Sunday, October 24, 2010

To Live Awake

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Yesterday I went to an annual writer's conference called Write Angles with three of my writing buddies. We are all writing memoirs and part of this event was the opportunity to sit with an agent, get feedback, hope that he/she has an interest in seeing more than a one page query letter.
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I've hit a roadblock with book # 2. It's been too personal, too painful, too difficult to write the truth because of my own privacy and the privacy of others. I've put it aside for awhile. Most likely I'll spend the winter on Renee's Book of Love.
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The bottom line for me is that the agent looked at the jacket of my first book, The Light Stays On, and asked for a copy. This means she will consider whether she wants to represent the distribution of the book to larger publishers. Be still my heart.
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I can't rightly explain what it felt like to be in the presence of writers all day; and this conference was all about the craft of writing.
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I thought of many of you, because whether your medium is writing or painting or photography or knitting or whatever else, seeking, wanting, living the creative life is TO LIVE AWAKE. We are in this one together.
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Here are some of my favorite quotes from the day. I read them to JB, who is an artist but not a writer, and we both agreed that it's not hard to apply these quotes to any one of us.
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Writing a memoir is the struggle of memory against forgetting
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The world needs writers, not entertainers
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Answers are not always necessary: a realistic exploration of doubts is just as good
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You have to do the scene and tell the story before you earn the right to reflect on it
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Adverbs can be the sharpest or the dullest tools. Sometimes you should skip the adverbs and just say it! For example:
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"I'll call you later," he said halfheartedly.
vs.
"I'll probably call you if I have time but I'm not sure."
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and my favorite:
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"Goodbye," he said angrily
vs.
"Goodbye asshole."
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Make your characters round by including revealing salient details, such as:
"He bought her a soft serve ice cream and asked for a receipt."
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And from the incredible writer and guest speaker, Andre Dubus III:
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"When I read I want to be taken somewhere that isn't me but gives me me"
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Art is transferring feeling from one heart to another (Tolstoy)
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The most important thing about writing is not the main question a newspaper asks (What happened?) The storyteller doesn't ask 'what happened' but "What's it like, what's it really like, to be in thing that's happened?" (Mike Nichols)
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It's a mystery why stories feed our souls so deeply
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The work is divine, but the tools aren't
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"There's a certain grain of stupidity the writer can hardly do without and that is the quality to stare
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Writing is about expressing yourself before you're dead
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If you think that you are thinking when you're writing, think again.
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The writer does not choose the subject.
The subject chooses the writer.
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Everybody gets an imagination. Everybody.
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The job of the writer is not to write about the character but with the character
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The number 1 enemy of any artist is self consciousness. It's hard to do the thing when you're watching yourself.
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This is my one time to be me on this planet. I'm writing my truth because I'm gonna die.
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This conference is called Write Angles and yesterday was it's 25th conference, my first. It was astonishing.
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Love
kj

20 comments:

  1. Sounds like an incredible conference and congratulations on the interest in your book. I know that getting promotion for your book will help it reach a wider audience. About writing memoir, I understand what you mean about privacy while you share the lives of others-even though they connect with you sometimes it feels disloyal. I also struggle with what to share...and it's become more intense because of the instant publishing that the internet provides. I'm still working with this...I read some advice...just write the story and decide afterwords what you want to edit- if anything. Most people appreciate having their lives validated in print, as long as it's honest. What do you think? When I'm able to think in this manner, I am open to the creative flow but sometimes I still shut down. Is it fear? Deep down we all know that writing is powerful, and sometimes we're afraid of that impact.
    Good luck on your writing projects!! I wish we had more writing conferences available here in Puerto Rico.

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  2. What a powerful post! GRRREAT news about "The Light Stays On"...this book derves a wider audience!

    Will write more later about your experiences at the conference and those meaningful quotes.....

    Of to Placi's opening day of "Cyrano"....

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  3. That sounds like a wonderful experience - very nourishing. I'm particularly smitten with this one:
    "Answers are not always necessary: a realistic exploration of doubts is just as good."

    And very much keeping my fingers crossed and breath held about the book distribution! ♥

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  4. I know yesterday was an awesome day! Are your feel touching the ground yet? I'm thrilled that is was so so so good for you ;)

    One of my favorite writing examples listed was "goodbye asshole!" That one made me smile.
    I like the same quote as Secret Angent too. All of them were powerful.

    yay you for having something hopeful to hang on to! I think it will get picked up.

    Talk to you soon.
    xoxoxo
    Love,
    Lo♥♥

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  5. Fingers crossed about LIGHT. :) I love going to writing conferences. There is always someone there, or some words spoken, that inspire me, and keep me typing. Even with carpal. hahaha! xox

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  6. Hi kj... what a wonderful way to spend time.
    Best of luck with all your writing pursuits. I hope your book gets the extra push for you.
    I also hope to be able to purchase and read it one day soon.

    big love to you
    thanks for sharing this
    x Robyn

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  7. Some heavy duty quotes there. Loved that one is writing their truths because they are going to die. I guess we all would like to be remembered for something, hopefully for something positive. I know I wonder what will become of all the pieces of art I have created these past few years. Will my kids keep any of it? Will they throw it away? And if they do keep it what about when they die? Well we all eventually be totally forgotten? Scary huh? Or does it matter? Is just NOW what matters?

