#31: You've Gotta Know When to Quit
feat. my newest creative venture + my obsession with the video game rock band
Hey you!
What’s poppin’ homies? How’ve y’all been? It’s been a hot minute since we’ve kicked it.
BTW, sorry for the delay on this issue. Life out here lifin’. The universe’s trying to jump me, and y’all know I can’t fight.
But yet, we keep going, keep thriving, keep being pretty. You feel me?
This transition from winter to spring has come with a lot of wild changes, even in my creative life. Y’all will hear more about that, and more, in this issue’s writer’s log.
Enjoy issue #31 babes! Thank y’all for the continued support!
Writer’s Log #18
After spending two months straight working on a book, burnout had your girl in a headlock. I started to hate my story. I woke up royally annoyed that I “had” to work on it every day. My heart was screaming in my ear that I needed space from this project. So, I decided to take a break from working on it.
I love creating book-length pieces, putting together the building blocks of the story, the exciting exploration that comes with writing a first draft. It’s like binge-watching the best TV show on the planet (is this a flex?), where you truly have no idea what’ll happen next.
One of the best parts of actively writing is witnessing random ideas pop into your head that, somehow, fit perfectly into the story you’re creating.
But, editing a book-length piece is a lot of work. If you really want to write a book, you’ve got to be completely dedicated to that idea. You’ve got to be in love with it.
You’ve got to be willing to give a lot of creative energy, nearly every day, to that one idea. And when, the prospect of being “done” seems so far off, the whole process of bringing a book from start to finish can get frustrating really quickly.
I might have to shift gears on how I’m going to execute this project. I’m more interested in bringing smaller projects to fruition. Maybe I can break it apart?
But, for now, I’m going to take a break from that behemoth of a story.
Lately, I’ve been writing poetry, which has been a truly nostalgic experience.
When I first started writing in childhood, I wrote poems and songs. I had this blue, sparkly, spiral notebook that I’d write everything in. At the end of the school year, the notebook was filled to the brim, its pages curling and greyed with pencil lead.
In adulthood, poems intimidated me. I’d get in my own head about it, on the trek for the “right” word or the “right” metaphor. I set these blurry, yet ridiculously high standards for my work. But, I had a meeting last week with a local writing group that reminded me that there are no rules to poetry. It’s whatever I want it to be.
I’ve been reading a lot more poetry too, especially over at The Poetry Foundation. They’ve got an extensive, free archive of poems over there. Here’s a link to a poem that’s currently stuck in my head from the late poet Lucille Clifton, homage to my hips.
I want to turn stepping out of my own way and writing what’s on my heart into a daily practice. I think poetry’ll give me a great space to do just that.
My Rock Band Is Uber Popular, NBD
I’ve been completely obsessed with Rock Band recently, specifically Rock Band 3. My sister pulled the Rock Band guitar out of a dark corner of our parents’ house, and we’ve been obsessed ever since. My band BITNB (Black is the New Black) currently has over 150 million fans—thank you very much.
It’s gotten me more into rock music, and I’ve been listening to a few different rock albums over the past few weeks.
Since I’m a Black millennial of course I had to listen to Paramore. I listened to their 2009 album Brand New Eyes—which I didn’t know I listened to ages ago and was already obsessed with?
Following the all-knowing guidance of TikTok, I also listened WILLOW’s lately I feel EVERYTHING and enjoyed it a hell of a lot. And the fact that she has a song with Avril Lavigne? I’m jelly.
I’m a Poet and I Didn’t Even Know It (Okay, That’s a Lie I Kinda Did)
Here’s a poem that hasn’t seen the light of day—yet. Since y’all are the homies, I guess I can give y’all a sneak peek.
the sky always says
i should come home more often
There is peace in Mother Nature’s womb,
sweet scent of flowers, freshly bloomed,
ocean waves crashing onto shore,
a golden hour evermore.
My face droops low,
covered in Aloe,
body at rest,
deep within oblivion.
She embraces me with warm winds.
They dance with a power I’ll always respect
but never understand.
Here’s a Question For You
I’m on the hunt to read more poetry, in all its forms. Do you have a favorite poem? What about a song you can’t get enough of, or a specific lyric? Share your faves with ya girl!
Leave me a comment below OR send me an email at our fancy, schmancy new digital mailbox: ohwrite1@gmail.com.
Conclusion
Thank you so much for reading Oh, Write!
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Love,
Nia
I’ve been obsessed w/ the lyrics to Wussy’s “Airborne” lately. Came to the record as part of the 100 in ‘22.
The song itself is right up my alley, but the words are so good! It’s a post mortem of a sticky breakup, sung from both sides. The kind of split where you’re or sure if they broke up or gave up. Highly recommend.