September 2023: Newsletter Reorganization
newsletter reorganization; braiding and other analogies for time
Bismillah. We begin everything with the name of Allah. We say Bismillah to initiate an act to acknowledge the intention and the ethics we carry with all that follows Bismillah.
***I hope everyone in New York is safe from the floods.***
As usual, I was trying to do too much. The newsletter reached almost 5,000 words, and I decided to pursue the micro-dose approach instead. And then, I decided that I needed a system. And then I made a system.
Newsletter Changes
I have tried different approaches for the newsletter and learned two things.
First, calendar time differs from my inner rhythm, and promising something every two weeks stressed me out. My writing follows the logic of HIIT — several days/weeks/months of high-intensity writing, then a cooling-off period when writing is not the suitable form to hold what I am processing. I love flow and mess, but I also enjoy the benefits of routines and systems.
With that being said, this is not an either/or situation: flows can be braided together — I imagine columns of water traveling at different paces and rhythms, weaving in and out of one another in a braided path. When I learn something new about myself, I like to create an intensity spectrum. It is not so much that I only follow my inner rhythm; I will fluctuate between the extremes of only internal rhythm or calendar time, depending on the context. And sometimes, I plant myself squarely in the extremes on both ends.
Given all of this, I wanted to approach this newsletter project as somewhat of a durational project — a form of self-study. I am learning to be more curious about myself — I want to learn what type of writing and thinking is generated given different pacing or interval expectations (or lack thereof). Continuing under the title I Will (?) Figure This All Out Later, this newsletter is going to be a three-strand plait:
(A) calendar time (writing and sharing at a repeated pace and interval as externally promised, even if I do not feel like it)
Sunday ScariesEdit 15 October 2023 to “Primitive Hypertext” (Octavia Estelle Butler): An annotated list of five things I’ve read/seen/heard and want to share. [weekly: every Sunday]Studio Updates: These are released on the first Monday of every month and it is simply a round-up of current exhibitions, writing, programming, and what I am working on. [monthly: every first Monday]
(B) internal rhythm (writing and sharing at an organic pace and intervals as internally [un]promised)
A Word is a Fruiting Body(?)Edit 8 October 2023 to “Using the Word as Bait” (Clarice Lispector): These are the longform “essays” that result from my HIIT cycle of writing. [montly-ish]
(C) flash time (writing and sharing immediately as a response to an intuitive sense of urgency)
“Perishable Instant” (Clarice Lispector): These are short bursts of writing or sketches when a spark from elsewhere compels me. [whenever]
Thank you for reading,
Kameelah 👽
Finally, while I do not organize my finances around paid newsletter subscriptions, wouldn’t it be cool if this wee little newsletter could allow me to take quarterly self-imposed writing retreats? Consider getting a one-year membership :)
How to cite this newsletter: Rasheed, K. (Year, Month Day). Newsletter Title. I Will (?) Figure This All Out Later. URL
So inspired by your thoughtfulness. I love this organizing strategy. So much of your boundless wisdom to look forward to.
luv this kameelah!