Dialogue and Set Design

BbB (pg 64-79)

Once again, I am captured by the genius of Anne Lamott. I am finally (now that Spring Break is coming to its sad conclusion, and I sit in the back seat of a rented giant Chevy Tahoe riding the hapless and numbing hours between Key Largo and Statesboro, Georgia) FINALLY catching up on the workload that was previously attempting to drown me. I feel better after my week off, and I now feel like I can calmly and patiently work on the things which I have been diligently avoiding (to make room for more pressing assignments), such as reading Bird by Bird for this class. I hate being slammed, because I would much, MUCH rather read Lamott than Melville, but—such is life, I suppose. Anyway, I digress (as usual), and should therefore talk about the reading that was due like eighteen weeks ago (a slight exaggeration). So, I will start like the true English major that I am (try as I may to adapt myself to being a writer rather than a reader) by using a direct quotation to illustrate Lamott’s genius:

I wish there were an easier, softer way, a short cut, but this is the nature of most good writing: that you find out things as you go along. Then you go back and rewrite. (71)

I love that Lamott tells us that it is okay (and perfectly rational, logical, and even smart) to let things happen even when it’s shitty—just to figure out what we are writing. I mean, she has told us this all along, but I love hearing (or rather, reading) it every time I do. I NEED this reassurance. Rewriting is necessary. That’s great news, because I certainly do a lot of it.
I also love what she says about using metaphors when we write:

Metaphors are a great language tool, because they explain the unknown in
terms of the known. But they only work if they resonate in the heart of the writer. (77)

This makes so much sense to me! I read it and it hit me like a punch in the stomach. I guess it’s just that I’m new to the whole writing thing, and I haven’t really dappled in the literary wealth of metaphor (I mean, I’ve never been on the creative side of metaphor, just the side where you try to pick it apart). So…I like reading this. I like hearing Lamott talk about being real. It will only work if I (the writer) feel it—believe it. I’ll have to work on this.