writing on writing and why it is like standing next to a cliff
Somebody, not sure who, once said that "Writers write." This in the context of advice for new writers. (May have been Anne Lamott. Sounds like her...)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Lamott
Anyway, that is what I'm doing. I don't really know if I am a writer yet. I mean, I write songs, but I do that more because I feel like I'm supposed to, because it comes naturally, and because God told me to. As for other kinds of writing... I've been told I'm good. What does that mean? Frankly, what I'm really good at is academic BS. Comes in handy Freshman year. But as for real writing, the kind that is bright and marvelous, like a new penny... I don't know that I'm very good at it.
I just read some Eudora Welty and was made to feel completely insignificant.
Reading a good writer's work, or listening to really good lyrics is like standing on the edge of a cliff: beautiful, yes, and intimidating as hell. It fills me with joy, awe, and a little fear, and makes me almost ashamed of mediocrity. It's a litttle bit like encounterig God in that way. (Except you know, with God it's times a billion.)
But, even though I am standing on the edge of a colossal cliff (my songwriter father and English professor mother alone!) and even though, right now, I am out of things to write about... still I will write. Anne Lamott, or whoever else, better be right about this writing thing.
Right about writing... That's funny...
What else to talk about?? Hmmmm..... (You're probably getting tired of this blog, right? I mean, I've talked a lot and said very little. Not to mention all the parentheses. And ellipses...)
Patience, dear reader. One of these days, I will write the Great American novel or folk song and then you can say you read me when.
(...)
Well, that seems enough typed torture for the day. Hope you were at least a little amused by my bumbling.
Word of the day: MALADROIT: ineffective or bungling; clumsy.
Quote of the day: "Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes." -Mahatma Gandhi
Random link of the day: Interview between Woody Allen and Billy Graham:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6iAaxOAHCM
Commentary on random link of the day: I find myself caught somewhere between the two. I am maybe 30% Woody, 30% Billy, and 40% something else entirely. What's your Woody to Billy ratio?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Lamott
Anyway, that is what I'm doing. I don't really know if I am a writer yet. I mean, I write songs, but I do that more because I feel like I'm supposed to, because it comes naturally, and because God told me to. As for other kinds of writing... I've been told I'm good. What does that mean? Frankly, what I'm really good at is academic BS. Comes in handy Freshman year. But as for real writing, the kind that is bright and marvelous, like a new penny... I don't know that I'm very good at it.
I just read some Eudora Welty and was made to feel completely insignificant.
Reading a good writer's work, or listening to really good lyrics is like standing on the edge of a cliff: beautiful, yes, and intimidating as hell. It fills me with joy, awe, and a little fear, and makes me almost ashamed of mediocrity. It's a litttle bit like encounterig God in that way. (Except you know, with God it's times a billion.)
But, even though I am standing on the edge of a colossal cliff (my songwriter father and English professor mother alone!) and even though, right now, I am out of things to write about... still I will write. Anne Lamott, or whoever else, better be right about this writing thing.
Right about writing... That's funny...
What else to talk about?? Hmmmm..... (You're probably getting tired of this blog, right? I mean, I've talked a lot and said very little. Not to mention all the parentheses. And ellipses...)
Patience, dear reader. One of these days, I will write the Great American novel or folk song and then you can say you read me when.
(...)
Well, that seems enough typed torture for the day. Hope you were at least a little amused by my bumbling.
Word of the day: MALADROIT: ineffective or bungling; clumsy.
Quote of the day: "Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes." -Mahatma Gandhi
Random link of the day: Interview between Woody Allen and Billy Graham:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6iAaxOAHCM
Commentary on random link of the day: I find myself caught somewhere between the two. I am maybe 30% Woody, 30% Billy, and 40% something else entirely. What's your Woody to Billy ratio?
posted by grace at 7:18 AM
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