David Joy
A lot of writers I've known very closely write everyday. I don't. And so for a long time there was a part of me that felt like I was doing something wrong. Then one day I stumbled onto an interview with Raymond Carver in the Paris Review where Carver is explaining his process and it was identical to how I work.
Carver said, "When I'm writing, I write every day. It's lovely when that's happening. One day dovetailing into the next. Sometimes I don't even know what day of the week it is. The 'paddle-wheel of days,' John Ashbery has called it. When I'm not writing, like now, when I'm tied up with teaching duties as I have been the last while, it's as if I've never written a word or had any desire to write. I fall into bad habits. I stay up too late and sleep in too long. But it's okay. I've learned to be patient and to bide my time. I had to learn that a long time ago. Patience."
When I read that I suddenly felt justified in my process. I don't write everyday, and on days when I'm not writing I indeed feel as if I've never written a word. But what I've learned is to trust in my process, to have patience that when I have something worth writing, I will write. Time and time again, it happens.
Carver said, "When I'm writing, I write every day. It's lovely when that's happening. One day dovetailing into the next. Sometimes I don't even know what day of the week it is. The 'paddle-wheel of days,' John Ashbery has called it. When I'm not writing, like now, when I'm tied up with teaching duties as I have been the last while, it's as if I've never written a word or had any desire to write. I fall into bad habits. I stay up too late and sleep in too long. But it's okay. I've learned to be patient and to bide my time. I had to learn that a long time ago. Patience."
When I read that I suddenly felt justified in my process. I don't write everyday, and on days when I'm not writing I indeed feel as if I've never written a word. But what I've learned is to trust in my process, to have patience that when I have something worth writing, I will write. Time and time again, it happens.
More Answered Questions
Donna Davis
asked
David Joy:
I see you have another one coming out soon. I have been watching Net Galley (on the Putnam page) for a DRC, and haven't seen it yet. Is this likely to turn up there? (If I still had a salary, I would cheerfully just wait in line like everyone else and buy it, given the strength of your last two novels.)
Barbara
asked
David Joy:
Oh, my goodness, you are too generous. I really would like that so much. It sounds like just the kind of book I love. My name and address are as follows: . Barbara Leftwich 5011 East Ashton Bel Aire, Kansas 67220 Do you plan on writing more books? I hope so. Thank you so much.
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