I will never be able to describe how, when you write of your travels, your words take me to where you are and I am seeing what you see. Vividly.
It's true, you know. Your gift of style is one of a kind. You should think about writing a book for an old lady so she can travel while sitting on her couch.
I am trying to figure out how I can do more of just this kind of writing. It seems to be where I find my most natural fit. And I love the process of observing all the things that get me to these finished pieces.
One of the things that pushed me into wanting to be a writer was when I emailed home my journals of traveling through Europe back in college and unbeknownst to me my mom had been sharing them with everyone she knew. I came back to a whole bunch of people telling me I needed to be a writer.
I used to be excessively literal, though. These days, I'm more willing to color in the blank spaces, or to compress multiple experiences into one entry. This essay, for example, is a composite of several days' work, not just one night out.
I find it works better that way. But I do obsessively take notes from the road.
For some odd reason, my telling of everyday mishaps to one of my most cherished and very famous, I must add, client's when I was caring for him, prompted him to insist I write a book.
R...i.. g...h.. t. He was most intrigued by the "city girl marries a farmer and learns to drive a tractor" genre and all that came with it.
He kept insisting. So one day I asked him exactly how I was suppose to write a book. Two pages of a story does not a book make.
He said "write notes". Don't even think about putting them in order. Just write what comes and eventually, I guess you get enough to begin to elaborate and tie them together.
Sounds to me like you need to pick your masterpiece based on your travels. I'd buy it!
This sounds like a way to go. The only thing that comes to my mind is what happened after I wrote my first novel for my young daughter. She said she wanted to read more dialog. I had avoided that because... well, because I didn't really know how people speak.
Your travel logs could use dialog as well. People you meet. Stories they tell. I'm sure people would love to hear that kind of thing.
I think you may have created a new genre of writing called DoorDash Delivery. I was delivering for DoorDash a lot this time last year, so I recognize some of the experiences. It's a unique mode of observation. I love the images you've included.
In some ways, driving DoorDash feels alternately like an experience of apocalypse or of Scrooging through the universe... feeling vaguely invisible, but having, as a result, unique powers of observation... and noticing that most of the world is in a hypnotic state in front of some screen, but I had been pulled away from the screens by a specific order I'd taken on.
Regarding emotions emerging, this YouTube video was delivered by algorithm today, and I found it describes well, in different language, the journey I've been on with my Christian therapist for the past eleven months:
I understand. The parts I found hopeful were that it's not necessary to uncover all the details about the incidents that may have led to the debts. It's only important to recognize where the debts are manifesting themselves and find a trusted person / group in which to process the same.
My recent men's group experience offered that opportunity to a number of men. In the course of nine weeks, the seven of us saw quite a bit of progress. One guy that had just moved out of his wife's home and was sure he was headed to divorce is now back at home and the relationship is mending. If that were the only success story for the group, it would be enough to give us hope for the future.
Keep embracing Raleigh! I was fortunate to grow up there in the 70's and 80's and have returned from California annually for visits. It's much larger and different now, but still a great place. Thinking of the dogwood trees in bloom right now brings tears to my eyes.
I wonder if there are any writers' groups in Raleigh. How would one search for such a thing? Something like CS Lewis' "Inklings" group. Maybe you could start such a group through the library. You should write the story of your life. The substack tells many parts of it, but it would be nice to have a book. Fr. Dan Rehill has just gotten the green light to write the story of his life. I think there's a lot of interest in autobiography. I love reading memoirs, biographies and autobiographies of people who have lived interesting lives.
Off topic: Everyone please pray for the missing military pilot that was shot down in Iran. One of the pilots was found, and one was not. Rosaries. There's a desperate search to find him. It's sort of like the plot of "Maverick", isn't it?
I will never be able to describe how, when you write of your travels, your words take me to where you are and I am seeing what you see. Vividly.
It's true, you know. Your gift of style is one of a kind. You should think about writing a book for an old lady so she can travel while sitting on her couch.
