“Inside Sedaris’s left shirt pocket, he keeps an omnipresent notebook, a little spiral-bound one, in which he writes down everything that happens that might later be of use. If he walks out of the house and realizes he’s forgotten it, he turns around and goes home. “I might see a worm attacking a centipede. I might see a bumper sticker,” he says. “I don’t know how to turn off that part of myself that exploits everyone and everything that I come into contact with.”
I love this juicy bit from Monica Hesse’s article about writer David Sedaris in The Washington Post (October 4, 2010). When I’m doing school visits, I tell kids that if they see me on the street, they should stop me and ask me if I have my writer’s notebook-that’s because I always have it with me. Wouldn’t go to the grocery store without it, which is why I like pocket-sized notebooks. Writers are essentially spies.
6 responses to “The Writer’s Notebook: Don’t Leave Home Without It!”
i want 2 ask u a question about th naked mole rat letters because that story is a lot about my life because my mom had died 2 and we i live in a small town called montgomert indiana and we have alittle festival every year called turky trout it is in september and has lots of rides . so i want 2 know wat inpired u please send me an email at shelbygraber@hotmail.com thanku p.s. i know this isnt anything about that 1 thing but i did not know ho 2 contact u
I don’t know Montgomery Indiana, but I taught in Nashville, Indiana. I invented Pepper Blossom and their festival, but it’s a combination of experiences that I’ve had at small-town festivals. Sorry to hear about your mom. I still miss mine every day.
I loved seeing your little journals today. I believe it really got our students thinking about all the little passing observations they’ve had but forgot in the recesses of memory. How great it will be to see them pause in the halls, pull out a pen and paper and jot down inspiration as it strikes.
Oooh, this makes me so happy.
i loved the book the naked mole rat letters! its my favorite book now! are you planning on making a second book,that would be awesome if you did!!
Hi,
I’m so glad you enjoyed my book. I’m not planning on a sequel right now. Try my book Invisible Lines…it’s a different story, but it has a lot of heart. I have a new book coming out in 2012 that fans of The Naked Mole-Rat Letters will love…so keep your eyes out.