The Rabbit Room

Not sure which one mentioned the friend who would “watch” her books and then write down what just happened, but I found that interesting because that’s exactly how I do it. I really do play it out like a movie in my mind. The problem then is somehow communicating the vividness of my characters in paper form. It’s never as good on paper. I write it down and then think, “But… but this was really awesome in my head-movie. What happened?” I’m getting better at it though.

By the way, I found a Wiki article on a poet named Rebecca Reynolds, but I’m pretty sure it’s someone else. Is that right?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_Reynolds

There was so much of value in this podcast, I had to listen to it twice. Thank you!

On the subject of “wasted time and apparent lack of productivity” – when a project I’ve spent days/weeks/even months working on doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, I console myself with Malcolm Gladwell’s hypothesis that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to master any skill. Pianists practice their scales – I consider my “failed” writing projects to be my form of practice. I also believe that writing (or any creative endeavor) can be a form of worship if that is the artist’s intention. I write stories in the hope that they will reach an audience one day (and some of them have), but I believe that the act of writing itself is a spiritual act – even an act of obedience sometimes. My job is to show up, take a leap of faith by investing myself in the project at hand, and to surrender the outcome.

Wow. I loved this. Thanks!

Nope. That’s not me. But I did win a 10-speed bike in the “Tony’s Stick Up For Breakfast” contest in 1977.