March 2026 Edition
“Art is never finished, only abandoned.”
Leonardo da Vinci
Nouvelle Vague
The 1950s and ’60s introduced a revolutionary film movement known as the French New Wave (Nouvelle Vague). It was driven by young auteurs like Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut, who rejected studio conventions in favor of experimental, low-budget filmmaking. Some of my favorite films emerged from this rebellious movement, including Truffaut’s The 400 Blows. American filmmaker Richard Linklater celebrated the era by directing a beloved movie last year called Nouvelle Vague.
Focused on Jean-Luc Godard making his breakout film Breathless, Nouvelle Vague is a hangout film meant to evoke a period of rising French filmmakers at the time. It’s an immersive film in that it takes you back and makes you nostalgic for an era that felt new and unruly. It captures the energy of young men and women wanting to shake things up and express themselves against the status quo.
Since the early days of cinema, many women worked on films without receiving credit. Women filmmakers and actors like Anna Karina, Suzanne Schiffman, Agnès Varda, Jean Seberg, and Brigitte Bardot gave voice to women throughout the French New Wave, challenging norms and redefining the roles of women on and off screen. While the French New Wave was a major event in cinema, Nouvelle Vague is just one of many “new waves” throughout history. There's always going to come a time to make waves—flooding the shores to make room for something new.
One early scene from the film particularly resonated with me: “It’s past time,” director Jean-Luc Godard says to filmmaker Suzanne Schiffman, to which she replies, “There’s no such thing. When it’s time, it’s time.”
Godard goes on to express that he should have made his film by 25 and how he “missed the wave.” I can relate to this as a writer. I’m sure everyone has some version of, “I should have done this by now.” But it’s okay to be working on things for a very long time. Here’s the thing about waves: they can take a long time to form. Even after forming, waves can take a long time to actually affect anything. We can be working on something now that won’t form into a “new wave” for years and may take even longer to have any impact. And that’s okay. I’m not just talking about art, but life. Take your time. Be present in what’s forming now. “When it’s time, it’s time.”
______________________________
Greetings from the Writing Desk
Welcome to the Author’s Newsletter—March Edition, 2026.
Thank you to everyone who purchased a copy of Shuhari. I’m so humbled by the feedback I’ve received. For those of you who have picked up a copy, please take a moment to leave a review on Goodreads or other platforms where you purchased it. If you haven’t ordered a copy of Shuhari but would like to, here is the link.
I know some of you are here for support and aren’t interested in books, which is perfectly okay. I appreciate all of my newsletter readers. If you aren’t interested in books but still wish to contribute in some way, I will have new art projects for sale soon. If you’d like to lend a little extra support, you’re always welcome to help offset my publication costs by donating through the link at the bottom.
Foster Poems is still going through final edits and will be out in the next month or so. Color Sketches will begin the illustration process in mid-April, and my exciting poetic romance, A Love Unrequited, is well underway. I’m a little behind after recovering from surgery—which is going well, by the way—but all is progressing accordingly. “When it’s time, it’s time.”
Godard says in the Nouvelle Vague film, “The best way to criticize a film is to make one.” Too often, we stand on the sidelines because we don’t have the courage to make waves. It’s easy to critique what we see on paper, on TV, or online—but what are we doing?
My prompt for you today is simple: be present, be patient with yourself, and focus on what you need to do—then do it. Maybe it’s getting more involved in your community, writing a novel or another work of art, or finally baking that dessert you’ve always wanted to try. Get out there and make waves. Stop waiting for them to hit you.
______________________________
Reading…
Currently enjoying Dante Alighieri’s, The Divine Comedy as translated by Michael Palma. It’s very enjoyable so far. I think this may end up being one of my favorite translations—at least until I learn Italian and can read the original. The Italian epic, in its exploration of salvation, is a major influence on my upcoming work, A Love Unrequited.
Listening…
As I write this, I’m listening to Dan Levy’s soundtrack for the French animated film I Lost My Body.
Watching…
I recently rewatched a touching animated film called Little Amélie or the Character of Rain. It tells a story from a child’s perspective as she develops awareness, reminding us of the many new waves of existence.
Random Fact about Joshua…
My favorite animal is the Octopus
______________________________
I hope my work continues to make waves and have an impact on readers. If you have any questions—or just want to chat—feel free to reply to this email. I also love exchanging handwritten letters, so you’re welcome to send snail mail to the address below. Thanks so much for reading! 😊
May Shadow Reveal Light,
Joshua Thaddeus
______________________________
I wrote them down and then I lost them—
my emotions—
after drafting a letter,
carried off by the postman.
I hoped it would feel better,
but I wished for a return to sender.
I left my soul in an envelope—
a letter—
for no one to open.
______________________________
Invite others to explore inner worlds at joshuathaddeus.com
Joshua Thaddeus, PO Box 1011, Harvey, LA 70059, USA
