Photos of trees flaming with fall colours along the Canal St. Martin, Paris
"...I no longer work up a master plan before I begin a novel. When I was younger I used to sit down and write out such plans, but I never finished such projects. Even with The Executioner's Song, where, after all, I knew the end of the story, I was careful not to be too versed in too many details ahead. I preferred to do my research up to no more than a hundred pages ahead of where I was. I wanted to keep the feeling that I didn't know how it was all going to turn out. I needed something like the illusion that I was inventing each detail. Obviously, I prefer doing a book that is not too carefully prepared. Some of my best ideas come because I haven't fixed my novel's future in concrete. Once you know your end, it's disastrous to get a new idea. That can only take you away from your prearranged conclusion. Yet the new idea that you didn't follow may be worth more than the denouement you planned in advance." - Norman Mailer, The Spooky Art: Some Thoughts on Writing, 2003
I confess to having a pretty cynical view of Mr. Mailer in the past. The quote you published of his is incredibly helpful, though, leading me to believe I may have misjudged him. Not that he'd care, LOL! Thanks for the fitting tribute, Tara. K.
Posted by: Karen DeGroot Carter | 13 November 2007 at 01:59
Wonderful quote matched with the fiery, gentle leaves. Peace, JP/deb
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 12 November 2007 at 13:41
They had a great bit on him on CBS Sunday Morning, today. Do you get that there?
Fall in Paris looks beautiful. i could see sipping coffee, looking at the colors... :)
:)
Posted by: Amber | 12 November 2007 at 06:00
oh i want everything you photographed...please stop by my blog for another giveaway today...blessings, rebecca
Posted by: Cre8Tiva | 11 November 2007 at 21:42
It is always sad when we lose those that enrich our lives. Tara what beautiful images you post here your tribute to a creative spirit that now has passed on. hugs aNNa
Posted by: naturegirl | 11 November 2007 at 16:03
I heard this morning. A loss.
Posted by: Rethabile | 11 November 2007 at 14:13
:)
Beautiful pictures Tara!
Posted by: Catalina | 11 November 2007 at 08:42
Know you have several, at least, but I am also sending you a "Thinking Blogger Award." You really do make me think. xo
Posted by: Rosa | 11 November 2007 at 05:55
I hadn't heard. What a loss.
Posted by: Rosa | 11 November 2007 at 02:57
So sad. Incredible fall colors-maybe even better than East Coast. A beautiful quote. Thank you.
Posted by: doris | 11 November 2007 at 02:38
So sad. Incredibel fall colors-maybe even better than East Coast. A beautiful quote. Thanks you.
Posted by: doris | 11 November 2007 at 02:38
What a lovely tribute to a great writer. I just heard about his passing on the radio, and I was feeling conflicted, having recently used a pun in my nanowrimo writing involving his name, but I think I'm going to leave it in there after all, as a sort of tribute to him.
Posted by: tinker | 11 November 2007 at 00:45
I will always remember seeing him and Gore Vidal together one evening on the Dick Cavett show. What an ego, but what a talent as well (although his subject matter and politics, gender-wise especially, kept me from reading much of his work).
Posted by: materfamilias | 10 November 2007 at 23:48
How sad. I just found out after reading your post here. I read Ancient Evenings...funny enough after it came to me in a dream...the book title flashed before my eyes.
When I awoke, I went to the library and they had it. I had several dreams of him. I still don't know why. But I'll say this, it is the one and only book of his that I read and I loved it. I should go read something else now.
Tara, love the photo! Our trees seem to have gone from green to brown with no phase of red or yellow, I think we were ripped off this year for colour.
xo
Gillian
Posted by: Gillian | 10 November 2007 at 22:28
I love your autumn scenes.
I love you
Posted by: Jeanne | 10 November 2007 at 22:14
Oh, what riches here on your wonderful blog!! I'm so grateful to have found you!! (Not quite sure which path I took to get here, but I think it started at moroccanmaryam.)
We heard the sad news about Norman Mailer first thing this morning. A great loss.
Posted by: dianamuse | 10 November 2007 at 22:05
Beautiful tribute and as always magnificent visuals. I had no idea that Norman Mailer was gone. It is a loss indeed.
Posted by: Cherie | 10 November 2007 at 21:14
I admired Norman Mailer for marching to his own drummer, for his tenacious spirit and for refusing to let others critiques freeze his creative self.
Hi Tara! Thank you for your tribute.
Posted by: rochambeau | 10 November 2007 at 20:16
Such a beautiful quote and the leaves are splendid, a very fitting tribute to an East Coast legend. People like him, who have been part of one's life for so long, make you feel as if having lost a trusted friend, and you grieve as if he were one.
Posted by: M erisi's Vienna | 10 November 2007 at 19:45
What a loss!
His quote is magnificent! I am so happy I came by today, reading this has inspired me so much, I've been trying to come up with a suitable idea for a writing assignment and this is exactly the kind of topic I love. You and Norman have inspired me today!
Posted by: melissa @ the inspired room | 10 November 2007 at 16:04
Norman Mailer is unknown to me.....those trees are magnificent.
Posted by: Britt-Arnhild | 10 November 2007 at 15:10