Showing Up for Herders
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If you’re receiving this newsletter, it is because you value creativity in your life.
Welcome back to The Herd.
This is a long issue. Highlights include:
-An interview with the multitalented Daniel Eugene!
-The easiest writing prompt you’ll ever find (maybe)
-44 Fellowship opportunities (really)
-Funny portrait of me at the end
Intentions
The Herd is an online seasonal newsletter created by Allie Rigby. It aims to offer a fresh space for creative folk around the world. If you’ve subscribed to this newsletter, you are officially part of The Herd.
The Cabin in the Snow
I booked a camping weekend in the Shasta Trinity Forest this January. I didn’t think there would be snow—let alone a lot of snow. I didn’t think it was winter. I tend to ignore winter until it’s almost spring, when I experience a brief nostalgia for cold mornings.
By the time my partner and I arrived at this dark forest somewhere in the woods of Shasta, each campground was buried by snow. Our camp host, C., spotted our car and ran towards us.
“We tried to call you guys—” he said, holding a cigarette in one hand and a snow shovel in the other. “The campground is completely inaccessible, but we cleared out a little cabin for you guys. It’s not much, but it’s shelter.”
Night fell softly around us, a gentle announcement from Nature that it was time to go inside—and stay inside. The colorful lights clicked across the bridge.
“Watch out for the ducks,” C. said as we crossed the bridge where three Muscovys clicked their tongues. “They’re a bit nervous right now, four of their friends got eaten last week by a martin.”
C. showed us to our dusty cabin with its tiny wood stove, mouse droppings here and there, anti-capitalism posters on the wall, a giant bong in the corner, and torn copies of books like What the Buddha Never Taught and My Mother, My Self.
“It’s not much, but it’ll keep you dry,” C. said before disappearing into the night.
Winter is gentler by smell and touch. That weekend was cold and beautiful. Cougar tracks in the snow, my first snowman, a bit of cabin fever, and a stillness that made me feel less frazzled.
It reminded me of my main intention with The Herd: slow down. Listen to the stories of other artists. Support their creative talents. Show up at their shows.
More simply, just show up. That’s all I want to do here, with The Herd.
We artists need to stick together to make the changes happen.
Creativity Crush:
Daniel Eugene says, “don’t overlook the small successes.”
MC. Songwriter. Creator. Daniel Eugene is a multitalented artist with several projects at once and a lot of dedication. Two albums on Spotify, a podcast on the way, shows coming up—Daniel gets it done.
“I create space, I have to create space,” Daniel says as we talk on a windy beach, sitting on sand-flicked driftwood. “I have to create that space, for my art. There’s always something else to do. I’m really intentional.”
If you have not listened to Daniel’s album on Spotify yet, his 2018 album California Neglect is a moving and emotional place to start. He’s currently recording new music too. I recommend you begin with Daniel’s album’s namesake song, California Neglect, which begins with the intro,
“I can’t believe I just sat in traffic for three hours, OH MY GOD.”
“Yeah man, California is s**t, bro.”
“Where’s the arts district around here?”
“Damn I can’t stand this place.”
“$7 coconut water. What the f**k?”
If that poignant intro does not summarize the torn feelings of "love and hate” for the complicated state of California, then nothing does. This anthem is part angry-rant, part love song to a state that ignores and disserves the majority of its residents. Eugene’s lyrics are poetic and powerful, and humor diffuses some of the frustrations of living in a state rampant with social, racial, and economic injustice.
Eugene has been putting in the work for years now. It’s little wonder his lyrics hit hard.
“It wasn’t until 2012 that I took my music more seriously. People know I put in the work for this."
Not every song that Daniel records is a hit, by his own standards. “Sometimes I write trash,” he laughs, taking a sip of chardonnay. “Do you like chardonnay? My friends give me shit for drinking chardonnay.”
I ask Daniel about the hardest part of performing. He’s honest.
“There’s a few songs on California Neglect that I don’t like to rap these days. But they perform well. And if you want exposure, you’ve got to give the people what they want.”
“Whatever you do, don’t overlook the small successes.” —Daniel Eugene
Daniel had little help in getting his songs “out there.” Even getting on Spotify was hard. Artists of all mediums need to hold those wins close, and let it fuel their fire. This grounded side of Eugene explains the lyrical emphasis in many of the songs on this album: Daniel knows who he is, what he stands for, and what he wants. How many people can say that?
“Whatever you want in your life, go achieve it,” Daniel raps in “Singing My Song.” Listen to it. Try not to dance, not to feel.
“I don’t even necessarily want to ‘get famous’ with this,” Daniel explains before we go separate ways. “I want to provide music, provide art for the people. But I wouldn’t mind a little cult following.”
You can follow Daniel @eugene_rudd on Instagram, and his podcast “No Edits” relaunches soon. MESSAGE DANIEL on Insta for t-shirts, buttons, and pins.
And mark your calendars for February 8th, where Daniel will be one of the MCs at a live Hip hop show in Salinas called Skills to Pay the Bills.
Writing Prompt:
Your Best Stupid Thought Yet
According to the artist and author Austin Kleon, this one tip works well for people who sometimes struggle to find “something” to write about.
Kleon’s idea is simple: every day, take note of your—well—most stupid thoughts. Write them down. The next day, write more about that “stupid thought.” Repeat.
For the original article by Austin Kleon, click here.
Tip: Have you heard of the term “pen miles?” It refers to the idea that when we write, it’s not always about the “perfect content” we create. Like runners training for a marathon, we are getting our miles in. Try not to overthink what you write. It’s okay if a lot of your material goes under the “pen miles” category. Training matters.
Quick Lit Review:
Jake Skeets explores love, sexuality, and indigenous identity in his latest.
Rising Poet Jake Skeets
Eyes Bottle Dark with a Mouthful of Flowers is a powerful collection and a stunning poetic debut by Jake Skeets. The poems are filled with such rich imagery and stark contrasts, that it would be a disservice to try and summarize the effect.
Skeets is very aware of the painful pattern where Native poets become tokenized. In an interview with The Shade Journal, Skeets explores this further:
“I'm afraid if I become an "established poet" I'm going to have to deal with the constant burden of token Nativeness or queerness. I'm also very afraid that if I ever transcend "emerging" that people will praise any words I write even if it is bad writing.”
Skeets is Diné from Vanderwagen, New Mexico. He teaches poetry at Diné College in Tsaile, Arizona. You can also follow him @blackstreakwood to stay in the loop. His book is a raw and brave treat—a gift—for the world.
Happenings:
February 8th - Skills to Pay the Bills
Live Hip hop show in Salinas featuring Daniel Eugene, the man behind California Neglect, who will be one of the MCs for the night. $5 or free with canned food donation. At Somos Gallery in Salinas. Check out the flyer below.
March 14th and 15th - Writing to Heal
I’m leading a workshop. It’s going to be really special. More information here.
April 4th - Dafunkus ft. Daniel Eugene
Performance by Dafunkus happening the East Bay! This early April. Featuring Daniel Eugene, this issue’s “Creativity Crush.”
Fellowship Deadlines to Watch
How about 44 of them? This list specifically contains creative writing fellowships; however, the website has upcoming fellowships in many fields.
And now for that portrait…
After six years of being “Otter” and occasionally “Miss Otter,” I am moving my environmental education life in new directions. I’ll be back one day, in some form.
For now, thank you to all the friends who shared that time with me. And thank you to my student last week, L., whose drawing “of me” made me smile.
That’s it for this Issue VII. Thanks for reading The Herd!
Feel free to email me your questions, musings, and writing exercises from our monthly prompt. I might be slow to reply, but I will respond.
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c. February 2020