I'm a prolific writer, which leads to a lot of literary slut-shaming, and not in the good post-feminist, let's-take-back-the-power-of-sluttiness way, but mucho condescension. (This has been going on forever, however; James Wolcott wrote a take-down of Joyce Carol Oates in the 1980s with a hideously misogynistic illustration.) But my writer's metabolism is simply set very, very, very high; I am a quivering greyhound of a writer who gets extremely nervous when I'm not writing. That said, when I talk to people about the writing life, I always tell them: "If you can be happy not writing, then do it. Because a writer's life is a little nose-to-the-glass, you're never really in the moment because you're too busy thinking about writing about the moment." Anyway, I write because it makes me happy, God forgive me. Narratives create order in a messy, chaotic world, they impart the illusion of control.
However, I do have fallow seasons; I don't let a new book enter my head until the old one is post-copyediting and that means weeks of not-writing. Except for Substack. And tweets. And my journal and . . . anyway, if I could put one wish out into the universe it's that's people would stop saying that I'm "cranking them out." I'm not a Playdoh Fun Factory, one of the most beautiful oxymorons ever.
Hi Jen! Loved this post. I’m heading to Ireland in 2 weeks and wanted to see if you’d share the name of the bookstore with the restaurant above it that you wrote about in your memoir? Would love to check it out! 🙏🏻
I think writers tend to be the weirdos, I know I am, and therefore it's our preferred medium. But it also gives voice to the non-writer weirdos, which I think is the true magic. It's the thread of humanity that connects us all. Thanks for being so open and vulnerable!
If what you have just done here is not “writing” then what is it? This is writing.
it’s coming back! xo
Indeed. I would challenge your opening argument... Brava.
I'm a prolific writer, which leads to a lot of literary slut-shaming, and not in the good post-feminist, let's-take-back-the-power-of-sluttiness way, but mucho condescension. (This has been going on forever, however; James Wolcott wrote a take-down of Joyce Carol Oates in the 1980s with a hideously misogynistic illustration.) But my writer's metabolism is simply set very, very, very high; I am a quivering greyhound of a writer who gets extremely nervous when I'm not writing. That said, when I talk to people about the writing life, I always tell them: "If you can be happy not writing, then do it. Because a writer's life is a little nose-to-the-glass, you're never really in the moment because you're too busy thinking about writing about the moment." Anyway, I write because it makes me happy, God forgive me. Narratives create order in a messy, chaotic world, they impart the illusion of control.
However, I do have fallow seasons; I don't let a new book enter my head until the old one is post-copyediting and that means weeks of not-writing. Except for Substack. And tweets. And my journal and . . . anyway, if I could put one wish out into the universe it's that's people would stop saying that I'm "cranking them out." I'm not a Playdoh Fun Factory, one of the most beautiful oxymorons ever.
“Sexy accomplishment fantasy”
<chef’s kiss>
So well put.
Going to print this out and tuck it into my journal like it’s 1998. Thanks for making us all feel like we’re each other with every piece you write.
I really needed this, and was grappling with a writing angst myself yesterday in my Substack.
Love this. Also THIS IS WRITING.
Thank you <3
Hi Jen! Loved this post. I’m heading to Ireland in 2 weeks and wanted to see if you’d share the name of the bookstore with the restaurant above it that you wrote about in your memoir? Would love to check it out! 🙏🏻
GAHAHAHAHHHHHH IT'S SO GOOOOOD. It's so true. It's so validating. Meoww mix I love it. Thank you for writing it!
I think writers tend to be the weirdos, I know I am, and therefore it's our preferred medium. But it also gives voice to the non-writer weirdos, which I think is the true magic. It's the thread of humanity that connects us all. Thanks for being so open and vulnerable!
We’re still alive. So much in this xo
Tada! You wrote something!
Beautiful and thought-provoking. Thank you for writing it and sharing it.
Thank you very (very) much for this.
I love this. Thank you for providing a glimpse into the "after" that few folks see.