I'm sorry you're down. I wonder if you're feeling lower than me. I've been depressed ever since I got back from my writer's conference a few weeks ago. Conferences tend to do that to me. Guess I should quit going to them. :(
I wish I could cheer you up. I wish I could give you a wonderful idea that you'd really get excited about. I wish you'd take another look at those 200 pages you dumped. I wish a lot of other good stuff for you too... but by this time, I'm probably just getting annoying.
At risk of getting on your last nerve... would you drag out those 200 pages and take one more look. You've probably been away from it long enough to see some good in it.
In July, I fell at home and broke one of my two artificial hip joints that have been part of me since 1972. I'm looking forward to some heavy surgery and rehab, none of which I really want to undergo.
Now I thought about this all through the dreadful movie we saw tonight--Manufactured Landscapes. Don't even ask. I think the trouble is you're looking for too big of an idea when you only need a little one for a short story. You're used to the big arc of a novel. Get on a bus and ride around--you'll hear some great stories and see things you never see from your car window. Of course buses in Detroit have cops on them now so you know it's pretty damned exciting.
Jess: It's not that I didn't like the 200 pages, I did. But I didn't know how to execute the next part. It was Uh Oh. I got everybody set up and then hit the proverbial wall. But, I will take a look, maybe I'd know how to go about it now. Stay away from conferences.
Patti: Terrific advice except for one thing. There are no buses where I live. One of the reasons I miss NYC is there's nowhere to overhear conversations. Not even in Starbucks. I used to do this all the time in NYC. I'm not being open enough right now, that's all. And I need to read more short stories.
Maybe I'll carry a tape recorder with me this week. If you want to read some excellent literary shorts, try the early Alice Munro. Or Richard Yates's collection Eleven Kinds of Loneliness. Or Antonya Nelson or Charlie Baxter. I guess the best crime fiction is in the Best of series.
sorry to hear your depressed........you should go to New York walk around and feel the energy; its not that far from Long Island.... walking my dogs always clears my head....you are not allowed to be depressed around dogs; the word is not in their vocabulary; Get a dog & start walking!
I've been an artist for 37 years. Right now I "have no ideas and I'm depressed". I think these two themes are the angst that any artist, be it writer or graphic, feel at most times.
However, I am currently taking a day's vacation from my art to indulge myself with your "Beautiful Rage". Both of our creative wells may currently need refilling but I'd like you to know that while I await my refueling I am charmed by your writing. It is the first time I have ever read your work and I am hooked.
Cheer up 'cause as Mama always said: This too shall pass. Carolyn Sadowski
9 comments:
I'm sorry you're down. I wonder if you're feeling lower than me. I've been depressed ever since I got back from my writer's conference a few weeks ago. Conferences tend to do that to me. Guess I should quit going to them.
:(
I wish I could cheer you up.
I wish I could give you a wonderful idea that you'd really get excited about.
I wish you'd take another look at those 200 pages you dumped.
I wish a lot of other good stuff for you too... but by this time, I'm probably just getting annoying.
At risk of getting on your last nerve... would you drag out those 200 pages and take one more look. You've probably been away from it long enough to see some good in it.
In July, I fell at home and broke one of my two artificial hip joints that have been part of me since 1972. I'm looking forward to some heavy surgery and rehab, none of which I really want to undergo.
No go forth and feel better about yourself.
Sandra, I have two affirmations, which my friends have given me: Trust the Talent. Trust Life.
Now I thought about this all through the dreadful movie we saw tonight--Manufactured Landscapes. Don't even ask. I think the trouble is you're looking for too big of an idea when you only need a little one for a short story. You're used to the big arc of a novel. Get on a bus and ride around--you'll hear some great stories and see things you never see from your car window. Of course buses in Detroit have cops on them now so you know it's pretty damned exciting.
Jess: It's not that I didn't like the 200 pages, I did. But I didn't know how to execute the next part. It was Uh Oh. I got everybody set up and then hit the proverbial wall. But, I will take a look, maybe I'd know how to go about it now. Stay away from conferences.
Patti: Terrific advice except for one thing. There are no buses where I live. One of the reasons I miss NYC is there's nowhere to overhear conversations. Not even in Starbucks. I used to do this all the time in NYC. I'm not being open enough right now, that's all. And I need to read more short stories.
Maybe I'll carry a tape recorder with me this week.
If you want to read some excellent literary shorts, try the early Alice Munro. Or Richard Yates's collection Eleven Kinds of Loneliness. Or Antonya Nelson or Charlie Baxter. I guess the best crime fiction is in the Best of series.
sorry to hear your depressed........you should go to New York walk around and feel the energy; its not that far from Long Island....
walking my dogs always clears my head....you are not allowed to be depressed around dogs; the word is not in their vocabulary;
Get a dog & start walking!
anyway hope you feel better
Bajeho ... I lived in NYC for years and years. I have no desire to go right now. You're from New England? Go to Boston and walk around.
And, oh, yes...I have two cats. Nick and Nora.
Thanks for your good wishes.
I've been an artist for 37 years.
Right now I "have no ideas and I'm depressed". I think these two themes are the angst that any artist, be it writer or graphic, feel at most times.
However, I am currently taking a day's vacation from my art to indulge myself with your "Beautiful
Rage". Both of our creative wells may currently need refilling but I'd like you to know that while I await my refueling I am charmed by your writing. It is the first time I have ever read your work and I am hooked.
Cheer up 'cause as Mama always said: This too shall pass.
Carolyn Sadowski
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