Joanna Kafarowski
I think being a non-fiction writer is helpful in this regard. Whereas a novelist, short story writer or poet has to have all mental channels clear in order to be inspired and proceed with writing, if I get blocked I can stop what I'm doing (or trying to do) and turn my attention to another task. There's always another source to follow up with, another photograph to track down, another fact to verify. I don't even like to call it "writer's block" because then it would only make matters worse! If the story isn't flowing, I don't put more pressure on myself to perform. If this happens for a prolonged period, I do something completely different and try to get my mind to 'jump tracks'. A really strenuous work-out, a long walk in a forest filled with bird song or any activity that both gets your body moving and your mind attentive to other matters. Sometimes dangling a carrot helps too- such as promising yourself a few pieces of chocolate if you write 500 somewhat intelligible words.
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Jim
asked
Joanna Kafarowski:
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Two questions for you, don't know if i'll have a chance to ask Saturday;
On p72 you say Boyd did much research, but she didn't know about the political or sailing conditions of going to Franz Josef Land, does it make sense she would have missed all that in her research? Or was she blinded by her passion that she missed/ underestimated them?
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On p72 you say Boyd did much research, but she didn't know about the political or sailing conditions of going to Franz Josef Land, does it make sense she would have missed all that in her research? Or was she blinded by her passion that she missed/ underestimated them? (hide spoiler)]
Jim
asked
Joanna Kafarowski:
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The second question, The sexism she encountered seemed the "normal" amount until i read Bretz' diary entry on p179. Wasn't until there that i realized how all encompassing it must have been for her and started thinking of my reactions to her achievements, if i looked on a map and saw "Louise Boyd Fjord i'd assume it was named for somebody's wife or girlfriend not the discoverer. continued...?
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