Tag: Reading

The Joy of Writing and Reading for an Audience

Reading stage for HOME, 2025 issue of SJCPL WRITES,
March 29, 2025

Once people find out that I am a writer, the next question is usually “What do you write about?” The truth is, as an essayist, I write about almost anything that intrigues me or makes me want to delve into my thoughts about an experience, person, belief, or issue. With all that is happening in our world, there is never a loss for topics, even if I sometimes I find myself grappling for the right words.

I recently had the pleasure of doing a reading for an essay of mine that was published in the 2025 issue of SJCPL WRITES, a literary journal published by the library. My essay, Morning at Home, is about how a morning ritual with my mother began in my childhood and changed as we both got older. I was joined by a community of several other writers who shared their own stories and poetry. Being part of a literary community is important.

Publication is never a guarantee, just ask most writers, but it is an honor when your work is recognized and appreciated. However, I truly enjoy the chance to do public readings because they allow for an almost immediate connection with the reader or an audience. And the fact that readers take the time to show up, well, I am grateful for that too. For the last few months I have been immersed in a much longer piece than the essays I usually write. I do not know exactly where this writing journey will take me next but I would not trade the time I have to focus on my writing for anything. Thanks for your support as a reader.

Having Space Finding Freedom

I don’t believe in writer’s block but I do understand what it feels like to be stuck, looking for the right words when maybe any words will do. I shared over a year ago that I have been working on longer pieces that don’t lend themselves as readily to this newsletter, which was part of the reason I had not been sending as much out or with the same frequency that I used to. 

However, there is more to it than that. I started this year off with the concept of wanting more space in my life. After many years of working hard, six and sometimes seven days a week, I wanted to schedule less, reflect and rest more. But that did not happen, or at least I could not stick with that plan. In June, I wrote about learning to be present with my father as he was beginning the process of transitioning. Two days after my post, he passed on. I was with him that morning and when I got the call a few hours later, I rushed back, quickly going into the responsible mode that is familiar and second nature for me. In the hours, days, and weeks that followed, we all had a lot to take care of, and I cannot completely remember who I spoke to and when. His homegoing was a celebration of his life and I am blessed to have had such a wonderful father. I take comfort that he is at rest, and that he can be reunited with my mother—he missed her so much over these last seven years.

Where does this leave me? In some ways with more space than I have had in a long time. Some of that space is free time, and some is the hole that is there from missing my father and mother. I have wonderful memories, stories, and great family and friends, which helps a lot. And I don’t have many regrets about how I have used my time. 

These days I am trying to develop a new rhythm and routines, and resume old ones that were cast aside because of work, caregiving, fatigue, and other commitments. A last-minute train ride to Chicago with my husband. Pilates classes with different instructors. Coffees with friends who haven’t seen me as much over the last few years. Homemade soups. Reading – on my own or when I can, with an online community that talks about what is going on in our lives as much as it discusses the actual books. And rest, even though sometimes the sleep doesn’t come as quickly as I’d like. I relish my rest. 

Which brings me to my writing. Writing has always been a comfort to me, and usually comes easily. I think I worry too much about getting it right when what is most important is that I get the words down. The bigger project is going to take time, will require revision, and I will get it done, in time. But what I like about this format is its immediacy—if I have things I want to share (and write them down before I forget and get caught up in another task), getting my thoughts out in the world is not hard. I want to thank those of you who have stuck with me and I especially appreciate those who prod me when it has been too long since they have heard from me and ask about my writing. I am learning how to navigate a life that still requires structure and routine, and enjoy the space I have to create a life that works for who I am now.

Heading Back to the Familiar

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Sometimes when I have been away from what once was a regular practice, I have to ease back into it, like when you add vegetables to a food a child already likes and hope that you can sneak them in without her noticing. For me, the two practices that have been languishing are Pilates and writing. I have been so busy lately that some of the things I need to do to feel balanced have been squeezed out. For a while, that even applied to reading, because by this time last year I had already read nearly 45 books, and this year I am at about half of that number. 

I have adjusted to this new pace in life, with its restrictions on where I go and who is around me. I realize that more than ever, I need those practices that help me process what is going on in the world so I can tend to my physical and emotional wellbeing. I am back into Pilates, maybe not at the skill level I was at before, but I am practicing more frequently. And I have found that sitting for longer periods each day (aren’t we all?) means I need the movement that Pilates gives me. I worry less about how intense it is, or even how long I practice. I focus on just showing up.

