
Even the most prolific writers get stuck sometimes. What do you do when you’re in a rut? What routines, exercises, or meditations help you move through writer’s block? This month, our instructor Gay Edelman is running Get Unstuck, a workshop that will help you move forward and get inspired, no matter where you are in your process. It will be held on Saturday, April 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
We asked Gay and her students and past workshop attendees to share with us what they are doing to care for themselves and feed their creativity. Here’s what they are reading, watching, listening to, and eating.
April 2021:
What we’re reading …
Patty Whyte has been reading (and loving) A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, by George Saunders. “What I love about A Swim is the apparent affection the author displays to the reader from the very first page. And the whole tone of the book is as if you’re sitting and chatting over a cup of coffee. It’s so warm.”
Listening to …
Lisa Hartsgrove is listening to “Billie Eilish. Even if you’re not a fan of her music (how could you not be?!), she is such an inspiration. She began making music in her bedroom with her brother, she does not come from money, and she is completely self-made. Her style is deliberately not form-fitting or ‘standard’ for female artists because she constantly challenges standards that society places on women. I watched her documentary the moment it was released this February (you can get a free trial of Apple TV and not have to pay for it!) and I laughed and cried and only loved her more. She deserves all the acclaim she’s been getting. Did I mention I’m a big fan?”
Watching …
“I became so obsessed with the characters on Call My Agent on Netflix that I miss them now that I finished the show!” Jennifer Gaites says of the French series. “The character arcs are really well developed and surprising, but feel authentic and true to life.” She’s newly binging Never Have I Ever, created and written by Mindy Kaling, and loves “the quirkiness and weird turns, mixed with deep emotion as the protagonist navigates her grief—and high school.”
Eating …
Gay Norton Edelman is “crazy for the sweet potatoes that I’ve been getting lately. They’re the orange kind, not the red ones, not the white ones. I start off with a big one and then dice it up into one-inch chunks, put them in a bowl with a quarter cup of water, and microwave for eight minutes. Then I pour out the water and add a teaspoon of olive oil and a pinch of sea salt. They’re just super yummy!”
Miscellaneous …
Aloydia Maria Nortez is captivated by all things vaccine!: “I actually cried with joy when I got mine and learned how mRNA Vaccine works. It is so incredibly beautiful that a woman scientist created the spike protein response that tells our immune system to make the necessary antibodies to protect us from COVID-19 without infecting us with the germ!” Here is the link to a fascinating story about the woman behind the science.
What are you obsessed with this month?
Feel free to share any comments or writing inspired by our Captivated column with us at info@projectwritenow.org.