    Happy for you getting your book noticed and hopefully picked up. Good luck with that.

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  8. Loved the "goodbye asshole" - that gave me a chuckle. And fingers and other body parts crossed for "light" and since mine is famous (being as how I bought the first copy and it is way signed) - I'll probably make a fortune off it when you are a famous babe. Weehaw!!

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  9. Kj, This sounds wonderful, I will be keeping everything crossed for you. Sorry the memoir is painful, it is bound to be. I love all these quotes and can relate :-).
    Happy writing! xoxo

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  10. cynthia, how nice to read your comment! i should be promoting this book way better myself but i get sidetracked wanting to write instead! about sharing, it's a tough call. in my case some of the truth is not favorable to someone else and will he hurtful. the advice you have is good: write the truth in the first draft, write it all. then you can step back and edit, make decisions, assess what's okay and what isn't. xoxo

    robin, what a night you've had, right??! i hope it was just amazing. tsupmwah!!!

    cs, god! i could write three volumes on questions without answers! but i agree: the questions matter more. thanks for the encouragement. i haven't shopped the book to agents so it's time.

    hello pumpkin, yes, it was a terrific day. writers were everywhere. i learned a ton. i thought of you, lo. you would have liked it all too. xo

    pam, i love that you are a writer in addition to everything else you do. i love your dolls. i love your approach to life!

    robyn, expect a package in the mail soon. it is my total pleasure...♥

    lynn, i wonder that too. i try to keep in mind that there will be a time when my 'stuff' will not matter. but the art, the words, the love, well, that i hope to preserve somehow. that's what renee did for her family. i want to do that too xo

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  11. mim, ♥ you were my first sale. how special is that, mim?!!! i'm proud we are friends as family. thanks for the compliment here. i quite love it! :)

    thanks annie, i loved all these quotes, one more than the other. it was fun to type them all out like this.

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  12. I spend all day, every day with a writer and most days he is boring as an ice cold hell.

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  13. wow! super cool karen :) i totally get it and subtext is a cool writing element too. I know it is key for screenplays but i am sure it applies to literature as well :) Kind of neato that the agent took the book :D
    no matter what happens that is pretty deluxe :) so i owe you a jingle :) and i will ;)

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  14. mark, ice cold hell? that's one interesting image! what happens to ice cubes in ice cold hell?
    i think boredom is the worse thing. i would rather be depressed than bored. the trick is what gets that passion moving (and mark, you HAVE passion. don't kid yourself that you don't!)

    val, hi honey! i'm gonna shop it around. even to a few female actresses. jodi foster for one. frances mcdermont (sp?) for another. ♥

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  15. O my great things to take on board there. If anyone had told me that I would be writing at this stage in my life last year, I'd have laughed the off the planet but having just done a short story collaboration with a brilliant young script writer, I'm thinking hard about novelising it. Fabulous tips and I really must seek out these things over here I need help, all the help I can get but I do have the quality to 'stare' haha drives my daughter insane. Helps build interesting characters tho. Finally, I'm awake!

    Oh and all my fingers and toes and good wishes are crossed for The Light Stays On, it's worthy of publication.

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  16. hells, you are a good writer. and to collaborate with someone you think is brilliant is so fine and so fun! i stare too, hells! isn't that the truth: we stare and stare until the fingers start moving! i absolutely encourage you to find a a way to be among writers, to write and read with writers. one day, soon, you will hear yourself say, 'AHA! I AM A WRITER!"
    thanks for your always encouragement about 'the light stays on'. i'm happy enough with the reviews that i know it's time to deal with promotion and distribution. ( i see it as a movie, i admit i do....) :)

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  17. I'm back... have time to read and reflect (and monitor my adverbs)!

    This is an exsquisite post.... I am so glad you are a part of this conference. You have already learned so much from participating....and yes, you have taught us all too. (For aren't we all writers on our blogs?)

    I adore the "writing a memoir is the struggle of memory against forgetting" quote. My other two favourites are from Tolstoy and Dubus III.....

    It takes a certain courage to write anything - even our blogs....and it is wonderful to be able to sharpen our skills (as well as our pens)! A-ha-ha!

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  18. robin, i agree, we are all writers and artists in our own way. that is the wind behind our blogs. how utterly totally lovely that we have one another with whome to share, to witness, to support, to love. tsupmwah my friend!

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  19. this may be my most favorite ever post.

    i'll come back again and say something more interesting, but i hope you know i think it's just awesome.

    love,
    lori

    p.s. i just saw robin said the same thing. :)

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  20. It is like being connected to the web isn't? I loved the quotes, thanks for sharing them.

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