a little bit of something
I don't say much. At least, I try not to. I relish brevity, even and especially when it comes to writing. I like tight structures. Stark and terse and punchy. Trimmed of all fat, faff, and fuckery. Sentences like stilettos keeping time across across marble. A cadence made of purpose and intention and nothing more.
It creates a sense of urgency. A feeling that every word matters. Because it's true. That each one is weighted with import. Because they are.
It's telling that the word noise and the word nausea share the same root. It says a lot about the unnecessary things we commit to speech.
We only have so much time. We’re only here for so long.
But, honestly I write short because it scares me less. Because it doesn't intimidate me. It's less daunting. It feels less herculean to do. When I tell myself I only need to write a little, I start to believe that it's something I can do.
Maybe that's the key to everything.
It only takes a little bit of something, to start to change everything.
P.S. ICAD - Day 199-201 - When I initially started the Index Card A Day challenge it was supposed to be a 60 day challenge. I didn’t want to stop and I decided to extend it to 100 days. After 100 days its become the cornerstone of my daily creative practice and I’ve now gone over 200 days of making an index card collage everyday. Next stop 365, after that who knows.
The index cards below are available for purchase here.
I really enjoyed your writing and choices of words and phrases in this piece, Duane. This is something I have been trying to improve at the past few months. This is really key for me: "It only takes a little bit of something, to start to change everything." Truth!
Yes! I, too, relish brevity and cherish each word. In doing so, my poems are tight-- somtimes terse. I continue to try adding detail. Sometimes it works!