I can’t get the image of Viv Albertine out of my head, from Mason Currey’s post last week. She taught herself guitar by lying on her bed and waiting. She played around with making sounds on the guitar, but mostly was waiting for a sound, a specific type of sound, that she knew she was getting closer to. She says, “Every day the task seems hopeless and I feel like giving up. I lie on my bed a lot, just holding the guitar, feeling like a fraud.”
Julie, that Steve Keen article is so interesting! Thank you for sharing--I had never heard of he or his art before.
AND I love your take on epistolary picture books (related: Yours in Books is so, so good). I have, so far, ever written only one epistolary PB manuscript, and after I finally shared it for a critique, the editor correctly identified it as early MG, which was super embarrassing, hilarious and 1000 percent accurate upon reflection. (The emotional core was wrong for PB, really.) She did at least want to see the the early MG if/when I ever finish it (working on it now!)--but clearly I can use all the epistolary PB tips I can get because that one was very much a bust!
I love how directly character voice develops in epistolary writing--like it's two one-sided conversations, course-correcting and adapting at intersections, instead of throughout (like dialogue). I feel like that gives the characters more opportunity to reflect on what's being said in a natural way--I mean, outside of maybe Oprah or Terry Gross, who has the ability to truly reflect WHILE simultaneously holding up their side of a spoken conversation?
I was at a David Sedaris reading with my teen last night and he had a piece about folk art and how he thought maybe Yelp reviews are kind of folk writing because you can really "know" a person after reading one. Anyhow, your postcard examples brought that to mind for me--folk writing. Maybe folk writing is when an "untrained" writer flexes their voice through written words--even if just on a postcard? There can be something powerful about almost primal writing--pregnant words, arranged in unexpected, immediate ways. It's something I will be mulling over!
Have a lovely week! If I don't meet enough of my goals to treat myself to reading things as they post, have an amazing Thanksgiving, Julie!
Feeling these words of wisdom this morning, Julie! I've just had a weekend of reminding myself that my writing cannot be rushed, and solitude with my thoughts is essential to producing the words that are right.
Thanks for the book recommendations, and for sharing YOUR books! I'm adding them to my wishlist for Storytime at Planters--free events for our community kids where they hear new stories and get to choose one brand new book to take home. Also ordering a couple to put in our Little Free Library. I love discovering new childrens books!
I always enjoy your posts and heartfelt observations on writing and am equally captivated with George Saunders, so particularly enjoyed the quote you shared today. Thank you!
Julie, that Steve Keen article is so interesting! Thank you for sharing--I had never heard of he or his art before.
AND I love your take on epistolary picture books (related: Yours in Books is so, so good). I have, so far, ever written only one epistolary PB manuscript, and after I finally shared it for a critique, the editor correctly identified it as early MG, which was super embarrassing, hilarious and 1000 percent accurate upon reflection. (The emotional core was wrong for PB, really.) She did at least want to see the the early MG if/when I ever finish it (working on it now!)--but clearly I can use all the epistolary PB tips I can get because that one was very much a bust!
I love how directly character voice develops in epistolary writing--like it's two one-sided conversations, course-correcting and adapting at intersections, instead of throughout (like dialogue). I feel like that gives the characters more opportunity to reflect on what's being said in a natural way--I mean, outside of maybe Oprah or Terry Gross, who has the ability to truly reflect WHILE simultaneously holding up their side of a spoken conversation?
I was at a David Sedaris reading with my teen last night and he had a piece about folk art and how he thought maybe Yelp reviews are kind of folk writing because you can really "know" a person after reading one. Anyhow, your postcard examples brought that to mind for me--folk writing. Maybe folk writing is when an "untrained" writer flexes their voice through written words--even if just on a postcard? There can be something powerful about almost primal writing--pregnant words, arranged in unexpected, immediate ways. It's something I will be mulling over!
Have a lovely week! If I don't meet enough of my goals to treat myself to reading things as they post, have an amazing Thanksgiving, Julie!
Feeling these words of wisdom this morning, Julie! I've just had a weekend of reminding myself that my writing cannot be rushed, and solitude with my thoughts is essential to producing the words that are right.
Thanks for the book recommendations, and for sharing YOUR books! I'm adding them to my wishlist for Storytime at Planters--free events for our community kids where they hear new stories and get to choose one brand new book to take home. Also ordering a couple to put in our Little Free Library. I love discovering new childrens books!
I always enjoy your posts and heartfelt observations on writing and am equally captivated with George Saunders, so particularly enjoyed the quote you shared today. Thank you!