Tues. Oct. 15, 2024: Back to a Regular Work Life

image courtesy of  Manuel Wehlte via pixabay.com

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Waxing Moon

Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde

Cloudy and cool

I can’t believe only a week ago today, I was in-studio, trying to get settled and get down to work. What a week it was!

I have to share the rest of it with you now, don’t I?

This is a loooong post, my friends, so settle in with a favorite beverage.

Friday was an excellent writing day on the play I WILL BE DIFFERENT. I reworked the scene I took into workshop, the Milly/Ron scene before the party. Making the adjustments per the notes made a huge difference, even though they were tweaks, not major rewrites. Another instance of how the poet’s eye and attention to detail serves playwrighting. Those tweaks then helped me rebuild the beats I needed to focus on for the next scene, which is the party scene (that they are eager to read today). I then reworked the post-party argument a little, and that scene is stronger. I went back and reworked some of the wedding day scene, and then wrote the scene where Milly and her sorority sisters play cards and talk boys.

I want to show Milly’s liveliness in college, and how it dims down once she’s married. I still need to write the scene where Milly and Ron meet, which I have in my head, but not yet on paper. And I want to do another Milly/Ron scene after the card playing scene but before the wedding scene, to show why she fell in love with him, and some of his more positive qualities. If he’s only one thing, and it’s negative, it diminishes both Milly and Ron. He needs to have facets.

Those seven scenes should encompass the Milly arc. I mean, her arc continues into Amanda’s arc, but that’s the next generation.

I will probably do the act break after the post-party argument scene, depending how long the Amanda and Joy sections go.

I want to figure out and write the Amanda section next, then go back to Alice, then Josephine – the arc that starts the play. I think I will write Joy’s section, the last portion of the play, last.

I hope I will have a completed first draft by the end of the year. I’m taking my time with it, and, starting this week, I’m also juggling other projects again as my regular life picks up. I will have to block out 3-4 hour sessions on it, because I’m writing it differently than I write other plays, starting at the beginning and following an outline.

The Nine Dots question for the next round of grants came out. I forwarded it to the Collective, because I think some of them could create something terrific around it, if they chose. I mean, it is $100K and a publishing contract. If you’re interested and want to take a look at the criteria, you can do so here.

I kept reworking and reworking and reworking the scene to go into Friday’s workshop. I still have a couple of places I think can have stronger word choices, but that’s what the workshop will help.

Suddenly, it was time to meet for lunch. It was hard to tear myself out of the studio.

I picked up some cards at the museum store that we will sign to thank the bookstore. We had a fun lunch in the mezzanine. One of my colleagues asked if I would read her play. I’m honored. I will do so this week.

It was hard to get back into the work after lunch, knowing I had such a limited time. I submitted two short plays to submission calls.

I gathered my materials and headed over to the Swing Space, where we are workshopping. Once again, everyone’s work was different and vibrant. We were a full ten on Friday afternoon, which was great (the workshop element is not mandatory, especially if someone is so deep in the work they don’t want to break concentration). One of my colleagues brought in a three-column (!) cleave poem that was so visceral and disturbing and exciting. It really makes me want to get back to work on the comedic horror poem. Maybe I’ll have it ready to workshop by next year! Because, let’s face it, it will probably take me a year to figure out how to sort of pull it off.

I went last, since instead of a single- or two-page poem, I had a multiple-page scene from a play, and I wanted to make sure the other nine got the full time and attention to their manuscripts. The notes were great, and they wanted both the next scene and the scene previous to the first one I brought in.

I came back to the studio and made some notes for the next scene. It’s the post-party scene, and while I’ve worked it through a few drafts, there are a few more beats that would strengthen it. I didn’t want to get too caught up in it, or I would miss dinner.

We went to Casita for dinner, which is right there on the MASS MoCA campus, just a short walk from our studios. The food is quite good, but I was disappointed by the wine.

