Whole Lotta Lovin' Going On

Posted by Kitty Griffin

I'm squeezing in a last post for February's theme of LOVE with a list a few things I love—movies that takes risks, like “Inception” and “Despicable Me” for instance. Both of these are fairly recent releases and they are as far apart as two movies can be. What made me love them?

They took chances!

“Inception” delved into the human mind until you didn’t know where the dream ended and reality began. The lines were blurred and the audience worked hard as they plunged through. As I understand it, people either loved or hated this movie, there wasn’t an in-between. It was love for me.

“Despicable” Me took a chance, too. It opened with a main character so mean he took candy from little kids. He was rotten to the core, to use an over-tired cliché. But it worked. It worked because you just had to find out what happened next.

I have books that I love, too. I love these because they are books that took chances. The authors dared to challenge the reader.

“I Am The Cheese” by Robert Cormier is a book that winds forward and back as Adam Farmer rides his bike taking you on a trip with him. Pedal on, pedal on, pedal on. It is so daring in its approach that when I finished reading I found myself thinking about Adam for days and weeks. It’s not an easy read. But it is one that challenges you.

“Tanglewreck” by Jeanette Winterson is another book that takes chances. The scope of the imagination in this one is similar to the movie, “Inception.” It moves between time and space so effortlessly that I felt like I had to pinch myself to make certain I hadn’t fallen into the story. This is a wonderful romp into a London where time-twisters roar through and rough up the world.

“Which Witch” an absolutely charming tale by Eva Ibbotson (so sad she passed away not long ago) that is like “Despicable Me.” With characters just this side of shady the reader wonders how things will turn out. It’s fast, it’s fun, and a wonderful leap of the imagination.

And finally, one of my favorite books, ever. “The Brothers Lionheart” by Astrid Lindgren is an astonishing work. Dying is the starting place for this amazing story. I love this book because it made me think. It made me wonder.  

With my writing, I love to take chances. It’s hard when I work with my students at Chatham (MFA, writing for children and young adults) because I tell them there are rules. But, we’re writers. We want to bust out and burst onto the scene by breaking the rules. Nope, you have to learn them, really learn them, before you can even bend them. If you’re going to write fantasy or adventure, you need to understand the hero’s journey. If you’re going to write historical, you need to back up your work with solid research. If you’re going to write a picture book, you need to know how to set-up the story so the artist can make their contribution. There are rules. Rules to be learned and then, then it’s okay to stretch…and bend.

To all of you who want to write, you have to love it. Seriously love it. The writing world isn’t easy. There’s a reason the word starving hitches up to artist. So when you get ready to write, be sure you’re in love with your story, with your characters, and your plot.

Once you’ve got that love, JUMP!

A Writer's Place: Musings on Workspaces

I'm filling in today for Fran, who was lucky enough to escape the gray Pittsburgh winter for a few days. She'll share her magical writing space in the country when she returns.

I've especially enjoyed this month's theme and the opportunity to peek into the places where so many talented people create. I've long recognized that I'm a voyeur of sorts - like many writers, I like to listen in on conversations in restaurants, observe the behavior of others in stores and airports, and stare at old photos of people I've never met and wonder about their lives. And, as it turns out, I especially like to look behind the scenes at the private worlds of writers. I'm grateful that I've been able to glean ideas useful for my own work processes (like Jenny's magic board and Susan's project subfolders) and studio (I'm drooling over Carol H.'s colorful bins and lovely antiques).  Most of all, though, I'm grateful for the reassurance that I'm not alone! Lots of other fabulous writers work amongst clutter, and even a bit of disorder. Thank you all!

Perhaps my biggest take-away, though, has been a reminder that writing can happen anywhere. You don't need an expensive or perfectly arranged office, top of the line electronics and fancy gadgets, or even utter peace and quiet. All you need are the simplest of tools - a pen or pencil, some scraps of paper, a place to park your body - and focus. Which is why I've spent some time the last few days putting pen to paper in my comfy chair. And when the dog barks or the phone rings, I just remind myself that Scott Turow wrote the bestseller Presumed Innocent on the train while riding back and forth to his job as an attorney - and my distractions are minor compared to those on a commuter train.

Still, if you're like me - you might feel like lusting over more writers' studios anyhow. So here are some extra resources.

The UK's Guardian has an unbelievably fabulous series on the workspaces of creative people (mostly writers but also some illustrators and musicians), both historic and contemporary. You can check out the little table and chair where Jane Austen penned her classics or the interesting shed where Roald Dahl worked or dozens of other intriguing work rooms.

Check out the interesting (and often funny) book above by the author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and Food Rules: An Eater's Manual (among others). It details Pollan's design and construction of a really lovely backyard writing shed - despite his complete lack of architecture and carpentry skills. Along the way, he muses about lots of other topics too.

The blog Apartment Therapy features workspaces pretty regularly. Here's a recent roundup of of at-home writing areas.

Photographer Jill Krementz has created this wonderfully evocative photo essay of the rooms where many prominent writers penned or typed their beloved tomes.

I also love Jo Packham's book Where Women Create. She has a whole series of related books - tasty eye candy and also good ideas to borrow.

And finally, if you're still craving somewhere away from home to get some work done (and you live in or near the right cities), check out the writing spots available to rent inexpensively through the organization The Writer's Room.