Comments on: How I Almost Started Writing: Paris http://www.hownottowrite.com/thoughts-on-writing/how-i-almost-started-writing-paris/ If you're reading this, you're not writing. Obvious but true. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:07:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Jamie Grove http://www.hownottowrite.com/thoughts-on-writing/how-i-almost-started-writing-paris/#comment-588 Jamie Grove Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:20:27 +0000 http://www.hownottowrite.com/?p=226#comment-588 @Deb Best of luck! By the way, <a href="http://gscottage.blogspot.com/2008/07/journals-journaling-and-journey.html" rel="nofollow">great post about journaling</a>. I also thought <a href="http://www.writingforward.com/journals-notebooks/seven-journals-for-writers" rel="nofollow">Melissa Donovan's post about the seven journals was very inspiring.</a> @Deb Best of luck! By the way, great post about journaling. I also thought Melissa Donovan’s post about the seven journals was very inspiring.

]]> By: Deb http://www.hownottowrite.com/thoughts-on-writing/how-i-almost-started-writing-paris/#comment-587 Deb Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:44:20 +0000 http://www.hownottowrite.com/?p=226#comment-587 I told you my French idioms are really bad. The last time I had to fudge my way through a serious French Canadian exchange was 1988 in Montreal; and my kids were watching. But we were determined that they were not going to grow up thinking that everybody should speak only English nor that non-English speakers were morons. But there are more forgiving languages than French. No time-lines on the Amsterdam essay because there is a back-hand pick-up line. And it was not a joke. It wasn't exactly a pick-up either. The first day trip to Zurich might get done sooner as it is actually started. I told you my French idioms are really bad. The last time I had to fudge my way through a serious French Canadian exchange was 1988 in Montreal; and my kids were watching. But we were determined that they were not going to grow up thinking that everybody should speak only English nor that non-English speakers were morons. But there are more forgiving languages than French.

No time-lines on the Amsterdam essay because there is a back-hand pick-up line. And it was not a joke. It wasn’t exactly a pick-up either.

The first day trip to Zurich might get done sooner as it is actually started.

]]> By: Jamie Grove http://www.hownottowrite.com/thoughts-on-writing/how-i-almost-started-writing-paris/#comment-586 Jamie Grove Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:03:54 +0000 http://www.hownottowrite.com/?p=226#comment-586 @Deb Nope. It wasn't a pickup line. As James notes, it is something of a joke. :) Looking forward to reading about your single day in Amsterdam on <i>your</i> blog. When will the post be up? :) @Deb Nope. It wasn’t a pickup line. As James notes, it is something of a joke. :)

Looking forward to reading about your single day in Amsterdam on your blog. When will the post be up? :)

]]> By: Deb http://www.hownottowrite.com/thoughts-on-writing/how-i-almost-started-writing-paris/#comment-585 Deb Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:01:19 +0000 http://www.hownottowrite.com/?p=226#comment-585 Okay my French idioms are pretty bad but my impression is that it was a sort-of pick-up line. Wrong? Well that's why I avoid French at all costs. All that aside, this feels much like a one day excursion I took to Amsterdam. But I won't write about it in your comments. Okay my French idioms are pretty bad but my impression is that it was a sort-of pick-up line. Wrong? Well that’s why I avoid French at all costs.

All that aside, this feels much like a one day excursion I took to Amsterdam. But I won’t write about it in your comments.

]]> By: Jamie Grove http://www.hownottowrite.com/thoughts-on-writing/how-i-almost-started-writing-paris/#comment-584 Jamie Grove Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:55:53 +0000 http://www.hownottowrite.com/?p=226#comment-584 Thanks, Karen. You're definitely right about the time needed to age certain memories before they can be used as pieces in a larger puzzle. I have a few I've been carrying around for a very long time and I'm looking forward to sharing them in due course. One thing I've learned over time is that when you are knee deep in something that makes you feel like writing you ought to set the <i>writing</i> aside and focus on the observations. The true writing will only come after reflection. Thanks, Karen.

You’re definitely right about the time needed to age certain memories before they can be used as pieces in a larger puzzle. I have a few I’ve been carrying around for a very long time and I’m looking forward to sharing them in due course.

One thing I’ve learned over time is that when you are knee deep in something that makes you feel like writing you ought to set the writing aside and focus on the observations. The true writing will only come after reflection.

