Word by Word

Practical insights for writers from Jessica P Morrell

Ron Carlson: stay in the room

Written By: Jessica Morrell - Apr• 03•18

The most important thing a writer can do after completing a sentence is to stay in the room. The great temptation is to leave the room to accelerate the completion of the sentence or to go out to the den where the television lies like a dormant monster and rest up for a few days for the next sentence or to go wander the seductive possibilities of the kitchen. But, it’s this simple. The writer is the person who stays in the room. The writer wants to read what she is in the process of creating with such passion and devotion that she will not leave the room.  The writer understands that to stand up from the desk is to fail and to leave the room is so radical and thorough a failure as to not be reversible. Who is not in the room writing? Everybody. Is it difficult to stay in the room, especially if you’re not sure of what you’re doing, where you’re going? Yes. It’s impossible. Who can do it? The writer.  ~ Ron Carlson

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