From Joan Didion’s Democracy:
Aerialists know that to look down is to fall.
Writers know it too.
Look down and that prolonged spell of suspended judgment in which a novel is written snaps, and recovery requires that we practice magic. We keep our attention fixed on the wire, plan long walks, solitary evenings, measured drinks at sundown and careful meals at careful hours. We avoid addressing the thing directly during the less propitious times of day. We straighten our offices, arrange and rearrange certain objects, talismans, props.
Indeed. To which I would add, “routine becomes all.”
Comments 5
love this~~~
Posted 15 Jul 2010 at 9:17 am ¶it’s like you’re walking us through the process of wrapping the most wondrous gift.
the best part? we get to open it in the end!
Posted 15 Jul 2010 at 10:58 am ¶i have to admit i don’t understand what looking down consists of. real life? work, kids? the novel as a whole?
Posted 18 Jul 2010 at 5:19 pm ¶thanks for posting this. didion rules! for the creative nonfiction workshop i took at the antioch writers’ workshop, our instruction, matthew goodman, had us read “Goodbye to All That.” I thought i knew it, but i didn’t. she amazed me with her ability to create entire scenes without a bit of dialogue.
Posted 20 Jul 2010 at 11:14 am ¶Oh, I love me some Joan Didion. Thanks for sharing this, and for sharing your writing process.
Posted 20 Jul 2010 at 9:06 pm ¶Post a Comment