Thank for wanting more of us, for showing us how to reveal ourselves and our characters in our work, and for all of this at a time that's been difficult on many levels, to say the least. Sending you much appreciation and hugs, Alexander. MG
This is a tremendous effort of analysis and craft points - thank you amidst everything else going on - from your teaching heart to get this “more of you” out to eager querents who don’t even know how much we need this!
Just came to say that I work on the Cornell campus, here in Ithaca, and though we've been lucky enough that the police have not been conscripted here, and as of two days ago the encampment was taken down by its participants peacefully, it has been an unsettling time to be faculty or staff on a college campus. So, I understand completely your level of distraction. And I'm glad to have you back. I'm in the midst of a draft right now and this made me want to drop everything and run home to tackle scenes that I've been avoiding for fear that I wouldn't be able to inhabit them fully.
I can't do that, sadly. Gotta stay on the clock and make sure the bills get paid. But I'll come back to this on the weekend, read it again, and hopefully that thing inside me that wants to leap up in response will get her chance.
Thank you so much. I'm not a "trained" writer. I can tell that good writing is very different from my own but I don't know why. Your article really helped me understand where I can grow. Thank you.
Alexander, I appreciate this post so much. Thank you so much for taking the time to write it. So helpful to learn this way. I’m going to read everything differently now through this lens!
I’m also wishing you and your loved ones and wellness during this time. Thanks for all that you do.
Thank you for this gift! You offer so much insight here that makes me want to take a memoir / personal essay course. I’m so eager to learn more of the craft behind it.
As a very logical Vulcan (Mr Spock) guy, I’m prone to delivering lots of facts in an essay, without properly revealing why the subject grips me emotionally.
This is a marvelous post and I thank you for your encouragement through these excerpts and your keen questionnaire. You give so much in one writing, I can wait. It is a harrowing time.
Thank you thank you for this, Alexander! Your generosity in giving away so much here is overwhelming. It’s like a masterclass in the best memoir side-doors. I feel lucky to have read it.
Thank for wanting more of us, for showing us how to reveal ourselves and our characters in our work, and for all of this at a time that's been difficult on many levels, to say the least. Sending you much appreciation and hugs, Alexander. MG
Same here frfr
This is a tremendous effort of analysis and craft points - thank you amidst everything else going on - from your teaching heart to get this “more of you” out to eager querents who don’t even know how much we need this!
Thanks for this, and I send my love to you and yours.
Oh thank you, Esmé—sending love back at you.
Just came to say that I work on the Cornell campus, here in Ithaca, and though we've been lucky enough that the police have not been conscripted here, and as of two days ago the encampment was taken down by its participants peacefully, it has been an unsettling time to be faculty or staff on a college campus. So, I understand completely your level of distraction. And I'm glad to have you back. I'm in the midst of a draft right now and this made me want to drop everything and run home to tackle scenes that I've been avoiding for fear that I wouldn't be able to inhabit them fully.
I can't do that, sadly. Gotta stay on the clock and make sure the bills get paid. But I'll come back to this on the weekend, read it again, and hopefully that thing inside me that wants to leap up in response will get her chance.
I’m so glad and I send solidarity at this hard time.
Thank you so much. I'm not a "trained" writer. I can tell that good writing is very different from my own but I don't know why. Your article really helped me understand where I can grow. Thank you.
This is so useful, thank you, Alexander
Alexander, I appreciate this post so much. Thank you so much for taking the time to write it. So helpful to learn this way. I’m going to read everything differently now through this lens!
I’m also wishing you and your loved ones and wellness during this time. Thanks for all that you do.
Thanks so much
This is so helpful. Thank you!
thank you for the great examples and the analysis
Thank you for this gift! You offer so much insight here that makes me want to take a memoir / personal essay course. I’m so eager to learn more of the craft behind it.
Thank you for this insightful analysis! :)
Love this “interiority” advice!
As a very logical Vulcan (Mr Spock) guy, I’m prone to delivering lots of facts in an essay, without properly revealing why the subject grips me emotionally.
Thank you for this. Wishing you and yours peace, safety, and good health.
This is a marvelous post and I thank you for your encouragement through these excerpts and your keen questionnaire. You give so much in one writing, I can wait. It is a harrowing time.
Thanks so much!
Thank you thank you for this, Alexander! Your generosity in giving away so much here is overwhelming. It’s like a masterclass in the best memoir side-doors. I feel lucky to have read it.
Well thank you very much.
I'm so grateful for this lesson on interiority for nonfiction, thank you so much!