Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Writer in the Kitchen

"Cooking takes time. It takes focus. It takes love. And that's what I pour, instead, into the work of creating and running an entire town named Mitford... Thus, on most evenings you may find me standing at the sink, devouring such culinary delicacies as pepperoni left over from last week's pizza, or fried chicken from the gas station up the road..."
Jan Karon
author of the Mitford books
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I read this in the introduction to Karon's Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader, and I thought yes. Yes! This is me!
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And now I feel less guilty about not wanting to spend more time in the kitchen. All that creative energy, I understand now, goes toward my writing.
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What about you? On what do you spend your energies?

21 comments:

Capri K @ No Whining Allowed said...

Lately? Staying cool, reading, and schlepping Mousey to and from VBS.
Creative energy? Oh, probably blogging and mosaicing.
Cooking is a creativity that I also do not share. Too much work for something that doesn't last.

Lori said...

I wish I could be this focused. I generally let my moods choose the way that I spend my creative energies. I do not enjoy cooking at all and the only way to make it bearable I find is to be creative and try new things all the time. Then I feel it is worth my effort. I am sure, though, that more creative focus would be excellent.

Donna M. Kohlstrom said...

Writing, reading and blogging is where most of my energies go, but I take breaks...sometimes long ones...to focus my energies on the tasks of daily living and "chilling out"!

Terri Tiffany said...

My writing!! And so my house isn't as clean right now and we might eat soup for supper:))
Got a goal to meet!

Wendy Paine Miller said...

Writing and projects that involve painting. When I paint I get ideas.

~ Wendy

Heather Sunseri said...

I love that! I'm always wishing I can pour my focus and love into whatever task is in front of me, even if I would rather be tackling a different task. Because usually the task in front of me is something I need to focus on and love.

April Plummer said...

I don't really cook. Fortunately, hubby does. :) When I was on my own, I so didn't cook at all! Cereal was always a favorite, or I'd toss a bunch of grilled chicken in with a box of pasta and eat it all week. I guess too much of my creative energy goes into my writing to care about cooking even though I do love food...

Linda Hoye said...

Writing! Is there anything else?!

cosmos cami said...

I've spent a lot of creative energy building myself up into a better person lately. It really takes a LOT out of a gal. Having a purely writing/poetry blog is my reward.
I do love to cook, despite picky and complaining children. :)

MedSchoolWife said...

Cool idea! I suppose I go in waves. Sometimes I do put a lot of creative energy into the kitchen, sometimes into writing, sometimes into my hair or clothes. My life is very cyclical, I suppose.

septembermom said...

I need to redirect my energy back towards my poetry. It's been a busy school year with projects and kids' activities. I look forward to the lazy days of summer where (hopefully) I'll get some new inspiration.

However, I better use some energy to get my house in order too. LOL.

Jennifer said...

Unfortunately, creativity flies in a lot of directions. I am a Jack of all trades but an Ace at none. :D

patti said...

LOVE to cook
LOVE to eat
LOVE to entertain my soulmate friends
LOVE to read
LOVE to write
LOVE momma-ing
LOVE teaching...
I'll stop now.

A see every God-given gift, yes, even greeting folks at church, as things to pour energy into.

People. I love people.

Great energizing blog.

Deb Shucka said...

I haven't read Jan Karon for years. This made me want to go back and reread the Mitford books.

My energy goes into my writing and my yard and my friends. Any free energy gets spent on reading.

Joanne said...

Writing definitely. And taking photographs. In the summer, my garden too! Fresh lettuce and those Jet Star tomatoes straight from the garden to the plate make it so worthwhile :)

Karen Lange said...

I need to spend more time on writing, for have not done enough lately. Thanks for sharing this. Am thinking frozen pizza for dinner...
Blessings,
Karen :)

Cassandra Frear said...

I have been noticing this lately. Creative energy is like a muscle. That means it can only work so long before we need rest. But it also means I can, over time, incrementally increase my ability to work -- at least up to a point. I will never be infinitely and ceaselessly creative like God.

In the meantime, I should be on a creative energy budget and allocate resources appropriately.

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Janna -

I'd rather write and blog than cook. Thank God for crockpots.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Melanie Hooyenga said...

I've noticed that when I'm doing a lot of design work, my writing lags. Apparently I only have room for so much...

Melissa Amateis said...

That is me, too! I really do NOT like cooking at all and just do it out of necessity. I'd MUCH rather spend that precious time writing!

Karen said...

OH, don't feel guilty about working your gift. My time is so split right now, I'm not doing what I would like-most of the time. But one day. :)