Thank you, Alice, for this invitation to embrace fallow days with gentle curiosity. The "copying" exercise reminds me of the long-held practice of visual artists to copy master works. There's no way to learn a new brushstroke or sentence structure without trying it out for oneself. I find your invitation very freeing.
This is such a wonderful essay that I wish I had read years before you wrote it! I so relate to that little girl preparing herself for the eventual war. I love the idea of fallow time as a time for exploring in writing the purpose of the project. I only learned to do this myself recently (which is why I wish I had read your essay decades before you wrote it.) I have never heard of Brenda Ueland or her book, so I’m off to look it up!
I love all of this...so much. Thank you for generously revealing aspects of your process. Such a gift. Now, apropos of nothing in this post, I have to ask. Is it purely coincidental that so many of the characters' names in J Courtney Sullivan's The Cliffs are also names of characters in Fellowship Point?
I was thinking there was a Clementine in both books but in FP it's Clemence. There is a Lydia and an Agnes in both. A Holly in Cliffs but not a Polly. Honestly, I thought it was J Courtney Sullivan in homage to YOU!
FP remains one of my favorite novels of all time. Thank you.
The wisdom you share about writing always seems to apply to the visual arts as well- so useful. I love Hillary Mantel, as well as listening to her in interviews, will order my hoodie blanket as soon as I finish this, and have visited Victor Hugo’s house (actually on the island of Guernsey where he lived in exile for 15 years) in real life- it is MIND BLOWING! You should go. Love reading you, Al!
Lor Por, thanks for writing! I know that house is on Guernsey, I'd love to go there in general. Did you really order a hoodie blanket? You'll disappear happily into it. I wish I could see you!
Thanks so much. I had trouble understanding Wolf Hall the first time I read it, but once I got that it is all from Cromwell's POV everything fell into place. Have you watched the series? It's great.
Hi Alice. No I haven't seen the series, but my husband has. I hope I can read the books and then go back and watch. I just dug up my copy of Wolf Hall and apparently I read to page 267! I don't usually give up on a book like that midway so I must have been busy. I'm going to start again! (With your advice to see through Cromwell's eyes.) Thanks.
I love this. Every single word of it. We are trained early to regard fallowness with grim skepticism; I'm convinced that that is just an extension of idle hands/devil's workshop. But the idea that fallow days are needed during the creative process is now one that allows me to breathe rather than beat myself up. Also: book copying. A brilliant idea. I once copied down the first fifty pages of Crossing to Safety because I wanted to understand its rhythm and pace. It. feels like a necessity.
Thank you—that means the world coming from you. If anything, it made me aware of rhythm, pace, and sound, and the understanding that the narrative sensibility of a piece has to match time and place. Larry Morgan spoke in the vernacular of his time because he could do nothing else. If he hadn’t, his telling of the story wouldn’t have been authentic to his character. Copying those words cracked this open for me.
So helpful to read this. Good idea to stop writing when you start to question the whole enterprise rather than push on. And: book copying! What an idea!
Oh Alice, Thank you for every word of this! from fallow days and blanket hoodies to copying a book you love. Good gawd, all music to the ears of this occasionally overwhelmed writer/musician/painter. Grazie molto!!
This is a glorious piece of writing and I'm going to start the book-copying exercise today (on a book that has fewer than 500 pages). I do have a wardrobe question, of course. I see it is a "Blanket Sweatshirt Gift for Women Men," so I need to know if it is sized for "Men Women" as well...Yay about the book and I am staying away from all things media today lest I be tempted to suck out my eyeballs.
Love everything about this post! So inspiring and useful. Copying….one wonders what book to copy? I know Didion copied Hemingway. Thank you so much for this post.
Alice, So good to read whatever you write here. The hardest part of my work is writing the cases I hear. I have fallow days in fact all of December was fallow. It somewhat goes back to the Redeemer at Christmas (yes the graves of my mom's family are there) particularly 1959. A mother's absence for 9 months for mental health issues all unexplained to the 7 year old.
Fallow self nourishment is missing. And yes, which piece is needed? Is it laughter with friends, a long walk, a nap, a good read? Staying off the phone is critical. I will watch nothing today. Maybe Rachel. Certainly, I need a sit on a bench on Lake Washington to realize how small I am in the big beautiful crazy world. Perspective.
What can I give back? A well written decision where I let the parties know I have heard everything they have said, I have looked at all of their arguments and the reasons I have ruled one way or another. Of course it must be in English that all can understand and not legalese. There is a structure but just sometimes I just cannot. Both my head and heart have to be there and flowing. That first draft can be so hard. The five edits each become easier. It is like giving birth and then it is done. I almost never know how it is received. No feedback is hard but then again, I keep getting chosen for cases now forty years after starting my business. Some days I am honored to do this work. And some days sitting at the computer is too much.
I do love hearing you on the substack.I new book great. My bookclub loved your book as did I. My little local bookstore rated it their 23 best seller last year! I hope someday soon to see you at my brother's house for a meal. XO Marsha
Marsha, thanks so much for sharing ll of this. How did I not know this about your mother? Or perhaps I forgot. That is so traumatic. Was she gone for Christmas that year? Anyway I'm sure your decisions are excellent but what a hard job.
Thank you, Alice, for this invitation to embrace fallow days with gentle curiosity. The "copying" exercise reminds me of the long-held practice of visual artists to copy master works. There's no way to learn a new brushstroke or sentence structure without trying it out for oneself. I find your invitation very freeing.
Thanks so much, Tess.
This is such a wonderful essay that I wish I had read years before you wrote it! I so relate to that little girl preparing herself for the eventual war. I love the idea of fallow time as a time for exploring in writing the purpose of the project. I only learned to do this myself recently (which is why I wish I had read your essay decades before you wrote it.) I have never heard of Brenda Ueland or her book, so I’m off to look it up!
Thank you, Karen. Yes, try the Brenda Ueland. It holds up.
I love all of this...so much. Thank you for generously revealing aspects of your process. Such a gift. Now, apropos of nothing in this post, I have to ask. Is it purely coincidental that so many of the characters' names in J Courtney Sullivan's The Cliffs are also names of characters in Fellowship Point?
I read and reviewed that book and I can't remember noticing that! Maybe just the inspiration of Maine.
Thank you for the comment.
I was thinking there was a Clementine in both books but in FP it's Clemence. There is a Lydia and an Agnes in both. A Holly in Cliffs but not a Polly. Honestly, I thought it was J Courtney Sullivan in homage to YOU!
FP remains one of my favorite novels of all time. Thank you.
Well this is absolutely everything I needed at this exact moment in my writing life. Thank you!
THank you!
Thank you!
The wisdom you share about writing always seems to apply to the visual arts as well- so useful. I love Hillary Mantel, as well as listening to her in interviews, will order my hoodie blanket as soon as I finish this, and have visited Victor Hugo’s house (actually on the island of Guernsey where he lived in exile for 15 years) in real life- it is MIND BLOWING! You should go. Love reading you, Al!
Lor Por, thanks for writing! I know that house is on Guernsey, I'd love to go there in general. Did you really order a hoodie blanket? You'll disappear happily into it. I wish I could see you!
Oh Alice, I love everything about this - but especially a new book in the works! xxx
Thanks, dear.
Wonderful advice, thank you. Especially copying out another work.
I, too, am in the company of an ardent Eagles fan (that last game: the snow! that nailbiter finish!) and Barkley is truly amazing.
I had trouble with the Wolf Hall, and my Eagles fan assures me (he devoured all three) that I should start again. Maybe this will be the year.
Thanks so much. I had trouble understanding Wolf Hall the first time I read it, but once I got that it is all from Cromwell's POV everything fell into place. Have you watched the series? It's great.
Hi Alice. No I haven't seen the series, but my husband has. I hope I can read the books and then go back and watch. I just dug up my copy of Wolf Hall and apparently I read to page 267! I don't usually give up on a book like that midway so I must have been busy. I'm going to start again! (With your advice to see through Cromwell's eyes.) Thanks.
