A few holiday Unschool notes!

One from Neil Young--

Photo by Boston Public Library on Unsplash

I could not resist a photo of a time when there was no television in a home, but there was a radio, a piano, and a tree. In this room, those who didn’t want to communicate could sit in the two seats with the wide tree in between. The radiator had a sort of mantelpiece! 1942, mid-war.

An artist’s note:

Recently, I went to see the movie “Harvest Time,” about Neil Young and the creating of his album “Harvest.” I enjoy seeing artists’ processes—makes me feel okay with my own hours of M&T—the Mulling & Tinkering.

Toward the end of the movie Neil is playing the piano, and when he steps away the person with the camera zeroes in on the music holder—no music, of course—and shows a slip of paper with the following quote:

“God Respects Me When I Work, He Loves Me When I Sing”

~ Rabindranath Tagore, (1861-1941), Bengali poet & philosopher

These words say so much about the possible natures of our humanity, our art/s, God—about getting into the joyful flow of what we do, and the feeling that comes with that.

When you write do you feel that you are working or singing? What makes the difference?

When you set out to do your writing for that day, does it begin with the singing, or do you have to “work” to get to that point? If you are “singing” before you set fingers to keys, or pen to paper… is it work or singing?

Make time for this—the singing flow and all it brings—not only through these holidays, but in the coming year.

Workshop update

We currently have two pieces, one in the picturebook group, and another in poetry. Everyone is somewhat adrift in the general busyness of this time of year, and not up for writing comments. But if you have a few minutes, please take a look and add a thought.

You can email me new pieces for any of the workshops (“scene” as well as poetry or picturebook), and I’ll queue them, but I won’t post until after January 1st. I’ll post in the order in which I receive.

Also, all subscribers can check in with the monthly prompt thread/s, and post. The thread for December 1 was for a broad definition of “holiday” and a couple of you posted. Again, check out if you have time.

Break

My next new post will be the January 1 newsletter; I need some refueling time. I’ll post comments on the workshop pieces, and will respond to comments, though!

Please send me any writing and/or publishing questions you have. It’s been awhile since someone sent me a question. I enjoy writing posts in direct response to what is on your mind. Either write in the “comments” area or send to:

alison@alisonacheson.com

and I will post in early 2023.

To explore

If so inclined peruse the indexes for the past two years, to explore what you’ve missed 2021 and 2022, and to catch up with any of the prompts you’d like to post to (the monthly prompt posts are listed at the ends of the indexes).

You might also want to order The Poet’s Craft. Review the recent post on this and the plans to discuss together.

Substack chatter…

Some business! Substack writer/photographer Karen Davis (writer of the wonder-filled newsletter Life in the Real World) said “yes” to my request to share the following. I think it’s useful.

Hello friends! I’ve heard from a few folks that Substack has been sending quite a lot of emails to folks who don’t want them. There is a way to unsubscribe from the Substack stuff (at least most of it!) without unsubscribing from newsletters you enjoy (mine of course!). I have included instructions at the bottom of the page on how to do it from the browser. If you’re using the app, it’s similar.

And the instructions:

There is an (easy!) way to greatly reduce these emails. Here are the instructions:

1. Go to reader.substack.com (which may also be substack.com/inbox - but I think you can just follow this link!)

2. Click on the “library” icon on the left to see all the publications you are subscribed too. (In the app, click on the book icon.)

3. Scroll down and find the various Substack publications. Click the three dots on the far right side for a drop down and choose “unsubscribe”. (In the app, the three dots are at the top right after you’ve clicked on the publication.)

Just a small contribution to making things a little more quiet!

Thank you, Karen, for permission to use this piece. Do check out her newsletter for some in-depth “quiet.” Every time I read one of her pieces, I feel it.

~~~

Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Wishing you feet-up time. Time with family and friends. Here’s to spending time as you would most like…

Peace— Alison