Weekend Guide: 09.18.2020

I just picked up the new Elena Ferrante book “The Lying Lives of Adults”. How about that for a title!? Cuts right to the core doesn’t it? I have yet to start it, mainly because I already don’t want it to be over. But, i’m excited to crack it. If you know me I have probably tried to get you to read the four volumes known as the "Neapolitan quartet" (My Brilliant Friend, The Story of a New Name, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, and The Story of the Lost Child) at some point. The series is a total masterpiece and well worth the month+ it will take you to tackle.

Ferrante is intimidating. She is one of those writers that makes aspiring writers wonder “What’s the point? I’ll never be able to create something like this!” I have been trying to write in fits and starts for a long time now. Whenever I sit down to write anything I feel the weight of actual writers, the ones I read, the ones I aspire to, bearing down on me. So, I usually stop. This weekly newsletter is holding me accountable to write something. So, thanks for joining me. The goal is to on day have enough things written down that I can put them all together in one spot and push it out into the world. In all likelihood, it won’t be pretty, but it will be something to leave behind.

In order to feel writer-like, I try to get to a used book store at-least once a month. I usually need to block out a solid two hours, but I always leave with the same impression and $50 worth of books.

Every writer, the best, the worst, the mediocre - all end up here. Copies of their masterpiece browned and dusted without even one single crack in the spine. Sad really. But, they live on.

Buy your friends art.

Thanks for everything. As always, if you want to talk - you’ve got a friend!

Peace and love.

Dan