Dear Reader,
Here’s my semi-annual complaint about how I’m not writing and how wretched I feel.
Blah.
Here’s the thing though, I don’t feel wretch. And I have nothing to complain about.
I’ve put some projects on hold for the time being — two to be exact. Jennie Manning and my memoir.
I had this conversation with my friend Jasminne last month when she asked me what I was working on. I wasn’t working on anything but work at the time, some items for my classes and for my college but nothing creative. Why?
I just want to listen for awhile.
My advisors at Goddard told me about this, this lull when you don’t want or can’t write and all you want to do is read. That’s where I’m at the moment. I don’t want to read for the projects (which usually means gorging on some Raymond Chandler). I want to read some voices I’ve never read before and hit some books I either didn’t have time to read before or would probably never read otherwise.
I have tons to say. So many things but I have this instinct to sit back and consider voice and read.
And I don’t feel bad about it. Not one iota.
Listen, I know I’ll get back to writing like I did before. I’m recovering from Harvey, a whirlwind of a semester, and my sister’s death. I didn’t listen to my body and my mind before to be gentle with myself. I also didn’t listen to my friends. All of them. They all said I needed to take it easy and stop beating myself up. I’m listening now. I’m existing and listening.
Sometimes the writing life be that way.
I highly expect Jennie to be in some beta readers’ hands really soon. I’m also thinking about workshopping her at the next workshop in the summer. No worries, Jennie fans she’s coming.
I also finished edits on another project that I turned in at the end of last year so work is coming your way.
So, if you have any book recommendations, send them my way! Drop them in the comments below.
Back to reading I go,
-Icess
Dear Reader 