I have so many drafts (Patreon)

in my drafts folder here on Patreon. And half-started short stories in my Scrivener file. I start strong, and then get another paragraph in, and feel I haven't gone far enough into the thought, but by paragraph three I realize that I have a lot to learn and that these thoughts are selfish, incomplete thoughts- that my heart is in a good place, but I'm missing some critical steps. These are important things to work through, but don't need me to do it in public spaces.

So here's a general update. It's Monday morning. My shoulder is damp from tiny roommate falling asleep there and drooling, his little mouth relaxed and open. He's not so tiny these days. The cat is a bit jealous, and when I come down from the nursery, he crawls into my lap and holds on with his claws. I have gone to a borrowed studio twice this month, and gotten nothing done creatively both times- little obstacles: forgotten tools, clogged pens (literally), and, probably most importantly, a nervousness, an insecurity about the future. My city is in the middle of the Derek Chauvin trial while the community is protesting the death of another Black man at the hands of police, and we're in the midst of a COVID-19 surge while the state is opening up. The governor has preemptively brought in the National Guard and government is showing no signs of actually grasping the community's desire to not just defund but dismantle the police state. I am safe. I have food and shelter and moments of quiet. 

But it is a very difficult time to feel creative.

My friend Dameun sent me the draft of a song he was working on this past weekend. His work is continually life-giving. He's like me in that his posts are sometimes many and deep, and sometimes far-between, but I think if you're looking for a musician to support in these times, Dameun is someone to check out. Patreon SoundCloud 

My friend Bryan is SUPER prolific. I do NOT read all of his posts, but am never sad when I've done so. He writes and paints and travels the country supporting the work of other Lao artists. He is wry and always operates on a couple of levels at the same time. Patreon