For Now (Why I Write)

In this third Why I Write volume, Eileen Myles addresses the social, political, and aesthetic conditions that shape their work "A sharply etched, unvarnished self-portrait."— Kirkus Reviews “[Myles] has a good time journeying through Hell, and like a hip Virgil, . . . is happy to show us the way.”— NPR "This is signature Myles: the unconventional syntax, the jazzy rhythms, the total commitment to writing in the heat of the moment, not edited or modulated by concessions to linear rationality."—Phil Gambone, Gay & Lesbian Review In this raucous meditation, Eileen Myles offers an intimate glimpse into creativity’s immediacy. With erudition and wit, Myles recounts their early years as an awakening writer; existential struggles with landlords; storied moments with neighbors, friends, and lovers; and the textures and identities of cities and the country that reveal the nature of writing as presence in time. For Myles, time’s “optic quality” is what enables writing in the first place—as attention, as devotion, as excess. It is this chronologized vision that enables the writer to love the world as it presently is, lending love a linguistic permanence amid social and political systems that threaten to eradicate it. Irreverent, generous, and always insightful, For Now is a candid record of the creative process from one of our most beloved artists. In this third Why I Write volume, Eileen Myles addresses the social, political, and aesthetic conditions that shape their work "A sharply etched, unvarnished self-portrait."— Kirkus Reviews "[Myles] has a good time journeying through Hell, and like a hip Virgil, . . . is happy to show us the way."— NPR "This is signature Myles: the unconventional syntax, the jazzy rhythms, the total commitment to writing in the heat of the moment, not edited or modulated by concessions to linear rationality."—Phil Gambone, Gay & Lesbian Review In this raucous meditation, Eileen Myles offers an intimate glimpse into creativity's immediacy. With erudition and wit, Myles recounts their early years as an awakening writer; existential struggles with landlords; storied moments with neighbors, friends, and lovers; and the textures and identities of cities and the country that reveal the nature of writing as presence in time. For Myles, time's "optic quality" is what enables writing in the first place—as attention, as devotion, as excess. It is this chronologized vision that enables the writer to love the world as it presently is, lending love a linguistic permanence amid social and political systems that threaten to eradicate it. Irreverent, generous, and always insightful, For Now is a candid record of the creative process from one of our most beloved artists. "[Myles] has a good time journeying through Hell, and likea hip Virgil, . . . is happy to show us theway."-NPR Blending humor and meditation, thiswide-ranging essay by the award-winning poet and writer EileenMyles is a candid record of the multivalent forces that shaped themas a writer. It is also a thoughtful investigation into the waythat writing is inescapably enmeshed with time. Myles recounts howpotential eviction from their apartment; relationships withfriends, lovers, and neighbors; and the textures and identities ofvarious cities, including New York and Marfa, Texas, all present asense of writing as presence within time. "Once I tasted time Inever wanted anything else. . . . The only way I can prove it isthat I started writing. Writing is my alibi," they note. The authorconcludes that writing is a form of loving that makes living "morebeautiful" because "I have time for it, I am in it." In This Third Why I Write Volume, Eileen Myles Addresses The Social, Political, And Aesthetic Conditions That Shape Their Work Blending Humor And Meditation, This Wide-ranging Essay By The Award-winning Poet And Writer Eileen Myles Is A Candid Record Of The Multivalent Forces That Shaped Them As A Writer. It Is Also A Thoughtful Investigation Into The Way That Writing Is Inescapably Enmeshed With Time. Myles Recounts How Potential Eviction From Their Apartment; Relationships With Friends, Lovers, And Neighbors; And The Textures And Identities Of Various Cities, Including New York And Marfa, Texas, All Present A Sense Of Writing As Presence Within Time. Once I Tasted Time I Never Wanted Anything Else. . . . The Only Way I Can Prove It Is That I Started Writing. Writing Is My Alibi, They Note. The Author Concludes That Writing Is A Form Of Loving That Makes Living More Beautiful Because I Have Time For It, I Am In It. In this third __Why I Write__ volume, Eileen Myles addresses the social, political, and aesthetic conditions that shape their work