Loved this timely post Jillian! It really goes to show that writing down even tiny bits of inspiration can be so useful later on when used as building blocks for larger writing projects. I am so excited to see the movie--we are going on New Year's Eve. Happy holidays and Wishing you a wonderful beginning to 2025! xx
Happy New Year Jillian! Went to see the movie last night and loved it! So happy you enjoyed it too. Also, I just subscribed to Noted--excited to follow along this year and looking forward to your CBC Club. I recently bought a beautiful journal from Wilde House Paper... it aligns perfectly with Noted. They also have free courses that go with their journals which I'm really enjoying as well. xx
Lovely post! Thanks Jillian and Ho Ho Ho! “He has a talent for absorbing information—the history of folk music, Romantic poetry, the characters he encountered in mid-century New York. And then, over time, he condenses it all into a single line—this is Dylan’s “telescoping technique.”
Love this. I used a version of this method as a wilderness ranger. Working on trails left me too exhausted to write actual poems at the end of the day, but I'd capture phrases or fragments, maybe a metaphor that felt like an epiphany, so I had the raw materials when I had more time and energy to draft something new. Nice to know I was in good company.
You were definitely in good company ;) And, very cool to know you were a wilderness ranger! You must have written some fascinating poetry during that time.
Oooo--what an evocative title. I love it! I have a file in my Scrivener called "cuts" --for all the bits I had to take out of an essay, but still love.
While not a native, being a music lover and having spent more than 30 years in Minnesota you cannot navigate such a path and not just love Bob Dylan. This was great and I am going to forward to my pals looking forward to the movie. Your posts and the angle you take expose such an amazing thing about every one of your subjects!!! Thanks so much Jillian and have a great holiday season. It is so interesting to me having traveled across the state that the small-town Minnesota mentality has spawned some amazing creatives and they generally outgrow the place -- unless they grew up in the Twin Cities like Roger Nelson -- gonna make you work for it. I think the restless soul who couldn't be corralled by a small town also fits the first American to win the Nobel Prize for Literature (really making you work). BTW, he has the Nobel Prize in common with Dylan.
The Midwest feels so opaque to me--I've loved the bits of it I've seen, but I've never spent enough time to really understand the culture. There are so many great note-takers who have archives scattered throughout the Midwest, I might have to take one long road trip some day.
On another substack I was just sharing that Charles Schulz grew up in St. Paul and there are statues all over town of the Peanuts characters. They built them out as a parks department effort for the five years after he passed away in 2000. They are now popular photo ops.
Not sure if you are an outdoorsy person but people are pretty spooked here for the next administration. We have a wonderful place called the BWCA. Thousands of lakes and NO MOTORS allowed. Almost mystical how quiet it is. You can apply for a permit and if you are successful, the only way in allowed is to portage (carry) your canoes in. It is a wonderful experience! It is highly likely that DJT will, as one of his first actions, open the BWCA up to nickel mining. I have been there a number of times and now believe I need to get back there one more time before it is lost forever to development.
As for a note lover like you, I'm sure you would appreciate Sinclair Lewis, Bob Dylan & Prince (my mystery questions).
Love Dylan and love this post, Jillian.
Thank you, Jolene!!
Couldn't agree more!
This is delightful. Thank you!
I'm so glad you thought so, Mary!
Loved this timely post Jillian! It really goes to show that writing down even tiny bits of inspiration can be so useful later on when used as building blocks for larger writing projects. I am so excited to see the movie--we are going on New Year's Eve. Happy holidays and Wishing you a wonderful beginning to 2025! xx
Thanks, Debbie! I saw the movie, and was surprised by how much I loved it. Happy holidays to you too!
Happy New Year Jillian! Went to see the movie last night and loved it! So happy you enjoyed it too. Also, I just subscribed to Noted--excited to follow along this year and looking forward to your CBC Club. I recently bought a beautiful journal from Wilde House Paper... it aligns perfectly with Noted. They also have free courses that go with their journals which I'm really enjoying as well. xx
Lovely post! Thanks Jillian and Ho Ho Ho! “He has a talent for absorbing information—the history of folk music, Romantic poetry, the characters he encountered in mid-century New York. And then, over time, he condenses it all into a single line—this is Dylan’s “telescoping technique.”
