Readers

“I sincerely believe that books don’t live until they’re read. While I think I’d write even if nobody was reading - it’s who I am - I thrive because I know the stories are being brought to life by all of you. In this, stories are a special kind of art, particularly ones written down. Each of you imagines this book, and its characters, a little differently - each of you puts your own stamp on it, making it yours. I don’t think a story is quite finished until that has happened to it - until the dream in my head has become a reality (even if briefly) in yours.

And so this book is yours, as are all of them once you read them. Thank you so much for bringing life to my work, and to the Cosmere.”

Brandon Sanderson, The Sunlit Man, Postscript

Moving the Action Figures

Davy has reached the storytelling age.

Mix and match scripts from Zelda and Room on the Broom and Daniel Tiger.

John Hodgman reminding fiction writers that we're just playing make believe.

And that's where the magic is. 💫

"Then suddenly, when you're writing, a character will say something that you didn't think of.

Of course you did think of it, unconsciously. It's from your brain.

But only from a part of your brain that would never have been activated until you sat there and moved the action figures around enough."

John Hodgeman, This is a Secret Society

Dancing Skeletons

So far my favorite drawing from the work I’m doing with Lynda Barry’s book is one I did with my eyes closed.

The prompt was to draw 3 skeletons with eyes closed in blue, yellow, and red. I used colored pencils.

Davy was immediately drawn in by this, but insisted I draw them again “happy.”

The big smiles and heads threw off the proportions, but there’s no doubt these drawings have more “life” than any I’ve done eyes open.

I’m also loving rediscovering composition notebooks. I used to love writing and drawing in these as a kid.

Chronic Illness & Art

“The functioning of our bodies affects what is possible for each of us in physical and temporal spaces. During active illness, the limitation that comes from the mismatch between the rest of the world and the universe of sickness increases. You think and plan around the ways you don’t fit into the world.”

“Artists often see possibility and opportunity where others may not, so our role is to lead others into new ideas or ways of doing things.”

Jocelyn Mathewes

Image Journal, Issue 118.