Hello,
Part two will be next week because I’ve had COVID. It’s been so boring and this has made me so grumpy about lots of stupid things.
For example, I read a review that said a book was written in stream of consciousness style, and the author had an MFA so I thought: I bet it isn’t written in stream of consciousness style because they don’t seem to do that on MFAs. I looked up an excerpt and, sure enough, it was written in past tense, epistolary style. There was no attempt to mimic the chaotic nature of thought. It wasn't a stream of consciousness at all. That ruined at least half my day.
I got some work requests asking me to do stupid stuff, or asking me to do things in a stupid way. This happens all the time but this week I spent ages being grumpy about it. I lay in bed fuming. I sent my friend Mark a whatsapp message saying: I’m annoyed at everyone involved with this.
So I decided I was too grumpy, on top of being unable to concentrate, to write anything here this week.
I have lots of work I haven’t been able to do either. I’m grumpy about this too.
I had this piece for New York Magazine out last week, on reappraising an old relationship as I have gotten older.
You can buy my novel, Lazy City here.