After, I went back to the studio and packed up what I needed for the apartment. Hauled it all over, got out the snacks, and everyone came over for the planning meeting. We had a good, lively meeting. Next year is the 10th Anniversary of the Collective (and we will be in residence during one member’s 65th birthday), so we want it to be special. We came up with a few fun ideas, which I will draft into various formats to pitch/propose where appropriate over the coming weeks.

I took notes, which I will type up and send out this week. I had the members who weren’t there last year fill out information so I can update the contact sheet. In addition to organizing the reading next year, I am also going to help gather and upload content for the Boiler House Poets Collective Website so there’s fresh content on a regular basis, and readers want to keep coming back. Although I won’t be doing much in that direction until after my show records in mid-November.

I mean, let’s face it, I’m not going to be doing much of anything until my show records in mid-November, because as of yesterday, that show moves into the priority slot of my world, since BHPC is complete for the year and moved out of that slot. (Although I still have some wrap-up things to do for BHPC this week, but it doesn’t have the same deadline pressure as prepping for the reading did).

I’m putting together a Google doc to gather data points about the Collective that show what we bring to the table and members can use for grant applications, other residency applications, marketing, and their own websites, should they choose.

My flatmate and I then sat up chatting until after 11, once everyone else had cleared out.

Earlier in the day, I got word that my beloved yoga studio here in town is closing as of February. I’m sad for me, but happy that my teacher is ready for the next steps in her life and career. Working with her has meant a lot to me these past few years. That she sent out the email on the day Pluto – planet of transformation – went direct is just perfect timing.

I woke up to an invitation to create for the next Word X Word event. Unfortunately, it’s on November 12 – the day of my recording. So I will not be able to participate.

Up at 5. Over to the studio a little before 6. Again, I really treasure the early morning hours in the building. It has its own set of sounds, which are comforting, rather than ominous, in spite of being a former factory. Even the idea of ghosts of former employees is comforting (and could wind up as a poem one day).

I tried not to sink into the melancholy of Saturday being my last full studio day. After all, it was my last full studio day, and I wanted to make the most of it.

I worked for about an hour and a half. Then, I walked to the overnight lot, got the car, and loaded some bags into it (like the dirty laundry and a couple of bags of books – it’s not like there aren’t plenty of books still in my studio). Drove to Full Well Farm, picked up my replacement CSA box, drove it all home and unloaded.

Tessa followed me around, demanding petting tolls and telling me all the ways the schedule was messed up. Charlotte and Willa both wanted attention. Bea hid. She was probably afraid I’d ask her to read another map – after all, I had shoes on. Shoes on means chaos.

Unpacked the bags, took the empty bags with me, headed out. Back in my studio by 8:30. It took a minute to get settled again.

I worked in longhand for a bit, because that helped me feel more connected.

The Literary Witches Oracle card for the day was Sylvia Plath, which makes sense, considering how much her life and work have fueled the Milly/Ron arc of the play this week.

I printed out a few poems for the final night’s poem share. I put in the changes to the Milly/Ron party scene. I revised the post-party scene a few times, and worked the wedding day scene.

I have a feeling I will open out the party scene a little more. I was conscientious of how many pages I brought in, and while I built the beats to this page count, I think I can work in some more dynamics. I’m not sure, though. I’ll play with it.

I worked on a couple of very intense scenes in the Amanda section. And that was kind of it for me for the morning. I drafted eight scenes on this play in residency, which is a decent week’s work. Thirty-six pages. Not a bad week’s work.

I cam across a quote by Muriel Rukeyser that resonated: “Poems flowered from the bone.” (POETRY IN PERSON, p. 28).

The workshop was good. Two of the poets brought in gifts for the group, poems they’d written about the experience. The poems were wonderful, and receiving such a beautiful gift was magnificent.

I brought in a very short scene, the post-party scene, and got excellent feedback.

We packed up and restored the Swing Space one last time, since it was our last time in the space this session.

