So, I'm back with a brand new blog about my writing, and then....the writing grinds to a halt again courtesy of the holidays and some extended sickness in the family. Fortunately, I'm blessed with a husband who holds me accountable, not only for my writing time when my little girl is in preschool, but also for helping me create more segments of time when I can work, guilt-free, because he is otherwise occupied. (He works long hours, and we don't get to spend much time together during the week.) I now not only have Tuesday and Thursday mornings for my work (writing, journal work, and Young Writers' Workshop stuff), but now I also have Tuesday and Thursday evenings after our little girl goes to bed. He will work on programming stuff (a mysterious world about which I lack both knowledge and curiosity), and I will peck away at my laptop. Happy times!
In addition to all of my newly scheduled writing time - which has been nearly a year in the making - I've also been doing so much more reading than I was. After six years of college assigned reading, I was nearly giddy with my freedom - what to read first? And yet, I managed to get lost in a haze of parenting followed by evenings crashed in front of the television. It took me months to finish books, and by the time I reached the ends, I could barely remember what I read. That's when I met my new friend, a fellow writer (though far more accomplished than I.) We started talking about books and writing, and suddenly, I found myself wanting to do both, and actively making time to do them. I've been reading a crazy range of authors, from John Irving to Ann Patchett to a Philip Roth binge. We dissected Franzen and ripped up Foer. It was exhilarating. It was exactly what I needed. Now I'm powering through books at something resembling my previous speed. (Most women are concerned about recovering their pre-baby body. I worry about mommy-brain. I'm afraid I may never recover my pre-baby reading speed.)
My current read is The World According to Garp, by John Irving. Yes, I know. I should have read this already. What can I say? Before college, I had read almost nothing of any literary value (a few exceptions: the Bible, Alice in Wonderland, and Tom Sawyer), and I have a lot of catching up to do. I'm not very far into this one yet, so I don't have any brilliant observations, but I like it so far. I love that the main characters are made sympathetic only by the injustices dealt him/her, not by any likability on his/her part. My previous Irving read (A Widow for One Year) was very different from what I've read of Garp, but so far, I have no complaints.
I've also been able to amp up my literary life the past couple of weeks with readings and fellowship with fellow writers and MFAers. I attended a lovely reading featuring the fabulous Leslie Pietrzyk and wonderful Susan Tekulve, and I got to read at a local event with some of my fellow MFA grads. Two fun evenings with some talented and insightful people.
Maybe it's the new year resolutions I see and hear everywhere I turn. Maybe it's the recent infusion of literary fun. Maybe it's all the amazing reading and analysis I've been doing. Whatever it is, I'm psyched for a year of hard work. Finish this novel in 2013!
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