Happy all the time
On feeling tight, inspirational quotes and sex scenes
Are you familiar with the term “tight”?
Not as in uncomfortably fitting or over sealed like that one Gatorade cap or pasta sauce lid that makes you feel feeble, but the 7th definition that appears when you google “tight definition.”
The one that’s classified as “informal.” Tight meaning drunk.
I became familiar with it through my old drinking buddy, Fitzgerald– the heroes of his novels always “feeling tight” after, conservatively, one million glasses of champagne.
I found the usage delightful. Visceral. It’s like the 20s version of tipsy.
This term reappeared in my life last week through a book published in the late 70s.
So I googled “when did we stop saying tight for drunk” (i’m so creative in my googling) and found two articles about a book called Words in Time and Place by David Crystal, who is a language expert.
Fun Fact: “drunk” originates from the Middle English word “fordrunken,” originally used by Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales.
The Los Angeles Times excerpted a few of the many (150!) slang words for drunk featured in the book and it turns out that “tight” is so old, I am now amazed at its staying power (it’s like millennials with “lit,” i can’t un-use it, and i’m sorry)–
tight, 1830. It is first recorded as “tightish” — “somewhat drunk,” and seems to have taken a while to settle down as a recognized usage, for OED citations even into the 1880s were still in quotation marks.
All of this is to say, though I don’t know when we stopped using it, I’m wondering if we should bring it back?
This is like, instead of “what’s up,” I really want us to use “how now?”
Classy, right?
Though I guess then we’d have to do something about up dog…
Should we strive to make real societal change by starting with our vocabulary?
LMK!
What I’m Reading
Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin - There was a point where I saw this book all over the Instagrams of authors I follow. Written in the seventies, it follows two friends (and cousins) named Vincent and Guido (incredible duo names) and the two women they fall for, toggling between their four perspectives.
It’s kind of like a comedy of manners, utterly delightful and slyly poignant in its casual emotionality.
It’s so well written that I couldn’t help but underline several passages– like the one below from Guido’s POV, when Vincent, formerly a womanizer, realizes how deep his feelings are for a woman in his office and decides he must introduce her to his BFF:
When Vincent appeared, he looked shy, boyish, and over-wrought, and he tripped on the door ledge.
Like…… there is so much here.
The frank observation speaks to the closeness of their friendship, Guido knows Vincent well and he knows that he has got it BAD for this woman!
He tripped on the door ledge!!!
That’s so funny!
Being a dweeb in front of your crush? Relatable!
A Novel Obsession by Caitlin Barasch - I actually read this last year, but I finished a different book this week that I did not love, however, it featured a character that reminded me of the protagonist of A Novel Obsession.
Naomi is a writer who, well, becomes obsessed with her boyfriend’s ex. It’s one of those books where you’re like UH MAYBE DON’T DO THAT??? Naomi’s actions set your teeth on edge, but at the same time, you get her. Who among us has not stalked someone on social media? Just imagine if you took the next step and started doing it in real life…
As a writer, I really enjoy novels about writers. There were two quotes from this book that I wrote down in my Notes app. One of which I feel all the time–
All the invisible hours spent on my book aren’t represented on any payroll. It’s the dream life inside my head.
The dream life inside my head!!!!!
A book I gifted recently:
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle - A coming of age (of sorts) through grief, this book is about the relationship between a mother and daughter, how we can’t really know our parents and the importance of discovering yourself outside of how people view you.
It’s got magical realism, mystery, romance and it’s set in glorious Positano! There’s a charming boutique hotel, swimming in Capri, hiking to a vista. I could taste the pasta, the ricotta, the spritzes. Everything is zesty and fresh and vibrant. Wish you were going to Italy this summer? Read this!
A book I recommended recently:
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell - I was obsessed with Hamnet, O’Farrell’s last novel (I own this book in both hardcover and paperback– because the paperback is so pretty). It’s largely about grief, and it’s so heartbreakingly beautiful it made me achy.
Her latest book follows a young Lucrezia de Medici in 1500s Italy (sensing a theme? no, I’m not going to Italy this summer) as she becomes the child bride of the duke of Ferrara. On the first page, we learn that the duke is trying to kill her, but we don’t know why. Talk about a hook!
O’Farrell’s physical and emotional world building is unparalleled. While deeply embedding you in life at court, she maneuvers you gently around little Lucre’s head so that before you know it, she’s wound her way into your heart.
What I’m Writing
Pulling all these quotes this week I think is me looking for some inspiration. When I wrote my first novel, I wrote quotes that inspired me on index cards – a line from The Great Gatsby, an observation from Eve Babitz, a cheeky quote from Anthony Hopkins: I don’t like Shakespeare, I’d rather be in Malibu.
When I wasn’t sure what I was doing or where I was going next, I pulled out the index cards and read the quotes to myself hoping to feel moved (I am a parody of an artist).
My fingers are typing toward an ending, but I have no idea what it will be or how exactly I will get there. I’m not the first person to say endings are hard, and I know I won’t be the last…
Scenes that come easily to me:
parties (these basically write themselves, thanks to everyone who’s thrown a party i’ve been to, even the fratty ones. well, especially those)
arguments (these are so cathartic)
sex scenes (sorry mom - tho she has read the sex scenes in a very early draft of my first book and we had the “is there too much sex in it?” convo and she said no, there wasn’t)
Things that are harder:
getting a character from one emotional state to another (like when they’re arguing until suddenly they’re not mad anymore, they’re just really sad??? these characters have minds of their own and it’s hard to dig into them in a first draft)
secrets (sometimes i’m too withholding from the reader and also myself? the characters know more than i do and it takes a while for me to catch up)
endings (?????????)
This is why I’m always reading– to figure out how a character leaves a room, leaves the reader.
Reading is the only way to get better at writing.
That, and also just living. I am fond of saying “this is writing” as a friend and I do a walk and talk down the sidewalk heading to brunch, and on the day I need to write a brunch scene, I’ll know exactly how it’s supposed to go.
That’s all from me– stay tuned!
Now i need those books…..!