I love this. Every single word of it. We are trained early to regard fallowness with grim skepticism; I'm convinced that that is just an extension of idle hands/devil's workshop. But the idea that fallow days are needed during the creative process is now one that allows me to breathe rather than beat myself up. Also: book copying. A brilliant idea. I once copied down the first fifty pages of Crossing to Safety because I wanted to understand its rhythm and pace. It. feels like a necessity.
That's so great about copying Crossing to Safety. Did it change your style? You write so beautifully.
Thank you—that means the world coming from you. If anything, it made me aware of rhythm, pace, and sound, and the understanding that the narrative sensibility of a piece has to match time and place. Larry Morgan spoke in the vernacular of his time because he could do nothing else. If he hadn’t, his telling of the story wouldn’t have been authentic to his character. Copying those words cracked this open for me.
So helpful to read this. Good idea to stop writing when you start to question the whole enterprise rather than push on. And: book copying! What an idea!
THanks!
Oh Alice, Thank you for every word of this! from fallow days and blanket hoodies to copying a book you love. Good gawd, all music to the ears of this occasionally overwhelmed writer/musician/painter. Grazie molto!!
Thank you so much.
I ordered and just received my blanket hoodie. It’s going to be my magic creative suit!! 😂
Ha! Fabulous. I love mine.
It made my day to imagine the day your book arrives in the wide world! And, I’m going to follow your suggestion to copy a work
to learn about writing and sentences and compelling storytelling. I’m going to start with “In the Gloaming.”
Ann, such a kind message, thank you. Let me know which work you decide to copy.
The title story: "She had allowed herself to imagine a future. That was her mistake."
Brilliant as always!
xoxo
This is a glorious piece of writing and I'm going to start the book-copying exercise today (on a book that has fewer than 500 pages). I do have a wardrobe question, of course. I see it is a "Blanket Sweatshirt Gift for Women Men," so I need to know if it is sized for "Men Women" as well...Yay about the book and I am staying away from all things media today lest I be tempted to suck out my eyeballs.
The adult size is huge. But it feels cozy. What are you copying?
Love everything about this post! So inspiring and useful. Copying….one wonders what book to copy? I know Didion copied Hemingway. Thank you so much for this post.
Cyndi! Thank you. I loved copying the Prologue and opening chapter of Dead Comes for the Archbishop. Any Willa Cather is a good bet.
Thank you. Great idea, especially for this New Mexico resident.
Alice, So good to read whatever you write here. The hardest part of my work is writing the cases I hear. I have fallow days in fact all of December was fallow. It somewhat goes back to the Redeemer at Christmas (yes the graves of my mom's family are there) particularly 1959. A mother's absence for 9 months for mental health issues all unexplained to the 7 year old.
Fallow self nourishment is missing. And yes, which piece is needed? Is it laughter with friends, a long walk, a nap, a good read? Staying off the phone is critical. I will watch nothing today. Maybe Rachel. Certainly, I need a sit on a bench on Lake Washington to realize how small I am in the big beautiful crazy world. Perspective.
What can I give back? A well written decision where I let the parties know I have heard everything they have said, I have looked at all of their arguments and the reasons I have ruled one way or another. Of course it must be in English that all can understand and not legalese. There is a structure but just sometimes I just cannot. Both my head and heart have to be there and flowing. That first draft can be so hard. The five edits each become easier. It is like giving birth and then it is done. I almost never know how it is received. No feedback is hard but then again, I keep getting chosen for cases now forty years after starting my business. Some days I am honored to do this work. And some days sitting at the computer is too much.
I do love hearing you on the substack.I new book great. My bookclub loved your book as did I. My little local bookstore rated it their 23 best seller last year! I hope someday soon to see you at my brother's house for a meal. XO Marsha
Marsha, thanks so much for sharing ll of this. How did I not know this about your mother? Or perhaps I forgot. That is so traumatic. Was she gone for Christmas that year? Anyway I'm sure your decisions are excellent but what a hard job.