little pep talks

and why we need them

Before Twitter became the dumpster fire that became X, it was (whispers) nice.

A place where many of us hung out. We wrote and promoted, debated and argued; but mostly we cheered each other on and collaborated.

Lin-Manuel Miranda was one of those people and he used to tweet out little pep talks to himself, which is how the book GMORNING, GNITE was born.

If you haven’t read it, treat yourself.

Miranda partnered with famed illustrator Jonny Sun to create the book that became a delightful coffee table staple.

I’m copying the introduction below as a reminder to make stuff because you want to, because it delights you, and because it’s fun. You never know where your work will lead you.

It’s also a reminder of the power of collaboration - not just on the project itself but of minds. What happens when you make stuff with other people who make stuff too. People who encourage and support your ideas; and ask you to make more ;)

Enjoy xo

margo

[clears throat]

introduction

by Lin-Manuel Miranda

I wanted to wish you good morning.

I wanted to wish you good night.

I started to write these on Twitter,

A way of just being polite.

I'm really quite hooked on the Twitter,

They should take my phone and lock it.

The biggest distraction for someone like me?

An audience up in my pocket.

So I start the day with a greeting.

And end with a night variation.

It safeguards my evenings and weekends at home,

To sign off, a mini-vacation.

The greetings are sometimes firtations,

Or cheeky, or weirdly specific.

They're pulled from my life or my brain or my thoughts,

Terrific'ly Twitter prolific

I don't have a book of quotations

Or wisdom I pull from the shelf;

Most often the greetings I wish you

Are the greetings I wish for myself.

So if I write "relax," then I'm nervous,

Or if I write, "cheer up," then I'm blue.

I'm writing what I wish somebody would say,

Then switching the pronoun to you.

And after a few years of greetings,

They started to vary in tone;

And people said, "Lin, your gmornings and nights

Are the nicest things up in my phone."

Now I get tweets like "This saved me"

Or often, "I need this reminder"

You tell me, "I printed this out and I keep it

Around, on my desk, in my binder."

So, you asked, "Will you make a book, please?"

I replied, "Oh, consider it done."

Then I reached out to Kassandra Tidland

Who lit'rally RT's my best T's for fun.

And speaking of best T's and besties,

There's besties I've made through my writing.

Among them is polymath Jonathan Sun,

His drawings and words so inviting.

Then we sat down together and made this;

It's the book you hold in your hands.

You can open it at any moment or page

With the hope you find something that lands.

And it's nice to have things to hold on to,

Some kindness right here, within sight.

You can read this whenever you want to.

It will be here. Gmorning. Gnight.

PS: Brainstorm Road members Hanif and Dr. Robert just published a book with a similar collaboration on writing and illustration. It is likewise delightful.

Who are you collaborating with?

---

Missing that creative spark?

Get excited about your work again. Brianstorm Road is a place for people with dream projects to connect, collaborate, and hold each other accountable. We’re taking a limited number of new members this summer.

Click here to sign up for our waitlist.

---

---