Carol. That line got me too. The entire piece is gorgeous, and I related to it in many ways. As a woman who lives in Montana (similar to Wyoming) I get my fill of seeing wildlife out my windowpanes, and I am grateful. But I have a friend who astounds me with her attention. And "sometimes I look out my windowpanes" and I'm wishing for taxis and the lights of Times Square.
Linda, I've learned this new about you here. I picture you, even more firmly, in my own mind's eye. When I go to NYC again (though I go rarely) I will look for the lights for you.
Thanks, Beth! I know you have to be a certain sort of person to want to live there full time but for me, the movies that take place in NYC are my favorites. ☺️
Story of our lives, Linda- waiting for wisdom! And whatever there is of it, it appears only in retrospect. At the moment, looking out of my kitchen windowpane, I see dead foxgloves and the little family of grey squirrels springing from branch to branch on the trees down the garden. I live in the countryside here in Wicklow, Ireland- and I see you’re from Yellowstone territory!
Yes to all of this, and especially your paragraph about how small the writing world can sometimes be. Thank you for expressing that so honestly and beautifully, and for this gorgeous paean to Alyson Hegy as a person and a writer. That pervasive culture of competition and one-up-man-ship is why I have stayed largely on the outside of the literary world (not hard for a nature writer, since we aren’t high on the writing hierarchy anyway). But it’s also why, I cherish those writing friends, mentors and circles where generosity is the norm, where we uplift each other. Thank you for honoring your creative impulses, writing your way through and creating mesmerizing images too. Many blessings to you!
What a world it would be, dear Susan, if generosity were the norm, if envy and competition were so very rare that it would startle us when we came upon it. Cherish who and what you have. Beautiful things.
You speak of the sacred: when one dared by her impulse is believed by another, when one risks the invisible onto the paper and is held fast, when the morning glory vine clambers towards the sun not to be tethered, refusing to be turned back on itself this is the warning and the worship, stay the true course the only throughline. Such a reminder.
There is something so precise, so specific, and yet so mysterious about Alyson's writing. I've been re-reading her Boleto as I've worked on this post. I am pulled up short by the lines, by what she knows and sees.
“ There’s too much, in the world of writing, in the way of envy. There’s too much jostling against and taking from, too much of the wrong idea that one writer’s pleasure in making a story is somehow a direct denial of another’s dream. There’s too much that’s false boast and ripe pride, too much that’s whisper. There’s too much that hurts and too many ways to avenge.” This is lovely, Beth! One of the reasons I stay away from writer conferences, AWP and such, is the feeling of anxious competition in the air, as if writers are competing with one another, circling a tiny, ever-diminishing bit of kibble. That’s because our culture doesn’t value writing—but for literary writers, one person’s work boosts everyone’s work. I love Susan Sontag’s quote that “literature is a party” she goes on to say it’s a wake some of the time (haha)— I will look up the quote. Anyway, you nailed with this one. Beautifully done, as always.
Like you, Karen, I remain on the outside most of the time—away from what can be, at times, a subsuming energy. I love your Sontag here. Party. Wake. Perhaps the same thing?
My breath is caught from my heart to start my reading, writing, dreaming day with your beautiful words. I am reminded that 'a poem is simply the by-product of a life lived poetically' Thank you.
And I don't know Alyson AT ALL, so have another treat in store.
Can I add Anne Michaels to your list? Her new book, 'Held' almost rivals 'Fugitive Pieces'...
Janey, good morning, and so many thanks to you, there on the wild west coast of Wales. Do you know something? I post these in the early morning hours so that you will have them at the start of the day. And Anne Michaels. Yes! I read HELD earlier this year and taught it in a workshop. Wait. I wrote of it briefly on the Substack. Let me look for that post .... Yes, here it is. A post about "the big idea," featuring Anne's novel: https://thehushandthehowl.substack.com/p/whats-the-big-idea
Oh thank you...I read Held in one sitting and then re-read it aloud to a friend with pain and sleep issues, for who I record books. She loved it too...my measure of a good book now is simply one I can read aloud 😊
‘… a woman watching the world through windowpanes and wishing for owls that never came…’
How beautiful- a world, a poem. I love it!
Carol. That line got me too. The entire piece is gorgeous, and I related to it in many ways. As a woman who lives in Montana (similar to Wyoming) I get my fill of seeing wildlife out my windowpanes, and I am grateful. But I have a friend who astounds me with her attention. And "sometimes I look out my windowpanes" and I'm wishing for taxis and the lights of Times Square.
