Gwyenth Davis ---- the lifestyle and discipline of a writing career

Gang,

One of our major topic areas is nurturing the creative spirit. I have attached a link to a interview with a well known author, Gwyneth Lewis, who describes her habits and discipline in her creative trade of writing. She writes much poetry, some novels, and also some screenplays. The interview is a bit slow and rambles at times, however I found some real meat from a person who full-time plies her creative writing skills. 

Tap here for the interview 

Among the observations I found interesting are:

-- -- Gwyneth typically has several projects going, when stuck on one she goes to the others.

-- -- she gives poetry a priority because it's elusive, the thoughts could disappear, a novel on the other hand is more of a steady effort and less elusive

-- -- a major point is that she shows up for work. I have heard several other authors and artists say the same thing, typically in response to the question of a missing muse. The point is that even though feeling somewhat uninspired the commitment to a daily writing routine is a necessary component for success.

-- -- even when the schedule has no slack time, Gwyneth says even a 10 minute effort is worth it.

-- -- Gwyneth makes the point that she likes to stay porous, open to every experience and taking everything in. Making herself open and will vulnerable to the world. However, she adds that when dealing with editors and publishers where there is a business exchange she has to change her temperament, otherwise she would be taken advantage of.

-- -- Gwyneth reads extensively of other authors and unabashedly borrows their style and structure. She says the classics have so much to teach and she is first in line to imitate or at least interpret and reuse their form of expression.

-- -- Gwyneth always rights to someone. She envisions their attitude, posture, philosophy, ..... even the shoes they're wearing. She says it's all about composing and delivering the poem or story to the imagined person sitting across the table.

-- -- she says many of her products are not good enough. They are shelved and not delivered -- -- she says one advantage of being an author is that you don't do it in public. She adds however, that occasionally she will dust off a shelved piece modify it and transform it to a different setting -- -- and then it works.

-- -- she describes 'creative writing' as having no preordained or pre-known ending. It goes where it goes. She states that writing with a known end is more like reporting or exposition.

There is also much discussion about the lifestyle of a full-time author. Very interesting is the discussion of the next big hit -- -- the pressure that comes about after a very popular book to produce the next big hit -- -- and how in a very humble way she negotiates the pressure.

It is an hour long interview and, at least for me, very well worth the time. The subject here is writing but I would guess pretty much all the comments are equally true about painting.

Honor thy muse,

Tom