An earnest new writer asked me that question last weekend; "what do you do on a residency?"
"Eat cookies," I said. Then I told her what I really intend to do, which is try my hardest to come face to face with my writing. Just me and you, writing. It's a showdown, writing. It's a serious attempt to dismember you, wrestle you to the ground, and see what I know you really have in you, you, you, novel in progress, you!
It's a scary thing, that face to face confrontation with your naked work. And a residency at this particular artists retreat is a gift of time and a vote of confidence in my ability to coax (wrestle?) from this work its best form.
And yeah, I might eat some cookies. Maybe one. But not too many. Wrestling with your work tends to be a seated activity.
10 comments:
Good luck, Jessica. Hope you coax out many shimmering pages!
Thank you, Sheryl! Thinking of "shimmering pages," I just might!
Is this the novel you told me about at AWP a few years ago? I can't wait to read that story.
Yep. Got a nearly full first draft. I can't wait to read it, either :)!
Just from the short premise I heard, I know it's going to be a GREAT book! Exciting :)
Remember, you can call it work while you paddle around the pond and go up into the treehouse and walk in the woods, too. Thinking counts!
@Katharine - I do indeed call that work. I also call the walking trails process metaphor, particularly the mirrored mobile. Or maybe I'm thinking too much?
Sometimes a writer's just got to go over the vegetable garden and see how the peas taste.
Jessica, I hope you're having a productive residency, that this time proves to be just what you needed.
I, too, am excited about reading your novel!!!
Hope you're being all productive at the residency. Enjoy those walks and cookies, too. :)
I'm with Katharine! Remember, all that left brain stuff often leads to right-brain breakthroughs. Eat, paddle, write. Eat, walk, write. :) Keep going, Honey!
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