I LIVE ON A GRID. I call it “The Grid.” It’s a character in our lives to some extent, and everyone who knows it makes fun of it, and I’m good with that. Printed on a large white board, written in erasable dry marker, The Grid sits on my desk, in full view as I write, mapping out the seven days of my week and how I live them. It’s how an organized writer gets it all done every day. On it is written even the incidentals —“walk the dog,” “stretch,”— as well as the truly important chunks of my life, like “write,” “meet the bus,” and “gym.”
My memoir students tease me about it; my family says things like “Am I on The Grid?” and you know what? That means it’s working.
If it’s on The Grid, I do not have to worry about it getting done, instead freeing me to be creative without that horrid, “OHSHITIHAVENOTPAIDTHEBILLS” thing. If it’s on the grid, I am an organized writer.
The bills, by the way, are paid Fridays from 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM. I highly recommend The Grid, especially if you write memoir.
Why? Because it’s too easy to put off your work, that’s why, particularly if you are writing on spec. If you are writing via my method, you know you are writing with intent, and never merely practicing, right? But still, the legitimizing aspects of the grid are, well, legendary. Or at least they should be. And since all good writing begins with a small retail experience — notebooks, index cards, pens — include a dry board and some erasable markers. And get on the Grid. Be an organized writer who gets it all done every day
You’ll thank me. Or curse me. I can live with either.
Charlotte Ashurst McDaniel says
Dear Marion,
Early this morning I had the idea of the title for my Memoir to be
LOOKING FOR ME
Thus far I have imported 32,000 wds from my old memoir, SHUG, keeping my eye on the pilot light of my life — cutting out everything that doesn’t support it.
Your book is fabulous!!! – which as I said, earlier, just came in the Mail –
I can open to any page and be inspired – like today,
I remember the line, ” What is Jack’s picture doing in Mommy’s purse?”
I think that might be the line that inspired my new title —
between WalMart and Trader Joe’s just an hour ago, I thought, Oh, here’s the title–
CONFESSIONS OF A BLUE TOMATO –
How does that grab you?
I haven’t gotten to the grid yet —
My new blog will be entitled Confessions of a Blue Tomato – or
Marie from the Philippines – whom I talked to today for my ATT bill – I encouraged her to write her story of what it was like to an ATT operator in the Philippines. gave her my email – “only you can tell your story,” I said.
to be continued . . .
Charlotte Ashurst McDaniel says
OH, WAIT A MINUTE! –
That’s a good title –
because I finally re-read the GRID — AND GOT THE IDEA —
I, too have a dry erase white board, not on a desk, but precariously balanced on a closet door knob and the hinge of the door.
It’s divided by weeks. too, but I don’t have incidentals – just important numbers. I erase just the number of the week day. until I get to a new month. Big reminders go at an empty space at the top, like pay TAXES, or CD due. (I missed that! my one and only CD rolled over at 0.05% – c’est la vie.
. . . to be continued
Aileen says
Hi Marion,
After a week in Maine (and a long drive back and forth), I was able to finish not only your wonderful book on memoir writing, but also several of the memoirs you’ve recently recommended (Perfection, What I Thought I Knew, Drinking: A Love Story, and currently The Hare with Amber Eyes). I’ve enjoyed all of them and taken care to note their use of specific moments and stories to support the theme of their memoir.
This weekend, my husband takes the 4 kids to visit with his family and I will have the home to myself, which rarely happens. I am looking forward to writing in peace. Notebooks and pens stand at attention ready to get to work; notecards are nearby; and, I’ve already placed a large post-it right in front of me, “What is this about?”
I feel more prepared than ever to write a really crappy first draft.
Thank you,
Aileen