A couple of years ago, in a long list of (mostly) unfulfilled New Years' Resolutions, I listed "Become more literary". I think I even followed that resolution with the phrase "whatever that means". Fast forward to last week. I'm walking through a local bookstore (I do that a lot) and I come across this book called Making a Literary Life by Carolyn See. I picked it up just because the title was so ironic after my New Years' Resolution. I didn't really think I'd read it. I started skimming a couple of interesting passages. Then I read a little bit more. Now I've just about finished it, albeit in a completely random fashion. It is at times hilarious and at other times heartbreaking. But there is never a dull moment. And there is some great advice contained within its pages.
See recommends writing 1000 words a day, five days a week. While this is specifically aimed at writers, any creator could take this idea to heart. The idea here is to immerse yourself in what See calls the "dailyness" of creation. It takes you out of the realm of fantasy and into the world of reality (See uses the analogy of marriage vs. romance). The other main idea of the book, and the idea I found to be the most interesting, is to write "charming notes" to authors, editors, and agents. I don't know why, but this struck me as the most "literary" idea of the book. I just get this image of Tolkien or Hemingway jotting off notes to other writers, and I like the image. You don't? Well, go check out AOL and leave me alone...
The subtitle of the book is "Advice for Writers and Other Dreamers". I guess I fall somewhere in between these two titles. I've picked up a pen a few times, mostly in the interest of song lyrics, and I would definitely consider myself a dreamer. But I would recommend this book for anyone who is intrigued by the idea of "becoming more literary" (whatever that means).