Andreas Matern’s Weblog

From the Gotham Writer’s Workshop.  I will admit I’m guilty of many of these sins.  Especially:

11. Read every book and magazine article ever published on how to write. Buy every tape. Make notes. Cross-index. Memorize all the rules. If you break one, you’re in big trouble.

Looking at my desk I have no less than 6 books on writing.  Not that I write often or well, but I’ll be damned if the Border’s section that houses these things doesn’t get my attention everytime.

And, of course my number one is the same as the list’s:

1. Wait for inspiration.

I know the drill.  If you want to be a writer you have to write.  Not yesterday, but now.  What I do, and I think many people do, is sit around waiting for the muse to come to me.  You can’t wait for her.  You have to get her enticed to sit on your shoulder by putting the characters who are already out there on paper.  The muse will come.  (And no, she’s not a bottle of good Spanish red wine).

  And that means, NaNoWriMo begins.  Let’s see how well I do this time.  All I need is a plot and characters and … Actually, all I really have to do to is be the writer that sits in the chair.  It doesn’t really matter what I’m going to write, as long as I get words on electronic paper.  Moleskins be damned, I’m going to do this whole thing on my laptop.  But, there’s the problem, how am I going to concentrate on writing and not Googling or checking work e-mail?  There’s tons of work to be done, tons of other hobbies and interests that are always getting in the way, but, let’s be honest - that’s just procrastination talking.  This year I will slay procrastination and write a whole bunch of crap! 

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Boston’s Poet Laureate
Mayor Thomas M. Menino has approved the creation of a Poet Laureate position for the City of Boston. “[The purpose of] poetry … is … to teach and delight.” – Sir Philip Sidney (1554 – 1586). Applications are invited from poets who are currently residing in the City of Boston, and have been published or have been recognized for notable literary contributions at any stage in their career. Deadline is approaching: Friday, October 26th. For more information, visit the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism & Special Events website at http://www.cityofboston.gov/news/default.aspx?id=3602.

I’m certainly not!  Link and text from GrubStreet. 

National Novel Writing Month starts in a few short weeks (Nov 1).  Am I going to try again where I have failed so many times?  You bet your ass I am.  What am I going to write about?  I have no freakin’ idea.

That was some fun information to discover waking up in London.

Let’s go RED SOX!

I woke up this morning with “Look at me I’m Sandra Dee” from Grease stuck in my noggin. Very annoying when you’re in the shower singing “Lousy with virginity….” Oh God, I just I just found a High School doing this on YouTube.

But now I’m singing “The Heart Of Rock and Roll” by Huey Lewis and the News.

What the hell is wrong with me today? Must be the excitement of the Red Sox winning last night. Or perhaps its just the happiness which is Friday.

Or maybe I was just having an American Psycho moment…

Raymond Carver’s widow really wants to published his ‘unedited’ stories? Raymond Carver - Books - New York Times

I love Carver’s minimalism - the evocation of such beautiful stories and thoughts with a bare, straightforward style.

I hope this never happens, but, in the end, it won’t stop me from loving all of Carver’s work.

Greetings from Ft. Lauderdale! Having a wonderful time with M&S and whatshername We went swimming in their pool last night while drinking Veuve. Life is good. Today is our oyster, what ever shall we do with it. Now, Steven is playing Wii baseball, while I bask in the glory that is the Interwebs, contemplating the wonder which is the Boston Red Sox. My hangover is minimal, but I do have the apetite of a small Eastern European Nation. Enjoy your weekend!