The space bewteen us

I believe a book lives in me. Nobody except me knows of the book's existence or how long it has has been living in me. It hasn't never paid rent and it has in more than one instant taken up my time, space, and has eaten up all my inspiration and energies. It keeps writing itself in the shower, driving my car, listening to music, watching a movie, looking into Nathan's eyes. It goes with me everywhere. I fear it leaving me, but I am more afraid of what I will mean to myself if I don't let it out.

"The Space Between Us" by Thirty Umrigar is the latest book that I am reading. The story is about the transformative power of human connection and love between a upper Caste Indian women and her lower caste servant within the confines of a oppressive and hierarchal class/caste system. I am about fifty pages in the story and already I have fallen in love with Umrigar's writing and story.

Umigar comments that writing is a lonely place and that stories, dialogue and poetry are borne from solitude. Writing will take you away from your friends and family. The only you have to rely on when you get stuck is yourself. It can be all-consuming.

In the back pages of the book, she has a little section titled " Words to the Wise, would-be Writer". She lists fifteen ways to think about writing. Here they are in a nutshell.

1.) Ask yourself why you want to write.
2.)If you are a true writer, writing is a way of surviving in the world, the medium through which you make sense of your life, and its too much fun!
3.) Ask yourself what you want to write. Do you want to tell your story or someone elses?
4.) Write your story all the time, live with it, and never let it stray too far away.
5.) Make time for yourself. Solitude is really important for a writer.
6.) Carry your flash drive with you all the time, find little blocks of time here and there to write.
7.) Saying that you don't have time to write is an excuse.
8.)Read extensively, makes you a better writer and a great book can serve as inspiration.
9.) Believe in your work.
10.) Turn off that sinister voice in your head that is forever telling you that " this is crap".
11.) After you're done with the first draft, reread your work in a loving but critical way.
12.) Live a large and active life.
13.) Love someone deeply and intensely. You will learn more about your self- your flaws and your strengths, your limits and your expansiveness- through this experience than any other.
14.) Be gentle with yourself. Great writing is always compassionate.
15.) Write for the right reasons. The ability to write is a gift, a special grace. It should not be abused for cynical reasons.
* "Write what is in your heart. Write the stories that make you proud of yourself, not embarrassed. And never lose the ability to know the difference.

A shout out to "Youtube"!

The last two weeks have been a swirling orgy of research papers, long drives south, headaches, Starbucks Chai lattes, good books, computer screens, red periods,"YouTube", small disputes, and Tracy Chapman. I hope this gives you a feel or at least a taste of my sweet and low.

I have been writing a lot lately, nothing too exciting, just research papers. During the dizzyingly early evenings when attempting to construct whatever social work paper I have due the next day, "youtube" has begun to join me in my long solitary journeys into the depths of paper writing. I look to "Youtube" to supply me with any possible song that I can think of to listen to. "Youtube" gives me a smile and an ominous look through its digital mega pixals and suddenly every Tracy Chapman Song that has even been recorded ( along with music videos) pops up. In that moment, I am so grateful for the virtual magic and digital efficiency my dear little friend has imagined and translated into a audio reality. I would like to thank all the digital and electronic
( don't think I forgot about you) that have given me the audio support I needed to get through those long lonely evening of research and writing. My social Work professors thanks you too!