Your newsletter is one of the highlights of my week. I always wait to read it until I have a block of time when I can absorb your words. I don't want to read it like it's a social media post or a regular email.
Your story this week has pushed me over the edge into a project I've had on my mind for a long time, but which kind of scares me.
I'm going to write a collection of letters to my parents, some addressed to both of them and some addressed just to my mom or just to my dad. Since they passed away three years ago, there will be no reply to these letters, thus the working title of the project will be "Unanswered Letters". I'm not sure what I want to capture or accomplish other than I often have a desire to ask them a question that they cannot answer.
If you ever come to Japan, you will have a chance to call your parents from a couple of special telephone booths. I did it three years ago during one of my travels.
In the meantime, you may want to read "Birthday Letters," a collection of 88 poems written by Ted Hugues in response to the suicide of his estranged wife Sylvia Plath.
And you, in turn, have now nudged me closer to a much larger writing and art project celebrating my late mother's incredible talent (a separate newsletter showcasing the cooking newsletter she illustrated and wrote for 30 years and a chapbook). I have also been scared to move forward but taking the plunge on substack earlier this year and hearing from other creatives gives me courage!
I love the "Unanswered Letters" idea! You don't have to know what you're trying to accomplish right off. The more you immerse yourself in the project, the more will be revealed.
PS: I started keeping a longhand "Process Journal" where I brainstorm and doodle and record various ideas and stages I'm working on. A lot of answers can be found there.
Two great ideas in one comment chain. I love @Jason McBride's idea of Unanswered Letters. From time to time I have written letters to my parents, who have passed away. Having a collection of them at one place is such a great idea. I did a similar project -writing letters to my future grandchildren (haven't got any yet) telling them my family history. I am a migrant and it is very important for me to record my history for them. I have it in a private blog form. I might include letters to parents in there.
Amie, your idea of having a separate cooking newsletter to showcase your mother's cooking is a brilliant one too. I have just finished writing a cookbook for my children. I have been thinking of including some recipes in my writing focused newsletter but wondering it might be off the track. I can have a separate section for it or start a new newsletter. Not sure. Might have to think about it a bit more.
Amie, your story got me hooked and I've subscribed. Looking forward to more reading delights.
So much love for you and your writing.
Your newsletter is one of the highlights of my week. I always wait to read it until I have a block of time when I can absorb your words. I don't want to read it like it's a social media post or a regular email.
Your story this week has pushed me over the edge into a project I've had on my mind for a long time, but which kind of scares me.
I'm going to write a collection of letters to my parents, some addressed to both of them and some addressed just to my mom or just to my dad. Since they passed away three years ago, there will be no reply to these letters, thus the working title of the project will be "Unanswered Letters". I'm not sure what I want to capture or accomplish other than I often have a desire to ask them a question that they cannot answer.
If you ever come to Japan, you will have a chance to call your parents from a couple of special telephone booths. I did it three years ago during one of my travels.
In the meantime, you may want to read "Birthday Letters," a collection of 88 poems written by Ted Hugues in response to the suicide of his estranged wife Sylvia Plath.
And you, in turn, have now nudged me closer to a much larger writing and art project celebrating my late mother's incredible talent (a separate newsletter showcasing the cooking newsletter she illustrated and wrote for 30 years and a chapbook). I have also been scared to move forward but taking the plunge on substack earlier this year and hearing from other creatives gives me courage!
I love the "Unanswered Letters" idea! You don't have to know what you're trying to accomplish right off. The more you immerse yourself in the project, the more will be revealed.
PS: I started keeping a longhand "Process Journal" where I brainstorm and doodle and record various ideas and stages I'm working on. A lot of answers can be found there.
Two great ideas in one comment chain. I love @Jason McBride's idea of Unanswered Letters. From time to time I have written letters to my parents, who have passed away. Having a collection of them at one place is such a great idea. I did a similar project -writing letters to my future grandchildren (haven't got any yet) telling them my family history. I am a migrant and it is very important for me to record my history for them. I have it in a private blog form. I might include letters to parents in there.
Amie, your idea of having a separate cooking newsletter to showcase your mother's cooking is a brilliant one too. I have just finished writing a cookbook for my children. I have been thinking of including some recipes in my writing focused newsletter but wondering it might be off the track. I can have a separate section for it or start a new newsletter. Not sure. Might have to think about it a bit more.
I love this.
What a lovely room, but now what's left is all in your own memory. There is no one else to remember it. Very poignant.