|
I welcome you, too, Tart Cherry Jam!
I opened a thread for my mimicking the way John Steinbeck reflected on his state and process before his daily "work" of writing. For both Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden he either kept a journal or wrote a letter to his editor each writing session to warm himself up.
I found his comments spot on and am very happy he published them. Responding to your joining us has inspired me to find my notes. Here one from his Grapes journal:
[pages 29-30/ entry #18 dated 6/18/38] If only I can do this book properly it would be one of the really fine books and a truly American book. But I am assailed by my own ignorance and inability. I'll just have to work from a background of these. Honesty. If I can keep an honesty it is all I can expect of my poor brain—never temper a work to a reader's prejudice, but bend it like putty for his understanding. If I can do that it will be all my lack of genius can produce. For no one else knows my lack of ability the way I do. I am pushing against it all the time. Sometimes I seem to do a good little piece of work, but when it is done it slides into mediocrity.
Yes, please keep writing despite any internal chatter to the contrary.
And let us know your steps and progress and yearnings for support on our thread.
|