Here, in Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life, Dani Shapiro speaks of flawed, unpredictable, risk-taking, rule-breaking prose (my favorite kind):
“These instances of creative daring are moments of grace. They are moments when we get out of our own way. They break the rules, and break them beautifully. They arrive with no fanfare, but there is no mistaking them. They glide past our hesitation, our resistance, layers of reasons why we can’t, we mustn’t, we shouldn’t. They are accompanied by an almost childlike thrill. Why not, the whole universe seems to whisper: Why not now? Why not you? What’s the worse thing that can happen?”
I admit I’m reading and rereading this book like a bible. Somewhere along the line, I got in my own way, I think. I stopped taking the sort of thrilling chances that made writing such a blast for me. It started to matter too much what other people thought. Now, I’m writing things and not sending them out and not sharing them in an attempt to get back to that. I’m having fun again. I’m getting out of my own way.
Readers, stay tuned, as soon I’m going to post a recent conversation with my amazing writer friend, Avital Gad-Cykman, who has a beautiful flash fiction collection coming out from Matter Press. She herself is fascinating, so it stands to reason that her stories are, too. And her work exemplifies the sort of fresh originality and risk-taking that I so admire and attempt in my own work. I can’t wait to share the interview with you!
*applause* YES! Love this!!!
Sweet daughter! Thanks for stopping by and giving me the applause I so desperately seek! xoxo
Well, ok, the applause is for Dani Shapiro, of course! I do highly recommend this book!
I’ve been meaning to get this book for the longest time now. Today is the day. And a hard copy, that I can dog-ear and underline. Don’t beat yourself up too badly for caring what others think. Our stories are our children. We put them out into a harsh world and it hurts when they get sand kicked in their faces. Although, I can’t imagine that ever happening to any work of yours, my friend. Looking forward to the interview.
You are very wise, my friend. Thanks so much for stopping by, Jayne!
Oh this is a book I really need to read. I am so traditional, so stitched into a basic–dare i say, “old-fashioned?–way of approaching my work. I’m going to get this today too. Not that I have time to read it quite yet, but I will. Thanks Kathy for the lead and by the way, I agree with Jayne. You’re a pioneer, my original inspiration for at least thinking about that fearless quality you have.
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I think you will love the book, Gay. For me, it’s right up there with Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg. And thanks for the kind words. Your own writing is amazing, Gay. I never think of it as “old fashioned.” Thanks for stopping by! xo
You are always so nice, Kathy!!! Thank you. I’m growing. This writing thing is so interesting, so revealing, so FUN, and it’s great to go on the journey with all those I’ve met along the way!!
That’s exactly what I’m trying to get back to, Gay. The FUN of writing! I feel the same as you do, the journey, with so many great people, like you, is what makes it such a blast. xo