Hi Mountain Climber!
Skipping stones at the beach is a McBride family tradition.
Having a sound understanding of aerodynamics, density, and physics will not help you become a good stone skipper.
Most people start their stone-skipping training by observing a more expert practitioner. This is not required, is rarely useful, and is often harmful to your development.
Instead, you are better off flinging a bunch of rocks into the sea and carefully observing how the behavior of the rock correlates to your body language.
When I say a bunch, I mean hundreds or more.
If you do that, you will learn that smooth rocks that fit in your hand and that you flick instead of throw work best. But more importantly, you will learn what a good skipping stone feels like in your hand and how your wrist feels when executing the perfect flick.
I think this is also the best way to write a poem.
Be the weird you want to see in the world!
Cheers,
Jason
P.S. I’m going to be publishing a book of illustrated haiku called Wild Divinity at the end of January. Most of the poems you will have seen here in this newsletter. But many will be new, never before published poems. I will let you know when I have a specific launch date and when preorders will be available.
I love the analogy. Congratulations on your next book, as well!
Lovely haiku!