Isn’t it a really wonderful thing when a book you didn’t know you needed to read unexpectedly comes into your life? Last week Sigrun at Sub Rosa mentioned a really good book she is reading, The Art of Slow Writing by Louise DeSalvo. She mentioned it in the frame of thinking about the ideal writing life and Virginia Woolf’s “room of one’s own,” how this room is something that is pretty close to a fantasy for most of us.
I commented that DeSalvo’s book sounded interesting. Sigrun provided a link to the publisher description of the book and I thought, I should read that sometime! In the process of checking to see if it was something my library has, I decided to request it. Even though I am not looking to publish a novel or anything, I always enjoy a good book about the craft and process of writing and the idea of slow writing had an interesting sound to it.
The book arrived and I started reading it.
At this same time I have been struggling to write my next essay for Vocalis, that essay website I created with the lofty goal of publishing a new essay to it every week. How quickly that schedule has crashed! Because it turns out that even though I am great at writing a blog post in around an hour, essays take a bit more time. Go figure.
The process of writing an essay is an entirely different one than a blog post or book review or even an essay for class back when I was in library school about six years ago (wow has it been that long?!). I was surprised by this discovery and then I was surprised that I was surprised. And then I started worrying about timelines and whether or not I should shut down Vocalis now before I got too attached.
But then DeSalvo told me to not be so stupid. Most of the kind of writing I do is not exactly the creative sort and here I am expecting to produce creative essays in the same way I do everything else. I had forgotten how much time and extra work it takes, how different it is to dashing off a blog post. And I was getting frustrated. But DeSalvo reminded me:
We can take as much time as we need in our projects’ initial stages, allowing ourselves to be unsure of what we’re doing or whether we’ll succeed. We can commit to the process of learning and honoring our craft even as we acknowledge the anxiety and frustration that often occur early on. We can commit to working slowly, taking time to figure out our work, one slow step at a time.
That turned out to be exactly what I needed! Permission to learn a new process, to not rush but take the time I need.
I began writing a new essay last week but didn’t get far before I discovered I needed to do a bit of research. Research accomplished I then had to figure out how to use the research because, while it supports what I want to say, it also changes the scope of things and possibly even the direction I had thought I wanted to go.
I worked on the essay for about three hours Sunday and only stopped because I was starting to feel stuck and noticed my stomach was growling. Instead of an almost complete first draft, I had not even two pages. Disappointed. But also exhilarated because during that time I had found that place you go when you are fully focused and time and the world fall away.
DeSalvo talks about working at writing, how the process from project to project is not going to be the same, how we have to find our own rhythm and routine. All that and I have only read through page 22! She is right about what she says and I know she is right, I had just forgotten all these things in the regular routine and rhythm of blogging that has become so familiar, so comfortable and very close to easy.
Thanks to DeSalvo I am working at getting past the layers of disappointment from not being able to hit the ground running with this essay writing thing. I did, after all, want to try something new and different. I did want a challenge. I knew there were things to learn. That I am surprised, impatient and a bit vexed that I got exactly what I wanted makes me laugh. What? You mean I’m not a secret super genius writer?
Nope. But then most people aren’t. I guess I can be okay with that. It certainly isn’t a reason to give up and pull the plug on Vocalis. I wanted to be the hare but it turns out I am the tortoise. Slow and steady. Writing is not a race and there is no true finish line anyway. What’s the hurry?
A good essay is worth the wait.
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Thanks Jeanne!
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There used to be several ‘slow’ movements a few years back, slow reading, slow blogging. I remember we were posting about ‘slowness’ then. So this makes sense, slow writing, as the cliché goes, good food takes time to prepare. All the more, a good essay. Hope you’ll continue with your writing website.
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Arti, yes, and this book was actually written a couple years ago. We get so used to going fast, so expectant that of speed in all things that it is easy to forget that some things are slow and that is ok and even good. Oh, yes, I’ll continue with the website, there just won’t be a regular posting schedule as I had originally planned! 🙂
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I am glad you wrote this blog and I am going to try and find DeSalvo’s book. I have been struggling to complete One only One essay for Vocalis and its been a disaster so far! But now I feel much inspired! And please do not give up on Vocalis, I may start a bit late but will catch up soon!
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Yes, please don’t give up, Stefanie. There are no rules. You can publish one a quarter if you like, like Australia’s Quarterly Essay publication.
