It felt like high school…
Oh, hi friends!
I’m taking a musical theater lyric writing class. Our first meeting was last night, and we were told to free-write about an experience that involved making a dangerous choice. (My not-really-dangerous choice story involved eating Starburst jelly beans—I was hungry, alright!) The room got quiet, and we were off.
It reminded me of writing in-class essays in AP Language and AP Literature. Or tearing though blue books in college. It felt good.
And I think that’s what happens when you create just for the sake of creating. You feel good. Light. Free.
Maybe give yourself a little boundary or fire a starting pistol if you must, but then just…go.
Surprise yourself.
"I was turning 30, and I was like, ‘If I don’t make some real changes, how the hell do I know that my life’s not going to look like this when I’m about to turn 40, when I’m about to turn 50? What changes? What about this scenario is going to change?’
The truth is, none of it was going to change.
It really was [mentor Stuart K. Robinson’s] advice that changed it all.
He said to me, ‘You’re sitting at home, waiting for the phone to ring. The phone didn’t ring today and so what did you do today for yourself in the absence of a ringing phone?
Did you call anyone?
Did you write anything?
Did you practice?’
It was at least half of my business that I was completely ignoring. My life as a creative person I was completely ignoring, and that was what changed it."
Really looking forward to reading Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr.’s book Failing Up. (This quote is from his EW interview.) And especially looking forward to…no longer waiting for the phone to ring.
Yerma or Bust
I had the great good fortune of seeing the play Yerma the other night—wow, talk about a powerful character study. And the most innovative set design I’ve ever seen. I’ll be turning around bits of this show in my mind for a long time. Get ready for my inaugural descent-into-madness play! Read my friend Tim Teeman’s first-rate review over at The Daily Beast and grab tickets before it closes April 21.
PS — It's *barely* spring in New York, but I'm working on a story about Citibikes! Are you an avid rider? Do you have any tips for me? HOW DO I GET THE BIKE OUT OF THE RACK?! Help pls.
Do you like these daily emails? Please share with a friend!
Thanks, as always, for reading.
Love, Kara