Tayari's Blog: All By Myself... Don't Wanna Be..

Posted by TayariJones on December 7, 2009 08:01 AM
Filed under Writing


My Slanket Is My Muse
Originally uploaded by kleopatrjones
I have always thought of writing as this solitary thing I do in my home while wearing my slanket. (However, the picture you see here, was taken at my job. Don't ask.) The point is that the solo-Slanket procedure has worked for me. Well, last month, at the National Book Awards, I was seated next to Coe Booth, a judge on the YA panel. She and I became fast friends and decided that we should get together sometime soon. The problem is that we are both working like crazy and also we are both staring at looming deadlines.

Coe suggested that we get together for a "writing date." I had no idea what that could be. She explained that Young Adult writers do it all the time. A group of friends gets together at a nice cafe or something, have a coffee and a snack, and then they retreat to separate tables and write for a couple hours. They do not wear slankets to these gatherings. They wear regular clothes and they fix their hair.

Lord knows I could use a couple of hours with The Silver Girl. I am making a quilt for Tracy K, who just had a baby. My poor apartment looks like Santa's workshop. Fabric pieces are everywhere-- even in the bathroom. I woke up last night at 3 am because I somehow got pins in the bed! I reached for a spoon for my oatmeal and pulled a rotary cutter out instead. I am determined to get this quilt made by the holidays. As a result, I have rendered my home unfit for living-- let alone for writing.

So, today, I am going to meet Coe for our writing date. I feel a little weird about it. It makes me think of the dressing room in Loehmans-- no stalls. Everyone just strips in full view of all the other ladies. But still, I am going give it a try. I'll report back tomorrow.
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Comment #1, by Jade Park [TypeKey Profile Page]

Tayari--I had a writing partner like this for many years--once a week, my friend and I would meet and have tea at either one of our houses or a cafe (after she had her baby, we had it 100% at her house) and we'd chat (gossip) for about half an hour or so. Then one of us would say, "Is it time?" and inevitably, the other would nod, and we'd take out our laptops, sitting across from each other at the dining table/cafe table. We'd agree on a set amount of time to write (usually about an hour or two) and then proceed to sit together in silence (sans the sound of typing or sipping) and WRITE.

It was an amazing partnership (since the economy went to doodoo she has had less time to do this and so we haven't done this in about a year, but like I said, we did this for YEARS together). And yes, it made me feel a bit alone.

At the end of teh hour, one of us would look up and ask if we needed more time--and we'd either go onward or stop. Sharing what we wrote was optional, but we often did read aloud what we wrote, and the only commentary allowed was encouragement.

Good luck to you and hope it's as positive an experience as it was for me!

I have heard of other writing groups that do this--they don't critique, they just sit down together and WRITE for a few hours.

December 7, 2009 09:23 AM

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