Writing Process Round Table
Hello there, back again with blog post number four… For this week's post I had to read four articles that discussed the writing process. With these four articles I have to create a scene where I talk about writing with writers Don Murray, Anne Lammontt, and Mary Karr. I also have to use three quotes from each of the articles, and figure out a scene for where this conversation will take place. I actually have a great idea for that too, so put on your imagination cap, I want you to really picture this scene… Using all six of your senses, yes there's a sixth scene, look it up if you don't believe me. Anyways, picture this… you're in a house that's in the middle of the forest, it's the only house out there and it's made of all glass. There are a bunch of tall pine trees surrounding the house, as well as a giant lake that has an old wooden dock. The pine trees are all damp from the rain that's been coming down since the morning, and if you were to go outside you would feel a cool mist and smell the scent of wet wood. The writers and I are all cozy in the house sitting in some lounge chairs that are put in a circle around a small wooden table. There's a fire lit as well, while we talk about the writing process, sipping our hot drinks, staring out at the beautiful forest… Yeah so this was where I would picture myself having a conversation with these authors. It’s a whole vibe honestly and I wish I was there right now. I'm always daydreaming… In one of my daydreams Don Murray, Ann Lammontt, and Mary Karr came to chat. They wanted to discuss the writing process with me. I was very confused as to why they were in my daydream, but I decided to just go with it… Don Murray was talking about how “..he has no patience with those who claimed to be struggling with writer's block.” As I sit there and listen to what Don’s saying I can't help but want to argue against him. Once Don finishes what he’s saying I chime in and ask him why he has no patience for people who are struggling to think of something to write. I mean.. it's not their fault they're having a brain fart? Don proceeds to say that, “ The job of the writer is to embrace a standard that allows writing to happen; It requires self-acceptance and willingness to suspend judgment, to see where the process is leading.” Ann Lammontt added to what Don said by talking about her father and how he would, “wake up at 5:30, go to his study, write for a couple hours, then make breakfast.” Ann says that there is always something to write down, you just have to put your mind to work. I thought about what they said for a minute or two, and I mean… they are kind of right. There is always something to write down, but when you're given an assignment that has a specific topic or concept, you can't really just write whatever please, and that can cause you to have an author's block. As I sip my Hot drink, which is hot apple cider… What a great drink. Mary Karr decides to chime in and speak her opinion about writing. She turns her chair from looking out the window and starts to talk about how, “Every writer she knows, who’s worth a damn, spends way more time losing then winning.” Before I even think about what Mary means when she says that, I go right ahead and say “well why do you think that?” Mary says that, “success doesn't just happen after typing one draft and publishing it, the best work is always revised multiple times.” I began to think of the multiple drafts that I went back and had to revise because of multiple errors with my writing. If I were not to go back and revise them, the writing wouldn't be as good as it could be. Mary states a few examples of good writers' works that could have been horrible,“ Look at Yeats’s chopped-up fixes in facsimile form, or Ezra Pound’s swashbuckling edits of Eliot's Waste Land. Without radical overhaul, those works might have sunk like stones.” Yeah your right about that says Ann, It’s always good to go back and edit your work because it’s easy to skip over a mistake. “I love being a writer though.” “You wanna know why Erin?” “Yeah, why do you love being a writer?” I love being a writer because, “It gives you the excuse to do things, go places, and explore!” “Writing motivates you to look closely at life, at life as it lurches by and tramps around.” Writing truly is an amazing thing. Yeah, writings kind of like photography. Photography gives me the excuse to get out there and explore the world and find great photo opportunities. Exactly, “Writing taught my father to pay attention; my father in turn taught other people to pay attention and then to write down their thoughts and observations.” says Ann. So writing can also teach you a lot of things. According to what my father thinks, I agree with him. “I've asked so many authors for advice and heard three truths from every mouth.” Says Mary. Ann your father seems to be speaking some truth about writing. I like the way he thinks. While you guys are talking about inspirational stuff, I’m thinking about, “ My fascination with the tools writers use, the right pen, the right-size notebook, and the right word processing program.” I find all this stuff quite interesting, what about you Erin. Yeah, I guess it can be interesting… I mean It’s not something I would think about all the time, but if it interests you, stick with it! Alright guys… That was a fun get together. Now why don't we pour ourselves some wine and call it a night.
1 Comment
Sabatino
2/10/2020 07:13:21 am
CIF...and the scene of your conversation sounds awesome. I can almost hear the fire crackling in the background...
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