Linda, I've learned this new about you here. I picture you, even more firmly, in my own mind's eye. When I go to NYC again (though I go rarely) I will look for the lights for you.
Thanks, Beth! I know you have to be a certain sort of person to want to live there full time but for me, the movies that take place in NYC are my favorites. ☺️
We can live there in our minds, then live elsewhere when we need to ... :)
I received this sentence as a gift as it spoke to my soul. I needed this! Thank you!
Exactly!
Story of our lives, Linda- waiting for wisdom! And whatever there is of it, it appears only in retrospect. At the moment, looking out of my kitchen windowpane, I see dead foxgloves and the little family of grey squirrels springing from branch to branch on the trees down the garden. I live in the countryside here in Wicklow, Ireland- and I see you’re from Yellowstone territory!
Yep! They just filmed a new one called The Madison partly in our town! Folks aren’t none too happy though.
Yes to all of this, and especially your paragraph about how small the writing world can sometimes be. Thank you for expressing that so honestly and beautifully, and for this gorgeous paean to Alyson Hegy as a person and a writer. That pervasive culture of competition and one-up-man-ship is why I have stayed largely on the outside of the literary world (not hard for a nature writer, since we aren’t high on the writing hierarchy anyway). But it’s also why, I cherish those writing friends, mentors and circles where generosity is the norm, where we uplift each other. Thank you for honoring your creative impulses, writing your way through and creating mesmerizing images too. Many blessings to you!
What a world it would be, dear Susan, if generosity were the norm, if envy and competition were so very rare that it would startle us when we came upon it. Cherish who and what you have. Beautiful things.
You speak of the sacred: when one dared by her impulse is believed by another, when one risks the invisible onto the paper and is held fast, when the morning glory vine clambers towards the sun not to be tethered, refusing to be turned back on itself this is the warning and the worship, stay the true course the only throughline. Such a reminder.
Char, this post like a prompt. And look at the beauty you have made of it. Thank you.
Thank you for recommending Alyson Hagy! I didn’t know her work yet but am a huge fan of the other authors you mentioned.
There is something so precise, so specific, and yet so mysterious about Alyson's writing. I've been re-reading her Boleto as I've worked on this post. I am pulled up short by the lines, by what she knows and sees.
I hate when I feel envy and jealousy. It’s so hard not to when it’s just rejection. This is lovely.
Thank you, my friend. And yes. I understand. For some reason, we humans have envy wired in. We have to work so hard against it.
We should all be granted a writerly friend such as this! Happy New Year, Beth and Alyson!
I understand you have one just like this: :) Her name initials: L.S. Thank you so much for these words, always.
“ There’s too much, in the world of writing, in the way of envy. There’s too much jostling against and taking from, too much of the wrong idea that one writer’s pleasure in making a story is somehow a direct denial of another’s dream. There’s too much that’s false boast and ripe pride, too much that’s whisper. There’s too much that hurts and too many ways to avenge.” This is lovely, Beth! One of the reasons I stay away from writer conferences, AWP and such, is the feeling of anxious competition in the air, as if writers are competing with one another, circling a tiny, ever-diminishing bit of kibble. That’s because our culture doesn’t value writing—but for literary writers, one person’s work boosts everyone’s work. I love Susan Sontag’s quote that “literature is a party” she goes on to say it’s a wake some of the time (haha)— I will look up the quote. Anyway, you nailed with this one. Beautifully done, as always.
Like you, Karen, I remain on the outside most of the time—away from what can be, at times, a subsuming energy. I love your Sontag here. Party. Wake. Perhaps the same thing?
My breath is caught from my heart to start my reading, writing, dreaming day with your beautiful words. I am reminded that 'a poem is simply the by-product of a life lived poetically' Thank you.
And I don't know Alyson AT ALL, so have another treat in store.
Can I add Anne Michaels to your list? Her new book, 'Held' almost rivals 'Fugitive Pieces'...
Sending love from the wild west coast of Wales
Janey, good morning, and so many thanks to you, there on the wild west coast of Wales. Do you know something? I post these in the early morning hours so that you will have them at the start of the day. And Anne Michaels. Yes! I read HELD earlier this year and taught it in a workshop. Wait. I wrote of it briefly on the Substack. Let me look for that post .... Yes, here it is. A post about "the big idea," featuring Anne's novel: https://thehushandthehowl.substack.com/p/whats-the-big-idea
Oh thank you...I read Held in one sitting and then re-read it aloud to a friend with pain and sleep issues, for who I record books. She loved it too...my measure of a good book now is simply one I can read aloud 😊
And OH, that article is perfect, have sent it on to my friend also. Thank you for your attention x