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cirtnecce, heh, I almost emailed you to ask if you had that essay ready! I am glad I didn’t add to your struggle and cause you stress! Keep going with the essay! If you can get your hands on DeSalvo’s book, I think you will really find it useful 🙂
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thanks Stephanie for understanding…I ammmmmmm soooooo embarrassed! I will get one to you soon!
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Don’t be embarrassed, there is no call for it! 🙂 There is also no deadline. Just take your time and it will happen when it happens 🙂
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You are the awesomest chief editor that I know off! 🙂
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You made me laugh Stefanie re writing a post versus an essay. You’ve discovered exactly what is holding me up. An essay needs research, mostly, and a carefully thought structure. I have one started – a post draft that I reckon can be an essay – but it needs more thought that a simple post. And a little more research. Can I find time to do that? Not this week (just back from more work on my aunt’s house) or next (off to Melbourne for the Australian Open and to see our kids), that’s for sure. And I’m retired!
This book sounds good …
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whisperinggums, heh, it was a rather unhappy discovery with squealing brakes and panic and a near crash. You’re going to the Australian Open? I am very envious! Maybe you can write an essay about tennis? 😉 Also, it sounds like you haven’t quite got the knack of the retiring part of being retired! DeSalvo’s is a good book, lots of practical reminders and permission to be slow. I won’t give up, there just won’t be a regular “deadline” and that’s ok, who needs that stress? 🙂
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Yes, it will be my first time seeing elite tennis live. Tickets to the semi-finals were my birthday present last March from Mr Gums. I’m very excited.
An essay? Hmmm … perhaps, if I can think of a point I want to make.
And no, you’re right, I clearly need some training in retirement. Do you know of any?
And good. There doesn’t need to be any deadlines for Vocalis – or for any hobby blog for that matter.
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Tickets to the semis? Wow! Very nice birthday present from Mr. Gums. He sounds like a keeper 😉
I’m afraid I know far too many people who also need training in retirement. My in-laws, my parents, a number of former colleagues… you all are scaring me with how busy you are! From my still employed full-time vantage point, I daydream about how much time I will have one day for biking, gardening and reading; a permanent summer vacation. You are ruining my fantasy! 😉
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Good luck! You may be a better time manager than I! Or better able to say no! Actually, there is time for much of those things. Trouble is they fill up your time and suddenly you feel busy and overwhelmed with all the things, and need a holiday. But it is wonderful …
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Oh, my God, yes. I’ve just started writing a twice-monthly column for Litro and it is SO DIFFERENT. It’s really thrown me; I’m used to banging out opinions and analysis on a text that already exists, but my writing muscles are far rustier when it comes to exploring in prose an idea that came out of my head (even in non-fiction). Striking that balance between the personal and the for-public-consumption is especially hard for me. I can write journal-style things, but some of that stuff is private! Writing slowly sounds like a beautiful, measured approach to the whole problem. I like it very much.
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An essay once a week – you might need to be Squirrel Girl to manage that! I would have thought that the great thing about the essay, perhaps more than any prose form, is the freedom it promises – this includes freedom from deadlines and targets.
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Oh Ian you made me laugh! Thanks for that! 🙂 You are, of course, quite right about the essay form on all counts. Sometimes a person just needs a little reminder 🙂
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Elle, I’m sorry you’ve been thrown too but I also find comfort knowing I am not the only one to be surprised over how different it is. I hope you are getting your feet under you and finding a process that works! DeSalvo’s is a lovely measured approach. She teaches writing too and I can only imagine her classes must be really good!
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The approach I’m trying at the moment is to write a bit every day, then discard the stuff that doesn’t fit or is too personal, and see how it works. It feels a bit better than trying to come up with some didactic content in a frantic panic on a Wednesday night…
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Sounds like you are figuring it out Elle! Pretty soon you will be an old hand at it 🙂
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Sounds like a book I should read and digest, as I tend to get a bit impatient with my writing and long to be more productive…
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MarinaSofia, you might find it useful. In fact, before I remembered I had heard about the book from Sigrun I had thought it was you who had mentioned it! 🙂
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I’ve got something called ‘World Enough and Time’ by Christian McEwen which is about creativity and slowing down, so that may have been the one you were thinking of. Mind you, I still haven’t take all those lessons to heart!
