Thank you so much for this. I've been struggling with how to structure nonfiction for ages. I rely on formulas a lot myself, and it seems like there are so many different ways to do nonfiction. I'm looking forward to reading your essay in Electric Lit, as well as some nonfiction by Zadie Smith and Elif Batuman.
Did you ever listen to David Foster Wallace's 1996 interview on Bookworm? He talks about how the structure of Infinite Jest is modeled after a Sierpiński gasket, which kind of reminds me of what you were saying about Rebecca Solnit's book.
I have a very piecy reading history, where I’ve missed a lot of big writers completely, and DFW is one. I haven’t read any of his work and it’s not because I’m avoiding him, I just haven’t for whatever reason. Maybe this is my opening — listening to that interview and then diving in! Thanks for the recommendation.
I have an essay out on submission now about A Room of One’s Own! I’m hoping to get it published somewhere externally; it’s a longer piece and I make (what I think is) a new argument. There’s so much to that work, I love it, and read it for the first time recently. It inspired me to read Woolf’s essays, actually. I’m working my way through The Common Reader at the moment. So there may be more on Woolf coming (there likely is, I have a kernel of something) but it would probably be her essays.
I wonder what my face is doing right now, after reading this piece?
I'm so moved by the depth and nuance of your thinking--and something like jealous / mad / inspired by how precisely your words keep up with it. I imagine you're someone who struggles with the feeling of "gaps" between what comes in (too much) and what manages to go back out (never enough), though maybe I'm projecting my own experience onto you! Either way, as a reader, it sure feels like there's no gap there for you. I'm floored.
Thank you so much for this. I've been struggling with how to structure nonfiction for ages. I rely on formulas a lot myself, and it seems like there are so many different ways to do nonfiction. I'm looking forward to reading your essay in Electric Lit, as well as some nonfiction by Zadie Smith and Elif Batuman.
Thank you, Amy! I'm glad it was useful. I'd love to hear what you think if you end up reading their work.
Did you ever listen to David Foster Wallace's 1996 interview on Bookworm? He talks about how the structure of Infinite Jest is modeled after a Sierpiński gasket, which kind of reminds me of what you were saying about Rebecca Solnit's book.
I have a very piecy reading history, where I’ve missed a lot of big writers completely, and DFW is one. I haven’t read any of his work and it’s not because I’m avoiding him, I just haven’t for whatever reason. Maybe this is my opening — listening to that interview and then diving in! Thanks for the recommendation.
I've never read much DFW, either, but I have been planning on getting to Infinite Jest soon.
Are you planning a NF one on Mrs Dalloway any time soon? I loved A Room of Her Own but still not read this
I have an essay out on submission now about A Room of One’s Own! I’m hoping to get it published somewhere externally; it’s a longer piece and I make (what I think is) a new argument. There’s so much to that work, I love it, and read it for the first time recently. It inspired me to read Woolf’s essays, actually. I’m working my way through The Common Reader at the moment. So there may be more on Woolf coming (there likely is, I have a kernel of something) but it would probably be her essays.
I have one about her on here too on that one
It's wonderful!
Thanks so much Laura. I had a particularly shitty day today so this was nice to see x
I wonder what my face is doing right now, after reading this piece?
I'm so moved by the depth and nuance of your thinking--and something like jealous / mad / inspired by how precisely your words keep up with it. I imagine you're someone who struggles with the feeling of "gaps" between what comes in (too much) and what manages to go back out (never enough), though maybe I'm projecting my own experience onto you! Either way, as a reader, it sure feels like there's no gap there for you. I'm floored.
Such beautiful, smart writing, friend!