It sounded like my idea of heaven, the gift of time. To have long leisurely hours to catch up on streaming series friends had recommended, get around to those clearing out chores I always meant to do, take an online course on philosophy, finally learn to cook Indian food. But somehow, more than ever this year I needed my writer friends. Here are a few writers who gave me comfort during 2020:
…Susan Wittig Albert for your daily Facebook posts asking what we’re reading or listening to, usually delivered with a photo of something growing in your yard.
…Stephen King for your marvelous instruction manual On Writing which morphs into memoir and details your struggle with addiction and near-fatal encounter with a windshield.
…Mary Karr for Lit, so brave, reminding me how important laughing with my sister was in surviving our own mother’s demons. Also, for The Art of Memoir which sent me back to my memoir to work harder, remember more.
…Ann Patchett for your non-fiction collection This is the Story of a Happy Marriage which details the perilous journey to becoming a published author and how, along the way, you rescued a bookstore that I hope is providing aid and comfort to readers in Nashville.
…Elizabeth Zelvin for the courage to post your Amazon publishing statement proving that writers will do it even for pennies. (And thanks for photos of Central Park in spring. Be safe.)
…Bill Bryson, not only for transporting this armchair tourist to places she would never go, but also for your lay person’s guide to The Body, which I found very reassuring during this plague year.
May we all get out of our houses soon! Write me: Linda@LindaBingham.com
I used to get out more…
