Well, this is just all kinds of awkward.
For me, I mean.
It feels strange to talk about what inspired me to write my novel,
Tabula Rasa. Strange because to explain
why I so desperately wanted to write this particular story, I have to talk
about love. And talking about love makes me feel all … oogey. Then I get embarrassed and say “um” and “you know,” and I have
trouble making eye contact. Oh, and I instantly go red as a radish. (I have a
theory that this is the real reason the color red is associated with passion
and love. Because it’s the color you turn when you talk about it.)
Yet I myself enjoy hearing authors tell the “story behind
the story,” so I pushed through and put this video together. Needless to say, there are loads of “ums” and “you knows” in
here.
So.
Um.
You know.
Here it is.
I love people who talk with their hands--you've got PASSION, baby!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis was a fun way to peek at your inspiration--your facial expressions are the best!!
I know. I'm a total freak. I should hire a team of media consultants to fix me and my video presenting style. But, of course, I won't. ;)
DeleteLove this. Right there with ya, my love! I began Of Breakable Things when my son was a baby, too! I will be crazy, twitchy, dejected, exhausted with you any day!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Nothing says love like the willingness to be completely sleep-deprived with someone.
DeleteI totally wasn't kidding about the "I can't take it anymore!" thing. I'm surprised I wasn't locked up at some point during that time. I was a total mess.
Hi, K. It's Paula. Google always has me logged in as the wrong writer-identity. Anyway, this was awesome. Maybe I'll do the same someday, although the story behind my story is all kinds of humiliating ;)
ReplyDeleteYes! You should! I really do love to hear these stories, which is probably why I watched Behind the Music for years before they ran out of bands with drug habits to profile.
DeleteI think many people buy old family photos at thrift stores to rebuild their identities. Kidding :0)
ReplyDeleteI remember reading blog posts of yours from around this time. I'm so glad you kept going despite the tired, despite the frustration, and I'm so glad I now know what Tabula Rasa means!!!!!
You've inspired me to talk about inspiration. :0)
Thanks for sharing your story's story. I've found some of my best ideas when totally exhausted -- odd how that works -- too revved up with an idea to sleep, the only alternative is to get it out on the page, all the layers of busy-ness peeled away, leaving our most true, raw selves.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Kristen! I, too, got my story idea when I was a sleep-deprived new mommy--maybe there's some weird brain chemical thing going on when we're totally exhausted? Hmm... Guess if we're having writer's block, we now know what to do. I wonder if ice cream is a possible alternative. Or popcorn. Or wine. Or anything else.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though, thanks for sharing your story. :)
Oh, isn't wonderful how our own insanity can drive a good story? Loved hearing your story! I'm pretty sure I want to be your new best friend now. We can be called the Gesticulating Jesters and we can entertain people with our hand motions :)
ReplyDelete