The Penis Game

Wrote 652 words yesterday and another 670 today. Really happy about it. Taking Jane Smiley's advice from Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Novel: I'm performing only minor edits on work from previous days. I realized that was the issue at Yaddo two years ago: too many attempts at perfection. I tricked myself into thinking my first draft would be my only draft. Reminding myself that I can--and should, and will--come back later has freed me to explore and make mistakes. It feels wonderful.

Turned to Rabbit Redux when I had to write about sex today. I'm so used to shying away from the subject, so I wanted a reminder that you can get away with almost anything if there's a reason. Miranda July's work, especially "Something That Needs Nothing," was what really got me thinking about sex in writing. I've been wondering: How far can you take it? Is it like The Penis Game from adolescence? (One person whispers "penis," and then the other says it louder. "Penis." "Penis." "Penis." Louder and louder until one of them is brave enough to have everyone in the library staring at the guy shouting "PENIS!") Yeah. Is it like that? You just test your guts? See at what point you wimp out?

I asked some writers at dinner today about it. Is there such a thing as writing about sex too much? One joked that he never stops writing about sex. Another said that it's only too much if you're doing it to avoid talking about intimacy. I think that's spot on. In writing as in life.

Went to a reading downtown last night. A novel about a Russian summer camp in the 1980s (the writer: "Never send your son or daughter to a Russian summer camp in the 1980s.") and a history of the 1990s punk-rock-feminist movement. Both incredible writers.

Scott, a poet, told me black bears really are afraid of me, and coyotes are only mean out West. Thanks Scott!

Finally, a YouTube video I found while conducting research into civil defense during the Cold War. Since this site is intended to track my progress as a writer--more specifically my progress writing WIWRWYW--I thought I'd post some things I've found interesting along the way. Check it out. Creepy fun interesting.