Stella Leventoyannis Harvey

More Advice from the Trenches

Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.” E.L. Doctorow

It’s been another busy week of meetings, planning, organizing and chasing corporate sponsors for the festival. In addition, we’ve had guests. I think in the end I may have had two short days of writing (a few hours each day really) and this is only because I wake up long before the birds and definitely before any sane human being.

You can tell I’m building up to tell you that my blog is going to be incredibly short this week. I read an article passed on to me a few weeks ago by poet and author, Fiona Lam. The article by author, George Saunders appeared in the Guardian and provides some insight into the writing process or as much as is possible given how difficult it is to actually define it. Writers come to story in different ways. And from idea to completion, revision is key. I personally love revising. This is how I explore what I’m trying to say. The blank page is harder for me.

And on that note, I have one other piece of advice I’d like to share with you. The incredibly wonderful and generous author, Richard Wagamese who passed away last week, told me once, one word leads to another, then another, then another. I remember Richard’s words whenever I face the blank page or get stuck.

I know this will help when I return to my project on Monday. Hope it helps you too.

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