today. There are always good in each one, but today it seems I have to set aside some time to look and click on many items you mention... many of them! Thank you for what you do. And, I love the download for "Practice ..."
I loved the typewriter interview with Ross Gay. so....heart full. Undergrad years spent in Bloomington, and retirement years playing 3x3 basketball and music, so I loved his shooting routine bc it applies to both.
I thought of Austin and this newsletter - and all of us searching and admiring the mystery of the creative process - while touring the Maurice Sendak exhibition at the Denver Art Museum. Everyone: it is remarkably inspiring! Please try to attend if at all possible, whether you’re a writer, an illustrator, a musician - anyone who loves art in any form. It is a gift! He was prolific, yes, and so thoughtful about the process. He really kept at it when things weren’t immediately successful - Keep Going made flesh! Also he loved dogs. And seasons. And the brutish loveliness of kids.
Ah thank you. Your practice and suck less has been a very helpful tool in our household. One month I picked getting better at Ukulele, my son picked improving his baseball swing, and my daughter picked 'interrupting people when they're just about to say something really important'.
I am actually going to miss February because my partner pronounces every letter in it, and it's adorable. But the spelling is weird, I agree. This piece I just read gives a fascinating account of how it all went wrong for our words!
Terrific newsletter. So much good stuff. Dear Roberta Flack.
Living seasonally: I know the energies and concerns of my seasons are different from those of most of the people I know. For instance, the season between fall and winter for me is the unlock season…unlocking all the heat, light, color and fragrance stored up over the summer to sustain me through the dark, cold winter. But don’t get me wrong. I love winter here in New England. In any case you've inspired me to give this more thought and possibly create an alternative living seasonally zine. And then, Mel Bochner…I had never heard of him and his work floored me. And finally, I’m finally reading “Spring Cannot Be Cancelled.” I didn’t think I could love David Hockney more, but when I read about how he feels about trees, I almost levitated. P.S. also wonderful typewriter essay with Ross Gay. Keep going, Austin. You are such a gift.
This reminds me of Vanderkam’s seasonal fun list. Not a to-do thing so much as a celebration of what that season reminds you to celebrate.
It fun to make the list even if you don’t get to it all. I’ve gotten some of my friends making these too and it is fun to see what they put on and maybe get more ideas.
#10 makes me think of Coldplay’s “Speed of Sound,” which has the line “Look up, I look up at night / Planets are moving at the speed of light.” It’s on my playlist of creativity encouragement songs more for these lines, however, which seem to express the impulse to poetry, the writing to point:
All that noise, and all that sound
All those places I got found
And birds go flying at the speed of sound
To show you how it all began
Birds came flying from the underground
If you could see it then you'd understand
Gene Hackman’s death was the last headline I expected to see. He’s always been my fave Lex Luthor, especially in Superman II. Also love him in Bonnie and Clyde, as well as The Birdcage.
Love that quote—“your whole life is a writer’s colony!” My perspective’s been swinging that way instead of feeling sorry for myself, thinking I have no community, no mentors.
I love a retreat--even a short one. It's so much different than vacation/travel. There's nothing like stepping completely *out* of your everyday life, but without the pressure of a tourist's to-do list. I go with no agenda whatsoever, except to be present in the moment and listen to whatever arises. There's a great retreat center nearby me. It has beautiful hermitages (really gorgeous tiny houses) and meals are included for a very reasonable price. It almost seems too good to be true. I already booked myself another weekend for May when the wildflowers will be in full bloom. A perfect place to be in a microseason.
hahaha! The first time I did a silent retreat it was too much quiet. I had to escape for a while and go to a noisy grocery store. Then I was fine. I went back and everything was OK. 💛
Missed what would have been your fifth Montaigne bd conversation with Sam so I reread the last one. Enjoyed his observing Derrida getting into an old car. Digressed on to Derrida, not convinced that structuralism has anything over Husserl's phenomenology, sorry Jacques. Surprised by Derrida's Freud's postcard book, which reminds me of the beautiful Griffin and Sabine books that lead to J.J. Abram's amazing Ship of Theseus compilation of inserts and on to Lou's salome in Freud's Own Cookbook by James Hillman. As usual your substack and blog sidebars provides a jumping off place for the day's reading.
There are so many good things in this one today. There are always good in each one, but today it seems I have to set aside some time to look and click on many items you mention... many of them! Thank you for what you do. And, I love the download for "Practice ..."
I loved the typewriter interview with Ross Gay. so....heart full. Undergrad years spent in Bloomington, and retirement years playing 3x3 basketball and music, so I loved his shooting routine bc it applies to both.
