Table Of ContentTable of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part I - A WRITING “HABIT”
EXERCISE - Writing Zazen
FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS FOR WRITERS
POINTING DIRECTLY AT YOUR OWN HEART, YOU’LL FIND
BUDDHA
SINGLE - MINDED EFFORT
GRANDMOTHER’S FINGERPRINTING
A WRITING “HABIT”
WAVES OF THE SEA BELONG TO THE SEA
WRITING POSTURE
THE KISS OF THE ASP
THE WRITER’S MIDDLE WAY
DISTRACTIONS
Part II - LIKE JESUS, IT’S FROM GOD. AND
FROM YOU.
EXERCISE - Writing Kinhin
STAY-AT-HOME DAYS
FLEETING THOUGHTS
BOOKS READ US
READING SUPPORTS WRITING—BUT WATCH OUT!
BLEACHED-BONE SIMPLICITY
ODE TO A DRAWER
THE RUBBERY TIME OF REVISION
ONE CONTINUOUS MISTAKE
LIKE JESUS, IT’S FROM GOD. AND FROM YOU.
PING!
FIVE PILLARS OF WRITING
Part III - THE LESSON OF LITTLE RED RIDING
HOOD
EXERCISE - Sneaking Up on Your Mind
TIGERS IN THE LOWLAND
INVISIBLE PRACTICE
THE GENTLE CYCLE
WRITER’S BLOCK: THE MAGIC MOUNTAIN
WRITER’S ANOREXIA : THE ABUSE OF CREATIVE POWER
THE LESSON OF LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
WRITING PARENTS
Part IV - BEAUTY PLUS PITY
EXERCISE - Watching the Mind
IF I THINK ABOUT MY SELF, DOES THAT MYSELF, DOES THAT
MEAN IʹM SELFISH?
WRITER-JOCK
WRITING AND "RIGHT" LIVELIHOOD
WHO IS WRITING BETTER VEDAS?
RIPPLES ON THE SURFACE OF THE WATER
ART IS THEFT, ART IS ARMED ROBBERY, ART IS NOT PLEASING
YOUR MOTHER
BEAUTY PLUS PITY
A BUTTON AND A FEW BONES
LIFE IS NOT KILLED
Part V - A WORD IS A CHARGED SITUATION
EXERCISE - Mot Juste
HUCKLEBERRY "K"
TIBETAN ENGLISH
THE TOLD STORY
ART FOR LIFE’S SAKE
THE LOOK OF A VOICE
GRASP THE THING, WORDS WILL FOLLOW
WILD BY LAW 40
Part VI - "NO, NO—POETRY IS SERIOUS! ZEN
IS NOT SERIOUS."
EXERCISE - Silence Is Not Silence Is Not Silence
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THIS MOMENT
"ASHES DO NOT COME BACK TO FIREWOOD"
LADY MURASAKI’S INSIGHT
HERON AND I
LEAN WORDS & QUIETLY
THE FRIDA KAHLO PRINCIPLE
AN ANGEL IN THE HOUSE
NOT KNOWING
ONE WORLD AT A TIME
APPENDICES
NOTES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
FOR THE BEST IN PAPERBACKS, LOOK FOR THE
FOR MORE OF GAIL SHER, LOOK FOR THE
COMPASS
ONE CONTINUOUS MISTAKE
Gail Sher’s expertise crosses several disciplines. She was named Teacher of
the Year by the combined Education Faculties of University of California at
Berkeley, Stanford, and San Francisco State University and has taught
classes in writing, psychology, and Zen on the graduate-school level for
many years. She also leads workshops and ongoing groups for writers.
As a psychotherapist she supervises and consults with individuals and
couples.
Her first published book, From a Baker’s Kitchen (1984), based on her
work as the founding baker of (the now famous) Tassajara Bread Bakery,
attracted national attention. The Bloomsbury Review said, “The text is
resplendent with words that will tempt and encourage you.” Technical
writers praised its organization and clarity and Catherine Fredman of
Diversion named it as one of the “Year’s Ten Best Baking Books.”
Since then she has published eight books of avant- garde poetry, three
book-length haiku sequences, as well as poems and haiku in over twenty
literary journals (some have won awards). Along with regularly lecturing
and giving poetry readings throughout the United States, in 1999 she was
elected to be listed in the ninth edition of the International Who’s Who in
Poetry and Poets’ Encyclopaedia published in Cambridge, England.
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First published in Arkana 1999
Copyright © Gail Sher, 1999
All rights reserved
Grateful acknowledgment is made for per-mission to reprint an excerpt from “Ripples on the
Surface” from No Nature by Gary Snyder. Copyright © 1992 by Gary Snyder.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING IN PUBLICATION DATA
Sher, Gail, 1942-
One continuous mistake: four noble truths for writers /
Gail Sher.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
eISBN : 978-1-101-50167-2
1. Authorship. I. Title.
PN145.S46 1999
808’.02—dc21 98-36537
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For Brendan
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To properly acknowledge the forces that brought this book into being would
require a directory of the universe. Still, a few individuals are noteworthy.
First and foremost is prose-writer Merry White Benezra. Before her
knowledge, perspicacity, wit, linguistic brio—not to mention her
compassion for the uninitiated reader—all offered up in a spirit of tireless
generosity—I stand in awe.
Kimn Nielson “saw” the title buried in an early draft. Debby Callaway
did tons of leg work. Both I thank.
For my agent Sarah Jane Freymann’s kindness, astuteness, concern and
carefully modulated presence along with my editor Carole DeSanti’s
unfailing support, I am moved and honored.
To my Zen teacher, Shunryu Suzuki-roshi, and my guru, Paramahansa
Yogananda, I bow with unmeasurable gratitude.
