How To Do Anything

In the Face of The Apocalypse

Hi Friends,

WHEW. Thank you to those of you out in the streets protesting and speaking out against the murder of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd and David McAtee, and so many others, by the police. Thank you to those who are putting themselves at risk and who walk through the world at risk their whole lives. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

But if you can’t get out and protest, what do you do? If you can, give money. Find the mutual aid society in your neighborhood. If you can, canvas for those running for local government who’ll actually make change where you live. There are google docs out there that can point you in 100 right directions. Do these things. Do as many as you can and do a little more. Give until it hurts because so many are hurting.

And when you’ve done that to the extent that you can, don’t forget that you can write. I mean, that’s probably you’re here, because you can, want to, long to write. Writing is hard all the time and near impossible now. But if you want to, if you feel it calling, you’re allowed to do it. You’re allowed to write your fic or your novel or your poems or your journal or whatever you want. What you write now might be some of the most important work you do, because it might be born out of the intensity of your emotion, might foster connections you wouldn’t have seen before, cushioned by whatever amount of comfort or privilege you experienced, or not, before. This might be true for you, or it might not be. But maybe write what you’re thinking and feeling now because tomorrow it will be different, and the next day you might forget, or another intense wave might wash it away and replace it with something else. Capture today. Capture tomorrow. In a month, a year, a decade, see how much you’ve grown and learned.

You don’t HAVE to write this pain if you can’t. Do not retraumatize yourself. Give yourself space to heal, even a tiny bit, if you can. But if the writing calls, it’s ok to answer.

The most important thing to remember is that no one ever has to see this work. It can be just for you. You don’t have to publish it. You don’t have to be productive right now, regardless of your circumstance. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It can be the shittiest first draft the wrold has ever seen. It can be non-linear and messy and full of typos and ALL CAPS and asides and emoji for all it matters. If it is something you want to share with the world, you can fix it later. Writing isn’t just the writing, it is revising and editing. The words you might type today or tonight or next Thrusday are just holding space for the feelings you need to express. They are not the final draft of your thoughts and pain and goals. It’s just a start. No gets it right the first time. Do not hold yourself to that standard. Do it because you need to, not because it’s for anyone else but yourself.

I hope this gives you the permission you need to get something messy down on paper, if that would serve you. If this helps, I hope it helps you a lot. I hope it’s an iota of grace in a world that only gives grace to white people. If you’re white, I hope you see the grace you get automatically. Give yours to someone else.

OXOXOXOX,

Kate