Ephemera Newsletter Iss Jan.3

(Creativity and Motivation Weekly)

Welcome to the Ephemera Newsletter, Vänner! (Swedish for “friends”).

Dear Readers,

Some Housekeeping Notes:

• This letter may get cut off by email providers. Please make sure to click through for the full experience.

• This week’s letter provides a preview for free subscribers.

• If you are a free subscriber, please also consider supporting us. Our post on going paid is here.

• In case you missed it: Last week’s letter has important deadlines.

• And we’ve announced our 2nd selection for the Write-In Residency: Adam Owensby. We thank everyone who participated.

Merci. Danke. Kiitos. 고마워 Go-ma-wo, Xiè xiè.

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Literary Sponsor: New Note Poetry*

From our illustrious literary friends at New Note:

“‘Poetry is the jazz of the written word.’ But what does that mean? It means that New Note Poetry features only the boldest poets and their verses—poetry that breaks the mold while playing with language, poetic forms, and themes. We aim to do for poetry what Blue Note Records did to jazz: present new, genre-breaking artists while fostering a high-quality brand. We are open for submissions in November, February, May, and August to seasoned & debut writers. Our magazine will always be free to read.”

*We are members of the Literary Digital Ad Network: Litbreaker. Reach out to Litbreaker at their site or email.

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Ephemera

Writers need communities. We’re taking notes, writing down names, remembering our pals and or ingratiating ourselves to locals who we may not know or know well enough. Been to an MFA? Reach out to folks, to professors. Drop a line. Ask them what they’ve been reading or schedule a call (zoom or old fashion phone, but a real call) to hear about their project. Get out in your local sphere. Start with your coffee shop(s). Ask people what they’re working on. What they’re reading. Books are decent icebreakers. We need not be so isolated so-so much, all of the time. It can be good to hear from others, hear of their work. Maybe even exchange some pages. Become a person who not only writes about but performs community; we feel that’s a way of supporting others (particularly if you yourself have support, why not pay it forward?) as well as building desire internally. Seeing others create and hearing that they’re tackling similar issues, bugaboos, connects you to the collective chagrin of the writer, might help you face these so-called demons. Help and receive help. Reciprocate. Be outward for a little bit each week. Maintain social connections with other creators. It’s important, for succor and soul.

Join us, oh free subscriber, for a full practice and we hope everyone check our poetry sponsor: New Note Poetry. We’re staying connected with community in mind: 3 zines, 3 opportunities, 3 jobs. Art and music so we don’t stay siloed: This week, we look at Adam Caldwell’s Classical-Abstract paintings melding styles and delivering mood with expert chiaroscuro and a Degas-like focus on a troupe of fellow-yet-foreign (small f) creators; we’re also listening to Dylan Brady, a producer and musician with throw-back post punk, punk-rock, middle-America and so people-connected vibes. A book rec to aid our crafting and great quotes from Judy Blume. People your poetry and prose; they should be realistic. Places & things in absence of folks are bereft of feeling….