dear today

[presentlyjoy]

“Until it exists, writing has not really begun.” --John McPhee

[presentlyjoy]

The generous owner of Jacklyn D. Cafe granted our staff and interns an unexpected-yet-wholly-welcome respite during the work day, free of charge! The desserts were as delectable in taste as they were beautiful in presentation. And the conversations shared over them were even sweeter!

See? Bringing joy to others can be as easy as pie.

[presentlyjoy]

Who owns the story, the person who lives it or the person who writes it?

I thought about this question as I considered writing character sketches based on interesting individuals I've met here in the city. I've stopped to think, what right do I have to capture someone else's story in writing? What if the interesting individuals themselves wanted to land a book deal later on and write an autobiographical memoir about their amazing lives? Doesn't the person living the story lay claim to it?

But when I encounter a compelling strand that could be woven into a full-fledged, fictional character, I get an itch in my mind to get it down. There's a part of me that wants to record this unique part of the human experience, to put to words whatever has struck me or moved me. I think this is the duty of the writer. That's why I appreciate how Roxana Robinson ends her article with this metaphor:

"A writer is like a tuning fork: We respond when we’re struck by something. The thing is to pay attention, to be ready for radical empathy. If we empty ourselves of ourselves we’ll be able to vibrate in synchrony with something deep and powerful. If we’re lucky we’ll transmit a strong pure note, one that isn’t ours, but which passes through us. If we’re lucky, it will be a note that reverberates and expands, one that other people will hear and understand." 

[presentlyjoy]

Dear Today,

You are my first day of July, and that makes me very excited. To me, there's just something renewing about beginnings: beginning a fresh day brimming with possibility, starting a new year or chapter of life, opening a crisp journal of blank pages to gather my words together..

Thanks for treating me mighty kind and wearing me out (in a good kind of way). From the moment you snuck up upon me with the rumbling of train tracks through my window, I knew you were going to be a handful-- but a welcome handful! The best part is that you recognized how much I love people: you gave me a chance to meet new faces and learn new names, play fun games and activities, and eat some good food. I won't forget the rooftop barbecue or the sore throat I got from teaching my students. And I certainly won't forget that you ended with a good ol' chat among dear sisters.

I hope your friend Tomorrow will be just as fun.

Presently,

Joy