Susan Yow Scores Again

On fictional characters & the courage to smash them

Dear friends,

I’m traveling this week. If you need a little taste of past shenanigans, I came across this Under a Spell post from two years ago that feels like a glimpse of summer to come. #llamacore

There’s also this ditty on Instagram, which is a true portrait of my own behavior. I do *one* chore and write fourteen posts about it. I need everyone to know about every step I take with a toilet brush in hand.

»Daddy Fat Sacks«

Among other books, I’m trying to finish Bob Odenkirk’s cleverly named memoir. I don’t mind telling you that as soon as the narrative reached the part where he found actual success in his writing and acting life, the book dragged. This is a good note for storytelling: success is nice for life but pretty bad for a story. Struggles are the most relatable and fun thing to read about, which is why when I was writing this newsletter as a daily offering, I never minded sharing my fails and foibles. It was a sacrifice of my human ego on the pyre of you, my beloved readers, and (hopefully) your enjoyment. Also, I believe that most of our struggles are pretty much the same. They switch hats and scarves and sometimes tax codes, but the human journey is inescapably basic and full of woe.

I found a sign this month in such good shape I was alarmed to see that its advertised cat had been missing since August, which means 2024. I do not have high hopes for this kitty’s story about being successfully found!

Please be respectful and have no rights or needs, thanks.

(Bring on the) Outdoor Drama

I once read, in a book by Charles Baxter I believe, that Kurt Vonnegut used to “get his characters up a tree and throw rocks at them.” I find that this is harder to do as the writer than maybe it should be. It’s easy to fall in love with characters and want their passages to be gentle, but it’s better for the overall story to make them suffer as much as you can. You have to find the courage to write their fates kind of wretchedly. Locating the *right* suffering, of a semi-logical but still rabidly emotional sort, is the real trick. (I bet you can’t guess that this trick is the one with which I most consistently struggle!)

Speaking of worlds we all have to suffer through, this interaction between David Lynch and Russell Brand is the best thing ever.

I hope everyone is hanging in there. I’ll be back soon(ish), whence I hope to share pieces of my journey and all my deep thoughts. In the meantime, take precious care and be good to yourself no matter what, whenever you can.

Go ahead and get the Jesus Tapestry, you’re worth it!!

Xoxoxo

Kara

Teeny Jesus figurine inside the front doors of a fast food chain 😄👍🏽💘