And so, it is with my writing. This time last year I was immersed in my writing, heading off to a college library many mornings to write, and making progress on a book. For a while I switched to research because I had written quite a bit but wanted to go back and get more background material. The daily treks to the library slowed when cold weather came, but even at home, I wrote often. The busyness of life has crowded out my regular writing practice, or at least the part of my writing that I have not yet shared with the world. 

Sometimes it is about shifting expectations I have of myself. Just because I may not have as many hours to write doesn’t mean that 15- 30 minutes isn’t worth it. Or instead of daily writing, I can shift to longer sessions over the weekend. These days, I plan for the future, but I take it one day at a time. I remind myself that these are strange times, and while the familiar routines from my past ground me, I cannot expect that things will return to normal just by doing what once was normal and routine. I sneak in enough of the familiar so that when the unfamiliar jolts me from my path I know how to find my way back home.  

My Favorite Books from 2019

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Favorite Books from 2019

My list may not be the same as the New York Times bestseller list or another “best books of 2019” list, but here are some of my favorites reads from the past year. I read about twice as much nonfiction as fiction, but there are some great novels in this group.

Nonfiction

  • Becoming by Michelle Obama
  • Thick and Other Essays by Tressie McMillan Cottom
  • The Book of Delights by Ross Gay
  • The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby
  • All the Colors We Will See by Patrice Gopo
  • Educated by Tara Westover
  • The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Fiction

  • Elinor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
  • Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
  • The Neapolitan Quartet (My Brilliant Friend, The Story of a New Name, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, The Story of the Lost Child) by Elena Ferrante
  • In West Mills by De’Shawn Charles Winslow
  • Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
  • Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout

My goal for 2020 is to keep up the pace of about one book per week, although some take longer, others, less time to read. I typically stay with one book at a time and I look forward to settling in on a Sunday and starting new book. Many readers like to use audible and e-books, but I prefer the actual book, for the experience and feel of the book, so I can make my own notes (I know e-readers let you do this), because I want to take my time with the story, trying to figure out structure and pacing and how an author keeps me turning the page. I also found that I read more since I started setting an annual goal, because I make time to read rather than waiting to have time.

How do you decide what to read—booklists, recommendations from friends and other readers, reviews, book club? I’d love to hear how readers choose their books.

 

August Hiatus 2019

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Every year, I use August as a planning month, my equivalent of get ready for school. I want to write more, read a few books, work in my yard, and enjoy this hot weather for as long as it lasts. But before I take a hiatus from posting, here are a few things I’d like to share:

Reading  During July, I finished all four volumes of the Neapolitan Quartet by Elena Ferrante and I highly recommend these books – My Brilliant Friend, The Story of a New Name, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, and The Story of a Lost Child. The novels follow the relationship of two girls from Naples, Elena and Lila, from childhood to their sixties. The sometimes-complicated nature of friendship, rivalry and loyalty, the role of women in a culture that was led by men, education as a way of escaping poverty, and the backdrop of Naples, Italy and its changing political and social dynamics are key themes in these books. I read the first novel, an extremely satisfying read, and the last line made me immediately pick up the second book. If you’re still looking for a great summer read, check out these books out.

Writing  I primarily write essays and also started a novel a couple of years ago. The novel sits in a folder, and maybe one day I will revise it, or see if I want to shorten it and rewrite as a short story. Earlier this year I decided to take a break from any client work and focus on a much longer book-length project. It’s too early to give much detail, but I am enjoying the research, some travel, and of course the writing, although there are days when the words come slowly. In August I will take a few days to attend a writing conference and expect to come back home with great ideas and new energy.

Staying in touch  I’m taking a break from posting here until after Labor Day, but you can still find me on Instagram @writepausereflect or on Twitter @ramonapayne1. Enjoy your August and I’ll be back in touch after Labor Day.

 

Writing and My 2018 Reading

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November will be over in a few days and it is time for another writing update. My progress on the short story has been slow, mainly because I have not decided how to end it. I worked on the piece today, and instead of writing with an absolute end in mind, I decided to slow down the pace and see where the story wants to go. It can take time to get to know my characters, even if I think I should know them better since I wrote them. I’ll continue working on the story, but I don’t expect to be finished by the end of the week.

Switching to fiction this month was also a reminder that nonfiction is probably my first love; it is what I write most often and what I usually read. Last December I set a goal to read 50 new books during 2018 and I’ve read over 40. I’ll have to see if I can actually make my goal, but the cold days of December are perfect for reading. I tracked whether the books were fiction or nonfiction and it did not take long to realize that over 65 percent of the books I read are nonfiction—essays, memoir, spirituality/inspirational, design, history.

