Tuesday, February 19, 2008

words words words

I read three books last weeks- or five- if you also count the novel manuscript I read twice while editing. I wrote three short pieces, a few blog entries, the letter of intent for a workshop I want to attend, four pages and three new sentences to a longer work in progress- of which I kept the three sentences - and a few love letter emails to authors I adore.
My life is in words.

In the shower, I write on the glass door until the steam overtakes the last "e" then I write more. Some days it's a list, other days a what-if-I had-fifty grand spending plan. I write out my goals, balance my
checkbook, try out lines for my characters, then things I wish I'd said last night, or want to say tomorrow-- and then, stuff I can never say.

Ideas are everywhere. I speak into a small recorder when I drive, I write notes on a reporter's pad in the parking lot at dance class, or on my Ipod I-touch in the yellow legal pad section, letters clickfalling into place.

Sometimes I find things I've written that I don't remember composing. I love this. I spent an hour trying to figure out where I had "borrowed" a fantastic story opening, so I could give the author credit- only to figure out- thanks to the Mac file properties system- that I had written it myself one wee morning in August of 2007. That's what happens when you roll out of bed at 4:30 in the morning, tug on yoga pants and a sweatshirt then wander into your office to write uninterrupted, dreamlike.

I have a pile of twenty pleasure fiction books to read and five educational/learning/writing books to read. I have promised myself I will not buy anymore until these are read and filed in the bookcases. I have a list on my good reads page and my website, though that one does need updating. I'll have to add that to the to-do list on the shower wall.
Today I'll finish David Fulmer's The Blue Door and start Jennifer Egan's The Keep.
What are you reading?

7 comments:

Julie Pippert said...

I paused in my Russo (Bridge of Sighs) to utterly gag myself on Berg's latest (ARGH note to self: remember next time you swore last time to never, ever read this author again!).

I'd like to have a conversation with that editor to find out WHY she let that author get away with that!

BTW, in a downslump on the success Hitting a lot fouls I guess. Hopefully will pick up soon!

Bibliolatrist said...

You've won my "You Make My Day" award. Congrats!

(But don't feel obligated to pass it on :)

Unknown said...

Julie- last night in book club we realized that reading, like submissions is a game of numbers... it took me 30 years to be able to stop mid-crappy book and say, "Nope. Next?"

Unknown said...

Wow. I won something? I feel like Sally Fields.

Family Adventure said...

I love how you write everywhere, Linda! Even in the shower :)

I'm reading HappinessTM, but I'm not really to recommend it...yet. I'll keep you posted!

Hope you're off to a good - reading - week.

Heidi

painted maypole said...

wow. i love that you read and write so much

Churlita said...

I'm finally reading My Antonia by Willa Cather. I don't know how I got away with not reading it in high school and college.