Just read The Beach House by Jane Green and LOVED it. I’ve read most of hers, and this one was one of my favorites. No one became a republican trophy wife with blonde highlights…the characters seemed more authentic than in some other of her books. It was very practical in how it dealt with the characters life, as in…yeah, that’s life. There were a few twists which were perhaps could be considered unrealistic, but since real life is surprising- I say it works. At the end one of her characters writes about being a real writer and how basically it takes discipline. To write when there is nothing to write. You can’t just think about writing, you actually have to sit down and write. That’s how you get words on the page. You have to write them. I am summing up her words and adding in my interpretation, because, well, this is my blog. But I immediately thought of a poem by a favorite poet, Marge Piercy- “For the young who want to”. In the last stanza of the poem, Marge pretty much says the same thing….
“The real writer is one/ who really writes. Talent/ is an invention like phlogiston/ after the fact of fire./ Work is its own cure. You have to/ like it better than being loved.
So don’t dream about it, think about it, ponder it….like Nike says
JUST DO IT!
I’m talking to myself in case you were wondering. But you can do it too. I’m just going to actually do it this time. I think. At least that’s the plan. For now. When children are sleeping; anything is possible. And back to Jane Green-go buy one of her books, brew a cup of tea, sit in your favorite chair and settle in to be surrounded by friends.
Mary Anne
Hey girl, you don’t have time to read much less write. YOu have babies to take care of, husband, brother, girl-friend to feed and your mom to call!! Just kidding – of course you have to write and you should. I think we should write a children’s book together. Of course we could do the ever popular Regency romance – can there be too many of them? The vampire thing is out – we’re a day late and a dollor short on that one. We can’t even do werewolves as that’s in with the vampires.
Have discovered teaching with the internet is fantastic! Makes the subject matter so much more interesting. Everybody likes pictures.
Back to our book – we need a theme and even though it may be overdone – I’m saying let’s do trains and dedicate it to Jake or actually lets let Jake write it! I’ll call you about it – I think that is an excellent idea! But of course I would – I thought of it!