The Subtle Art of Attunement and Its Bearing on Our Writing, featuring Baron Wormser
Dec 18, 2023
auto_awesome
Author Baron Wormser, known for his memoir 'The Road Washes Out in Spring,' discusses the power of writing as a form of meditation, the concept of attunement in writing, constructing a memoir, the success of small publishers in winning awards, and the impact of money on publishing.
Living off the grid in harmony with nature cultivates attunement and a reflective inner life, enhancing one's writing.
Small presses play a crucial role in publishing unique and thought-provoking stories, prioritizing literary merit over commercial success.
Deep dives
Living Off the Grid: A Poet's Memoir
Baron Wormser's memoir, 'The Road Washes Out in Spring,' delves into his experiences of living off the grid in the woods of Maine for nearly 25 years. The book, originally published in 2006, offers a deep meditation on the ruminative, reflective, and meditative nature of writing. Wormser explores the attunement to nature and the earth that comes with such a lifestyle, highlighting the consequences and sufficiency of our actions in relation to the environment. His poetic prose captures the richness of being and the importance of slowing down to appreciate the world around us.
Writing as a Form of Attunement
The podcast episode delves into the ruminative and reflective style of writing, discussing the ways in which writing can cultivate a deep inner life and enhance one's attunement to oneself and the world. The guest, Baron Wormser, reflects on how writing acts as an invocation, allowing writers to focus, slow down, and be truly reflective. The episode explores the connection between poetry and attunement to nature, highlighting the beauty and significance of taking the time to stop, stare, and get lost in the fascination of the world around us.
The Significance of Consequences and Living Off the Grid
Living off the grid can offer a sense of attunement and connection to the earth. In Baron Wormser's memoir, he reflects on the richness of living in tune with nature and the satisfaction that comes from consequential actions, such as cutting wood for warmth. The discussion touches on the importance of embracing the sufficiency of the earth and the need for societies to shift their focus from relentless technological advancements to a more sustainable and attuned way of life. The episode addresses the challenges of balancing modern life with attunement and offers insights into the transformative power of living deliberately and in harmony with nature.
Small Publishers and the Recognition of Quality
The podcast episode highlights the success of small publishers in recent literary awards, such as the Booker Prize and the Nobel Prize. It emphasizes that quality literature does not always come from big publishing houses and that small presses are often better equipped to take risks and publish more interesting and diverse works. The trend demonstrates an appreciation for small presses' ability to prioritize literary merit over commercial success. The episode also highlights the need for readers to actively seek out and support small presses, as they play a crucial role in publishing unique and thought-provoking stories.
This week we’re slowing down, inviting listeners to contemplate another world both far and not far away from this one where there’s no electricity, no internet, no immediate access to all the information of the world at your fingertips. This was the world our guest Baron Wormser occupied for nearly twenty years, and the subject of his memoir, The Road Washes Out in Spring. We’re channeling a state of mind, beckoning listeners to attune to your surroundings, to what calls and what moves you. And maybe you’ll emerge out the other side of today’s show having reached a meditative, ruminative state. We hope so.
