“The only way to write a book, I’m fond of telling people, is to actually write a book. That’s how you write a book.”
–Anne Enright
Q & A after a reading from The Gathering
Seattle Public Library, February 19, 2008
Source: Quoterly.net, “quotes to write by,” a resource from Angela Jane Fountas
“Writing a first draft is very much like watching a Polaroid develop. You can’t—and, in fact, you’re not supposed to—know exactly what the picture is going to look like until it has finished developing. First you just point at what has your attention and take the picture.”
—Anne Lamott
Source: Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life (1994)
(For those who are too young to recall the significance of Polaroid photography, please click here.)
Over on Lemon Hound, there an excellent series of posts under way: “10 Questions on Reviewing.” In this feature, experienced book reviewers (of poetry, mainly), respond to questions such as: “What do you think the purpose of a review is? If you also write about books on a blog, why? What does blogging let you do differently?” and “Critical work is increasingly unpaid work; will you continue to do this work despite the trend? Do you see this trend reversing, or changing course?”. (via Anselm Berrigan/the Harriet blog)
“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.”
— Jack London
Source: Nebraska Center for Writers
Each issue of Midge Raymond’s e-newsletter for writers includes a writing exercise, and I really love the one she sent out this month. Essentially, she suggests that you write a review of your current project, whatever the genre:
“Take a step back from the work and try to see it objectively. Write the review as if the piece is already published, and be honest in terms of what works and what doesn’t (adopt the style of your favorite book reviewer if this helps you get some distance). Be specific — cite examples, quote from the work itself — and then put it away. Wait a week, then take out the review and look it over. Pay attention to what it tells you about your project: first, where you are, and second, where you’d like to be.”
I’m going to give it a try. How about you?
Meantime, enjoy the weekend. See you back here on Monday!