This is not a blog essay. (A blog essay is forthcoming.)
What the h have you been doing, Q? I hear you saying. We want our blog essay!
I know. I know.
The happy answer is this: I have been writing fiction.
I'm into a project. And that project is taking up a lot of my energy. I'm even researching! Today I have a phone interview with a clinical psychiatrist. Big stuff a brewin'.
We had to fell a big old oak tree in our yard. So I have also been chopping wood, an extremely strenuous task that has seriously put my manhood to the test and made me feel like a writer who sits at a desk all day. (Good thing my neighbor and brother-in-law like chopping wood, or my arms would have fallen off by now.) I've been using muscles I haven't used since I was a roofer back during college summers.
Oh, and I've been battling the evil chipmunks that are having orgies in our walls and destroying our stone foundation. Al has been catching them in traps and releasing them in the town forest. Which is proving to be arduous. We have a million chipmunks. It's ridiculous.
Via Netflix we are watching and loving the HBO series IN TREATMENT. UK writing buddy, Liz Jensen, called it a master class in writing, and she was right. Highly recommended, especially for writers.
AND I'm preparing two author interviews for you.
One from Sara Zarr, whose HOW TO SAVE A LIFE I just finished and loved. Another from Roland Merullo, whose THE TALK-FUNNY GIRL I am now reading and loving. You will want to read these interviews. You will want to read these books. I promise.
Speaking of interviews....I was interviewed by Desirous of Everything. Hit this link to read. Here's a teaser:
Do you have any advice for unpublished writers?
Q's answer: Remember that your work is more important than your opinions. It’s the product that counts. I think up-and-coming writers spend too much time polishing their opinions about other people’s work instead of actually producing saleable work. I’ve heard professional athletes say, “If you start listening to the fans, you’ll be sitting with them.” And I think that in the writing world there is a clear difference between fan mentality and professional writer mentality. Best to decide which you want to be and act accordingly.
I will be writing more about this subject shortly.
To be continued, and please keep being you,
10 comments:
I am looking forward to the interviews with Sara Zarr & Roland Merullo.
I really like the Desirous of Everything blog. Lots of good stuff there.
Nice! Looking forward to the interviews.
We won't be complaining about a lack of blogs when we have your new book in our hands, so keep at it! The chipmunk orgies, on the other hand. Now that's a problem!
In Treatment is every bit as intense & addicting as Liz warned it would be. If you're a writer and need inspiration in the area of dialogue, give it a try. It's on Netflix.
Evil chipmunks having orgies. Now there's a story line.
Look forward to reading the interview.
Thanks for looking around Alicia. Glad you liked it!
Love the blog Q! Keep it comin' . . .
Thanks for reading and commenting, all! Much love. Onward we go!
Sounds like you're doing great, Q! I couldn't be happier for you. I look forward to reading your next official essay. And writing and wood-chopping all day?? Sounds delightfully Hemingway.
I also love the cover of Boy21. It's pretty out there, but in an awesome way.
"Pretty out there, but in an awesome way." Could that be my tagline, BD? Love it. Thanks!
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