Friday, November 26, 2010

Writer DNA: Fran Lebowitz

"I've never met anyone who even comes close to me in laziness. I would have made a perfect heiress. I enjoy lounging. And reading. The other problem I have is fear of writing. The act of writing puts you in confrontation with yourself, which is why I think writers assiduously avoid writing. The number of alcoholic writers makes a lot of sense because if you're going to be face to face with yourself, maybe it's better that you don't recognize that person."



I couldn't turn the Charlie Rose interview with Fran Lebowitz off. Exhaustion from a fantabulous holiday wiped my memory of whether or not I have even read her work, or if I just know that I'm supposed to listen to what she says. No wonder I watch and absorb her words-- she goes on about the need to be around people and in the world and engaging in the conversation that is democracy, cultural, political, personal and on...but when you're lazy and afraid- smoking and parties are the rooms other that the one accommodating all of the stuff you don't want to deal with-- she also calls hers the writing room. 

she also mentioned being afraid. a fear so intense that it remains invisible and anonymous- the unmentionable that you carry like a layer deep or two rash. all just an itch that's coming up from inside you-- hives perhaps. 


these interviews always leave me with the same feeling i get from watching a suspenseful TV show or movie- the most obvious information that might make a difference is always omitted, skipped, or avoided. or am I the dunce missing something...how did she manage to survive through a writing blockade of Viet Nam war proportions? 


tell me if you know and I'm missing something. I always wonder if there is a Bank of Social Icon- not celebrity- that gets tarnished and spoils but iconography- certainly there is a credit union? I get it but want to know, where do the checks come from?

  a Scorcese docu: PUBLICLY SPEAKING. hm.

2 comments:

aimee said...

I LOVED the Scorcese doc "Public Speaking" that features Fran Lebowitz. "There are too many books, the books are terrible, and it's because you have been taught to have self-esteem." ;D

aimee said...

I LOVED the Scorcese doc "Public Speaking" featuring Fran Lebowitz! "There are too many books, the books are terrible, and it's because you have been taught to have self-esteem." ;)