Loose Threads: Llama confessional
The llama field. Trust me – they’ll be there.
The truth is this. In the past, I’ve rarely written in my Yarn journal because the I find the idea of writing the sorts of things I think I should write here indescribably, painfully, unbearably boring.
The kind of boring that makes me want to writhe out of my desk chair and slither under the table, groaning petulantly like it’s the early 00s and my mum’s just told me my 30 minutes on Rollercoaster Tycoon are up and I have to go outside.
Work blogs are for work things. Bless me, I gave it a try. And let me tell you, I have a whole bunch of sensible articles racked up in my drafts, usually barely making it past the title and a smattering of words in an introduction before you can tell my heart’s not in it and the whole thing just peters out.
How to write about sustainability in a greenwashed world.
Writing disruptively (without being a dick).
Why there are no rules in brand voice.
AI can’t do my job – here’s why.
I do have opinions, strong ones, on brand, voice and copy. I’m passionate and intelligent and experienced. I have lots to say! But right now and – apparently – since I founded my writing studio, I don’t want and haven’t wanted to write about them.
It’s no secret that the only reason any of us bother with that stuff is to pay our tithe to the SEO minions to be ranked on Google and cited by AI. I respect and celebrate all of you who manage to wrestle your attention and focus into such a task. But finally, finally, I’m confessing that it’s not for me. In my three days a week of work and occasional inspiration-spiked evening (like this one) – if it’s not client work, and it’s not fun, it’s not happening.
And so my journal is released from it’s higher, inbound marketing purpose.
And so it can become the new home of Loose Threads: my former newsletter, a collection of creative writing, journals, recommendations, and updates on what’s happening at Yarn. Hello again, old friend.
—
Sentries
The line of llamas linger
on the grassy hillock finger
not a row and not a ring a
queue a one a two a three and
as I pass I see a glimmer
in their eye, a little shimmer
which is when I start a-thinking
we had better be a-swinging
out their path ‘fore they start slinging
gobs of spit our way –
patoo!
—
My lunch breaks look like this. Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup (my current comfort eat, which I’ll do to death before moving onto something else), home baked bread (courtesy of my husband), side cheese (essential), delivery of treats to the chickens (they love spaghetti), and a dog walk. We do the same walk every day: out through the back garden gate and onto the footpath, pause at the railway to check for trains – left, right, left, right, good to go – then over the tracks and into the llama field.
There are three llamas: two brown and one white, which my friend Claire in the village calls Barack Ollama. And you never know where you’ll find them. Sometimes, when the grass is long, two pointed ears will suddenly rise above the swaying seed, a furry periscope watching for intruders. But today I spotted them first, resting peacefully one after the other along the ridge by the stream. It really tickled me, and I spent the rest of the walk writing a silly little ditty, then put pen to paper the moment I got home.
—
Listen.
Having caught them supporting Don Broco a few weeks back, I’m listening to unpeople. Are they pop? Metal? Hardcore? Punk? The answer is – yes!
Eat.
It’s Arthur’s birthday this weekend. Between nursery drop off this morning and getting to my desk, I made the wheels of his tractor cake using this ultimate vegan chocolate cake. It’s smug and delicious.
—
What else? Oh – in the studio, I’ve just about wrapped a stint with a global underwear brand. And I recently made a start on a really, thoroughly gorgeous new project: herbalism, nature, sinking feet into earth and slowing down. I can feel my heart rate slowing just thinking about it. I’m on voice, website and product copy – more on that soon.
I reckon that’ll do, for starters. Way better than an article on five ways you can spot it’s AI, right?
Sophie 🧶
