Writing Prompt #40

It’s Okay to Check Out Sometimes

Hi Y’all,

I have a hunch that many of you share the dread I am feeling about Election Day. So much fear.

I read a piece yesterday at NYT giving permission to take a break from the news. Yes, I know this probably seems impossible right now. Still, I find the advice handy, a good reminder that we live in a world that assaults us nonstop with bad news, and that it is far beyond our capacity to process all of it. You’re not “bad” if you take time to not pay attention. It really is okay to stop and smell the roses. Or work on your writing.

I believe THIS LINK should get you past the paywall so you can read it for yourself.

I also just published a piece over at my other substack in which, with great sorrow, I own what I have in common with MAGA people. You can read that piece right here.

Your writing assignment for the week, should you choose to accept it, is to put down upon the page whatever it is you are feeling right now about the election. And/or you can write about coping strategies you are using to keep from losing your mind.

I hope you’ll share what you come up with in the comments. I also hope you’ll vote.

Thanks,

Love,

Spike

NOTES:

Thanks to all of you for showing up and reading. It feels so good to connect. Please, if you are able, bump up to a monthly subscription—$8 per month and it sure adds up and helps me keep the ranch rolling along. If you can’t swing $8 per month, you can still help by sharing this with others. One-time tips also gladly accepted via Venmo: @spike-gillespie. If you donate $10 I’ll send you an e-copy of my new novel, Grok This, Bitch. If you send me $30, I’ll ship you a print copy. It’s very funny, I promise. You can read the first chapter right here. 

My next FREE Writing Workshop at Hampton Branch Library is on WEDNESDAY Nov 6, 5:30-7:30 pm. Usually we meet on Tuesdays but Election Day requires us to wait a day. Spaces are limited and always fill up, so if you want to attend, please CLICK THIS LINK to reserve your spot. It’s going to be a safe, loving, supportive place to gather. 

I know it seems like winter might not ever get here but December isn’t so far away. Despite being a godless heathen, I still volunteer on Thursdays at the Central Presbyterian Church, feeding and clothing Austin’s downtown homeless population. If you have adult clothes, shoes, bedding, and/or toiletries you’d like to donate please let me know and we can make a pickup/drop-off plan. Very often we run low on men’s jeans and shoes. Thank you. 

BONUS READING ASSIGNMENT!

I have in the past recommended Jason Stanford’s substack The Experiment, which is always brilliant and thought provoking and inspired me to start my own substack. I met Jason many years ago when he and his lovely wife hired me to perform their wedding. He also co-authored a wonderful book called Forget The Alamo, a NYT bestseller I highly recommend. This week, to my delight, Jason wrote about Dode Levenson and Gretchen Barton, the geniuses behind the ad giving evangelical white women permission to vote for Kamala. As it happens, I briefly dated Dode in 1995. (It didn’t work out in large part because Dode is incredibly kind and thoughtful and I was definitely not ready for that in my pre-therapy thirties.) You can read Jason’s fascinating piece about the making of the ad right here.