Annie Dillard wrote, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”
On the first of each month, Catching Days hosts a guest writer in the series, “How We Spend Our Days.”
Today, please welcome writer
LAURA WARRELL
In the morning: For some reason, I’m obsessed with drinks: coffee, tea, water, I usually start with at least two nearby as I get ready to write. When I’m feeling especially fancy, I may pick up some exotic drink at my local health food store, maybe a funky coffee made with mushrooms or rose-infused lemonade. I rarely have an appetite for food in the morning, so the drinks wake me up. I’d like to develop a meditation practice and have tried throughout my adult life; I have many friends who say their practice keeps them focused and stirs their creativity in the morning. One day, I hope to develop the habit. But I usually wake up eager to write and hop right to the desk. That’s what I did today: right to the desk with a glass of water and an orange tea that supposedly has collagen in it. Oh, LA…
On my writing desk: I live in a one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles and although I love my pad, I don’t have a second bedroom to make into an office, which I’d really love to be able to do. However, I do have a dining area, which has basically become my office. It has a kitchen table and a box in which I hide all my paperwork and documents to keep the area looking clean when I’m not working. So, each morning, I grab my laptop and sit down to write. This morning, I needed a change of scenery, so I moved to the sofa where I have a patio and can see outside. Unfortunately, all I can see is my neighbor’s apartment (city living, eh?) though there’s a patch of blue sky I can see as well. I love looking up into it.
In town: Speaking of change of scenery, I don’t write as well outside of my own living space. I have all that I need at home – my drinks, snacks, books (I often reach for a book to get me started or unstuck), and everything else I need. I often read aloud to myself and I pace, so being in a spot where I can’t do this could feel a tad confining.
Early afternoon: Despite my attachment to home when I write, I do like to get out each day when I need a break so I walk around my neighborhood. I’m surrounded by beautiful homes and greenery (the latter is hard to find in LA) so I pop on some music or a podcast and walk. I also try to do yoga mid-afternoon to stir the energy before I get back to writing. Today, I listened to a New Yorker podcast about the culture’s fixation with ancient Rome. Fascinating.
If this were another day: I’m also a college professor, so if this were a day when I was teaching, the schedule would be a bit screwy. This semester, my classes started in the afternoon, so I would begin my day as always then interrupt the day to go teach. It’s a fine job as a writer; it keeps you engaged with the world outside while stimulating your creativity and intellect. You’ve got to find a way to inspire young people and get them excited about telling their own stories. Plus, their stories can be just as inspiring as those by established writers.
In the evening: This semester, my classes ended right smack dab in the middle of rush hour so I’d be stuck in traffic to the point of exhaustion, so would usually zone out once I got home. But on a day like today, I may meet up with friends, go to readings, or my writers’ group. I’ve worked hard to create community and I feel incredibly grateful that I’ve been able to build a wide and friendly social circle, and stay connected to the different literary communities in Los Angeles. This city doesn’t have a reputation for attracting writers who aren’t screenwriters, but wow, are there tons of writers here and lots of ways to connect. So, most of my evenings I’m out. Tonight, I was at an event called Empty Trash, which is hosted by one of my pals, Greg Mania. Greg and his co-host Jen ask readers to bring in a discarded file or rejected submission and share it with the audience. They’re great readings! So much discarded work is really rich so I’m always glad for the writers who get to see their work find an audience, even if only for a night.
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THOSE SAME 3 QUESTIONS…
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1. What is the best book you’ve read in the last few months and how did you choose it?
- Danzy Senna has always been a favorite of mine, in part because we’re both biracial authors and her interest in the biracial identity resonates. So, of course, when her new novel, Colored Television, was released, I dove right in. It was a fun, biting read. I couldn’t put it down.
2. Would you give us one little piece of writing advice?
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Write like no one’s watching…because no one is. Often, I think writers, especially newer writers, think about the final product, the book that will be on the shelf or reviewed by the New York Times, as they’re working on a project. The reality is no one has to see our work until we’re ready, so we should feel free to experiment, play around, fail and take our time until the work aligns with our vision for it.
3. What is your strangest reading or writing habit?
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This may not be strange but it’s unique and perhaps helpful to other writers: I create playlists made up of music that either has the same vibe or energy of my characters, or songs I think my characters would like. For instance, one of my characters right now likes singers like Billie Eilish, so I listen before I start writing to get into her headspace. It’s fun and helpful.
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—Other Writers in the Series—
