Write down the story of an incident — perhaps the incident — in which you’re just lucky to be alive to tell the tale.
November 2009
Photograph your bookshelves. Then, make a list of every book that’s on the shelves, putting a check mark next to the books that you’ve actually read.
Next, make a list of all the books that aren’t on the shelves that you’ve read over the years. Some you’ll have no problem remembering, others you won’t be able to recall. And then make still another list, this one noting all the books you want to read but haven’t — yet.
Update frequently, and keep the lists and photographs tucked away in your favorite book.
Find the first poem you ever wrote.
Read it over. Try to remember the story of why you wrote it, what inspired you, and who it was for. Write it all down.
Then, write a new poem. Once you’re done, date it, and put your first poem and the new one back in the place where you found the first one, so that they can both be rediscovered at some point in the future.
The next time you go to a party, leave a note for the host.
Say that it was a great party. That everyone was having a good time. That you enjoyed yourself spectacularly. And be sure to relate some details, like bits from overheard conversations, the reaction to a certain groove, how good the food was, and who drank way too much.
If you happen to have a Polaroid camera, bring it along, take some pictures during the party, and leave the images with the note.
Leave the note (and Polaroids) in a place where the host will find it after all the guests have left, the music has stopped, and the lights throughout the house have been turned off — perhaps near the kitchen sink. That way, one of the last things the host might see before he or she crashes is your note of appreciation.
Put new photographs in all of your picture frames.
Make your own anthology. (Why should Norton have a lock on this?)
It’s sort of like a mixed tape, really. And people are always making mixed tapes, for themselves, for new girlfriends, and for friends. Why not do the same with the written word? Spread all your books on the floor, and start making a list of your favorite stories, your favorite passages from novels, your favorite poems. Then, load up all the books which contain your selections in a backpack, get to a copy machine, and make copies. After the copying is done, make a cover. Finally, spiral bind your collection. Voila! Your anthology, volume 1, is complete.