“The thing about writing is not to talk, but to do it; no matter how bad or even mediocre it is, the process and production is the thing, not the sitting and theorizing about how one should write ideally, or how well one could write if one really wanted to or had the time. 

As Mr. Kazin told me: “You don’t write to support yourself; you work to support your writing.” 

– Sylvia Plath in Letters Home 

I am spending part of this sunny Canada Day writing my next fashion column for Comment.

I often find myself asking the question: what’s the point of writing about fashion? (Or about any topic for that matter, be it strollers, art, bike rides — just a few of the articles I have in process at the moment). And then I stumble across a bit like this that reminds me that all things in life, if seen in the right light, have value, importance, even spiritual significance.

Syliva Plath seems an unlikely source but, then again, God’s great legacy is using the broken of us, right?

“…I wrote a very clever essay ostensibly in praise of style in all its forms as a religious devotee of style, defining it is that order, line, form, and rhythm in everything from the sonnet to the whalebone corset which renders the unruly natural world to becoming bearable.” - 

Sylvia Plath in Letters Home

Happy Canada Day everyone!

This, it seems, is my fate: 

Any mommas concur?

The birthday calendar is something of a Dutch tradition. The world over you will find important dates like birthdays and anniversaries lovingly jotted in something called the perpetual calendar and hanging in the powder room. I got mine in Gouda, Netherlands two years ago and since then many a visitor has commented on its practicality. 

It seems this little traditional calendar is making a comeback. Consider these online finds:

The Sukie perpetual calendar by Chronicle (complete with moveable day, month and weather wheels)

The vintage gold brass flip on Etsy

And of course, the Dutch-themed Birthday calendar also on Etsy

A fine investment, I can attest.

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Make your own!

Here’s how you can make your own perpetual calendar by hand:

1.   First, cut your paper to size. (I used 8.5″ × 11″ card stock cut in half.) 

2.  Then, draw your lines for every day of the month. (You could always cheat here and do this on the computer.) 

3.  Number each line. I chose to use my typewriter.

4.  Next, choose your theme. (I’m a sucker for snail mail so I used stamps.) 

5.  Finally, punch a hole through the top of the calendar and feed through a ribbon or twine. 

6.  Hang and begin jotting in your loved ones’ special days. (I recommend using a pencil. Mistakes happen.) 

Published today in catapult magazine

My husband is back to blogging. I think you might enjoy his recent post about Michael Pollan’s miniature writing house.

I sure did. It looks an awful lot like my office on Bowen Island…

where the fondest of memories will forever remain.

Inspired by this post, I plan to spend the next few evenings pen-in-hand.

This week, my friend Jen shared her thoughts on writing on her fabulous blog, Champagne Wednesdays. I’ve included her post and my response below. I’d also love to hear your thoughts — fellow writers, bloggers — please take a moment and share them.

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Jen @ Champagne Wednesdays

“I come out of my blogernation (that’s the words blogging and hiberation conjoined like wiggly newborn twins) to bring you this article.

Is writing for the rich?

To me, it often seems  like more of a luxury than I can afford (whether that be with the riches of time, energy, currency, etc). My fellow blogger Christina, on the other hand, meets the sacrifice with devotion, and makes it all look very glamourous in the meantime (yes, even in a green barista apron). Her practice works - and career-wise, seems to be working very well for her. That is not to say, however, that writing isn’t still a huge struggle even for the successful - and living off of it a whole different story.  I write without expectation of pay. Mostly in private, but sometimes (here) very publicly. I can only imagine that if you were willing to fundraise for my employer for free, I would be ousted in no time at all.  

So I ask then is writing now purely for the hobbyists? Do I dillute the efforts of the truly brilliant with my on-air ramblings?

I wonder. I wonder. I wonder…out loud.

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My response:

Jen. Your post took me by surprise. Sent me into a bit of an afternoon tailspin.

I write for a living. It’s true.

It isn’t glamorous. Even without the green apron (which I tossed for good last September.) Writing is a lonely pursuit and requires a self-discipline that evades me all too often. But it is worth the effort in the end because, after all, we writers must write because we must.

All the same, writing for a living is an incredible gift. Your post, more than anything, reminded me of this. And I want to thank you.

Many writers will turn a phrase for free. I won’t, but I will write copy. We, the trust-fund free, must write for love and for milk.

I have much to be grateful for. Thank you for the reminder.

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What are your thoughts? Is writing just for the rich?

I sent this quote to the Starbucks The Way I See It campaign today. It’s inspired by a letter written to Megan.

I have had a long term love affair with fashion so you can imagine the glee when Comment Magazine asked me to serve as their Fashion Columnist.

My first article will appear in Jan/Feb 2009.

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Additionally, with our Toronto move only one week away, I am thrilled to be joining host and Globe and Mail columnist Lorna Dueck at the ranks of Listen Up TV where I’ll be assistant producing two days a week. While I’ll be continuing to freelance during our three month stay I thought a stint in television would be fantastic opportunity, plus it’ll get me out of our 390 square foot condo at least twice a week.  

2009 is looking bright…

My piece “Celebrating British Columbia’s Unique Cultural Footprints” — an exploration of the successes and best practices of the BC Cultural Crawl — appears in this month’s MUSE Magazine.

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