A New Year’s Restart

 

Jokes about rebooting aside, it does feel as though we need a great restart after the end of this exceedingly long, exhausting year. And while I don't expect to begin 2021 with any less snarkiness (sorry—not sorry), there are some things I'd like to leave behind, like worrying about that which is completely out of my control and the heavy weariness that came with fearing the unknown.

I'm not in the habit of making New Year's resolutions, but I do think about setting intentions, so I'll consider this a mental reset and focus on what was good about this year, and what I'd like to do more of in 2021.

Write more letters

What started with buying stamps to support the Post Office turned into sending postcards and writing actual letters, reconnecting with old friends, and rediscovering the simple joy of putting pen to paper.

Go for more walks

I was in the habit of walking with friends at work, but after my office closed and I started working at home, I remembered how nice it is just to walk around my neighborhood or take an evening stroll by the river.

Plan for a brighter future

It was far too easy to focus on what we couldn't do this year, and how much we missed out on. I once worked with a woman who used to say that hunger is the best sauce. Anticipation can indeed be delicious, so I'll focus on how great it will be to see my extended family (and meet my new great nieces!), visit with friends, and see live music. 

So the answer to the query, "have you tried turning it off and on again?" is not yet, but I'm about to.

Mastering Your Craft

 

                                                                  

                            Photo credit: Suzy Hazelwood via Pexels

So the coronavirus is surging, my county is under a stay-at-home order, it finally feels winter-ish, and it's even raining today...what better time to take advantage of my Master Class subscription? Full disclosure: I'm not affiliated in any way, nor being paid, this is just an honest plug. Master Class is well worth the price. From Arts & Entertainment to Wellness, there's something for just about everyone.

I'm currently in the middle of Aaron Sorkin's screenwriting class, which meshes nicely with watching The Newsroom (HBO, 2012-2014). I don't see myself writing a screenplay, but at the nuts-and-bolts level, writing is writing, and in my opinion, Sorkin is brilliant. An added bonus is that he uses scenes from The West Wing, A Few Good Men, and Steve Jobs to illustrate points.

I've completed Malcom Gladwell's writing class, Margaret Atwood's Creative Writing, David Mamet's Dramatic Writing, and Neil Gaiman's Art of Storytelling. Next up, Walter Mosley's Fiction and Storytelling. Each time I watch a class. I'm left equally inspired and wondering if I know what the hell I'm doing. And according to the pros, that's as it should be. Writing is work, and it's not supposed to be easy. Glad I've got that part down...

Besides the pure enjoyment of hearing those who are successful talk about how they approach their craft, it's gratifying to know that even the pros often face a blank screen and blinking cursor and think they've written every word they know and are out of ideas. But they keep going.

Will I ever "master" writing? Most likely not, but that's hardly the point. I won't stop trying.

For the Record

 

Like most voracious readers, I've devoured my share of books this year. I got antsy like everyone, as the lockdown continued, but I have to admit my social calendar didn't change all that much. Like any introvert, when staying home with a good book is the right thing to do, I'll call it a win.

I did notice my innate reflex was to reach for entertaining fiction almost exclusively, as I haven't had the attention span or energy for anything much heavier. So I was delighted to find not only a fourth, but a fifth volume in a series by British author, Andrew Cartmel, who pens novels featuring a self-described vinyl detective. Besides being well-written, the books check several boxes for me: they're fun and clever, set in England, and feature music and cat lovers.

I'm often of two minds when I'm reading fiction that really captivates. I want to drink it all in and enjoy, but I also want to study and analyze everything from the style to the characters. How do you do all of that so well?! I'm especially interested in how authors keep recurring characters fresh and interesting over the course of several books. One of the best, in my opinion, is Robert Crais, who has now written eighteen novels featuring his signature characters, Elvis Cole and Joe Pike.

Granted Mr. Cartmel had an advantage with me from the beginning, as his vinyl detective could theoretically be any number of guys I worked with at Tower. But beyond that, Cartmel has created a compelling, likeable character, and other than his hobby-turned-occupation of finding rare records, and a business card reading, "Vinyl Detective," we know very little about him. Music and cat lover, coffee snob...and that's about it. We don't know what he looks like, or even his name. But as readers discover the colorful characters who hang out with our detective, and the adventures that ensue, they'll also discover storytelling at its finest. Cartmel and his nameless detective are in the groove...