i am writing a book
every day i write the book
next week i move to france.
i don't know any french.
HOWEVER i am the proud owner of a black crinoline petticoat that can stand up alone. i.e. it is independent
i think i'll take it on the plane with me as hand luggage, as i don't want it to get crushed.
every day i write the book - i think it deranges one slightly
Keywords:
About Helen
Born in Chisinau, Moldova, December 10th 1904. Died in St. Petersburg, Russia, December 8th, 1930.
Never had a good answer to the question 'what are you doing here?'
Connections
Helen’s Favorite Books
le morte d'arthur and lancelot du lac
the thousand and one nights
the leper's companions
blindness
the queen's diadem
the pillow friend
miss mackenzie
anne of...
Let everyone in France know we're on our way
Unfortunately, we won't be setting up a French-language Red Room for at least several months, so I have no excuse to go to Paris right now, but have a wonderful time, and keep posting from there.
I wanted to post a comment on your last blog entry about MFA programs---since I founded sort of an anti-MFA writing program many years ago--but due to a bug on my own website here, the "comment" option wasn't working. I emailed our product manager and then I went out and bought an ivory crinoline petticoat that can stand up alone, i.e., is independent. (No, actually, I never go shopping, I just work, but I get to enjoy great original writing at work, so I'm very lucky.)
I'm really glad you're here, and regarding the other post, my favorite line was about how you thought tracking bloody footprints around the apartment was kind of cool until someone else informed you that it was unhygienic and disgusting. Sort of parallels your experience going from being a successful writer as a natural expression of your personality, but then in school being informed that you were doing it wrong and should be following certain rules.
For our benefit, please continue refraining from following certain rules. Viva la France.
Ivory Madison
Founder and CEO, redroom.com
thanking you
hello Ivory, hello to you!
you are awesome, having brought Artemis/Diana to Gotham City...i hope she came quietly, but fear she did not
re: footprints - i think it's best that i live alone. yes, i rilly think it's best.
ecrit!
For fish out of water experiences, Paris sounds like more fun than the MFA program. And for strictures, petticoats have got to be more fun than that program! I have to say, when I heard via a newspaper article that you were going back to school, I wondered why you would bother---it seems like you've got that novel-writing thing down, my dear... Good that you busted loose from something that wasn't working for you. Maybe you needed to go through that to respect your own methods more. Like Ivory here has told me, we need to trust our own processes as writers. Enjoy your new adventure! Ecrit, mademoiselle, ecrit...Naomi from Red Room
j'ecrit
v kind of you to say so, N...
i think i 55% trust my process now - the other 45% goes to tarte au fromage - it simply FIRES my imagination
what are your percentages?
Ask me anything!
Helen,
When I went to France for a 3-month stay, I didn't speak French either, and didn't know one person in that country. But five years later, when I finally (and reluctantly) returned to the States, my life had changed totally...and dramatically. What an adventure you have before you! Feel free to ask me anything, anytime. I can even give you the number of an excellent doctor whose office is near Metro Madelaine...or directions to get to the best falafel in town. Bon voyage!
alchemy
Victoria,
three months into five years?! i'm going over to your page to ask how this came to be