Sometimes it feels insane to pursue novel writing, and I know it sounds pretentious when I say there's no way around writing it. I still feel bound to finish it with a drive I haven't experienced before, except the time I had to get my son out of me when the OB-gyn wielded an epesiotomy knife at me.
This past year, I've read several fiction and nonfiction. Fiction includes The Shadow of the Wind; a rereading of The Steppenwolf; Girl With a Pearl Earring; Eat, Pray, Love; and poetry by Rosalia de Castro. Nonfiction includes The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. I've also listened to a lot of Julia Cameron's The Artist Way, the audiotape version of her book that I had made copies from the library in Pacific Grove, CA years ago. I found them in a box here in Al-Ain started listening to them again and again. Now that I've created a little and have been wanting to return to my novel manuscript but know that I'm afraid of beginning the whole process again, I've learned so much about myself and my fears by listening to her wise words. Audio version is nice because she has a gentle yet stern voice to put you in your place while you make your commute to work every day. Anyone whose fear of making mistakes is preventing them from creating should read or listen to her book. Immediately. For your sake and ours.
Julia Cameron
[this is good]
Posted by: blackmanos | 04/06/2009 at 07:34 PM