I love how she compares writing to having a baby. I have had 10 babies, so it makes me feel like I have done something creative when she describes how love and imagination are bound together. And she says "a book begins with falling in love".
She makes a strong case for imagination in the family making process for sure! I think that is true of homemaking as well. In order to create something beautiful—a meal, experience, or garden—we must first have the imagination for it.
Yes, many years of hard work. And amazing to us how she had to face such hopelessness in her abilities every time that she picked up her pen to write by hand (as she preferred it over typing).
I love her discussion of how writing is like carpentry. Everyone knows how to write, but creative writing is a skill, like playing the violin or making a table, that must be fostered in order to better express our creative ideas.
On days when writing feels pointless, I often think of this line from The Scent of Water: "The poets did at least put it into words for you and ease the pain of it.”
It definitely is a practice that deepens as the years go by. Perhaps it is also because writing is communication, and as we learn more empathy and about the people around us we are better able to communicate our own selves? Paul (in TSOW) is a great example of that kind of intuition and deep knowing.
I love how she compares writing to having a baby. I have had 10 babies, so it makes me feel like I have done something creative when she describes how love and imagination are bound together. And she says "a book begins with falling in love".
She makes a strong case for imagination in the family making process for sure! I think that is true of homemaking as well. In order to create something beautiful—a meal, experience, or garden—we must first have the imagination for it.
I love reading her words on writing. When one thinks of her voluminous works, these comments illuminate how hard they were to come by.
Yes, many years of hard work. And amazing to us how she had to face such hopelessness in her abilities every time that she picked up her pen to write by hand (as she preferred it over typing).
These are lovely. Thanks for sharing them.
So glad that they can inspire more writers! :)
I love her discussion of how writing is like carpentry. Everyone knows how to write, but creative writing is a skill, like playing the violin or making a table, that must be fostered in order to better express our creative ideas.
On days when writing feels pointless, I often think of this line from The Scent of Water: "The poets did at least put it into words for you and ease the pain of it.”
It definitely is a practice that deepens as the years go by. Perhaps it is also because writing is communication, and as we learn more empathy and about the people around us we are better able to communicate our own selves? Paul (in TSOW) is a great example of that kind of intuition and deep knowing.