07 6 / 2011
“I still encourage anyone who feels at all compelled to write to do so. I just try to warn people who hope to get published that publication is not all that it is cracked up to be. But writing is. Writing has so much to give, so much to teach, so many surprises. That thing you had to force yourself to do- the actual act of writing- turns out to be the best part…
I’ve managed to get some work done nearly every day of my life, without impressive financial success. Yet I would do it all over again in a hot second, mistakes and doldrums and breakdowns and all. Sometimes I could not tell you exactly why, especially when it feels pointless and pitiful, like Sisyphus with cash-flow problems. Other days, though, my writing is like a person to me- the person who, after all these years, still makes sense to me.”
-Anne Lamott
Providing me with some much needed inspiration in the midst of an epic five day editing streak wherein I’ve waded through 75 plus pages of text tearing my hair out, wondering why in the hell I choose to do this for a living myself.
19 4 / 2011
On Writing
I have a small freelance assignment this week that involves writing and editing copy about a new line of vegan beauty products. Three things about this:
There was a time in my life I really believed I was going to be the next Tony Kushner or Jonathan Safran Foer. That time is seeming further and further away.
The fact that there are unknown parts of an animal in my current makeup is now totally freaking me out. It feels wrong and the next time I put it on I think it’s going to end with me being all Glenn Close in that last scene in Dangerous Liaisons, furiously trying to scrub the makeup off, only it won’t budge. Because of the sin, obviously.
I could never be a vegan because cheese exists, and always needs to be in my belly. That doesn’t really have anything to do with writing or the freelance job, but the thought occurred to me and made me sad.