I went back to my studio, packed up my backpack and computer, and headed to the apartment. Dropped everything off and got my act together for a few minutes before we all met downstairs to head over to the parking lot and sort ourselves into cars to drive to Williamstown. I was very glad we had enough people willing to drive so I didn’t have to drive at night. And then I always feel like a wuss because my night vision is poor.

We ate at Blue Mango, the Thai restaurant we liked so much last year. It was still good, although we didn’t have our same delightful waiter (he stopped by the check on us, though). I had the Pad Thai, which I’ve liked before, and it was a little blander than in previous experiences. Or maybe I just make Pad Thai stronger when I make it at home? It was still good, and I cleaned my plate. I should have ordered a sauvignon Blanc rather than a chardonnay. Live and learn. But we had good conversation, and, as always, laughed a lot.

That’s one of my favorite things about the residency. We laugh a lot.

We reassembled back in our living room with wine and snacks and the like. We talked and read poems to each other. I read “Artifact” and “Ancestral Longings” both of which were originally created for Word X Word events, and was pleased at how well they held up. I’ve learned a lot since the last residency, in terms of working in this form.

I loved everyone else’s poems, too, and the breadth, range, and depth of them.

But everyone was tired, and headed out a little after 10 PM. My flatmate and I cleaned up and put things away, and sat up talking for another hour or so.

I packed up my clothes and got my stuff a little more organized for the load out.

I decided not to set my alarm and try for studio time. Rather, I wanted to indulge myself in this wonderful bed.

I slept until 7 AM, albeit with some weird dreams. I woke up once, around 3:30 (from the dreams), but fell asleep pretty easily, and didn’t wake up again until the alarm went off at 7.

I staggered into the kitchen to start the coffee, and then got my act together. Once I had coffee in hand, we stripped the beds, emptied the garbage, made and ate breakfast, washed, dried, and put away the dishes, wiped down the counters, and generally made sure the apartment was neat and clean. I packed up the food I still had there. When I got home, I realized I left half a bag of coffee, so the next cohort will find some really good coffee in the cabinet.

I took down the garbage and the recycling on my way to get the car. Once I dumped my backpack in the car, I realized it had somehow torn. Fortunately, I did not leave a trail behind me.

I drove the car back to the apartments, hauled down the clothing bag, the food bags and the rest. I still had 5 bags, in spite of what I took home the day before. I then headed over to the studio.

I’d hoped to write for a few hours, but I couldn’t concentrate until I packed the bulk of my stuff – the books, the batiks, the yoga stuff, the little things that made it look like a cozy office space. I kept up the inspiration wall as long as possible.

There was no internet in the studios. I seem to remember that happening last year, too. I wonder if they shut off the Guest Artist access on exit/turnaround days? I mean, that seems weird, but whatever. Maybe it encourages artists not to linger beyond their exit time.

I was melancholy to leave the studio. I loved Studio 12 last year, in the other building, and I loved Studio 6 in this one. The experience in each building is very different. John, who was an A4A advisor when I was a cohort member, encouraged me to ask for a different studio for a different perspective, and he was right.

I had my studio door open to say goodbye to people as they headed out.

I wrote in longhand for a bit, then drafted two poems. One of them, “Discards” I really like (although it needs some work). The other one is about the sound of the chime installation in the clock tower and the bells of the churches, but I needed to do some research for specifics, and without internet, that wasn’t happening in the moment.

I finally took down my inspiration walls, packed the last few things, and started hauling bags to the car.

On my first trip down, I helped a woman struggling with folding tables and Harris/Walz paraphernalia, trying to get back in the building. I held doors for her and helped her get the dolly in.

On my second trip down, some jerk parked behind me, at right angles, completely blocking me in. I had to hump my things around his car – which was parked way too close to my trunk. I popped the hatch, and barely had room to stand behind my car and pack the back.

I turned and knocked on his window (he was, of course, on his phone). I said, “You need to move, please, you’re blocking me in.”

He didn’t even look up, just said, “I’m only going to be here a minute.”

“You need to be gone by the time I get back down or you’re going to have a problem,” I said.

