the highs and lows

Currently reading A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers. I told my co-worker this morning that it made me want to commit suicide because it was so well-written and I will never be able to write like Eggers. "That's okay," my friend Anna says. "You write like yourself." It's a good try, but I still get jealous. :-)







But then I retreat to Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, an old favorite. It's an absolutely delightful book of writing instruction. She makes me feel as if I will be able to write something worthwhile someday, maybe even today, maybe even tomorrow.

About a year ago, Anne Lamott spoke at a conference I attended. I already knew that I loved her (I own almost everything she's ever written), but after hearing her speak, I adored her. The nice thing about reading Bird by Bird right now is that I just purchased the audio version of it, and Lamott reads it herself, and it's as if you have a personal coach, massaging your shoulders, and telling you, "You've got this. You can do this."

I'm still working hard at the novel, but I'm trying to not push everything else aside for writing. It's so easy for me to do that. Especially being an obsessive-compulsive, I just want to HAMMER AWAY at the novel. But it's a marathon, and I've been trying to sprint for the whole thing. Not okay. Three years of dashing about is exhausting me. On Sunday, I thought about the last five months and realized that I had written almost every day. I'm tired out, and I haven't been giving myself a sabbath rest, and I'm going to try to build that back into my life.

Sidenote: I just purchased a Luci Shaw book on faith and writing, and it should be delivered on Friday. I can't wait!

I've been spending time with her book of poetry Accompanied by Angels, and it's marvelous. So, so, so good.

Words are such a blessing, aren't they? The right image is like a rich dessert. Mmmm.

One other thought before I go. I read something online today that said, "Don't you say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours each day as Michaelango had." Well, okay, it was something like that. Anyway, wow. Not sure what I think about that yet. I mean, YES, it's TRUE. But some people are paid to do their art, and some people work a 9-5 job so that they can get paid so that they are able to do their art. I'm slightly offended and slightly motivated by the quote. What do you think about it?