Loved the post!!! Thought I’d share this. If you like, lots of Bob on my Substack.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas!🎁🎄https://substack.com/@johnnogowski2/note/c-81028646?r=7pf7u&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
love this post thank you !
You're so welcome!
Love this. I used a version of this method as a wilderness ranger. Working on trails left me too exhausted to write actual poems at the end of the day, but I'd capture phrases or fragments, maybe a metaphor that felt like an epiphany, so I had the raw materials when I had more time and energy to draft something new. Nice to know I was in good company.
You were definitely in good company ;) And, very cool to know you were a wilderness ranger! You must have written some fascinating poetry during that time.
There’s a story about the book that came from it 😊 https://open.substack.com/pub/joshuadolezal/p/why-it-took-20-yrs-to-publish-this-book?r=16vgt&utm_medium=ios
My favorite singer and songwriter of all time. Thanks for this ♥️
You're welcome, Rebecca!
Wonderful post! Thank you!
Thanks, Roly!
Haha now I understand exactly why I never liked Bob Dylan!
LOL, Anne!
“discarded lines”…you’ve just given me the idea for a new notebook devoted entirely to the little bits looking for a home!
Oooo--what an evocative title. I love it! I have a file in my Scrivener called "cuts" --for all the bits I had to take out of an essay, but still love.
Wonderfully researched!
Thanks, Tess!
While not a native, being a music lover and having spent more than 30 years in Minnesota you cannot navigate such a path and not just love Bob Dylan. This was great and I am going to forward to my pals looking forward to the movie. Your posts and the angle you take expose such an amazing thing about every one of your subjects!!! Thanks so much Jillian and have a great holiday season. It is so interesting to me having traveled across the state that the small-town Minnesota mentality has spawned some amazing creatives and they generally outgrow the place -- unless they grew up in the Twin Cities like Roger Nelson -- gonna make you work for it. I think the restless soul who couldn't be corralled by a small town also fits the first American to win the Nobel Prize for Literature (really making you work). BTW, he has the Nobel Prize in common with Dylan.
The Midwest feels so opaque to me--I've loved the bits of it I've seen, but I've never spent enough time to really understand the culture. There are so many great note-takers who have archives scattered throughout the Midwest, I might have to take one long road trip some day.
On another substack I was just sharing that Charles Schulz grew up in St. Paul and there are statues all over town of the Peanuts characters. They built them out as a parks department effort for the five years after he passed away in 2000. They are now popular photo ops.
Not sure if you are an outdoorsy person but people are pretty spooked here for the next administration. We have a wonderful place called the BWCA. Thousands of lakes and NO MOTORS allowed. Almost mystical how quiet it is. You can apply for a permit and if you are successful, the only way in allowed is to portage (carry) your canoes in. It is a wonderful experience! It is highly likely that DJT will, as one of his first actions, open the BWCA up to nickel mining. I have been there a number of times and now believe I need to get back there one more time before it is lost forever to development.
As for a note lover like you, I'm sure you would appreciate Sinclair Lewis, Bob Dylan & Prince (my mystery questions).
As ridiculous and fake as the photos might seem, the stock photos of the BWCA are a pretty accurate view of what you would see. https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tTP1TcwMknPqzRgtFI1qDA1SjQzTTU2TjSwME00T0uyMqgwMUsyMUqxNEgysTAzSUtO9eJLKk9OVMjNzMtLLc4vSQQAXDETgQ&q=bwca+minnesota&rlz=1CAKDZI_enUS1107&oq=BWCA+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqEggEEC4YQxivARjHARiABBiKBTIGCAAQRRg5MgYIARBFGEAyBggCECMYJzIHCAMQABiABDISCAQQLhhDGK8BGMcBGIAEGIoFMg0IBRAAGJECGIAEGIoFMgcIBhAAGIAEMgcIBxAAGIAE0gEJNTgzOGoxajE1qAIMsAIB
Such a treat to see inside Dylan's process. Thanks again, Jillian.
I loved doing the research!
lovingly detailed thanks 🤗
What a nice description! Thanks, Appleton!
I will treasure this one.
Awe, thanks, Isabel!