This pic makes me think of Rita Mae Brown’s words about “if your two cats do not sit on your manuscript pages, then you should toss them out—the pages, not the cats.” And she goes on about “two”—a writer needs more than one cat, apparently… says the writer who credits her cat,
What an amazing day you had!! I’ve just started Station Eleven too, which I’m trying to fit between two other novels I’m also reading. Will definitely steal your practice of using red for passages that need to be rewritten.
Thanks so much for these helpful insights into your process, Alison. Here’s to achieving the magic 250!
It's good to remind everyone that writers don't sit in coffeehouses, wearing berets, and writing madly for hours at a time, while bills pay themselves and clothes self-launder. Thanks, Alison, for showing that writing is hard graft, constantly interrupted, even among pros.
I love this kind of day, even the phone calls from someone in distress I have to answer, because one of the things that fills my well is being of service to others. This has been especially important these last few years of covid when a chronic health issue has meant I need to stay isolated as much as possible. But even laundry has a role, I can find myself standing in front of the dryer, forgetting why I was there, mulling over an idea, but I'm not sure if I would have had that idea if I had kept soldiering away at my desk. Looking forward to seeing what surprises you editing brings you.
I remember seeing Margaret Atwood talk about how she always has a front-loader washing machine, because when she's stuck she'll sit in front of it and watch the laundry--the image of her doing that, blocked, has stayed with me!
Service to others--especially significant these days, yes!
Sounds like a productive day. Well done
What an amazing day you had!! I’ve just started Station Eleven too, which I’m trying to fit between two other novels I’m also reading. Will definitely steal your practice of using red for passages that need to be rewritten.
Thanks so much for these helpful insights into your process, Alison. Here’s to achieving the magic 250!
It's good to remind everyone that writers don't sit in coffeehouses, wearing berets, and writing madly for hours at a time, while bills pay themselves and clothes self-launder. Thanks, Alison, for showing that writing is hard graft, constantly interrupted, even among pros.
I love this kind of day, even the phone calls from someone in distress I have to answer, because one of the things that fills my well is being of service to others. This has been especially important these last few years of covid when a chronic health issue has meant I need to stay isolated as much as possible. But even laundry has a role, I can find myself standing in front of the dryer, forgetting why I was there, mulling over an idea, but I'm not sure if I would have had that idea if I had kept soldiering away at my desk. Looking forward to seeing what surprises you editing brings you.
I remember seeing Margaret Atwood talk about how she always has a front-loader washing machine, because when she's stuck she'll sit in front of it and watch the laundry--the image of her doing that, blocked, has stayed with me!
Service to others--especially significant these days, yes!
I am enjoying your newsletter, by the way :)