R.A. Nelson's Blog, page 9

Empty: A Paradox

Last week’s post was all about paradox: to be full is to be hungry for the right things. I included a poem on the subject and promised you its sequel this week.

We’ll get to that in a moment.

As I was reflecting back on recent posts, I realized that paradox has been popping up on this blog frequently of late:

~ Beloved Insignificant addressed the need to live into both sides of that paradox: we are, at the same time, cosmically unimportant and eternally loved.

~ Breathe helped me sort...

Full

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

Paradoxes make catchy openers, don’t they?

In a way, this peerless opening line of Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities expresses my current state of being.

It’s the best of times: I am writing every day and feel increasingly confident that this is what I am meant to do. “Vocation is where our deep gladness meets the world’s great need”, said Buechner, and I wholeheartedly agree. Writing is my vocation, and I am deliriously grateful tha...

Elves, Effort, and T. S. Eliot

If you’ve read even a small portion of this blog, you know that I am rather fond of J. R. R. Tolkien.

And the award for Understatement of the Year goes to . . .

For my new readers, check out this post for a glimpse into my long-standing admiration of this brilliant author.

Slightly less well-known, however, is my deep affinity for T. S. Eliot.

I purchased this slim volume years ago – I think it was in England, though I may be wrong – and have carried it around with me in my...

A Story of Wonder

A friend of mine is doing a research project on wonder and curiosity. He asked several people, including yours truly, to write a short reflection upon something that fills us with either or both of those sensations.

As soon as I decided on my topic, I knew it would fit in nicely with the theme of this blog – and, indeed, of my life’s work. Hence, I share it with you now.

Myth: A Grave Need

In my recent post Beloved Insignificant, I pondered the importance of so-called “small things”. Flowing seamlessly together with such musings are my ongoing meditations on the need for ancient things – namely, myth.

I’ve referenced Madeleine L’Engle’s The Rock That Is Higher an embarrassing number of times already – most notably in Story: A Search for Truth and On Giants Shoulders – but I can’t help it if she says it best:

“Just as we are losing vocabulary in these last years of the...

Breathe

See, there are certain things – like how to breathe, for instance – that I sort of expect myself to know already.

And then, inevitably, I encounter circumstances that force me to marvel at the ridiculously overinflated view I have of my own awareness.

Concrete example:

I’m a writer. (Hence, the weekly dose of verbiage here displayed.) I’ve been working with words and story for over 25 years now. Since my husband and I launched the “R. A. Nelson” business less than a year ago, we’ve p...

Beloved Insignificant

The Hubs and I have been on a 90s movie kick recently. Steel Magnolias, Regarding Henry, The Fugitive, Primal Fear . . . that decade produced some first-rate films, friends. As part of this trend – and to rectify a grave deficiency in my previous film-viewing experience – we watched Awakenings.

This film is based on the true story of a doctor (portrayed by the inimitable and sadly missed Robin Williams; rest in peace, sweet prince) who tries an experimental drug on a gro...

Another Musical Interlude

Hello, friends!

First, two updates on The Ancient:

~ I commissioned hand-drawn cover art from the artist who has put together the covers for all my books thus far. She sent me the first proof a few days ago, and . . . wow. I am so honored and chuffed that my mind-child will have such beautiful clothes when it goes out into the world.

~ I have spent the past two weeks reading through the whole novel, slowly and painstakingly. After a multitude of minor tweaks and some small but signifi...

Story: A Search for Truth

One does not simply “finish” reading a novel by John Steinbeck. Poor Boromir. He's been memed beyond all recognition, but I couldn't resist.

Not just Steinbeck, but any great work of fiction deserves a moment of reflection upon completion. Furthermore, with the truly great works, reflection spills over into response. My responses have varied in form over the years:

~ With Lord of the Rings – and with some of the Redwall series and Howl’s Moving Castle, come to think of...

A Novel Sort of Poetry

One of the great mysteries of life is that inexplicable, undeniable link between poetic inspiration and mowing the lawn. Well, that's rather inspiring. He seems inspired. This is more realistic.

I guess it’s not too mysterious. Any activity that engages my hands and/or feet while leaving my mind free can lend itself to literary productivity. Cooking, running, cleaning the bathroom – all have allowed me to practice mental creativity while simultaneousl...