I had the strangest day today. I was sitting in the park on a warm sunny day, on a picnic table bench writing my first assignment for my English Composition class when I overheard a conversation. Sitting at a picnic table across from me were Ray Bradbury "Zen in the Art of Writing", Ann Lamott "Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life", and Ernest Hemingway"Hemingway Stands when He Writes” having a picnic and chatting about their writing processes. Interested in what they had to say I walked over and introduced myself.
“Hello, my name is Anna. Do you mind if I join you?”
“Sure.” Said Ray Bradbury as he picked up his coffee cup and took a sip.
“Have a seat!” exclaimed Ann Lamott as she patted the empty space beside her.
“Swell!” We were just discussing our writing processes. said Ernest
“Ah! It was meant to be. I’m currently working on a writing assignment and I’m kinda stuck.” I said.
“What are you struggling with?” asked Ann while lifting her sandwich preparing for a bite.
“I just can’t settle myself down, let alone get it together.” I said while braiding my hair.
“Well, first I try to breath, because I’m either sitting there panting like a lapdog or I’m unintentionally making slow asthmatic death rattles. So I just sit there for a minute, breathing slowly,quietly. I let my mind wander.” says Ann in a gentle voice.
“After that,” interjects Ray. “Run fast,stand still. This, the lesson from lizards is for all writers.”
“And this helps how?” Asks Ernest as he rolls his eyes.
Ray without missing a beat blurts back: “In quickness is truth.The faster you blurt, the more swiftly you write,the more honest you are. In hesitation is thought. In delay comes the effort for a style, instead of leaping upon truth which is the only style worth dead falling or tiger-trapping. In my opinion.”
“That’s a very unique perception.” I said
“What about you, Ernest?” I asked.
“When I’m working on a book I write every morning as soon after first light as possible.” Ernest said proudly patting himself on the back.
“Well, good for you rooster.” said Ann sarcastically.
“Does it ever get easier to write?” I inquired.
“No.” Said Ann. “It is like trying to scale a glacier. It’s hard to get your footing, and your fingertips get all red and frozen and torn up.”
“Ugh. I was hoping it would.” I sighed putting my head down in frustration.
Lifting my head, I turned to Ernest and asked: “What do you do once you have some ideas written down?”
Ernst smiled leaned back a little giving his arms a good stretch replied: “You read what you have written and, as you always stop when you know what is gonna happen next, you go on from there.”
Ray without warning got up and said: “it is my advice to you to make your words your own.”
Then while gather his thing Ray continued: “It was only when I began to discover the treats and tricks that came with word association that I began to find some true way through the minefields of imitation.”
With that Ray said his goodbyes and parted from the group.
“I should get going as well. One last question before I go though, Do you only write one draft?” I inquired
Ernest replied: “I always rewrite each day up to the point where I stopped. When it is all finished, naturally you go over it. You get another chance to correct and rewrite when someone else types it, and you see it in clean type. The last chance is in the proofs. You’re grateful for these different chances.”
“So, there is such thing as a crummy first draft?” I said with a flicker of hope playing across my eyes.
Ann chimed in this time while wrapping her scarf around her neck: “All good writers write them. This is how they end up with good second drafts and terrific third drafts.”
I then got up shook hands with both Ann and Ernst thanking them for their advice and time. After that they went their separate ways and I went back to my picnic table where I had started at collected my things, having to make my way home myself.
References
Popova, M. (n.d.). The Daily Routines of Great Writers. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
Lamott, A. (2005). Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
Bradbury, R. (1986). Zen in the Art of Writing.
“Hello, my name is Anna. Do you mind if I join you?”
“Sure.” Said Ray Bradbury as he picked up his coffee cup and took a sip.
“Have a seat!” exclaimed Ann Lamott as she patted the empty space beside her.
“Swell!” We were just discussing our writing processes. said Ernest
“Ah! It was meant to be. I’m currently working on a writing assignment and I’m kinda stuck.” I said.
“What are you struggling with?” asked Ann while lifting her sandwich preparing for a bite.
“I just can’t settle myself down, let alone get it together.” I said while braiding my hair.
“Well, first I try to breath, because I’m either sitting there panting like a lapdog or I’m unintentionally making slow asthmatic death rattles. So I just sit there for a minute, breathing slowly,quietly. I let my mind wander.” says Ann in a gentle voice.
“After that,” interjects Ray. “Run fast,stand still. This, the lesson from lizards is for all writers.”
“And this helps how?” Asks Ernest as he rolls his eyes.
Ray without missing a beat blurts back: “In quickness is truth.The faster you blurt, the more swiftly you write,the more honest you are. In hesitation is thought. In delay comes the effort for a style, instead of leaping upon truth which is the only style worth dead falling or tiger-trapping. In my opinion.”
“That’s a very unique perception.” I said
“What about you, Ernest?” I asked.
“When I’m working on a book I write every morning as soon after first light as possible.” Ernest said proudly patting himself on the back.
“Well, good for you rooster.” said Ann sarcastically.
“Does it ever get easier to write?” I inquired.
“No.” Said Ann. “It is like trying to scale a glacier. It’s hard to get your footing, and your fingertips get all red and frozen and torn up.”
“Ugh. I was hoping it would.” I sighed putting my head down in frustration.
Lifting my head, I turned to Ernest and asked: “What do you do once you have some ideas written down?”
Ernst smiled leaned back a little giving his arms a good stretch replied: “You read what you have written and, as you always stop when you know what is gonna happen next, you go on from there.”
Ray without warning got up and said: “it is my advice to you to make your words your own.”
Then while gather his thing Ray continued: “It was only when I began to discover the treats and tricks that came with word association that I began to find some true way through the minefields of imitation.”
With that Ray said his goodbyes and parted from the group.
“I should get going as well. One last question before I go though, Do you only write one draft?” I inquired
Ernest replied: “I always rewrite each day up to the point where I stopped. When it is all finished, naturally you go over it. You get another chance to correct and rewrite when someone else types it, and you see it in clean type. The last chance is in the proofs. You’re grateful for these different chances.”
“So, there is such thing as a crummy first draft?” I said with a flicker of hope playing across my eyes.
Ann chimed in this time while wrapping her scarf around her neck: “All good writers write them. This is how they end up with good second drafts and terrific third drafts.”
I then got up shook hands with both Ann and Ernst thanking them for their advice and time. After that they went their separate ways and I went back to my picnic table where I had started at collected my things, having to make my way home myself.
References
Popova, M. (n.d.). The Daily Routines of Great Writers. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
Lamott, A. (2005). Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
Bradbury, R. (1986). Zen in the Art of Writing.