sponge-ing: pat conroy

                                                        be a sponge.

pat conroy/ source

lately, i've been refilling my tank in a lot of ways. i've been reading novels, watching tv shows on netflix, going to coffee with my grandma donna on tuesdays, and attending as many author "things" as i can. by author things, i mean events where authors come and either speak or answer questions with a host...or a dinner in which i'm mingling with established authors. 

in the past couple months, i've done a little bit of all of them. the nashville library has this series called salon at 615. they bring authors in and have a Q & A with a bookstore owner here in town parnassus (ann patchett-an author herself). my sweet mama accompanied me to hume-fogg high school's theater a few weeks ago. ( taylor swift's video for "teardrops on my guitar" was filmed there) and the author was pat conroy. to be honest, i know about his works, but i've only read one of them: south of broad. it's an amazing read, especially if you like charleston, south carolina. 

i know he's a killer writer based on that book alone, but because i write more like an emily giffin or nicholas sparks, i have tried to read my weight in those types of titles. now, i think i will delve into the collection i'm sure will be spectacular. 

mr. conroy was doing press for his latest book the death of santini, a sequel of sorts to his 70s novel the great santini, which was made into a movie (i haven't seen it either, sadly). where have i been?! i'm telling you i learned so much that night. 

the writer advice i would have to say was the most interesting to me was how candid he was about his real life creeping into his books. i don't know if he was even trying to give advice, but it has stayed with me. if you know anything about his stories, they can be pretty dark--i know the one i read was gritty and realistic, not fluffy. his real life sounds like it has been the same. coming from seven kids, his dad was the great santini, who i have learned was not the most loving father. 

there is a lot more that he said, talking about all the funny stories of his childhood--although some of them were not funny at all. but all this is to say one thing: he writes what he knows. and that plus the fact that he can write like no other...that makes a storyteller. and that, he is. 

i'll let you know what i think of the entire pat conroy catalog! (i was told i'd like beach music so i'll probably do that one next!)

being a sponge is the best thing i can do as a new writer. it's the best thing any novice or amateur can do period. you have to learn from the best , even if they aren't giving you straightforward advice. listen. listen. listen.  you'll get something out of it. i promise.