Random pieces from day 4:
–Rita Mae Brown says you can have a job that pays the rent, you can write, or you can have a life–pick two.
–We had the inclusive language discussion yesterday after reading a submission from a man who used a *lot* of Father language for God. While I don’t want to lose completely the language from the tradition, male language doesn’t really speak to me, so I’m *very* sympathetic to those who are bothered by it. But I am so, so, so, so tired of that discussion.
–So the first few days have been all about the writing, with both affirmation and concrete things to improve upon, so everyone’s feeling nice and positive. Last night was the discussion on publishing, so all the lovin’ feelings came to a screeching halt. Interestingly, this shift in energy at the workshop was mirrored in my own life–after several days of effortless commutes (and those of you familiar with Our Nation’s Capital know how rare that is), it took me an hour to get home last night. And this morning while we were scrambling to get little she-who-is off to preschool, the divine miss m threw up all over me. Yes. This is real life.
Anyway, the publishing discussion. People reiterated a lot of what I already knew–there’s little money to be made, it helps to know someone, and related to that, writers are expected to spend time marketing their book, and book proposals want to know what your connections are–who are your media contacts that you can draw on for promoting the book?
I don’t know. I’ve seen my name in print and it’s a proud feeling, And it’s cool to think about creating something lasting that other people will care about. But there are so. many. books out there that even the seeming permanence of a book is an illusion too. I’ve been thinking so much this week about my dad, what a good and prolific writer he was, and he didn’t publish very much at all. So I could count his as a failure at writing, or I could be grateful that those of us who knew him have this wonderful treasure of his words.
At one point I passed PPB the note, “This just makes me want to stick with the blog.” My goal is to write and be read, and that already happens here. I will admit to still having a bias for words on paper as opposed to the screen. There are a lot of crappy blogs out there. R responded that there are also a lot of crappy books out there, which is true, but there is at least some minimal filter to cut down on the *number* of crappy books. He said that’s true, but there’s a filter online as well–the cream rises to the top. Maybe, I don’t know. I think for someone like R, who has been very steeped in the Internet his entire adult life, the whole publishing industry seems very byzantine to him, and the Internet can be this great populist thing. Well, to me too.
–That said, my conference with Young Episcopal Memoirist was good. I presented her with a few ways I think this project (book?) could go and she basically said to write what I’m passionate about. Yeah. She also had a few practical suggestions, and asked me to complete the sentence “The thing that would need to change in my life for me to write this is…” and I said, “the full-time nature of my job.” The discernment about 3/4 time, or even 2/3 time (?), continues.
10 Responses to “writing workshop, day 4”
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Asides
» I have been remiss in posting SBJ’s latest stats: 23 pounds and 27 inches at six months. Yes, I’ve got the big mama biceps.
» Aaaaaand little she-who-is lost another tooth this week!
» SBJ is four months old, 19 pounds 5 ounces, and 26 inches tall. GIGANTOR!
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Yes. As much as I used to really want to one day be a professional recording artist, I don’t think it will ever happen. It is kind of a liberating feeling to know that now when I make music and write, the only limit to it is the limit I set. And it’s fun to do it, even if the only people who hear it are friends and family members!
recently a cousin of mine killed herself. i though that it had been ages since she and i had communicated but one of her sisters said she had my writing in prominent places all around her desk. my words hadn’t healed her and my words hadn’t earned me a nickel but somehow my words had found a foothold in her tenuous life. her sister said she was glad that my cousin had opened herself to these words.
all of that is to say that the important thing isn’t to be paid for what you write. the important thing is to actually use and share (in whatever formats you choose) this exquisit gift that God has blessed you with. sometimes you’ll know who is reading your words and sometimes you won’t. but keep on keeping on. someone is hungering and thirsting after hope and discernment and faith and love . . . and the greatest of these . . .
Wherever the Spirit leads you in all this, I am loving getting to take this (cyber)journey with you.
Rita Mae Brown is one tough cookie, but I guess she’s right.
I’m very, very tired of the inclusive language discussion as well.
However your words get out there, keep putting them out there.
I’m so sorry about your cousin, anne.
You have hit it exactly though–the greatest impact we all make is on those around us.
Make it 3 who are very,very tired of the inclusive language discussion!
4
I sympathize with the language discussion. Inclusive language became an issue in 12 step programs several years ago when women began to read the materials in the feminine voice. They said it “felt” profoundly different and they received the message on a much deeper level. So for these folks, the discussion may just be just gearing up!
Dad’s mantra: Writers Write. Period. He said it every day. They write because they cannot NOT write. It was the rare day he didn’t get up at 4am and write. I could tell what part he was writing by the music that was surrounding him in his study. In spite of positions held in writing guilds, awards bestowed on him and pieces published, he spoke most often of the deep satisfaction he felt from the odes he wrote for gatherings of friends, the tender and sensitive letters to those in pain, his poems and letters to grandchildren, and his private letters to me. The best seller never happened but it really didn’t matter. He lived his love of writing and he shared his gift. I love reading your writings - you clearly have his gift and your own……..just write.
I’m tired of the language discussion too, but more than that I’m tired of the absolute necessity of continuing to have it.
Ditto Rev Dr Mom. I’m sick of the blah blah about inclusive language in old hymns. The rule should be: NEW writing should be inclusive in language, but leave the old stuff alone. It is what is it was. Not worth the over-thinking.
Your writing touches people who read it. The question is this: would being published in book form reach people who you can’t touch now with the blog? As I was saying to L, who recently withdrew from her long-distance M.Th. program at Oxford: are you doing this because you get (and give)something meaningful from it, or because you want to be able to say you did it? Write because you love it, not because you want to be a part of the book industry. If it’s meant to be published in book form, it will.
Side note: PH’s ex-wife was a writer (published one book so far plus several magazine pieces). When I casually mentioned I’d like to put together all my food memoir essays into a book, he paled visibly. The more I think about the process, the more I can honestly say I can’t blame him.
Just. Write.