Desert Journal

From author ruth weiss on writing DESERT JOURNAL: a life of its own — this book DESERT JOURNAL. thought it would be novel to write a novel. do the math. 5 x 4 = 200. so for 40 days do 5 pages. decision. 5 pages non-stop each day whatever surfaces. even if only one word per page. forget characters & plot. this is a novel moderne. focus — the internal desert. being a water-sign — most fearful place the desert. need to explore that place. had never been to the actual desert. 1961. begin. it was finished in 1968. 7 years. readings through those years had audience call numbers up to the point of completion. someone would always ask “how do you know this about me?” DESERT JOURNAL has a life of its own. i’m only the instrument. sent manuscript out. no takers. 1975. went to NEW YORK CITY. in & out of publishing houses. no takers. back home in SAN FRANCISCO. no mistaking the message. MAGNETIZE THE CALL FOR IT. a week later. phone call from BOSTON. CHARLEY SHIVELY of GOOD GAY POETS press. had heard me at WILD SIDE WEST, a women’s bar in SAN FRANCISCO. i had mentioned looking for a publisher. DESERT JOURNAL came out in 1977. currently i’ve stolen lines from it & collaged into new poems — LIGHT WORKS, BYPASS LINZ, & SUICIDE DREAMS. 40 days — 7 years. those numbers have far-reaching biblical references. was not aware of that. now, thanks to DAVID BRINKS of TREMBLING PILLOW press in NEW ORLEANS, this book continues as a reprint. on a life of its own.