The Body Electric

Apr 26, 2021

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My brain is tired. I’ll bet yours is too. Krista Tippett’s is tired--in this episode of On Being, she completely blanks on a question she was about to ask. Her guest, a psychologist, shrugs it off and explains that our cognitive capacities are shot thanks to our overtaxed nervous systems.

It’s a good time to write with the body rather than the brain. Corporeal storytelling starts with the gut, which tells me if a story’s pacing is working, if the movements and motivations of the characters are clear, if the plot demands my attention. Once any of these elements goes off course, my stomach tells me; it feels like hitting turbulence (remember that?) or eating a bad burrito.

I also write with my ears, which can detect arrhythmic sentences or paragraphs, wonky dialogue, and inauthentic gestures. And of course, there’s the heart, whose beat quickens with emotional intensity, who knows when the stakes are high and the outcome matters.

If you’re thinking that sounds nice for you, but I know I can’t do it, permit me to politely disagree. Have you ever heard music and then moved your body in time to it? Have you ever felt a shudder of distaste when something happens in a movie or book that seems implausible or out of character? Have you ever stayed up past your bedtime with a book you couldn’t put down? Your body knows all about what makes stories good. All you have to do is listen to it.

For some more wisdom on the body, read Ada Limon on Preparing the Body for a Reopened World and listen to Resmaa Menakem on how the history and trauma of race lives in the body. I also urge you to watch Two Distant Strangers, a short film that painfully conveys the reality of racist police violence. It is not an easy watch, but it is an essential one.

Since our inception, humans have been reciting, singing, dancing, and embodying narrative. This Atlantic article speculates on what the stories of this time will be. Our brains may not know yet, but our bodies do. Write on, friends.

Revision Workshop

I had a professor in graduate school whose advice on revision was “Look at it for a few hours, until you see what it is you need to do.” Thankfully, I have a much better process for revision now, which I will go over in detail in a two-hour virtual workshop on May 18, 5:30pm ET. If you find revision mysterious and have struggled with how to turn shitty first drafts into lovely final drafts, this one’s for you. Full details are here.

1000 Words of Summer

1000 words of summer, Jami Attenberg’s ingenious writing challenge, kicks off May 31. The premise is simple: for 2 weeks, you write 1,000 words every day. Attenberg uses it to start a new project. She sends a stellar note every day and there’s a Slack chat for participants. If this doesn’t interest you, you should still sign up for her very, very good newsletter.

I’m in for 1,000 words this year, slinging down some essay drafts—oops, I went ahead and said it, which means I have to do it. If you’re looking for a kick in the pants, nobody does it better than Jami.

Creative Writing for Teens

This summer I will be teaching two week-long creative writing classes for teens through the Durham Arts Council, one in-person (July 12-16), one virtual (June 21-25). Perfect for any teen who wants to spend a week writing their brains out and having a good time on the page!

Looking for a novel critique?

Donna James, a former student, is completing the Author Accelerator’s Book Coach Certification program and is looking for novel writers willing to receive some coaching from her as part of her training. Donna is a retired veteran public school educator, with experience as a reading specialist, academic coach, and instructional facilitator. She holds a master’s degree in education, a literacy leadership and coaching certificate, and national board certification in literacy, and has been studying creative writing since her retirement. If you have completed at least three chapters of your novel and are willing to let her edit the pages, suggest revisions, and have a 30 minute phone or video call, contact her by email: dcjames1reading@yahoo.com.