Quotes on writing

“Any writer worth his salt writes to please himself. . . . It's a self-exploratory operation that is endless. An exorcism of not necessarily his demon, but of his divine discontent.” 

— Harper Lee

Selfie

Today is Friday and I've been writing three days, almost nonstop on various projects, trying to move the motion forward. For a bit there, I was so lost in Plague2020 news that I could not function, but I don't see the reason behind that now. It's a sort of madness to focus so much time online just reading the thoughts of other people when I am sitting here trying to make sense of my own life. So I went back to work. I am still working. I was trying to take a selfie, but it's getting late afternoon here and I needed the natural light from my bedroom window and the cat refused to let me pose or attempt to get a good angle and so I just starting clicking while the cat swiped at me. My bedroom window is her window. As I type this, she is still pestering me, for I don't know what reason. I have fed her, let her outside to roam the backyard, given her treats. She likes dehydrated chicken pieces. They cost more than my own treats, which makes no sense to me. Am I not superior to her?  I have no complaints today. I am alive and healthy. The cat is too. I had a good dinner of salmon and a salad. I might have some bread and butter for a snack later. No chocolate. I have thrown out all the chocolate because I have gained weight since Plague2020 announcements and it was all mostly the chocolate I was snacking on daily. Poof! It's gone. Now I am walking again and working in the garden. I love my garden. It's so green and full of business and that's life things and possibilities. Oh, I must go, the cat is literally whining, wanting something. 

Some thoughts: We are restricted. We are paused in some ways. But we have to go on believing in possibilities. I live in possibilities. I am taking a class on Buddhism and Modern Psychology and I am going to work at learning French, those are Plague2020 things to fill hours I would normally be doing things with other people. I have some regrets. I cannot see my children or grandchildren except from a distance. But I am better off than most. Past experiences have taught me how to be alone in a house, how to be alone with myself. Many people find this very difficult. Their minds begin to wander and they lose their way in anxiety and depression. I have too many words to write. I have too many books to read. Paintings to paint. Flowers to plant and nurture. I can't complain while so many people are sick, while so many people have died and died alone without loved ones to hold their hands and kiss their lips.

Key Favorite Albums of My Life. (Listed by Year of Release)

Animal Tracks by The Animals. 1965
Surrealist Pillow by Jefferson Airplane. 1967
Are You Experienced by Jimi Hendrix. 1967
Goodbye and Hello by Tim Buckley. 1967
Wheels of Fire by Cream. 1968
Cheap Thrills by Janis Joplin with Big Brother. 1968


Sweet Baby James by James Taylor. 1970
Closer to Home by Grand Funk Railroad. 1970
Teaser and the Firecat by Cat Stevens. 1971
Mud Slide Slim by James Taylor. 1971
Tapestry by Carole King. 1971
Harvest by Neil Young. 1972
Lynyrd Skynyrd by Lynyrd Skynyrd. 1973
Fleetwood Mac by Fleetwood Mac. 1975


Closer by Joy Division. 1980.
Bella Donna by Stevie Nicks. 1981
Escape by Journey. 1981
Ocean Rain by Ocho and the Bunnymen. 1984

Songs from the Big Chair by Tears for Fears, 1984
Love at First Sting by The Scorpions. 1984
It’s My Life by Talk Talk. 1984
The Colour of Spring by Talk Talk. 1986
So by Peter Gabriel. 1986
Nothing Shocking by Jane’s Addiction. 1988
Disintegration by The Cure. 1989


Out of Time by R.E.M. 1991
Nevermind, Nirvana. 1991
Rid of Me by P. J. Harvey. 1993
The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails. 1994
Wildflowers by Tom Petty. 1994


Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea by P. J. Harvey. 2000
White Pony by the Defttones. 2000
Rated R by Queen of the Stone Age. 2000
Is This It by the Strokes. 2001
American IV: The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash. 2002
Sleeping with Ghosts by Placebo. 2003*
Antics by Interpol. 2004*
Meds by Placebo. 2006*
Evil Urges by My Morning Jacket. 2008
Battle for the Sun by Placebo. 2009*


Born to Die by Lana Del Rey. 2012
AM by Artic Monkeys. 2013
There Is No Love in Fluorescent Light by The Stars. 2017*
A Black Mile to the Surface by Manchester Orchestra. 2017

Never Let Me Go by Placebo, 2022

* Denotes bands and albums I had never heard of prior to September of 2018

A clown, photography by Rolph Gobits

by Rolph Gobits 
From the 'Entertainers' series

It took Gobits twenty years to develop this series,  a circus-inspired collection of portraits of middle-aged clowns, knife throwers, ersatz cowboys, riders of tiny bicycles, accordion players, and masters of shadow puppetry.

I've always been obsessed with it. And began looking at these images for use in my own work, both word and visual.