Where Inspiration Lives

Today's New York Times has a fabulous article on Graham Greene in Capri that is reminiscent of Hemingway's Paris to Pamplona trek in The Sun Also Rises. Check it out before it goes to the archives.

The most inspiring thing about the article to me was Greene's philosophy on writing: "I have no talent. It's just a question of working, of being willing to put in the time.”

According to the article, his "bare whitewashed study" gave him just the Mediterranean solitude every writer dreams about. He set a minimum daily quota for himself of 350 words and claimed that he could accomplish more in 4 weeks there than he could in 6 elsewhere. Looking around at the Brio trains and crayons on my floor, I totally get that Graham.

Speaking of writing in solitude and inspiration, there's a new show on The Sundance Channel called Iconoclasts which partners two icons who discuss pivotal moments in their lives and careers. I've seen two episodes so far: Dave Chapelle and Maya Angelou, and Paul Simon and Loren Michaels. Both docu-style interviews were fascinating. Maya Angelou said that whereever she lives, she keeps a hotel room where she goes to write. Even in the sanctity of her peaceful Winston-Salem home, she needs to get away from the housekeeping.