I thought of Austin and this newsletter - and all of us searching and admiring the mystery of the creative process - while touring the Maurice Sendak exhibition at the Denver Art Museum. Everyone: it is remarkably inspiring! Please try to attend if at all possible, whether you’re a writer, an illustrator, a musician - anyone who loves art in any form. It is a gift! He was prolific, yes, and so thoughtful about the process. He really kept at it when things weren’t immediately successful - Keep Going made flesh! Also he loved dogs. And seasons. And the brutish loveliness of kids.
Ahh living seasonally - yes!
I didn’t realise I did… but I’m already feeling revived physically and creatively by all the signs of spring.
Thank you! I had not heard of the Proust Questionnaire. It reminded me of The Colbert Questionnaire. Stephen Colbert's is not quite as serious. 🕊💙📚🎶
I've been sort of collecting questionnaires because of the typewriter interviews — here's a fun one called the "Momus Questionnaire" https://tumblr.austinkleon.com/post/761806017615052800
Thank you for sharing the Ann Powers piece about Roberta Flack. I’m going to do a deep dive into her recordings.
She's easy because you can just start with FIRST TAKE and just move forwards in her discography — enjoy!
Ah thank you. Your practice and suck less has been a very helpful tool in our household. One month I picked getting better at Ukulele, my son picked improving his baseball swing, and my daughter picked 'interrupting people when they're just about to say something really important'.
I am actually going to miss February because my partner pronounces every letter in it, and it's adorable. But the spelling is weird, I agree. This piece I just read gives a fascinating account of how it all went wrong for our words!
..https://www.deadlanguagesociety.com/p/the-invention-that-ruined-english?r=17lsit&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
thanks! Look forward to reading this
Terrific newsletter. So much good stuff. Dear Roberta Flack.
Living seasonally: I know the energies and concerns of my seasons are different from those of most of the people I know. For instance, the season between fall and winter for me is the unlock season…unlocking all the heat, light, color and fragrance stored up over the summer to sustain me through the dark, cold winter. But don’t get me wrong. I love winter here in New England. In any case you've inspired me to give this more thought and possibly create an alternative living seasonally zine. And then, Mel Bochner…I had never heard of him and his work floored me. And finally, I’m finally reading “Spring Cannot Be Cancelled.” I didn’t think I could love David Hockney more, but when I read about how he feels about trees, I almost levitated. P.S. also wonderful typewriter essay with Ross Gay. Keep going, Austin. You are such a gift.
Love the print!
This reminds me of Vanderkam’s seasonal fun list. Not a to-do thing so much as a celebration of what that season reminds you to celebrate.
It fun to make the list even if you don’t get to it all. I’ve gotten some of my friends making these too and it is fun to see what they put on and maybe get more ideas.
https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/03/the-case-for-seasonal-fun-lists-more-on-rule-6-one-big-adventure-one-little-adventure/
this is a fun idea!
Your list is lovely. I'm doing this.
#10 makes me think of Coldplay’s “Speed of Sound,” which has the line “Look up, I look up at night / Planets are moving at the speed of light.” It’s on my playlist of creativity encouragement songs more for these lines, however, which seem to express the impulse to poetry, the writing to point:
All that noise, and all that sound
All those places I got found
And birds go flying at the speed of sound
To show you how it all began
Birds came flying from the underground
If you could see it then you'd understand
Gene Hackman’s death was the last headline I expected to see. He’s always been my fave Lex Luthor, especially in Superman II. Also love him in Bonnie and Clyde, as well as The Birdcage.
Love that quote—“your whole life is a writer’s colony!” My perspective’s been swinging that way instead of feeling sorry for myself, thinking I have no community, no mentors.
Thank you; happy spring!
Also the living seasonally, totally brilliant!
I love a retreat--even a short one. It's so much different than vacation/travel. There's nothing like stepping completely *out* of your everyday life, but without the pressure of a tourist's to-do list. I go with no agenda whatsoever, except to be present in the moment and listen to whatever arises. There's a great retreat center nearby me. It has beautiful hermitages (really gorgeous tiny houses) and meals are included for a very reasonable price. It almost seems too good to be true. I already booked myself another weekend for May when the wildflowers will be in full bloom. A perfect place to be in a microseason.
hahaha! The first time I did a silent retreat it was too much quiet. I had to escape for a while and go to a noisy grocery store. Then I was fine. I went back and everything was OK. 💛
So far I have found that I need a retreat from the retreat! LOL