Well hello there,

Let’s start with a game called: what is art?

I pick up postcards from fun trips and smack them onto notebooks, or use them as bookmarks, so I get to see them and interact them as I go about my day. *This one was from the KAWS exhibition at SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art), earlier in the year.

And here’s an example of a treasure hanging out inside a favourite book…

Life art. Sculpture art. Painting art. Book art. I’m here for all of it. Smushed into my day. Brightening and lightening and challenging. Such a cool part of being a human.

Comedy Craft / Story Fiending

Let’s talks about ‘setting’.

Why?

It’s an aspect of writing I’ve struggled with. In real life my eyes naturally zoom in on people’s faces, and everything around them can be quite the blur! This is even true when I’m watching a film or series: I blot out most of the background. So, I’ve been working on the skill of describing places, in a fun way, and I’m now halfway through.

I shared some learnings about enjoying the process here.

With this heightened awareness, I’ve been thinking a lot about the ways that setting is used in Veep—my current comedy re-watch.

Where does Selena first share the news that she’s going to be President? Shut in a restroom, with Gary. It’s a fun undercutting; one that builds hysterically.

By the time that they get to her ‘perfect moment’, the grandeur of office is undermined by her squeaking heels. And the tension that comes from knowing she’s got to walk allllll the way back!

Both environments pull their comedic weight in these scenes. So fun.

To jump back to Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, it’s not a comedy, but there are some wonderfully vivid and wry descriptions. Take this, from the first page:

On a late December afternoon, in the waning twentieth century, Sam exited a subway car and found the artery to the escalator clogged by an inert mass of people, who were gaping at a station advertisement.

I can totally see it. The environment, and the humans.

The next half of my Quest is going to focus a little more on the humans I notice in each place, as they relate to their surroundings—whether they’re clogging it, or squeaking their way through.

The Flip

I’m going to share a quote at the end of this letter to you: one that delighted me. But before I do, I want to flip something around.

I’ve been thinking about how common it is on the internet to share quotes—how they get posted and reposted, encouraging us on our way.

I have nothing against this. Clearly. I’ve just told you I’ll be sharing a quote! It’s fabulously pithy. 😀 

BUT

I’ve also been thinking about how challenging it can be to encourage ourselves, with our own words.

So, I’ve decided to write myself a little note, every day. My own little prompts of observation and inspiration. I reckon it’ll take 5 minutes max at the start of a writing session. And it’ll be fun to look back on them after 60 days and see what’s come through, from myself to myself.

What words do you use to inspire and encourage yourself?

A not so subtle reminder to have fun, that hangs over my piano…

Stash: things I love

I thought Voicemails for Isabelle (written and directed by Leah McKendrick) did a great job of weaving together different types of love and loss, into a layered romcom.

You do have to buy an initial premise that could be problematic—but it is called out in a few different ways, including by some solid side characters, so I was willing to accept it.

And the voicemail part of the premise is grounded in Leah McKendrick’s own relationship to her sister, which comes through beautifully.

I’m recommending it.

Quote of the month

Laughter is carbonated holiness - Anne Lamott

What a cool way to express this weirdly wonderful biological function of ours.

Until next time, let me leave you with some oddly disturbing figures. I happened upon them in a room over a bike shop. What junk food horror film was I in?

PS: Thanks for reading my Seriously Ridiculous letter. All feedback is welcome. You can hit reply and it will wing its way to me.

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