The Trivial and the Vast

Let me get a little bit of business out of the way. Please take a moment to check out my latest project – Our Beloved Dictator. This is a serialized story completely free to read and available on this site. And I’M INCREDIBLY EXCITED ABOUT IT!  The blurb: “George is pulled over for speeding on I-95 in Virginia. Instead of a ticket, he is sentenced to 6 months of mandatory citizenship in Greenville-a small town run by a dictator. The government isn’t the only surprise George finds. Greenville is the place where reality meets abnormality.”

Now, on to today’s topic.

For those of you who don’t already know, I am a huge fan of Virginia Woolf. Her use of language alone is brilliant but her experimentation, her fearlessness with form–it’s just mind-blowing. I love artists that take risks and Virginia Woolf was unafraid (I know you saw what I did there.)

I’ve read Mrs. Dalloway three times and have thoroughly enjoyed it every time and yet, I cannot really tell you much about it. There’s a dream-like quality to her work that makes me forget it as soon as I’m done reading. I have a very similar experience with David Lynch films and Daniel Clausen novels. The end result is an immensely enjoyable experience that I get to have over and over again because I don’t really remember it in the first place. And I get to fall in love with the language every time.

I was reminded of my love of Miss Woolf again on Saturday when the hubby and I went to the CAM. It’s Raleigh’s little contemporary art museum (hence the name). Each exhibit is unique and ranges from traditional mediums to live performances.  I always find something to take away that’s useful to either Libby the person or Libby the writer. I was surprised to find that the exhibit about the Horse and Buggy Press fed me on both levels. There were so many little books that intrigued me including a sketch book used by someone in 2002 and a photography book exclusively featuring pictures of birdhouses. I was mesmerized. Thankfully for me, the exhibit just opened so I’ll be able to go back again and again.

For Libby the writer, there was this:

UGH!!!! Come on. That’s just beautiful. I’ve read A Room of One’s Own and I truly don’t remember this passage. It’s so inspiring. I love to write about the trivial and the vast, both at once if at all possible. I love to write genre fiction and contemporary fiction. Delving into the world of YA is so much fun and exploring the depths of the human experience is challenging and rewarding. I know Miss Woolfe is speaking to all female writers here but when I read this, my heart skipped a beat. I just felt so encouraged and free and I hope that’s how it makes you feel as well.

So go! Conquer the trivial and the vast! Delve deep into the world and use your experiences to create! Create! CREATE!!!!

And don’t forget to check out part one of my new serial Our Beloved Dictator! I believe that’s what Virginia Woolf would want.