Coming Home with Ideas

Sun Magazine hosts a series of Writer’s Workshops throughout the year. After attending the workshop in Massachusetts, at Rowe Conference Center, I came home and unpacked.

Clothes went to the dirty laundry and toiletries went into the bathroom.

During the weekend, Sun authors Gillian Kendall, Alison Luterman, Lee Martin, and Sparrow, along with editor and publisher Sy Safransky calmly, methodically, and patiently presented writing ideas they’ve found beneficial over the years. A glutton for ideas, I came home with an overstuffed head.

Compression. Detail. Pay attention to every single word.

There is no urge to put these ideas in the laundry or bathroom.

Could I put the ideas in the pile of bills, letters, and other important materials, that I will get to one day? No, they might get lost.

Maybe I can put the ideas on top of the piano. No, the cats might knock them over.

I could put them in the small corner cabinet with the glass door. They’d be safe there.

Compression. Detail. Pay attention to every single word. These ideas will only be found or safe if I practice them.