@ben I share all of this knowledge because leaving can allow one to live and provide some layer of safety for loved ones but it is, as I say, a difficult life.

And, I think it is good to be aware that this is a normal part of the experience in order to better prepare.

I want folks to have better than my dad's experience.

The one silver lining was that he always made friends with others who had immigrated. There was a recognition of sameness no matter where they'd come from.

@ben On a day to day basis I marvel that my dad left his home country to move to the us where he met my mom, they had me and now I'm in a country that looks up to his home country and is doing the stuff that made him leave.

Just, I'm relieved he isn't alive for this. I have his experiences as a guide. I'm profoundly sad for him that there was not a sense of the better world he hoped existed.

But, I am grateful he shared his knowledge as much as he could. So much of his trauma was poorly hidden

@ben My only comment is always to share about my own father's experiences doing the same.

Its a hard choice and I respect folks who make it as much as those who don't.

I think folks often think it will be easier* but it is a different sort of difficult. It can be good to get the distance and it is also a lifelong and generational trauma regardless.

*those moving as well as those judging

My hope for all is that they use this moment to grow wherever they need to be for that to happen.

@futurebird I'm glad you're having this experience.

Part of why I schedule my writing around a quarter system with breaks is that it builds in lulls that last long enough for me to "forget" and return with new eyes. It weirdly helps with all the troubleshooting that feels impossible if I write without breaks.

I think folks have different tolerance for on time vs off time creatively but it does seem like breaks are a healthy part of the process.

I have my favorites and more tools are helpful for keeping things organized in the ways I want them organized. But, as I get older, I think most of what I *need* for my creativity is based on ritual and routine.

This may or may not strike some as materialistic or woo but I think creativity thrives on our ability to transport ourselves somewhat outside our usual state of mind. Into other worlds or deep into ourselves.

Getting there is easier when my body & mind are atuned.

#ScribesAndMakers

#ScribesAndMakers 25 Jan: What's the most important thing you need to bring with you on a creative retreat?

It isn't directly related to writing tools but just all of my health and wellness things so: vitamins, meds, planner, teas that I like, comfy shoes for walking, etc.

Its not a lot of stuff but, just, the internal and physical prep seems to be an important aspect of creating (for me).

A pen/pencil and paper is managable for any creativity I want to do...

@futurebird They don't even seem to respond well to people complying.

Its stunning but my sense is that they recognize that most "polite" folks won't watch video of their atrocities and so they think they will get away with anything even as it is all filmed because folks will read a headline or listen to a blurb.

The stunning part is just the fact that we live in an era with so much actual footage but folks look away the same as they do with homeless folks.

For now, the snow is beautiful and the lack of ice feels like a quiet relief. Still on track for colder icey fare later today but I'd be happy with more snow.

Hope everyone along the storm path is faring alright.

#WritersCoffeeClub Jan 25 - What comes first: setting, character, plot? What comes next?

I write the way I read so: character, setting, plot.

I want to connect with the characters, then I'm curious about their world and then I'm curious about where things are going.

This isn't how everyone reads or writes but I'm fairly happy with it.

Personally, I dislike totally plot driven stories as the characters tend to be more generic but acknowledge that a strong connection with plot drives momentum

@Walrus @rustoleumlove @ai6yr Sounds like a man tied up in an MLM scheme that sells beef.

*edit to add a word

@brandyzadrozny.bsky.social Always look for the helpers. They are always helping.

And if one cannot **be **the helper. At minimum *help *the helpers. 💪

Just, as some context about the big storm, we've got a state of emergency declared in a bunch* of states with one article saying that the national guard is on call for 8 of those.

For those who want live coverage: https://www.youtube.com/live/gvhSpTEzHbw

*I think Max Velocity said 24.

Posting a #cat picture because...yeah...

#catsofMastodon #catstodon #cats

@BowieSpace One of my favorites

@kagan Do write up some notes for later as well, maybe a memoir or travelogue into the past. Maybe a different story.

I think we often don't realize our roles as record keepers since most of us aren't true narcissists so its hard to see how little snippets from our banal lives can be interesting.

But, I hear you too. It does need to fit what you're looking to express.