Writing is not only my livelihood, it’s my hobby, my craft, and on the rough days, my therapy. If I’m not sitting at a computer drumming out words, I’m mulling over ideas, adding to brainstorm lists, storing away scraps of particularly good writing, or discussing books with other people. As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I’m in the midst of a lengthy writing class right now so the subject is taking up even more of my mental space and free time. Because of all this, I thought this week’s Footnotes post should have a writing theme. Once again, these aren’t affiliate links, but interesting things I’ve read, seen, or done this week.
Kurt Vonnegut on plot: See this short video for Vonnegut’s humorous take on plot and the shape of stories.
Elizabeth Gilbert on working like a farmer: I’ve been reading Gilbert’s newest book Big Magic and while it’s a different book than I expected, I’m constantly underlining as I read. One of my favorite passages is her description of her writing process. It reminds me a lot of Stephen King’s thoughts in On Writing. Here it is: “Most of my writing life, to be perfectly honest, is not freaky, old-timey, voodoo-style Big Magic. Most of my writing life consists of nothing more than unglamorous, disciplined labor. I sit at my desk and I work like a farmer, and that’s how it gets done. Most of it is not fairy dust in the least.”
Passing up a book deal: These days—particularly on Instagram—it seems as if book deals are being handed out like Bed Bath & Beyond coupons. I think many writers (and non-writers) see the book deal as the pinnacle of writerdom. (I made that word up.) But in this blog post, Sarah Von Bargen shares how she recently passed on a book deal, choosing the daily freelance work she loves for the chance at coffee-table-book stardom. Here’s a preview: “…Instead of the childhood dream I thought I wanted, I’m choosing to pursue the day-to-day reality I know I want right now. It’s equal parts scary and anti-climatic but—at least for now—it’s the right choice for me.”
The benefits of reading fiction: I know some people who eschew novels because they think that fiction’s sole purpose is to entertain. They don’t want to be entertained, they want to learn and grow and accumulate vast stores of impressive knowledge. Turns out, fiction can have this effect too. Read about it here.
The prettiest pencils I’ve ever seen: I never write with pencils these days. The only time I use a pencil is when I’m marking the spot on a wall where I’m about to hang a picture. Nonetheless, these new pencils from Rifle Paper Co. may end up in my pencil cup.
A poem for the fading autumn: Click here to read “Leaves,” by Lloyd Schwartz.
Why writers are the worst procrastinators: I was that kid. The early reader who coasted through English and didn’t write my papers until the wee hours of the morning before they were due. I’m still that kid. I mark my deadlines on the calendar and then throw myself into important tasks like cleaning my closet or trying a new recipe. (In fact, my college roommates knew when I had a paper due because they would find me in our kitchen baking scones. Naturally.) But this procrastination is a form of self-sabotage. It can be a symptom of crippling perfectionism that goes deeper than you’d think, as this article points out.
