Jennifer Mills, a 40 year old resident of Brooklyn, NY, has been writing a one page online newspaper since she was 17. Back in 2002 she began printing out her newspaper which was all about the forgettable incidents of her life. She gave copies to family and friends. Jennifer Mills News was a hit so Mills, 40, began emailing The News free to an ever increasing number of subscribers. She can now be found on her Tumblr. She apparently does it for fun. She took a couple of years off from the News (2012-2014) while getting established in her first real job. She is now a writer and producer for the NPR show Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!
Mills was going to school at the Perpich Center for Arts Education in Golden Valley, Minnesota when she started publishing Jennifer Mills News. She credits the freedom she was allowed at the school for sparking her creativity which has made her who she is today. How different my life might have been if I had attended an arts high school. The first arts high school in Boston opened in 1998 so I missed out by 34 years. The Boston Arts Academy is right next to Fenway Park so that would have suited me right down to the ground. Not complaining though about the way things have worked out.
It was George Elliot who said, "It's never too late to become the person you were meant to be," so I started The Palmville Globe this past Sunday, February 9, 2025 on the Wannaskan Almanac blog. Mills writes about the minutiae of her life. Everyone's life is filled with minutiae so I'll never run out of material.
Mills uses a set format which I intend to follow. She writes about herself as though she's being interviewed by "the press" or by reporters. Her lead story always states her age and residence and her age is given again the next time she's mentioned. I like all of this, but tweaks of my own will appear as time goes on. I'm struck by the respectful tone Mills uses describing the news about Mills. It will be my challenge to maintain a similar tone
Mills says it takes her 45 minutes to compose an issue. That sounds about right. She only proofs for typos once. I'll definitely be using the services of a proofreader. "I don't feel guilty copying Mills," McDonnell, 77, told reporters. "Mills once told reporters at The New Yorker that Virginia Woolf and two siblings wrote a family paper. They were pre-teens mostly and residing in London. Mills was 17 and residing in Shoreview when she started her paper. I'm 77 and reside in Palmville Township, Minnesota as I begin. If I continue for 23 years like Mills has, I'll be 100. If that happens, you'll read about it here."
You know this newsworthy event in your life/lives could delve into deep thinking, not only on your part but for others too. It's given me the idea you've secretly always wanted to be 'PG', but were limited in the fact that it was physically impossible; and now, lo, you've created a daily portal pregnant with the growth of new ideas. Wondrous.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you’ve sprung fully formed from Eckhart Tolle’s shell.
ReplyDeleteI mean to say: It’s a literary embodiment of present moment spirituality.
DeleteWhew, I thought you meant like Venus à la Botticelli.
DeleteFlash from the Savage: it would be interesting if we all consistently created our posts in this paradigm. We already have a significant portion of our joint work that leans heavily in this direction. Consider Kim's missives on the truths, tribulations, and triumphs of family life. There's WW with his tales of living in the Far North. And now, The Chairman! Just food for digesting . . . Remember Wannaska World? We should have a Board meeting of all contributors to discuss possibilities. Is it time to refresh ourselves?
ReplyDeleteas long as the meeting includes members that attend on zoom
DeleteAnd Mr Hot Coco on the Education front.
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