Missed this one last week but big roundup! Thanks Terry.
The City Lit stuff sounds great. How do you decide on what works to introduce them to/highlight? Do you make them aware of this platform as a place to get over the fear of sending words out into space?
“One day she forgot to warn me, and I forgot to trip. It really is astonishing how the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves can affect what we do.” Yes it is and the best intentions — stories meant to protect us — often do the most harm!
Terry, what a fantastic start to the week! This line is gold dust: ‘It really is astonishing how the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves can affect what we do’ and is exactly the reminder I need right now, so thank you!
I first heard of Gay Talese in an early session of your terrific 60-minute writer course, and I’m delighted to have come across his work.
Your sax diary is absolutely terrific - it’s such a great idea to record your thoughts, successes, failures, process and progress in this way. And colour coded, too! I always love to see the notebook pages of others!
Speaking of which, thank you so much for the recommendation to read ‘Writers and their Notebooks’ - it’s one of the best things I’ve read this year!
I know the answer to your prize draw question, but the reason I know it is thanks to you so I declare myself ineligible to enter! 😁
"Your sax diary is absolutely terrific - it’s such a great idea to record your thoughts, successes, failures, process and progress in this way."
David Harrison suggested it in class ages ago. Not sure how many others took it up. E recommended it as well.
"And colour coded, too!" That was MY idea! Green for success, red for unsuccessful and amber for so-so or work in progress. I find it really useful to go back and consult my notes when I'm having a problem.
"Thank you so much for the recommendation to read ‘Writers and their Notebooks’ - it’s one of the best things I’ve read this year!" Oh, I'd forgotten about that! Thanks for the reminder. I shall dig it out this evening!
Anyone who has done my course or has been reading my stuff over the years plus widely-read people in general will know the answer, sp thanks for your honesty but I declare your declaration of ineligibility ineligible.
It was quite useful for me because even though he was an accomplished saxophonist he had struggles with certain things. hE also said that it's often just at the point when you're thinking of giving up, a breakthrough happens. That's good for me to know because I feel like giving up every other week!
My aim is to practise every day, but the last two weeks that hasn't happened as I've been catching up on work and writing that fell by the wayside when I had a cold or covid or something.
How is your practise coming along?
I'd love to take up the clarinet myself, but I htink trying to learn two different fingerings might be confusing!
Missed this one last week but big roundup! Thanks Terry.
The City Lit stuff sounds great. How do you decide on what works to introduce them to/highlight? Do you make them aware of this platform as a place to get over the fear of sending words out into space?
Good questions, Nathan, and in fact I was going to wax lyrical about the second one in my next STW. The first Q: will include that as well. Thanks 😊
Wonderful round up of goodies. I must put Gay Talese on my list.
Sounds like a fun class. Of course the students have an excellent teacher.
It's great fun! I agree with you about the teacher! Chortle.
“One day she forgot to warn me, and I forgot to trip. It really is astonishing how the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves can affect what we do.” Yes it is and the best intentions — stories meant to protect us — often do the most harm!
Thanks, Stephanie. Yes, it’s like self-programming when we do it to ourselves, and unintended consequences when others do it to us.
Terry, what a fantastic start to the week! This line is gold dust: ‘It really is astonishing how the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves can affect what we do’ and is exactly the reminder I need right now, so thank you!
I first heard of Gay Talese in an early session of your terrific 60-minute writer course, and I’m delighted to have come across his work.
Your sax diary is absolutely terrific - it’s such a great idea to record your thoughts, successes, failures, process and progress in this way. And colour coded, too! I always love to see the notebook pages of others!
Speaking of which, thank you so much for the recommendation to read ‘Writers and their Notebooks’ - it’s one of the best things I’ve read this year!
I know the answer to your prize draw question, but the reason I know it is thanks to you so I declare myself ineligible to enter! 😁
"Your sax diary is absolutely terrific - it’s such a great idea to record your thoughts, successes, failures, process and progress in this way."
David Harrison suggested it in class ages ago. Not sure how many others took it up. E recommended it as well.
"And colour coded, too!" That was MY idea! Green for success, red for unsuccessful and amber for so-so or work in progress. I find it really useful to go back and consult my notes when I'm having a problem.
"Thank you so much for the recommendation to read ‘Writers and their Notebooks’ - it’s one of the best things I’ve read this year!" Oh, I'd forgotten about that! Thanks for the reminder. I shall dig it out this evening!
Anyone who has done my course or has been reading my stuff over the years plus widely-read people in general will know the answer, sp thanks for your honesty but I declare your declaration of ineligibility ineligible.
🤣
Re: The competition. I don't live in the UK, so that saxs.
I chuckled at this pun which I think was unintentional: "...keeping such meticulous notes pays off..."
I hope you feel better soon.
Thanks, Elizabeth. It WAS unintentional! Well done for spotting it! Thanks. I feel much better now. :-)
"That sax": 😂
Words like sax diary and sax maniac just crack me up! So many other possibilities:
sax fiend, sax appeal, saxploitation, saxuality, saxpot, saxting, and, of course, the 1991 hit by Right Said Fred "I'm too saxy for my shirt."
And, I am embarrassed to admit, I thought Gay Talese was a woman....thank you for improving my education.
🤣 Thanks, Sharron. Sax fiend: me when I'm playing too close nto the neighbour's wall.
Saxting: my sending photos of my sax not in its case. Sax appeal: eg the sax in Baker Street or The Year of The Cat.
I can understand that. "Gay" is notb usually a male name. I suppose it must be like Shirley, which can be a male name as well.
I checked. It is an Italian diminutive for Gaetano. And pronounced guy...
I didn't know that. Well done. It fits: his dad was a tailor in Italy.
What a compendium of stuff!
And a diary that rivals The Notebooks of Sonny Rollins. Almost. Maybe not. But fun!
:-) Thanks, Cary. I reviewed his book a short while ago (THe Notebooks of Sonny Rollins). Very interesting they were too.
Had I not read your review, I wouldn’t have known about the Rollins book, so thanks!
Looking forward to reading Talese’s essays of my home town.
It was quite useful for me because even though he was an accomplished saxophonist he had struggles with certain things. hE also said that it's often just at the point when you're thinking of giving up, a breakthrough happens. That's good for me to know because I feel like giving up every other week!
Don’t give up!
I need to be more disciplined with my clarinet practice…
My aim is to practise every day, but the last two weeks that hasn't happened as I've been catching up on work and writing that fell by the wayside when I had a cold or covid or something.
How is your practise coming along?
I'd love to take up the clarinet myself, but I htink trying to learn two different fingerings might be confusing!
I don’t know how different the fingerings are, but do your thing!
I continue to practice as often as possible, building a relationship with the thing. Someday, I’ll play klezmer.
Delightful as always.
Thanks very much, Jeanne 🙂