The Subject is Right in Front of You

This is the advice I often give writers who aren’t sure what they want to delve into: the subject is most likely right in front of you.

And lately, it occurred to me that I might heed my own advice. I’ve often been asked if I’m going to write a sort of Calm Things 2, and have always replied, no, because I felt I’d done that. But perhaps enough time has passed. I’ve begun writing a couple of longer form essays about still life, living with art, my usual themes. Who knows where it will take me.

I’m also working on my novel, slowly, slowly. And so it helps to work on two things at at time. Going back and forth, letting ideas sift down, letting new images rise up.

I asked Rob to bring up all his books on still life, and he happily did so. He stacked them on the chair in the corner of my study where there is another shelf or so on the subject. We might not have every book ever written on still life, but we have a fair number of them. And I can’t wait for a few days in a row to just sit there and turn the pages, feasting on the pictures, and to immerse myself again in the study of the still life.

Life feels very full at the moment, and there are many things I want to say…..which is a good place to be in as a writer.

But for now I leave you with these still life photos of still life books….

And the question, what is the subject that is right in front of you? What calls to you this very moment?