Today, I kind of re-launched my blog. I say kind of, because in a way I never really launched my blog in the first place. I just started writing, sometime back in 2008 (I think!). And kind of, because it is really “just” a renaming and a redesign. The point is, once upon a time I made a commitment to writing, and today, I reaffirmed that commitment.
I have written for trade publications, including Skin Inc, GCI Magazine, and starting this summer, Beauty Store Business, since I have been involved in the beauty industry. I also write for the Georgetown Dish, for whose readers I aim to create content more specific to the place I consider my hometown and neighborhood. And now, I also write for the Huffington Post Style section, with a personal commitment to one article per week, original content of course (luckily, I am surrounded by people in the style industry that I can interview, ranging from master stylist Tatum Neill to model Cecilia Singley). And then, there is my blog, ADAmantaboutbeauty, for which I try to write twice weekly.
All that to say, that’s a lot of writing. Of course, not as much writing as my mother does, as she has published 22 books. And I know at least one, if not two, of my fabulous sisters are themselves working on books. Maybe this is a genetic thing…
Writing, for me, is hard; it is very personal. Writing, for me, requires some specific conditions, which I have been thinking about today.
- I like to be alone when I write, but surrounded by people. I think I get that from my Mom, who lives at least half her life in cafés in Geneva or Paris. Here in the US, cafés are hard to come by (I love Starbucks, but that doesn’t count); my closest equivalent are hotel lounges and bars. Right now, actually, I am sitting in the lounge at the Fairmont Battery Wharf in Boston. I come to Boston at least twice a year (love coming back to college town), and this is the place I like most. On the water. Free wi-fi if you ask the front desk nicely. Lots of outlets. Good chardonnay by the glass.
- Which brings me to point condition #2. I like to have a glass of something when I write. Depending on the season or time of day, Veuve Cliquot, Acacia chardonnay (which I am enjoying right now), or a delicious, big, bold cabernet. That glass helps me be more genuine, be myself, take the walls down. (Indeed, so many people have told me they feel me so much more passionate in my writing than in my oral presentation… probably because I am deep down shy, and don’t usually do anything to overcome that shyness before an in-person meeting).
- I cannot be at my desk when I write. You might connect this to my first point, and it partly is about being surrounded by strangers – but it is more than that. At my desk, I answer emails; I have conference calls; I pay bills; I do work. At my desk, I am not creative. As much as I adore my desk and the Alchimie Forever showroom, I need to be outside of my “work” environment to be creative. And writing is creative…
- I need time. I know this may sound totally obvious. Yet I am able to write when I really have time. Head time. Thinking time. Day dreaming time. Case in point – my latest Huffington Post article about my godmother, which has been in my heart for years, took a 6 hour drive to Abingdon, VA, to actually formulate itself in my head as a piece of writing.
- More specifically, I need time, time that is uninterrupted by email, texts, and other forms of instant messaging. Hence I love long drives. Hence I love time on airplanes (literal day dreaming, as my Mom would say). Hence I have bitter-sweet feelings about Wi-Fi On Board.
Most importantly, a writer needs readers. It gives me intense pleasure to see Facebook Likes and shares on anything I write, to read your comments, to hear from you. To know that you take this time out of your busy day to pay attention to what I have to say. A heartfelt thank you to all of you.
Ada, I so enjoyed reading this article- love your new web site format. I always look so forward to your new blog- no matter how busy you are. You may get so tired of my stories but here is just a little one sort of related & one I learned while living abroad early in our marriage. Tom & I were transferred with his job to London after 2 years of marriage for 2 years. It was a dream & we traveled, etc. It was hard though because at that time London still basically was upper & lower class with a struggling middle class & with our “American Salary” we sort of were “lower upper class” but we were in reality not, so we made several British friends that were “struggling” middle class. Their number one style trick was to put all of their clothes dollars into an excellent blazer- the best fabric, cut, fit, etc. They would then wear this with everything. They wore it all the time- and they looked great all the time. As an “American” we would be shocked to be wearing the same item all the time but I thought their rationale was great- better to have one great piece and look great all the time than many cheaper pieces. I have followed that advice and never been sorry. In lean years, moving from Florida (no state tax) to Maryland & 3 kids, putting 3 kids through college- that was always my fall to advice for clothes or the one black dress with a few different jackets. Keep up the great writing…. we sure do benefit from your efforts. Fondly, Julie
Thank you Julie, I so love your stories – and yes, my philosophy is always quality over quantity 🙂 xo