Last Monday, Lynda Barry came to town to spread the gospel of the creative process as is writ in her new book, What it is. Get a sense of it here in her Tin House graphic essay which is wrapped into the book. I got a chance to spend the morning in her writing workshop, the afternoon sitting in the sun drawing strangers, and the evening listening to her talk. She's an authentically gifted writer/artist, and very very very funny.

I was exhausted by the end (but she wasn't!) so I skipped the book signing but apparently she spent hours talking to everyone who wanted to talk to her. The messages she shared sounded to me like true truths. She is enormously productive as a creative being and the stuff she makes has a real power. The idea that anyone can write, sing, dance, and paint is one I'm already signed on to (by the nature of my work, my mission, and my daily mantras) but man did it feel good to listen to her sing it.


And then after trying to 'splain it to everyone last week, the New York Times published a page on the book, the workshops, the magic potion and I was able to clip it out and show it around.

I am still writing in my notebook. Still thinking about the ways I can keep incorporating these elements (the extra page to doodle as I write, the "don't read it for a week" rule, telling myself it's good, good, good at least at first) and I think I can.
Alright then, I'm gonna go draw and write and otherwise keep the stuff spilling out. Daily, freshly, honestly, and vividly. At least daily.

Rachael

thank you Lynda!