Before sitting down to write, this evening, I pulled a book off my shelf: Louise Erdrich, The Beet Queen. I just wanted to absorb a little historical detail for my own story, set in a proximal time and place. I meant to skim the first few chapters, breathe the slightest flavor of a much-beloved book.
This unfortunately made me recognize that I am the worst writer in the history of planet Earth, and that not only did I have no business drafting an incredibly sucky, feeble novel, but I should also abandon any professional attachment to the honing of the English language and just do everyone a favor by securing employment at Hot Dog On a Stick as my true qualifications would indicate.
I'm going to look like an asshole in that hat. Thanks, Louise!
Took me two and a half hours to recover enough to even turn on the computer. I'm again hovering around the appropriate word-count quota, but at least 50% of it is the crappiest crap that ever crapped, and the other half I'm scared to look at. Sigh. I think for the rest of November I'll have to let all reading materials pile up, and just lull myself to sleep each night with one of the 856 Christmas catalogs that have begun arriving in the mail. Page after page of pretty furniture, pretty clothes, pretty kitchen utensils...no narrative thrust to speak of. Well, there's J. Peterman, but that one hasn't turned up. Yet.
Dude. The Sumptuous Caftan! Isn't that an Edward Gorey book? Bea Arthur meets Bollywood.
Also, for using the term "Bling-ji"? You are dead to me, Mr. Peterman.
2 comments:
Ok, you've inspired me to get back to my novel. Not sure I'll have it done by the end of the month, but hey, just getting back to it at all is a wonder. It's been languishing since July.
Right on! You can do it! Novels, woooo! (does stunted little cheerleader leap; clutches at lower back)
I'm fascinated by how the pure fiction "mass" goal of this exercise is making me dutifully dump a couple hours a day down on paper. It might not be good...but I'm writing, consistently, and I haven't done that in YEARS. So I cautiously, perplexedly recommend it. Wonders never cease!
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