Jumpstarting My Creative Discipline
A few faves for when life has completely derailed your artistic practice
On Tuesday night, I landed in Lima’s Jorge Chavez International Airport with three suitcases hitting their weight limit, one carry-on brimming with books and notebooks, and a backpack heavy with all my tech needs (laptop, iPad, an embarrassing number of chargers). I’m camping out in my hometown for a few months while I reset my whole life. I needed a break from exorbitant NYC rental prices. A respite from wearing myself thin to cover expenses, especially after a medical emergency. There are family reasons—aging parents, brand new nephews, the usual obligations and delights of someone in their 40s.
Overall, though, I needed to reconnect with my writing under benevolent circumstances aka not having all the financial stress of the past two years overwhelming most of my mental space. I’ve indeed accomplished more than I thought possible, given The Worst Year insisted on throwing me every curve ball known to man. No one would have faulted me for giving up on my art altogether, at least not for a bit. I’m proud that I didn’t, but the only times I could muster real momentum was in intense spurts, like attending residencies. I want more than spurts. I want a mundane kind freedom to focus on my silly little essays without caving into bankruptcy.
Lima is my safety net, one I’m beyond lucky to have. But now I’m here! Soooo…what is the grand plan exactly? LOL.
At first, I was going to title this “Jumpstarting My Creativity”, but I’m not lacking ideas. They’ve been simmering away in my mind, while I languished in a hospital bed, while I pawned off my clutter at a garage sale, while I toasted to my new life stage at Brooklyn bars. Right now, I have messy notes on the following:
15 pitch ideas
Poetry collection
Family memoir
Article/podcast idea on a family mystery
Instagram account to archive a micro food scene in Lima (truly a labor of love because I’m way too behind on “best practices” to become — or even want— to be an influencer, lord save us all)
Juicier, more reported, deeper essays for this Substack
I’m not lacking creativity. But I am sorely lacking creative discipline, at least right now. If writing is a muscle that needs consistent exercise, mine is akin to whatever happens to your glutes when you’ve been sitting on your ass for months binge-watching both the US and international versions of The Ultimatum. It gets harder to get on your feet and go for a walk. My brain is aching for some structure. I’ve been here enough times to know that I need a gimmick. The universe, my old foe, has thankfully offered them to me at the best time.
