The Sunday Summary for the week of 21 March 2022-26 March 2022 has us celebrating a first for the 2 Rules of Writing team and has us looking forward to more new things. This week’s stories are filled with love, hope and even perhaps optimism for the future. New pages have been added to the website too, so be sure not to miss those. And here are your stories for this week:
Monday
“On the night I was raped, I fought hard. I drew blood. I fought until the only thing I had left to fight for was survival, and I’ve never stopped fighting for that.”
Erika takes her own advice about difficult conversations on Monday. Instead of talking about World Poetry Day she follows up her conversation about consent by having some difficult conversations of her own. It’s an introspective post. Sad, hopeful and inspiring all at once.
Tuesday
“I don’t know if you have recently had the pleasure of looking into the eyes of a small child whom you love. But it’s a mystical experience.”
In his second letter from Bangalore, Adam talks about love, magic, and the power of storytelling. This heartwarming essay reminds us that the universal joy of stories crosses generations, languages, and international boundaries.
Wednesday
“And I realized what a gift I was given that afternoon; I could see my students, the same students I see every day, in a completely different environment.”
We have our monthly visit with Ms. Lacrete and her students this week. We go on a sort of field trip this week as Ms. Lacrete sees her students outside the classroom and finds herself surprised by what she sees and wondering how to use what she’s learned about her students.
Thursday
“We know you are the expert on… you.”
Thursday brought the release of Episode 10 of the podcast Master of None… where Adam and Erika talk about the mission and vision for 2 Rules of Writing, and about how their experiences as neuro-atypical people have shaped their work. The warm, casual conversation exudes passion and optimism for the joys of the craft of writing and for the related craft of helping writers to grow. The podcast release also brought the release of the new 2 Rules of Writing FAQ and the launch of several other new pages on the website, including one featuring a selection of Erika and Adam’s favorite pieces.
Friday
Adam: “Tropes can be important. I am prone to make fun of them. But when they’re well-done, they make me smile.”
Erika: “As anyone who has fought their way through the dark knows, it becomes easy sometimes to allow it to blanket you in its comfort.
This week’s Watch/Listen/Read is all about things that are familiar. Whether that means tropes and clichés or just the books, music and movies that bring us comfort, Adam and Erika both share recommendations for things that are familiar–whether it’s for comfort or nostalgia, or just seeing old things presented in different ways. While the viola wars are silent this week (although there is some Bach talk, and yes that is a pun) there is a poetry recommendation from Erika. Does that make poetry recommendations part of the Watch/Listen/Read trope?
Saturday
Little Cat engages in some self reflection and thinks about what it means to “have potential.” What secrets do Little Cat and Big Cat share with each other? What secrets can you share with them about the meaning of “potential?”
The cat-chat this week has Little Cat thinking about whether it might be time to pass on the job of escaping from the house and causing Human-Mom to panic. Human-Mom would, of course, prefer that the entire job becomes redundant. The Cat Crew isn’t quite sure about that, and wonders about what it means to have potential in a field, and how to tell if someone has it, or is living up to it. Go share your thoughts with them–and encourage Little Cat to stay home, too.
Look ahead this week with us
Coming up this week the 2 Rules team is looking forward to honoring Women’s History Month, along with more from Bangalore. And we’ll kick off our National Poetry Month celebration, too. If you haven’t already nominated your favorite poems for “30 Poems, 30 Days,” then hurry up and fill out the form so we can get your favorites on our calendar. And as you approach the new week, take with you the words of Kalidasa:
For yesterday is but a dream
And tomorrow is only a vision;
And today well-lived, makes
Yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well therefore to this day;
Such is the salutation to the ever-new dawn!
Make sure you‘re all caught up with your favorite 2 Rules writers and features by checking out all of our Sunday Summary posts.