How many times have I taken that picture, sitting in exactly that place. It was raining out when I captured the scene again yesterday, our not-yet-dismantled table top Christmas tree still in front of me. This is my life, sitting here beside the big window, writing people's lives. I'm not complaining. I am grateful to have found my way to such work, and that it continues to sustain me. I am here again today, in the same spot beside the window, landscapers on the lawn below me digging holes along a line of white painted X's on the ground. I suppose the holes will soon receive plantings of some sort, and with the tree in front of my window recently cut down, I will have a full view of this new evolution of the gardens where I live. There are still scaffolds everywhere, as the city inspectors have not yet signed off on the recent repaving of the pathways and re-pointing of the brick facades, but the refurbishing of the sorely neglected grounds at least seems to have begun. I have just finished Chapter 13 in the memoir I am writing for my subject, and am about to begin the next chapter, which I believe to be the most pivotal one in the narrative. Perhaps I should pause here, at fifty-five-thousand words, on my way to the eighty-five-thousand asked for by contract, and allow the upcoming action to build more fully into view. Sometimes I think writing might be as straightforward as entering an internally visualized reality and looking around at what is happening, noticing all the human and physical details, gesture, emotion, atmosphere, place, and then looking again and noticing more, and faithfully setting it all down.
You have exactly described how I've always felt that Larry McMurtry wrote. Especially with his series books which sometimes spanned decades in the writing and time frames. As if he just thought, "Hmmm... I wonder what Aurora is doing these days? I should go check in and see."
ReplyDeleteThat's how real his word worlds seem to me.
I love that you feel that way about your own word worlds.
There is nothing straightforward about writing for me. I wander, just lost, bored, confused and then give up. What you do amazes me, the same way a neurosurgeon amazes me. You take something complex and difficult, break it down and then make it look easy, at least to me:)
ReplyDeleteI always marvel at your unencumbered (i.e. open) New York City views! My apartment used to look out at other apartments...and not very far away. LOL
ReplyDeleteI love the insight you've given into your writing -- the visualization and resulting description, and mostly that time is sometimes required to fully process it all and get it down.
I love the view out the window, and look forward to seeing what transpires down there.
ReplyDeletelovely, and i do think that resting is the most important part of anything in this life.
ReplyDeleteA lovely scene... what you see out your window... what we see in your photograph. The multi-dimensionality of time and space and distance. It is a good metaphor for writing and as you say "setting it all down." Yes.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that what writers do? Envision the scene and action and then write it down with all the details? Although too many details confuse the point. I remember when my daughter had to read The Last Of the Mohicans for school. She had just read a paragraph that was almost a page lone long full of over the top description and could not understand what was going on. I read it and summarized it in two sentences for her. But I'm completely sure you do it perfectly.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see that tree. Ours is partly dismantled. I think writing is a state of being. Some days I struggle for every word. Some days my fingers fly and I even approve the results. I wrote an eulogy for my brother-in-law who died on Boxing Day, and it took me all day to get seven paragraphs acceptable. Yeah.
ReplyDeleteJust think what new views spring will bring to your window, if not to your vocation.
What a beautiful, peaceful spot. You exude beauty and peace, too.
ReplyDeleteI like your orchid. I have never had one with 3 stems! At the moment I have 3 in flower and 3 with new stems coming through. I also have 14 different succulents on the windowsill! Hope that your boy is over covid now? Good luck with the writing.
ReplyDeleteMy Christmas decorations are packed away. I miss them already. The writing process is quite disciplined and I find we each have found our formula for success. You are an impressive and highly skilled writer.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely wooden carving on the table in front of you. So delicate and detailed! Thanks for sharing your views with us - your actual view and your view about writing. What a talent you have!
ReplyDeleteSo much creative energy comes forth at that table by the window. I find each view of the scene to be reassuring. Looking forward to reading the memoir.
ReplyDeleteI love your insights on writing. You've been such a gift to me and I thank you.
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