So, it’s back to working on my essay collection, while trying to be intentional about reading more novels in the future. I missed working on the essays, and tend to believe being away from them for several weeks has given me a fresh perspective and new ideas. Changing my focus, if only for a month, made me miss that work and ready to get back in my chair and write.

More or Less

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more or less

Summer is almost over, the yellow school bus stops in front of my house each morning and afternoon, and one day soon I will wake up, the morning will be chilly, and I will know in my bones that it will not be getting much warmer for months. I’m okay with all of this because the summer has been pleasant—travel, family reunions and visits, long walks along the river. I began this summer with a few goals in mind and I have met most of them.

Setting some goals was helpful, and through this practice I examined how I spent my time and which things I said I wanted to do but did not finish. I felt a shift, a prompting to change direction and I am clear about the stuff I do not want to do, or at least that I won’t do for the next few months. Here are just a few: Continue reading →

Writers and Readers: Festival of Faith & Writing

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Things looked quiet Saturday morning but within an hour, the campus of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan was bustling – full of writers, readers, editors, publishers, and the friendly students who responded to our questions about how to get around. I was there for the biennial Festival of Faith & Writing and this was my second time.

The word faith has many meanings depending on whom you ask; it is kind of like the words religion and spiritual. Faith implies a search for something deeper to define us, but also implies that as much as we search, some things that we profess to believe remain a mystery. I am okay with that. From name tags to tote bags, you saw the word “Reader” everywhere; reading is the heart of the Festival. Through writing, reading and discussion, we can come together to talk about the many issues in the world and in our private lives.

The writers were from various denominations and beliefs and much like through writing, they seek understanding, at times through their faith, and at other times, in spite of it. The focus was always on the writing, but a few authors addressed the process of finding an audience or getting published. Bob Hosack, executive editor with Baker Publishing, emphasized the importance of having a platform because writers are expected to bring an audience with them. As writers, we have heard that before, but for some in the room it confirmed the importance of building a community.

Over the three days, I listened to panels, started the day with poetry readings, and took time to jot down ideas for my own writing. There were more speakers and panels than I could possibly attend, but here are some of the highlights and quotes from the Festival:

Zadie Smith, novelist and essayist, spoke on creativity, saying “Creativity is more than finding the perfect product for the perfect audience.” Her book, Changing My Mind, is one of my favorite essay collections.

Poets Susanna Childress, Barbara Crooker, Tania Runyan, and Anya Silver graced the audience Friday morning by reading their poems on motherhood in all of its forms, and the connections between motherhood, faith and writing. Their readings took place in the College Chapel and it was a perfect setting for sharing the sacred and challenging bonds between mothers and their children.

Dani Shapiro asked an essential question, “Aren’t we all stumbling towards a faith that works for us?” and described her journey, from growing up in an Orthodox Jewish home to embracing Buddhism.

David Dark – “Maybe we already have an audience, a few people who are interested in what we have to say, and maybe that’s enough.”

I took notes, met many authors, had a meeting with an editor, browsed the exhibit hall, bought home books to read and share, and tried to immerse myself in discussions about writing. The writing life can be quiet and solitary, like the campus was at the beginning of each day, but at events like these we gather to share our love for writing.

Mark this date on your calendar, April 12-14, 2018, for the next gathering for the Festival of Faith & Writing.

Happy reading and writing!

On Reading – Inspiration Quote for April

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“What was the highest ambition of literature, the most one could hope for from the experience of reading? One possible answer, it turned out, had to do with a different approach to reading, one based not on a model of linearity, forward progress and accumulation, but on the idea that a reader should be stopped short, turned around, even undone by the text on the page before her.”

– Dana Stevens, from Bookends in The New York Times Book Review

Inspiration quote for February

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Every month I like to add a new quote, from something I have read or heard, to the inspiration section at the bottom of my site. Here is the inspiration for February; it comes from author Zadie Smith in her book, Changing My Mind – Occasional Essays.

Nowadays I know the true reason I read is to feel less alone, to make a connection with a consciousness other than my own. To this end I find myself placing a cautious faith in the difficult partnership between reader and writer, that discrete struggle to reveal an individual’s experience of the world through the unstable medium of language.

Here is last month’s quote:

I began to feel that aftermath is the terrain of the essay. I still feel that the essay, or nonfiction in general, is a great space to think about what happens afterward, that it allows the writer to work with a large swath of time, with the roots of events and with their wide repercussions.

-Aviya Kushner , from article in the journal MARY