Comments on: Wednesday Writer’s Workshop: Writing as a Relationship

By: Nellith

Nellith — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:38:56 +0000

… it used to be pen paused over the paper as I sit to think now… it is finger hesitated over the key board… Hay! Why does gender get the credit in how a friendship is defined? We all have secret and wonderful friendships that give us comfort and lasting warmth…a hot water bottle, glass of amber coloured butterscotch schnapps, a worn sweater, or an amassed collection of words. I need to let the words flow from my fingers and then in reading them back they give enlightenment, comfort, or yes even sometimes shame. I save them like photos in a file so they’re there to can go back to for reflection. Savor them again and develop new word string pearls to decorate the dynamic person that I am….ME. Please do not mock my friend “words” as they like friends, seem to hide, be coy , slightly naughty, very proper, trite and yes efficient but alway pleasurable and reliable to a fault. Don’t forget haunting, a few words and you don’t sleep for days or you see something and immediately see a word picture in your mind… like the “Quintets” music wafted out the window like a melodic kiss meeting the pinky sunrise”
‘Oops door bell gotta run to fleshly friends Tah Rah!

By: byjane

byjane — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:21:39 +0000

Joanna–
It’s interesting that you can parallel your writing with your “friend” relationships. I think there is something in that. I’m waiting for someone to comment with a list of successful writers who sucked at relationships. I keep coming up with men–Steinbeck, for example–so I wonder if this applies to female writers only. Nah, that won’t work either: the Brontes and Austen come to mind. I’m waiting for the Duchess to weigh in….

By: Joanna Jenkins

Joanna Jenkins — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:02:03 +0000

I don’t know Patricia Highsmith’s work enough to comment on the quote other then to say I’m pretty sure she cried herself to sleep after that review.

Relationships and writing, hmmm. For me it’s more about “friend” relationships versus a “partner” relationship. I have friends that I keep meaning to get together with but never do– friends I engage with all the time– and friends that I see maybe once a months. That pretty much sums up the writing projects in my que.

I hadn’t thought of writing as a relationship but it makes a lot of sense. Each project is a different relationship– some are easier to deal with than others.

Thanks Jane!
Happy New Year