how to write the great american novel, abridged.

[hollyslowly]

In the interests of uncluttering my desktop, a collection of quotes that I have saved in a thousand various .rtf files.

Comments

[formanymiles.livejournal.com]

Measure the walls. Count the ribs. Notch the long days.
Look up for blue sky through the spout. Make small fires
with the broken hulls of fishing boats. Practice smoke signals.
Call old friends, and listen for echoes of distant voices.
Organize your calendar. Dream of the beach. Look each way
for the dim glow of light. Work on your reports. Review
each of your life's ten million choices. Endure moments
of self-loathing. Find the evidence of those before you.
Destroy it. Try to be very quiet, and listen for the sound
of gears and moving water. Listen for the sound of your heart.
Be thankful that you are here, swallowed with all hope,
where you can rest and wait. Be nostalgic. Think of all
the things you did and could have done. Remember
treading water in the center of the still night sea, your toes
pointing again and again down, down into the black depths.

"Things to Do in the Belly of the Whale," Dan Albergotti.

[ticketsonmyself.livejournal.com]

This has been one of my favorite poems about depression for some time.

<3

[formanymiles.livejournal.com]

I read it for the first time a couple weeks ago; it's so comforting, like a mantra. I love the listing of things to count: "Measure the walls. Count the ribs. Notch the long days." It reminds me of something I wrote for Oz, when one of the characters is in solitary confinement and he's reading a list of ingredients aloud to keep himself company.

[ticketsonmyself.livejournal.com]

I think I read that one! A ficlet, right? And liked it, though I've never watched the show.

[formanymiles.livejournal.com]

Aww, yes, thank you! I don't think you would like the show. :P

[ticketsonmyself.livejournal.com]