Tayari's Blog: Back To Life, Back to Reality

Posted by TayariJones on July 27, 2007 07:31 AM
Filed under The Writing Life

Well, my time here at MacDowell is over. The seven weeks were well spent. I’ve posted my final word-o-meter below. I cam here with the goal of writing fifty good-looking pages and I am leaving with one-hundred. I’ve also gained something else. I am feeling at home again with my manuscript.

For “Tombstone Tuesday”, I went around to the various studios to find the names of writers that you would recognize. I felt especially moved by the names of those writers who have passed away. What I didn’t post on the blog were the signatures of the writers whom we haven’t heard of who are still chugging away.

There are so many names on the wall of folks I know—I’ve met them at festivals, conferences, etc. Some of them signed their names on the wall ten years ago, but they haven’t yet published. I don’t know where they are today, but I hope that they are still writing, still making art. I hope they are at home with their manuscripts (their paintings, their sculptures, or compositions) and still moving forward.

I have had the pleasure and privilege of meeting dozens of artists in all different fields, at all different levels of their careers. There are whippersnappers just starting out and veterans taking breaks from the limelight. Some people are in residence for the whole summer, while others could only take two weeks away from their jobs, kids, lives. Being here reminds me that there are many ways to be an artist. You just make the most of the time and opportunities that you have. No matter what our positions are, I think we all – to quote Renee Simms—“jazz” our way through.

Before I end this post, I want to thank you all for hanging in there with me and the blog. I know haven’t posted as often as I usually do and being here, I am sort of out of the loop of things happening in the literary world. Thanks for stopping by anyway. Thank you for all the letters, cards, and care packages you sent. I know everybody is busy, so thank you thank you for sharing your time with me.

I’m hitting the road now. I’ll post again as I get myself settled.

Love,

Tayari

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There are 1 comments on "Back To Life, Back to Reality". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.

Comment #1, by seitzk [TypeKey Profile Page]

Congratulations! It'll be nice to have you back in the outside world, though I feel selfish for saying it! Loved the pictures of hailstones.

July 27, 2007 09:28 AM

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