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On this day in 1300 Dante was made one of the six Priors of Florence,
the top political office in the city-state.
Though only a two-month term — the legal limit,
so suspicious were the citizenry of corruption and power-plays —
Dante's appointment set in motion the series of events that would eventually cause his permanent banishment,
and inspire some of the most memorable lines in the Divine Comedy
Like Dante, have you noticed that life doesn't stand in line?
It demands service ... right now.
The earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan.
The health challenges of three of my good friends. My sweltering apartment. The enforced move to another.
The destruction of the only road that leads to my apartment complex.
What has this to do with writing? Everything.
Soon or late, you will hear a pounding on the door. Take in a deep breath. It will be life demanding your attention ... now!
You will have to deal with it, dropping for a moment your writing ...
which will not necessarily be a bad thing.
From Dante to Mark Twain to Ernest Hemingway, authors have found it enriched their writing to put it away for a time, to not even think about it.
The mind is a funny thing :
your unconscious mind will be fiddling with your novel all the while you are dealing with life.
In fact, as a writer you will be listening to the people all about you, noticing every gesture, every interpersonal exchange displayed before you.
When you get back to your novel, you will, of course, want to read all of it until the point you stopped.
And the flaws in the flow of prose, the tension, the pacing ... the humanity portrayed in your novel will stand out as if highlighted.
All because your unconscious mind digested your experiences while dealing with impatient life.
***
the top political office in the city-state.
Though only a two-month term — the legal limit,
so suspicious were the citizenry of corruption and power-plays —
Dante's appointment set in motion the series of events that would eventually cause his permanent banishment,
and inspire some of the most memorable lines in the Divine Comedy
Like Dante, have you noticed that life doesn't stand in line?
It demands service ... right now.
The earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan.
The health challenges of three of my good friends. My sweltering apartment. The enforced move to another.
The destruction of the only road that leads to my apartment complex.
What has this to do with writing? Everything.
Soon or late, you will hear a pounding on the door. Take in a deep breath. It will be life demanding your attention ... now!
You will have to deal with it, dropping for a moment your writing ...
which will not necessarily be a bad thing.
From Dante to Mark Twain to Ernest Hemingway, authors have found it enriched their writing to put it away for a time, to not even think about it.
The mind is a funny thing :
your unconscious mind will be fiddling with your novel all the while you are dealing with life.
In fact, as a writer you will be listening to the people all about you, noticing every gesture, every interpersonal exchange displayed before you.
When you get back to your novel, you will, of course, want to read all of it until the point you stopped.
And the flaws in the flow of prose, the tension, the pacing ... the humanity portrayed in your novel will stand out as if highlighted.
All because your unconscious mind digested your experiences while dealing with impatient life.
***
