13 Laps: The Write Way
1. Trying to write in a café is like trying to sleep on a bus. I sleep better at home in my own bed and write better at home too.
2. Remember back in elementary school how relevant your last name was because it determined who you would sit next to? By that logic, if bloggers were in school, I (Loose Leaf Notes) would be sitting next to Lisa at (L)amb.
3. Sometimes while writing I get stuck in the traffic of words. When that happens nothing moves for hours.
4. You can’t try too hard to write a poem. If you do it comes out contrived. You can’t try too little either. If you do that the poem won’t be any good.
5. Writing a poem is like raising a child. If you give it good attention and love it for what it is, it will mostly do what it’s supposed to.
6. One of my favorite blogs is Simply Wait. The author, Patry, is a waitress writer who is about to have her first book published. Her recent post, “The Time Tested Waitress Method of Finding a Literary Agent” was especially good. Read it here.
7. It almost feels by design that my calling to write and to publicly share it continues to trigger my lack of confidence so that I can get over it.
8. And the fact that my hairdresser cut my bangs even shorter than she did the last time I complained about it is probably just another lesson from the universe for me to get over myself. Nobody really cares how short my bangs are.
9. My definition of a writer is a person who is compelled to write, and if there is no payment involved, it only further confirms that they are one. A person who will work for hours or days to find the just right word and the right order of every written line without the incentive of compensation is either a writer or not completely sane. When I say “I’m a writer,” I’m not necessarily claiming to be a “good writer.” I am saying that writing is what I’m interested in and what I do, more than anything else
10. For 10 years I taught creative writing once a week to all classes at the Blue Mountain School, a parent-run cooperative in Floyd, in trade for a break in tuition for my sons who went there.
11. At the pool with my husband this past weekend, I realized that I am relaxed by the voices of children playing. The sound of children at play outdoors is as natural as the sound of birdsong.
12. Every time I swim in the pool I think about the poem I encouraged my niece to write a few years back when she was at the pool with me, and I soak up the confidence it exudes: Big and blue … Shimmering pool … I can swim like an angel … Soar across it … I can see myself … I duck down and look … I look pretty … I like what I see.
13. Sometimes when writing a poem and looking for the right turn of phrase, I squint my eyes as though reading something off a screen of my mind.
Thursday headquarters is here. My other 13’s are here.
June 22nd, 2006 9:20 am
I always CARE about bang length. It can be imperative to how good or bad a hair day it is going to be! LOL! I must get over myself!!!
I love #2. I would have never thought of that!
HAPPY THURSDAY!
June 22nd, 2006 9:34 am
Your bangs will grow back….LOL
June 22nd, 2006 9:47 am
I loved #5 and #9 especially. You always make me smile.
June 22nd, 2006 9:48 am
Hate it when the hairdresser goes too short! It grows. Happy Thursday!
June 22nd, 2006 9:54 am
Yeah, I’d love to sit by you!
Great post today. I have a link to a review on the new book on Elizabeth Bishop’s Drafts, some great points in there about writing.
When I was at a workshop in March a poet said that it is good when you forget what the poem was supposed to be about. I’ve found that very freeing. As I revised, I used to go back to see what I was originally thinking. Of course, then I’d be faced with all the things that I thought didn’t work. Now I just look at the current version and ask it, “What are you trying to say, love?”
June 22nd, 2006 11:01 am
Thanks for the link to Simply Wait. It gave me some hope.
June 22nd, 2006 11:07 am
I’m with you on the bangs. I cut mine myself because it’s the only way to get ’em done right!
poetry is tough to write. I try, and think it comes out a jumbled mess. it’s hard not to be over-metaphoric or use the same metaphors over and over. I’ll write something good one of these days!
my TT are up!
June 22nd, 2006 11:12 am
8, lol. I recognize that scenario. Children at play is a pleasant sound. Blogging every day is rather like being on stage to get over normal fright. At some point expressing oneself will become 1st nature. Thanks for spreading the word about Patry. I hadn’t been there lately to know.
June 22nd, 2006 11:18 am
#s 2 & 4: How true!!! Thanks for bringing me back to elementary school 🙂
Thanks for visiting and for the birthday wishes, too!
June 22nd, 2006 11:49 am
Number thirteen is poetry by itself.
June 22nd, 2006 12:04 pm
LOL about the bangs – thankfully hair grows back, eh?? Have a great Thursday!
June 22nd, 2006 12:09 pm
I love reading your posts… And I love your poetry. 🙂 I have always admired people who can write. I’ve tried a few times, but as soon as I pick up a pen my mind just goes blank.
June 22nd, 2006 2:50 pm
I can totally relate to #2. Sometimes I think of changing my blog name from The Pink Diary to A Pink Diary just so I can move up on the blogrolling list! Great T13!
June 22nd, 2006 3:23 pm
Great list. I love #9 especially. So true. And I like the photo you have coupled with the entry. It makes me feel more relaxed somehow. I can just picture myself sitting by that cool blue pool with an umbrella drink and a notebook!
June 22nd, 2006 3:25 pm
I would like to lounge by a lake with a cool breeze blowing, a nice tall glass of sweet tea with lemon and a good book. Heaven. Don’t ask me to write poetry though.
June 22nd, 2006 4:05 pm
oh bangs too short? we know that one WELL around here 🙂
i do the squinting thing. and yashosh now does too. she even squints when she points to something.. to narrow your gaze towards the thing. its wonderful but slightly odd.
lovely list again. i love how we get to know you better each week through this.
June 22nd, 2006 5:25 pm
I really enjoyed what you had to say about writing poems. Very interesting.
My list is up…but I’m late. My modem picked today not to work!!
June 22nd, 2006 5:50 pm
Great list. I can relate about the writing at home. I jot down thoughts and notes whenever and wherever…but the writing…that has to be here in my studio. It’s where my muse resides.
June 22nd, 2006 10:09 pm
Hey, I guess I would be sitting somewhere around you too!
June 22nd, 2006 10:26 pm
Great post today. I must admit that I should work harder at the invitation to poetry to please come and sit and have tea with me so that I might partake and let it mellow me and then send it back into the world in a mix of the poetry and me. Be blessed today. You continue to be a gentle encouragement to me. Thanks for that.
June 23rd, 2006 4:05 am
It says “delete link” next to your name in case you want to remove it from the list. You’re the only one who sees that message, therefore, the only one who can delete your name. I had the same question and emailed Mr.Linky about it. That was his response to me.
June 23rd, 2006 10:44 am
It must have been really fun for you to teach creative writing. I’m sure the break on tuition didn’t hurt either. 😉
Thanks for visiting my TT.
June 23rd, 2006 11:27 am
I just told my sister on the phone how I love the sounds of children laughing and playing in a pool but for some reason those McDonald’s playlands inside make me feel like I am loosing my mind!
Great 13 again Colleen! I understand, not me, but with Martin. It is what he loves doing. It isn’t a job for him, which is why it takes so long between each one, but he loves doing it. Plus he held on to his first one for 20 years!
June 23rd, 2006 2:58 pm
I’m #9.
June 24th, 2006 7:16 am
I kind of got stucked on #1 there *lol*.
I agree completely, even though if you’re tired enough you will sleep on the bus. As we noticed recently. We fell asleep all the time. Or is it the age? Say no please *lol*.