Ordem e Progresso

The Americans have “In God We Trust,” the French, “Liberté, égalité, fraternité.” And the Brazilians? Better known for their beautiful soccer than their work ethic, Brazilians have the ominous-sounding slogan “Ordem e Progresso” on their flag, draped over a blue circle that represents the southern hemisphere’s night sky. It means Order and Progress, a coupla concepts I’ve been chewing on these past few days.

The draw toward an increased level of order and progress in my own life was punctuated today by an article I just read about the life of Ingmar Bergman, Swedish filmmaker, whose late-life peculiarities of sex and family and daily operations constituted the main interest points of a photo essay in a recent (not recent as it turns out…only seemed that way since we no longer subscribe and that one’s stayed around for a while) issue of W magazine (supplied, I should say, by Sage. I’m not too current with my W if she’s not around). A simple idea stuck out: for a man with a chaotic inner existence, imposed structure is essential. In fact, I could see the rigors of structured living going beyond essential into the realm of addiction (not lost in the article is a sense of Bergman being increasingly difficult to reach, personally and professionally, due to his adherence to a self-centered timeline and a set of deep convictions about what is and is not good use of hours).

Also, I do not mean to flatter myself by saying my inner life is comparable to that of Mr Bergman. Whereas his notes and revisions are the stuff of museum halls, mine are an embarrassment I wouldn’t want displayed to anyone, least of all a public audience. I hope some day to create works whose construction would prove interesting to someone other than myself, that future is far from guaranteed.

But I do recognize that a lack of structure coupled with a swell of good intentions is the perfect equation for letting one’s self off the hook. It’s easy for me to say I’m working, or that I’m thinking, or that the real time to sit down and get to work on the book is just around the corner. But without a schedule, I don’t have a sense of time and opportunities being gobbled up by my past — a sense that I think is important to maintain. The truth is, every morning I’m not writing is a morning lost, a morning set back, a morning from the future that I’m borrowing against despite the fact that the future isn’t promised to me. First thing first: write one book. Then another. I certainly can’t write my third novel while I’m still waiting to get downstairs and finish the first.

So, for posterity, here’s my three-days-a-week plan, plus a little something (less structured) for the weekend. I’ll report back on the success of this project in two weeks.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

7:01am Wake up
7:01am – 7:15am Coffee
7:15am – 9:15am Writing
9:15am – 9:20am Breakfast
9:20am – 9:35am Commute (bike)
9:35am – 10:00am Workout and shower
10:00am – 6:30pm Work
6:30pm – 7:00pm Commute home, unwind
7:00pm – 8:00pm Read, relax
8:00pm – 9:00pm Dinner
9:00pm – 11:00pm Read, movie, etc.
11:00pm Sleep

Weekend

Six hours total of writing time, divided as events dictate