The Smell of Paper

I’ve been off-roading again this morning, scribbling in my notebook instead of on-screen. So no word count to report.

After all the inspiration of the last week – Sebastian Barry, Jeffrey Eugenides, Chad Harbach, Hilary Mantel – I think my inspiration meter is overflowing and it’s time to regroup and focus on my own game. I’m about to go travelling, and I recognise that same feeling from travel,when you see so much in such a compressed period of time that your system becomes flooded with external stimulation. You wind up suffering from cathedral overload, or castle overload, or great contemporary art overload. As much as you might love art, you feel like if you see one more original Picasso, you’re going to have to scream.

And as much as I love writers, love reading their books, as much as they make my world go round, just now I need a break from being dazzled by them.

I’ve also just added a new post-it note to my screen: THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS. It’s the piece of advice I plan to carry with me for the next few weeks as I travel.

Filed under: Influences, Writing by The Smell of Paper on Wednesday, May 23, 2012