I tried Donna Tartt's writing routine 🖋️📖

she once described her process as "essentially painting a huge canvas with a brush the size of an eyelash." I think I love her stuff beccause I've found that's the pace that works for me, too.

If I had a library like this one where I live I don’t think I’d ever leave …

I see a Donna Tartt writing routine challenge I assume someone has a project that will take up ten years of his or her life. Then again I always assumed Tartt managed to get 400 to 800 words down in polished form per day despite actually writing thousands of words before getting there, mostly by longhand. It's like a painstaking sculpting process where the stone is in you and you have to fashion the pieces so they cohere in the end. It's why I admire her novels so much because so much has gone into them.

Of all the routines I read and saw, this one is my favorite. It has no self-punishment elements and feels very organic and warm. The "ploughing" metaphor reminds me of what Ali Smith once said in a reading I went to: a writer is a giant stone rolling down a hill, and the books you read are the moss it collects. At the end, the giant moss ball becomes your book (she explained it in a much nicer way, but that's the core of it).

I'm not a Donna Tartt fan - I'm a whole air conditioner! So I loved this video, thanks so much for making it!

Try Neil Gaiman. One tip, use different coloured pens each day to visually see how much you have written. Great video.

She is perhaps my new favorite author/writer along with Neil Gaiman. Absolutely love every bit of her work :)

I always told myself I wasn’t interested in reading the The Secret History, but after moving to the Mississippi Delta region from Michigan I went into a bookstore and saw her featured due to it being in her home town of Greenwood Mississippi. After reading it and learning about her more and hearing her speak I find her to be quite fascinating as everything she encompasses seems to come off as the opposite of someone you would meet in this region. She talks and seems to carry herself as someone from northeastern old money but comes from and outsiders perspective which is why I think she’s been able to integrate herself into the world of books while creating questionable characters.

The fact that Project Teacup is in any way related to Dorian Gray makes me sooo excited for it! 😍

I love working in libraries, but often they are not quiet. TIP: Your library may have a designated quiet work area. One of the ones near me does and it's a godsend.

I wish I had a library near me that beautiful... I'd never want to leave 😂 but I really liked this routine, the idea of having space to do something else if you're not inspired or needing to mull something over for a bit, OR keep going is really nice.

Gothic novels are great when you write fantasy and you are looking for inspiration to ground your work in reality or to further build in your world. I love a good mix and a novel like Dorian Gray is perfect for that. Love these videos.

If The Picture of Dorian Gray relates to your book thematically, I have no words for just how much I will LOVE your book. The dark, mysterious atmosphere of the book is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced from the comfort of my bedroom. I hardly remember anything else from the point of my life that I read it, because it captivated me so deeply :)

I have an urge to make a video about Virginia woolf's journaling routine, i am thankful for your inspiration and being an amiable humanbeing. 😇😇🥰😍

Ha! Writing/work boundaries. Yes, I get that. I am a mom and some days when the writing is going well it would be lovely to forget my responsibilities — but I am a mom who loves her kids so that helps too. Loved your video. Congratulations on reaching 80k!

I've never thought of writing in a library, but thanks to you and Donna Tartt, I'm definitely going to try. By the way, you have a wonderful library in your city. I would never leave this again!

I gasped when I saw Dorian Gray??? I'm even more excited now

I loved this writing routine for you because it seemed nice and not painful! I feel so bad for AuthorTubers wrecking their sleep schedules and making themselves miserable - but I suppose you won't know it's not helpful until you try it. As always the vibes were cosy and particularly dark academic 💛🌙🌟✨

ooooooh i love working in the library, this is such a good reminder to do that more often!

Christy, I love these writing routines <3 <3 Thank you for working so, so hard to bring us these inspiring videos <3