My Beethoven bust!

This is what I asked for my birthday and my swell parents agreed to pay for it. It finally arrived!

I might not be a composer of any sort, but this will be my daily reminder to create!

Writers at work

The physical experience of writing is something I like. When I'm writing a story I hit the keys with all my force. Sometimes people surrounding me in the library will ask me to keep it down. I sometimes also rock back and forth in my chair.

I'm not saying I'm anywhere near as good as the authors below - and never will be. But below are a few authors in the middle of the writing process.

 J. G. Ballard

Paul Auster

Roberto Bolano

 

William Faulkner

George Orwell

T. S. Eliot

John Updike

The genius of Anton Webern

I've been hearing Anton Webern for years, but only recently have I come to appreciate the true value of his music.

The way these strands of sound are sown together fills me with awe. I also love how, though this music is mathematically calculated and tabulated, it sounds as if it has been extolled from a very brooding introspective mind.

Last time I went to Chile I attended programme including a Webern piece. An old lady sitting next to me said "I could have written that." If only you knew, old lady... If only you knew.