Pagi-nation: It's all about the Jitterbug

Welcome to the weekly instalment of "Pagi-Nation," in which I spin round my room and pluck an unsuspecting volume off my shelves.

Well, I don't think there can be anything more divergent from Henry James than this week's pick: Tom Robbins' Jitterbug Perfume. In fact, the only thing in common is that they nestle close together on my bookshelf--because I read them in the 80s.

Here's the quote, from right at the beginning of the novel:

Priscilla lived in a studio apartment. It was called a "studio" apartment because art is supposed to be glamorous and landlords have a vested interest in making us believe that artists prefer to sleep in their workrooms. Real artists almost never live in studio apartments. There isn't enough space, and the light is all wrong."

Here are a random smattering of questions: Hey, art is so glamorous, isn't it? Where is your workroom? Have you read Tom Robbins, and what do you think of him? What is your own pagi-nation of the week?

I would like to thank everyone who comments on my blog. It is truly a delight to be in conversation with each one of you.

Have a happy writing week.

Pagi-Nation: Yikes! It's Henry James, folks.

Welcome to the weekly instalment of "Pagi-Nation," in which I spin round my room and pluck an unsuspecting volume off my shelves.

I must admit my heart groaned at this week's pick: The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James. (I apologize if I have any Jamesian fanatics among my readership, but old Hank has never rocked my boat, lit my fire etc. Even 30 years ago, as an eager-beaver English major who delighted in ploughing through Milton and James Joyce, for heaven's sake, I'd find my head with a large dent in it from collapse on the library table after just a few pages of H. James. I recommend him to insomniacs everywhere.)

But this is the book the universe wants highlighted this week, faithful readers. And this is the phrase I plucked from page 402:

Madame Merle was doubtless of great use to herself and an ornament to any circle; but was she--would she be--of use to others in periods of refined embarrassment?

[The next time I'm embarrassed, I shall be busy wondering whether it's refined embarrassment or not! I suppose it all depends on whether one is carrying a handkerchief...]

When was the last time you were of use to others in periods of refined embarrassment? Do tell.

Pagi-Nation: Rejection Time

The trusty Pagi-Nation pick of the week is from... The Pocket Muse (Monica Wood, Writer's Digest Books 2002)

From the random page I opened: At some point in any writing life, the writer has to decide what to do about rejection. Some people save rejection slips and laugh about using them to wallpaper the bathroom. Others get two or three rejections and quit...

Wood goes on to tell how she attended a reading by the late Andre Dubus where he read a story "that quieted the room." Later, Dubus admitted that the same story had just been rejected by the Sewanee Review. For Wood, this was a turning point in her writing life: the realization that famous, published writers get rejected too.

A writer has to have the hide of a rhino. Things you love, work you think is almost perfect, can be rejected time and again. All I can say is, if you want to give yourself the chance of success, you just have to pick yourself up and start all over again. Because, if you quit, it will never happen.

I take solace from Woods' 'horoscope' on the following page: Something big is brewing behind your back. (I hope it's not the Icelandic volcanic eruption she means.)

News of the Week: I was one of the winners of the contest on the Epitaph Road Facebook fan page. I just received my copy of the novel in the mail today and am excited to read it. (David Patneaude kindly inscribed it, too.) Part of the "prize" is the chance to have my query letter critiqued by his agent. I'll be sending that off on Monday.

Blog of the Week: I love Susan at Stony River's blog. She is an indefatigable resource and builder of writing communities. I particularly enjoy her Microfiction Mondays and am busily thinking what my story will be for this week.

Question of the Week: How do you deal with rejection? Are you plastering your bathroom with the little slips? Having a bonfire?

Let me know what your Pagi-Nation pick for the week is.