Is Pride Keeping You From Writing? (Amber Intro) (03/20/2021)

A recap of the week's writing at Atticus Review and a request for support. Intro by Amber Shockley.

View this email in your browser

A few years ago, I sat in a dark theater listening to the symphony when an omnipotent voice spoke the first line of a novel to me. This was what famed former chair of Columbia University's graduate creative writing program Stephen Koch might call a “glimmer.”  In The Modern Library Writer's Workshop, he also lists Nabokov's “throb,” Isak Dineson's “tingle,” Robert Penn Warren's “flash” and E.L. Doctorow's “germ” as possible names for the transcendental something behind the impulse to write. Whatever you call it, I received it as loud and clear as a piccolo chirping brightly over more demure woodwinds. I was excited. I'm a poet, and this was a call to fiction. Lengthy fiction. The challenge of writing a novel was so huge for me that I was satisfied with myself just for having the crazy idea of it. I could swap imposed cliches, get slightly different incredulous looks from non-writer strangers. A poet introduces herself at parties with a wine glass in her hand. Novelists carry flasks of whisky. Nevermind that I don't drink.I started writing ideas down as they came, and they came in a flurry. Within two weeks, I was walking around with a pretty detailed plot outline in my head, and specific passages were sending me to grab whatever paper and pen were nearby. This was exciting, mysterious and fun. And different. (Have I mentioned how different it felt from poetry?)I can write a poem in twenty minutes. It's feasible that I could write a poem, revise, revise, revise, then submit it, all within a week's time. There are those who would advise against this, who believe in allowing a poem to breathe like a bordeaux, but again, I could at least draft something relatively quickly and call it a poem without lying to the other party guests or spilling my wine.I can't draft a novel in twenty minutes. The excitement wore off over the weeks. The scope and challenge of writing a novel became daunting rather than satisfying. I let myself get bogged down by the “bird by bird” of writing somewhere in the vicinity of 80,000 words.I told my therapist that I wanted to write, but wasn't writing. We kept moving over to other very important issues. I consulted a motivation coach. I was encouraged to accept myself as I am, reduce my stress, sleep better and try acupuncture. She knew of someone she could recommend who was excellent. He changed her life. But my life didn't change — my writing life didn't change — and I don't think it's because I passed on the acupuncturist. I had a very specific problem to solve, and it turns out that specific problems need specific answers. I attended another writer's virtual seminar on making time for writing and getting it done. Straight up, this seminar was a prelude to a pitch for an online course. But you know what? I respected the writer's credentials, I enjoyed her seminar, and I signed up for her course. I've written more lately, and more consistently, than I have since I was attending an MFA program. I had a specific problem, and I needed a specific answer. What kept me from finding it sooner was, honestly, my pride. Writers write. Feverishly. Alone, at a desk in a dim room with a flask of whiskey tucked in their pockets. Writers don't need to hire other writers to help them write. Writers don't need encouragement or accompaniment from other writers.Except, sometimes they do. I've learned that humbling lesson now, and am a better writer, a better person, for it. What writing lessons have you learned lately that have been a long time coming?  Thanks for reading. We're glad you're here.Amber ShockleyAssistant Poetry Editor

We're always updating our reading list with books by our contributors!Are you a contributor to Atticus Review who'd like your book featured in the reading list? Send us an email at [email protected].CHECK IT OUT!

Atticus Review wants to get the word out about this Philly-based literary magazine, Eclipse Lit. On Saturday May 22nd, 2021, from 12:00-2:00 PM, Eclipse Lit will host a launch event in partnership with The Head & The Hand Books in celebration of the magazine’s first inaugural issue. In addition to being the official launch of Eclipse Lit, this event will serve as a fundraiser for the Philadelphia chapter of The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, AFSP. There is the option to attend virtually or in-person, and they will be adhering to Covid-19 safety guidelines.REGISTER FOR EVENT 

THIS WEEK AT ATTICUS

FICTIONAT ACTION PARKby Steve Gergley"While waiting in line for the Tarzan swing, we met a girl named Gretchen who was in love with the alpine slide. She called the slide George and said it was her husband."READ ON

POETRYINSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO LOVE MEby Megan Alyse"Under the head's thick bone, you can't prove pain or memory. There's spaceto bleed and swell beneath the skull where no one sees the gyri turn yellow..."READ ON

CREATIVE NONFICTIONHE STOPPED LOVING HER TODAYby Roberta BearyPart of our Superunknown: Stories About Songs series"I know there's a story in there. About Mom and some guy. And if things were different I'd be interested in finding out. Who is this man, did he love my mother all these years, or did she love him and he didn't love her back."READ ON

SUPPORT ATTICUS!

We are able to bring you content such as this through the generous support of writers and readers like yourself. Please consider becoming a regular

Patreon Subscriber

today. All subscription levels include free submissions.