I've been too busy to update regularly, so here are some highlights:
Amy Hempel gave a craft lecture on Lunging at Vacancy, or, How to Recognize What's Right in Front of You. If you haven't read her short stories, do so. She has a very interesting approach. Instead of starting with a character or idea, she usually starts with language and evoking emotions with the sounds of words--the acoustically incorrect sentence is dead. Read aloud, people! Think about pairing off words that might otherwise never meet, or turn around the meaning of a mundane thing. Your take just might provide insight and clarity.
Frank McCourt, Meg Wolitzer, Roger Rosenblatt, and Melissa Bank sat for a Q&A on novel writing today, urging us to write what is important. I know that the question "Why are you telling me this?" has caused me to rethink a few scenes in my WIP. The deeper truth is there, I think, but I just need to find a better way to bring it forward. (Hence the swelling of my brain.)
Oh, and I'm doing a reading on Saturday! Like in front of people and everything! Ack!
5 comments:
Frank McCourt, wow!
Good luck on Saturday! I'm sure you'll do great.
Thanks, Melanie! Public speaking is not my thing. I need all the luck I can get.
Wow! What a learning experience. Thanks for sharing all this. I haven't been commenting, but I've been gobbling up your every post.
Thanks!
Wow, I so with I was there. What an interesting way to approach writing. Thanks for sharing her ways with us!
And good luck on Saturday. Let us know how it goes.
Thanks, Spy Scribbler and Janna!
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