Just My Type

Tin type, that is....

This is the mid-week edition of the newsletter, where I do my best to not really rant about anything but instead share things I'm up to, draw attention to things other people are doing, etc. So here goes....

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Dear Butte

I've been in Butte, Montana, all week courtesy of the Dear Butte residency. It's a wonderful little house to stay in and I've loved the solitude and the opportunity to get some work done. I'm here for another week yet and I'm sure I'm going to accomplish what I intended to. It's been great. I love Butte and I could totally live here. For those of you who are around here, I am doing this event this coming Sunday to fulfill the "community engagement" requirement of the residency agreement. If you have time, come hang out! And if you are an artist in the region, or could get a way for a few days, definitely look into this residency. I hope they let me come back.

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Northland Studios

A couple weeks ago my buddy Chris Chapman invited me to his new photography studio as a "practice subject" for his new setup. Turns out the dude is straight-up doing tin type photos and they're gorgeous. I mean, check this out from our shoot:

He's opening his books to photograph other people. If you're into it, you should do it! He's still getting the website together, but you can check it out HERE. If you're lucky we might run into each other, because I'm subletting a space from him for my new in-town office space.

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Field Seminar: Feb. 4-7

I’m going to be plugging my Silence: The Daily Practice workshop in Yellowstone National Park, from the Lamar Buffalo Ranch, for a while yet. It takes some committment to get to, I know, but it will be so worth it. Trust me.

Here is what the workshop is (allegedly) about:

Silence and observation are key to the creative process, whether that process is found in some discipline of art or in simply maintaining a well-lived life. This workshop will focus on writing, even if you don’t consider yourself a “writer.” It will feature unique exercises that include sitting in observation; walking as a key element in breaking free creative energy; and practicing live storytelling. You will be encouraged to recognize the importance of making time for reflection; to celebrate the absolute importance of being curious and kind; and to recognize the importance of your personal story.

If you’ve got time and some extra money, you can register here. It should be gorgeous there by February.

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Shameless Hussle

Thanks for hanging in there. Remember, you can still subscribe to this newsletter if you care to help me make this writing thing work as a living!

Or give it as a gift! The holidays are nigh upon us! FYI, this supply chain will never break….

You can also get One-Sentence Journal, still going strong more than three years later, HERE.

And the new one, Descended from a Travel-worn Satchel HERE.

Both books also make wonderful gifts.

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And Finally….

I’m doing two readings in Butte. The one I mentioned, and then I have to do a thing on the radio too. Since I’m typing perched right above the mine this classic Montana poem emerges from, by Butte’s late, great, masterful poet Ed Lahey, you know I’ll be throwing it down too. I won’t be the first, and I won’t be the last. I love it so much; the last thoughts of a broken old man, and that haunting last line….

That’s it. Be kind to each other out there….