Grant, from one" admitted (and joyful) workaholic" to another, I love this piece. I've often reframed "I don't have time" to "I won't make time," which sounds more defiant than "It's not a priority." I'll go with your suggestion!
Oof, “it’s not a priority” is a powerful reframe. Especially when I think of what I am finding time for… Bluets is coming up on my tbr - excited for it!
Who was it who said "I don't have time" is the mother of all excuses? It's so true but it takes us so long to realize it. Nice you are re-reading Bluets. (I read it for my MFA and we had a short Zoom audience with Maggie. So excellent!) And always nice to hear someone is listening to Finnish composers other than the monolithic Jean Sibelius. I will check out Kaija Saariaho. Thanks for the tip!
I used to ask groups I spoke to how many of them felt like their lives were too busy, and without fail, everyone raised their hands. I guess we'll all die, saying, "I wish I'd had the time to ..."
So cool you got to speak with Maggie Nelson. I tried to get her on my podcast because she has a new book coming out.
A Grinnellian, Nick Glass, was the one who commissioned the musicians who introduced me to Kaija Saariaho. She's perfect for me.
Here's a suggestion. Combine writing and singing sort of. For example, I'm writing lyrics for songs. Then I get ai to put my lyrics to music. Then I sing along (privately). This has allowed me to break through the barrier of holding back while singing. I, too, was the guy in the play who was told by our manager to "just mouth it." A friend told me that I wasn't projecting my voice. I was simply afraid to relax.the throat and play with various adjusting where in the mouth I could form the sound. Don't use your throat. I now use my mask to vibrate the sounds. The mask is the vocal sounding plate, which is your hard palate from just above your front teeth to somewhere in your nose area. Basically, I overcame my fear to project. The joy for me is that I can combine writing and music.
I started doing this awhile back when I accidentally discovered in a conversation that an artist friend prioritized gardening over painting and I realized my own unexamined priorities … The fact is priorities change and it’s always good to honestly take stock.
Hello Grant, I signed up for Write, Just Write which is in an hour but I did not get a confirmation or link. Can you help me out? Thank you. I love reading your Substack and listening to your podcast, so I'm in!
Grant, from one" admitted (and joyful) workaholic" to another, I love this piece. I've often reframed "I don't have time" to "I won't make time," which sounds more defiant than "It's not a priority." I'll go with your suggestion!
Oh, good one. I like the "I won't make time" as well. Language affects action, right?
And it also reflects action. Or lack thereof!
Oof, “it’s not a priority” is a powerful reframe. Especially when I think of what I am finding time for… Bluets is coming up on my tbr - excited for it!
Let me know what you think of Bluets!
Who was it who said "I don't have time" is the mother of all excuses? It's so true but it takes us so long to realize it. Nice you are re-reading Bluets. (I read it for my MFA and we had a short Zoom audience with Maggie. So excellent!) And always nice to hear someone is listening to Finnish composers other than the monolithic Jean Sibelius. I will check out Kaija Saariaho. Thanks for the tip!
I used to ask groups I spoke to how many of them felt like their lives were too busy, and without fail, everyone raised their hands. I guess we'll all die, saying, "I wish I'd had the time to ..."
So cool you got to speak with Maggie Nelson. I tried to get her on my podcast because she has a new book coming out.
A Grinnellian, Nick Glass, was the one who commissioned the musicians who introduced me to Kaija Saariaho. She's perfect for me.
Here's a suggestion. Combine writing and singing sort of. For example, I'm writing lyrics for songs. Then I get ai to put my lyrics to music. Then I sing along (privately). This has allowed me to break through the barrier of holding back while singing. I, too, was the guy in the play who was told by our manager to "just mouth it." A friend told me that I wasn't projecting my voice. I was simply afraid to relax.the throat and play with various adjusting where in the mouth I could form the sound. Don't use your throat. I now use my mask to vibrate the sounds. The mask is the vocal sounding plate, which is your hard palate from just above your front teeth to somewhere in your nose area. Basically, I overcame my fear to project. The joy for me is that I can combine writing and music.
Love this!
What AI do you use to put lyrics to music?
Suno.ai
Tried it. Wild! Unexpectedly catchy songs and amazing that this is freely available.
Thanks!
It’s a very empowering view…not having time feels like one who is a victim of a 24 hour day. I like this framework 👊
Thanks, Brian! I'm glad this resonated.
I started doing this awhile back when I accidentally discovered in a conversation that an artist friend prioritized gardening over painting and I realized my own unexamined priorities … The fact is priorities change and it’s always good to honestly take stock.
It's true. Priorities can be a slippery slope, and they can slide if we don't take stock.
Hello Grant, I signed up for Write, Just Write which is in an hour but I did not get a confirmation or link. Can you help me out? Thank you. I love reading your Substack and listening to your podcast, so I'm in!