I stomped off to get my purse and my computer and my chair.  I said my goodbyes to the last few – one of our collective was staying as long as possible, enjoying being the last one, and promised to shut off the lights and lock the door on her way out.

I hauled my last few things to the car; Asshat was gone.

I’m still killing him off in a book.

Drove home, hauled everything out and up the stairs. Had a quick snack and greeted the cats, then unpacked everything. Really proud of myself for doing that. Even unpacked the books and put them back where they go.

I think Bea missed me. She was throwing toys at me again. Charlotte and Willa were glad I was home. Tessa would not speak to me.

I already miss everyone and look forward to next year. We really worked as a collective this year, and it was great.

I puttered around a bit, and heated up leftovers for dinner. I was tired, but it was a good tired. Charlotte sat on me every chance she had. Bea danced around. Tessa and Willa had a lot to say.

I went to bed early. Both Tessa and Charlotte slept on the bed from the beginning, instead of in shifts, which they usually do. Charlotte didn’t start any trouble, so it worked out.

Woke up once in the night, because I was in a weird pretzel shape since Charlotte was in between both sets of pillows. Adjusted so Charlotte and Tessa were on the same side of the bed, but they had a truce, so I went back to sleep.

Got up a little after 6, in spite of Tessa singing the Breakfast Operetta as soon as the coffee began at 5:30. Got everyone fed, wrote a little, enjoyed the quiet time.

I put up the Community Tarot reading for the week (if you missed it, you can read it here), and the Intent for the Week post. Did the rounds of social media. Handled some of the email that stacked up. Still way too much to get through.

The Collective texted and emailed the group throughout the day, which was great. We created a real sense of cohesion, and I hope that carries through the year.

It rained all day, and it was technically a holiday. I spent most of the day on the couch reading, with Charlotte sitting on me. I read THE DEAD ROMANTICS by Ashley Poston, which was very cute. It was a good read for a rainy autumn day.

I also read the next book for review, which I will write and send off later this morning. I still have a book of poetry to review, which I will do this week.

Today, I have to start building back into my regular writing life. Most of it for the next month will be focused on the show – rehearsals, rewrites, production meetings. When a show is in production, it is THE priority, and everything else in life has to work around it.

Balanced with that is my commitment as an A4A Advisor. Today is the final deadline for the applications, and we will start reviewing them soon. The meeting to discuss the applicants is. . .the day after my show records. Because of course it is. But I have plenty of time to prep, read the applications, take notes, and form opinions.

I also have to set up a consultation with a new client. I’m going to try to do it early next week; otherwise I will be overwhelmed this week. I think it’s going to be a one-and-done consult, which is fine.

I need to work on drafting THE VICIOUS CRITIC, drafting I WILL BE DIFFERENT, revisions on STRANGERS IN THE SNOW, and final proof on the print versions of TAPESTRY and MURDER BELLS. I need to ramp up the promotion on the Topic Workbooks and the pre-orders of TAPESTRY and MURDER BELLS.

I was relieved that there were no script coverages coming in that I would have had to refuse (and then felt guilty about) during my residency week. I should be alarmed that nothing’s come through the last couple of days, especially with a contest deadline today (or maybe it’s tomorrow). Usually, there are rush coverages just before a contest deadline, where they ask for notes so they can revise and then submit. Crickets. I hope a couple of things come in today, before the end of the pay period at midnight. If not, I’m okay, especially with the book reviewing and the new client. And I planned for no income (only outgo) during the residency week, and budgeted to cover the bills.

I’m going to get out pitches and submissions this week, and see what lands where. I need to up my pitch game between now and mid-November, because it will slow down from mid-November through the holidays, and I want to make sure I land something strong for January and February. I’ll look for more short term/one-offs for November and December.

This week will probably be a slowish ramp-up, because it’s coming out of the residency and going into rehearsals/advisory work. The next month will test my focus, organizational skills, and mental dexterity.

So I better get going, hadn’t I?

Have a good one!