]]> By: Karen Swim http://www.hownottowrite.com/thoughts-on-writing/how-i-almost-started-writing-paris/#comment-583 Karen Swim Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:40:12 +0000 http://www.hownottowrite.com/?p=226#comment-583 Jamie, I have really enjoyed this series and as I read this one I did feel a touch of existential sadness but in a good way. Perhaps the times you almost started writing were experiences that needed to be savored at the moment, stored and then dusted off later when you had the larger perspective to put them in a novel. It is as though each place was a piece of a puzzle rather than a time to focus on the actual writing. :-) Karen Swim's last blog post..<a href="http://wordsforhirellc.com/blog/?p=127" rel="nofollow">Are you Free?</a> Jamie, I have really enjoyed this series and as I read this one I did feel a touch of existential sadness but in a good way. Perhaps the times you almost started writing were experiences that needed to be savored at the moment, stored and then dusted off later when you had the larger perspective to put them in a novel. It is as though each place was a piece of a puzzle rather than a time to focus on the actual writing. :-)
Karen Swim’s last blog post..Are you Free?

]]> By: James Chartrand - Men with Pens http://www.hownottowrite.com/thoughts-on-writing/how-i-almost-started-writing-paris/#comment-576 James Chartrand - Men with Pens Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:59:56 +0000 http://www.hownottowrite.com/?p=226#comment-576 Does it count that I don't have to use an online translator? ;) It was funny as hell, too. Does it count that I don’t have to use an online translator? ;) It was funny as hell, too.

]]> By: Jamie Grove http://www.hownottowrite.com/thoughts-on-writing/how-i-almost-started-writing-paris/#comment-575 Jamie Grove Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:58:13 +0000 http://www.hownottowrite.com/?p=226#comment-575 @Ulla Thanks! I think the big thing is not being afraid when you don't know the language. I've found that in most places if you are willing to try people will help you out. :) Covering a big city in one day is doable as long as you go knowing you are just skimming the surface. Sort of like sketching a drawing. Hopefully, I'll be able to go back some day and shade in the details. Actually, I'd like to go back for a month or more. @James I appreciate the kind words. That sums up the day pretty well. I guess it ties in with my comment to Ulla. Paris for me has always been about <i>ennui</i> so it comes as no surprise that when I actually went there I drifted in that strange and undefinable emotion. I like the idea of using French to linkbait. I wonder how many people will go to the trouble of translating the young man's question... ;) @Ulla Thanks! I think the big thing is not being afraid when you don’t know the language. I’ve found that in most places if you are willing to try people will help you out. :)

Covering a big city in one day is doable as long as you go knowing you are just skimming the surface. Sort of like sketching a drawing. Hopefully, I’ll be able to go back some day and shade in the details. Actually, I’d like to go back for a month or more.

@James I appreciate the kind words. That sums up the day pretty well. I guess it ties in with my comment to Ulla. Paris for me has always been about ennui so it comes as no surprise that when I actually went there I drifted in that strange and undefinable emotion.

I like the idea of using French to linkbait. I wonder how many people will go to the trouble of translating the young man’s question… ;)

]]> By: James Chartrand - Men with Pens http://www.hownottowrite.com/thoughts-on-writing/how-i-almost-started-writing-paris/#comment-574 James Chartrand - Men with Pens Sat, 05 Jul 2008 11:02:58 +0000 http://www.hownottowrite.com/?p=226#comment-574 Hey, Jamie, this was really nice to read. Very smooth and tinged with a fatalistic sense of peace and sadness, somehow. Of course, that's my subjective perception. It was nice to read. The funny thing is that what caught my eye was the French. I think it's a new linkbait theory. "If we write in French, James will come comment." I'm not sure yet. A conspiracy... Hey, Jamie, this was really nice to read. Very smooth and tinged with a fatalistic sense of peace and sadness, somehow. Of course, that’s my subjective perception. It was nice to read.

The funny thing is that what caught my eye was the French. I think it’s a new linkbait theory. “If we write in French, James will come comment.” I’m not sure yet. A conspiracy…

]]> By: Ulla Hennig http://www.hownottowrite.com/thoughts-on-writing/how-i-almost-started-writing-paris/#comment-573 Ulla Hennig Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:02:40 +0000 http://www.hownottowrite.com/?p=226#comment-573 I liked reading this post. For someone who isn't speaking French you were doing very well. Till the moment I began reading your article I was very skeptical how one can visit a big city like Paris in one day and still get something out of it. Your story told me the contrary. Thanks for sharing it! Ulla Ulla Hennig's last blog post..<a href="http://ullahennig.blogspot.com/2008/06/bavaria-series-8-bavarian-inns.html" rel="nofollow">Bavaria Series #8 Bavarian Inns</a> I liked reading this post. For someone who isn’t speaking French you were doing very well. Till the moment I began reading your article I was very skeptical how one can visit a big city like Paris in one day and still get something out of it. Your story told me the contrary. Thanks for sharing it!
Ulla

Ulla Hennig’s last blog post..Bavaria Series #8 Bavarian Inns

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