To My Writer Friends

Tai, Oscar, Silvio, Charlie, Rachael, and Michelle.

6/7 of us (Charlie’s missing)

It’s late on Thursday night. I haven’t gotten my weekly writing in. There’s a cup of tea brewing loudly on the stove as I search for my words. I won’t go to sleep until I put my heart on screen. I close my eyes and lean into what flows. I keep thinking about my 6 writer friends. 

I met Silvio in a Zoom room. He had a wall full of books behind him and a pragmatic perspective on life. I wasn’t sure if he liked me. I fly too high sometimes, and he couldn’t be more different. Silvio started half his sentences with “I mean”. He gave explanations that made sense; answers that forced me to think more. When I read his writing, I thought damn, this is good. It’s storyteller good. I reread his first pieces 3 times to figure out his secret. Only later I understood that it’s just Silvio’s words. 

A few weeks after meeting, he asked my thoughts on forming a group. “I mean, we’ll meet and talk about writing”. So many reasons to say yes, so I did. We started looking for others; people we’d vibe with, people who’d connect. We collected them one by one; each participant bringing the next. 

I think Tai was one of the first. I didn’t know him well back then, but I knew he had a lot to say. As the weeks passed, we wrote and spoke, and Tai had a book or a quote for every concept that crossed our calls. Phenomenology, Jordan Peterson, transhumanists, and swimming ridiculous distances all made it on his radar of experiences. Maybe he knows so much because he grew up on a blueberry farm. What’s there to do when the fruits are picked and the season’s down? Tai must’ve read or something. He must’ve, he knows so much. 

I could probably introduce every one of my writer friends as well-read, but I can’t skip it with Oscar. He's a guy with a couple of hobbies and a bunch of niche ways of seeing them. For example, he loves to travel, but also spends 3-6 months every year, every year, somewhere else. Since I’ve known him, he’s done 3 months in Japan. He got to know some buddhists monks and record shops and all about the cherry trees. He kept showing up to calls and that was something special. 1% of me almost experienced Japan with him. That’s how his presence makes us feel. 

The first time I found Rachael’s words, I felt hugged. She wrote about who she was, answering all those people who ask “who are you”? I must’ve cried, because 80% of Rachael’s pieces make me tear up. I’ve rarely, if ever, come across such a gentle pull of emotions in writing. She’s got a soft way of asking questions; I’m assuming that’s how she perceives the world. “And how does that make you feel?” she'll throw at us. Maybe her writing’s so good because she talks to herself in the same way.

Michelle’s good at talking to us too, and she’s good at talking to the entire world. She’s the kind of person I was jealous of the first time we spoke. Michelle’s got it, I thought. She knows how to make people laugh, listen, and do things too. Maybe it’s natural, but I’m sure she’s worked at it. I admire people who can make an impact on a group. How do you manage so many energies? Makes sense she’s made it as a guide at the writing school we met. It’s in her blood to lead a room. 

I saved our newest addition for last. He’s also the most complicated one, so get ready. I’ve never, ever, ever experienced someone with a brain like Charlie’s. His doesn’t make sense and yet it’s crystal clear. Charlie’s a fan of niche YouTube creators with 200 views and giant stars I can’t believes he wastes his time watching. Charlie’s brain must work at 100x speed. He absorbs data from everywhere and everything. After he thinks for about two seconds, he spits out a clean, hilarious, and understandable text in the form of an essay or spoken word. If you’re going to visit his site and fall in love with him, PLEASE TELL HIM TO START VIDEO. If you think he’s everything as a writer, wait till you see his face and hear his voice. It’s something else. 

So there you have it. It’s even later now on Thursday night. I’m done with my tea and I’ve shared what’s on my mind. 52 weeks of writing has taught me to trust the flow. I wanted to write about my writing friends and here we go. I wouldn’t be here without them. I wouldn’t be writing if not for my 6 writing friends.