I am trying to figure out how I can do more of just this kind of writing. It seems to be where I find my most natural fit. And I love the process of observing all the things that get me to these finished pieces.
One of the things that pushed me into wanting to be a writer was when I emailed home my journals of traveling through Europe back in college and unbeknownst to me my mom had been sharing them with everyone she knew. I came back to a whole bunch of people telling me I needed to be a writer.
I used to be excessively literal, though. These days, I'm more willing to color in the blank spaces, or to compress multiple experiences into one entry. This essay, for example, is a composite of several days' work, not just one night out.
I find it works better that way. But I do obsessively take notes from the road.
For some odd reason, my telling of everyday mishaps to one of my most cherished and very famous, I must add, client's when I was caring for him, prompted him to insist I write a book.
R...i.. g...h.. t. He was most intrigued by the "city girl marries a farmer and learns to drive a tractor" genre and all that came with it.
He kept insisting. So one day I asked him exactly how I was suppose to write a book. Two pages of a story does not a book make.
He said "write notes". Don't even think about putting them in order. Just write what comes and eventually, I guess you get enough to begin to elaborate and tie them together.
Sounds to me like you need to pick your masterpiece based on your travels. I'd buy it!
This sounds like a way to go. The only thing that comes to my mind is what happened after I wrote my first novel for my young daughter. She said she wanted to read more dialog. I had avoided that because... well, because I didn't really know how people speak.
Your travel logs could use dialog as well. People you meet. Stories they tell. I'm sure people would love to hear that kind of thing.
I think you may have created a new genre of writing called DoorDash Delivery. I was delivering for DoorDash a lot this time last year, so I recognize some of the experiences. It's a unique mode of observation. I love the images you've included.
In some ways, driving DoorDash feels alternately like an experience of apocalypse or of Scrooging through the universe... feeling vaguely invisible, but having, as a result, unique powers of observation... and noticing that most of the world is in a hypnotic state in front of some screen, but I had been pulled away from the screens by a specific order I'd taken on.
Regarding emotions emerging, this YouTube video was delivered by algorithm today, and I found it describes well, in different language, the journey I've been on with my Christian therapist for the past eleven months:
https://youtu.be/r9uYu8_cISw?si=h1px2p28-5EMy9vp
Passing it along in case you recognize something in it, or something in it recognizes you.
I watched that video last night. It's...a lot. I appreciate it though. It's good, it's just heavy.
I understand. The parts I found hopeful were that it's not necessary to uncover all the details about the incidents that may have led to the debts. It's only important to recognize where the debts are manifesting themselves and find a trusted person / group in which to process the same.
https://www.scribblecommunity.com/group/considering-masculinity-jan
My recent men's group experience offered that opportunity to a number of men. In the course of nine weeks, the seven of us saw quite a bit of progress. One guy that had just moved out of his wife's home and was sure he was headed to divorce is now back at home and the relationship is mending. If that were the only success story for the group, it would be enough to give us hope for the future.
Thanks for this. And for the video. I’ll check it out later when I inevitably get on YouTube to wind down.
Keep embracing Raleigh! I was fortunate to grow up there in the 70's and 80's and have returned from California annually for visits. It's much larger and different now, but still a great place. Thinking of the dogwood trees in bloom right now brings tears to my eyes.
I wonder if there are any writers' groups in Raleigh. How would one search for such a thing? Something like CS Lewis' "Inklings" group. Maybe you could start such a group through the library. You should write the story of your life. The substack tells many parts of it, but it would be nice to have a book. Fr. Dan Rehill has just gotten the green light to write the story of his life. I think there's a lot of interest in autobiography. I love reading memoirs, biographies and autobiographies of people who have lived interesting lives.
Off topic: Everyone please pray for the missing military pilot that was shot down in Iran. One of the pilots was found, and one was not. Rosaries. There's a desperate search to find him. It's sort of like the plot of "Maverick", isn't it?