i sat down the other day to write and after about five hours, i got one paragraph. it's like that sometimes. what i realized though, is that i've been flowing much easier when i write in the context of essays. two recent pieces, one on mr. e. lynn harris and another on my childhood neighborhood have been well received. i've read both pieces multiple times and can see how they can be expanded into something larger and they will both be helpful as i write this book.
as i start my day today, with the freedom of having my whole day to do what i want, i realized that i am looking at my time, with the same trepidation that most writers feel for a blank page. i've already spent two hours on facebook, bossip, latimes, concreteloop, npr etc.
i haven't had a haircut in a month. it's not cute.
i peeled myself away from the computer to go cut on the shower (which is running while i type this) so i can get dressed and let sam do something with this head. right before i stepped in, i realized, "DUH...this is why i started the blog in the first place." this is good warm-up for me. it's much better to spend two hours here than reading on facebook that someone's "had it up to here."
i was talking to my friend michelle about process. she had a convo with eric jerome dickey and he talked about what he does to get in his zone. i ended that conversation thinking, maybe i need a "thing." i've heard that some writers don't wash, or they go on retreats. some lock themselves in their rooms. so instead of writing, i spent sunday, trying to find my "thing." i forgot that i already have one; this blog.
okay...i'm wasting water and i feel bad now. off to get the hair did and then i'm gonna do my 'thing.'
p.s. i'll probably still be on facebook way too much.
another p.s. why do we sometimes ignore, or play down our obvious strengths?
