Ask the Author: Marta Zaraska
Answered Questions (4)
Marta Zaraska
Lots! I've realized that there are plenty of good reasons why people have trouble giving up meat, and not only because of some genes that may make it harder for some of us to do the switch to a plant-based diet. But also because of how powerful symbolism of meat is (over the centuries meat came to symbolize power, wealth, masculinity), and how influential the meat industry is as compared to the produce industry (that even sounds weird). I think I became more understanding when people say "I'd like to reduce my meat consumption, but it's just so hard". Luckily, there are things you can do to make it easier on yourself.
Marta Zaraska
Being able to live anywhere in the world you wish. Paris? Greenland? Bora Bora? Why not? :)
Marta Zaraska
By everything around me. By the things I read - books, research papers, tweets, newspaper articles. By the things other people say. By the things I see. All this adds up to ideas for articles and for books.
Marta Zaraska
As the poet Dorothy Parker once said: 'Writing is the art of applying the ass to the seat.' I couldn't agree more. Also, I believe writer's block often stems from fear - fear of writing something bad, or silly, or not being able to write at all. And so I use an egg timer. I set it for 15 minutes to begin with, sit in front of that scary white page on the computer screen, and try to write - anything, no matter how bad - for that 15 minutes. Then I take a break, and after 5 minutes or so come back for another 15 minutes (or 30 if I feel less scared by then). The reason for the ultra-short sessions is that 15 minutes is not that overwhelming. I can tell myself: it's just 15 minutes, then you are free to go. Just 15 minutes...
Another thing is to allow yourself to write badly. You can't edit an empty page. Just write anything (even: "blah blah blah I have no idea what to write, gosh I want a cookie"). It doesn't matter. Just keep these fingers of yours moving on the keyboard and the right words will eventually come. As Hemingway once said: 'The first draft of anything is shit.'
Another thing is to allow yourself to write badly. You can't edit an empty page. Just write anything (even: "blah blah blah I have no idea what to write, gosh I want a cookie"). It doesn't matter. Just keep these fingers of yours moving on the keyboard and the right words will eventually come. As Hemingway once said: 'The first draft of anything is shit.'
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