I No Longer Understand the Assignment

No More Tragedy Porn for this Writer

The "new journalism" beats him, 1897 Puck Magazine SD Ehrhart PUBLIC DOMAIN LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Hello Friend,

I have a confession to make. I’ve written six different drafts of this post over the past few weeks.

This is draft seven.

Is this the one?

I guess it is if you’re reading it.

I’m a writer who sometimes writes about politics, but I’m not a political writer per se. When Kamala entered the race I felt called to do my part. I understood the assignment. Writing was the thing I could do with what I had from where I was. After the election, my art muse took off for parts unknown and I felt called to keep writing about American politics. Time has passed and I’m finding it increasingly difficult to get through the day. Writing is becoming a chore instead of a release.

I no longer understand the assignment.

I’m also noting the increasing sensationalism of the headlines and content coming through my email from Substack and traditional publishers and streaming through my TV. It’s starting to feel gross. I’m not digging it. I have zero interest in creating or consuming Tragedy Porn.

I’m confident that is not the assignment.

Everyone keeps turning up the dial on the constant chaos, which has to keep getting more chaotic to maintain our attention. It’s a dangerous cycle. I’m not sure where it ends, but I am sure that I don’t want to participate in perpetuating the chaos.

It’s noisy. It’s overwhelming. It’s unsettling. It’s confusing. It’s horrific.

What is happening in America is not funny. I can’t keep trying to find humor in atrocity. I can’t keep gazing into the abyss looking for the light. It’s not in there. It’s out here, in the world, in each of us, in our random acts of kindness, in our steadfast hopes and dreams, in our willingness to keep showing up, speaking out, making art, and taking care of each other.

The best way to defeat narcissists is to stop feeding them attention. I’m going to work on finding the balance so I’m no longer feeding the beast.

I am a writer who sometimes writes about politics. I’m also a mother and a dog mom and a cow friend and a gardener and a poet and an artist and a vocalist and a video creator and a jewelry designer and an actress…and a woman of substance. I’m a dandelion who refuses to be mown into submission. I defy categorization or limitation.

This publication is meant to be an invitation, a come as you are party, a conversation, a celebration, and yes, sometimes, a source of information. I have stories to tell and paintings to paint and magic to make, and as such, I’m getting back to the original mission here. Some politics, yes, but also humor, art, videos, reflection, philosophy, poetry, absurdity…whatever I’m called to explore on any given day. If that sounds good to you, then we’re good. If not, no worries. I hope you find what you need.

If you need me, I’ll be here doing what I do as long as I’m able to do it. It’s time to reclaim ‘the good in the world that is worth fighting for’ as we continue to fight the good fight.

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