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Maybe. That one sounds good too! I hear you, slowing down is a difficult thing to do 🙂
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Stefanie: Yes, writing an essay is one thing, writing a blog is another. I find the two incompatible. An essay requires research, background study, a coherence and theme. In contrast, writing one blog after another lacks that kind of coherence that is the heart of an essay. I really can’t do both at the same time and I really prefer to write essays. That is why I stop blogging from time to time, namely so I can focus on the essay I writing or trying to write. It is, indeed, a slow process. So I appreciate the difficulties you are having in writing an essay. Richard
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Richard, you should have told me all that sooner! 😉 I wouldn’t have believed you though, I seem to prefer learning things the hard way.
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Please remove all thought of scraping Vocalis. I am looking forward to it becoming a great success!
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Grad, well okay then! Thought removed 🙂 And thank you!
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Wow, has it really been six years? My how time flies, which is really pretty scary. And I do understand finding just the right book that you didn’t even know was out there–that is always pretty cool! I didn’t realize you had started Vocalis–I think you must have mentioned it here and I missed it. Definitely keep it and when you are ready to post an essay you’ll feel much better about it–the first one is always the hardest, but the nice thing is it is your space and you can write at your leisure. I don’t think I could write an essay (not like I would want), but I will happily read yours!
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Danielle, I was shocked to discover how long it has been, it still seems like just a year or two ago! I started Vocalis at the beginning of the year, quietly slipped in it 🙂 Finding just the right book is always fun no matter if it is fiction or non, there is that little click of recognition and pleasure and comfort.
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I already love Vocalis, so you stopping would be a loss for me. As for writing an essay: sometimes I fear it will take me literally forever. So you are doing quite good. I like the sound of that book.
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Cath, you are so kind! I’ll keep at it, I will just be slower than previously thought. I have a feeling you would like the book quite a lot.
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This books sounds like a timely reminder, a companion to making progress and being okay about the time it requires, I love the sound of it and that you were lead there by Sigrun. It seems to be the month for ingesting quiet inspiring texts, adding this to my list too. Thank you, great review and quote.
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Claire, January/winter is the perfect time for quiet books I think. This one is quite practical and matter-of-fact and I like that about it. I hope if you read it you find it useful!
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I get similar issues when trying to switch from the kind of writing I do for my day job (speeches for executives and internal news articles) to blog writing. Three vastly different writing styles. Essays would be a whole different challenge…
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BookerTalk, I never realized how hard switching is. Now I completely understand why there are some writers that stick exclusively to a single genre!
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This sounds like a book I need to read, too! My general rule of thumb with anything creative is that it’s going to take much longer than you ever think it will. But even knowing that, I can get impatient and beat myself up about how slow I am. Not a helpful attitude! Rilke said something about how necessary it is to think you have all the time in the world to create. And Rilke is a God, as we all know. I’ve got other books by Louise DeSalvo, one about writers and moving house, I think, that was pretty excellent. She’s an intriguing author.
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Litlove, oh yes! I think you would like it! She bolsters her slow writing advice with lots of quotes and stories about famous authors and how long they take with their work so you find yourself thinking, well if Zadie Smith took 8 years to write that novel then I shouldn’t be too worried about how long I take! And if Rilke is God, then one should definitely listen to his advice 😉 I didn’t know DeSalvo had so many books! I just looked her up and knew about Writing as a Way of Healing but she’s got lot’s of interesting looking stuff!
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Well, look at you…never suspected you had another blog going. I don’t know how you do it, but I plan on visiting you there now and then. Glad you mentioned it here.
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Sam, I just started it at the New Year as a place to write long essays that aren’t necessarily related to books. And thanks, I hope you enjoy your occasional visits there!
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“I was surprised by this discovery and then I was surprised that I was surprised.” That sentence made me smile, Stefanie. Thank you. 🙂
And, Vocalis sounds brilliant. Let the deadlines sleep with your cats, while you create some lovely essays. 🙂 Looking forward to reading your next essay, Stefanie.
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Deepika, oh thank you! You are very kind 🙂
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Once again I interrupted my current reading of ‘H is for Hawk’ to go to the library for one of your very good recommendations. As I was reading ‘The Art of Slow Writing” it occurred to me that her advice, recommendations, comments are very appropriate to any project you are working on or struggling with. I’m not a writer, but a woodworker and stay at home Dad who is always trying to find time to work on my projects. Her book can really be applied to may other situations in your life. Thanks for the Interruption.
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