Alice Notley on getting things to come easily

Here’s the secret, if you can bear it

Welcome to the latest issue of Subtle Maneuvers, my fortnightly newsletter on wriggling through a creative life. If today’s issue resonates with you, please consider becoming a paying subscriber for $5/month or $30/year. This newsletter wouldn’t be possible without reader support.

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Alice Notley (b. 1945)

Last issue, I wrote about the late American poet Bernadette Mayer’s “famous” writing prompts, but there was an additional bit of Mayer material I wasn’t able to squeeze into the newsletter that I’m still thinking about. It’s from a 2020 interview with Mayer, and it’s on a subject dear to my heart: how to make writing not feel torturous, if such a thing is even possible. Here’s what Mayer said: