Why are you doing this?

It’s hard not to be overwhelmed by bad news these days.  Financial problems, health care ‘debate’ incivility, bombings in subway stations, natural disasters…. it’s grim, and seemingly ubiquitous. Writers and booksellers are no stranger to dire predictions and this week two articles were brought to my attention. One was a blog post from New York…

Read More

Writer, dreaming…

I’m a big dreamer.  Most writers are, I think.  I was raised as an only child, a none-too-popular one at that, and thus books and my imagination provided a good deal of my entertainment. I spent many a summer afternoon in an old abandoned apple-orchard near my house.  A stream trickled through it and I…

Read More

Writing through rough waters

Not long ago I was speaking with my spiritual director, Sister Rita, about some revision I was doing to the novel I’m working on.  I talked about the beginning of the book, wherein a certain character — a 7th century Irish boy —  has a vision and, regardless of opposition, follows that vision.  He builds…

Read More

"If you're at the cutting edge, then you're going to bleed."

Reading the Times last weekend was a curious exercise in juxtapositions.  First, I read an article called “On Top of the Happiness Racket” about Gretchen Rubin’s book, “The Happiness Project.”  Then I turned to the magazine section and found an article by Jonah Lehrer, entitled “Depression’s Upside.” The title of this essay was a quote…

Read More

How not to write

There are innumerable ways to avoid getting your writing done for the day. Most writers are geniuses at the art of procrastination, and I am no exception.  Here are a few of the techniques I’ve used so far this morning… I woke up at 6:45 a.m.  Tea.  Can’t think without it. Call a friend.  He…

Read More