Writing

Music done right captures a resonance between math and language.

Harmony/rhythm is basically a space/time language that is mathematical (an octave is a unit of space, a measure is a unit of time, and it’s all about how you carve and layer within those units). Lyrics are obviously the linguistic half of it. In the most basic songs, a nice poem is

I don’t write to simply generate a 1,200 word output. I consider writing to be an extension of my curiosity, and the writing process itself is what turns a rough idea into a finished product. [...] Writing is a metamorphosis that turns vague abstractions into novel ideas, but you have to go through the writing process to connect the various points

Making space for writing is making space for you.

Research is formalised curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose. Zora Neale Hurston

Grace Lin: She asks, Where do you get your ideas?

Mo Willems: Well, Leah, that's a very good question and I'm afraid you may not like the answer because ideas are not things you get. People tend to think that ideas are things like diamonds. And then you go out and you get them and you grab them and you bring them back. But that's not what ideas are.

Writing is a great way to excavate an emotional reaction and find the why behind it.

“Every morning, you MUST love your whims and trust your whims, as you write anything and everything you desire, without shame, without purpose. Let it suck and let it be brilliant, too. Write way too much and then write too little. Feel hopeful and feel ashamed and understand that this is how you will live forever. Your brain is melodramatic. It