Digest

Maggie Smith, a renowned author and poet, shares her insights on the power of music as a poetic teacher, the fateful chain of events that led to the viral success of "Good Bones," and the complexities of navigating success and relationships while staying true to oneself. She candidly discusses the impact of her poem's viral success on her marriage and the challenges of balancing her creative life with family responsibilities. Smith emphasizes the importance of solitude and the courage to embrace life's unanswerable mysteries, offering a powerful message about the regenerative power of vulnerability and the importance of living authentically. The conversation also explores the gray areas of life, acknowledging that beautiful and terrible things happen simultaneously, and how art can help us process and metabolize these experiences. Smith's journey serves as a reminder that living a good life often involves embracing the unanswerable questions and finding peace in the simple things, like solitude, music, and writing.

Outlines

00:00:00

Intro & Music as a Poetic Teacher

This Chapter begins with Jonathan Fields introducing Maggie Smith, a renowned author and poet, and delves into her early experiences with music as a source of lyrical expression. Smith shares how music, unlike plot-driven fiction, allowed her to explore pure experiences and distill them into lyrical language, shaping her unique writing style.

00:19:35

The Viral Phenomenon of "Good Bones"

This Chapter focuses on the creation and impact of Maggie Smith's poem "Good Bones." Smith recounts the poem's journey from rejection by print journals to its viral success online, becoming a source of comfort and connection for millions during a time of collective trauma. She reflects on the unexpected consequences of the poem's popularity, particularly its impact on her marriage.

00:37:14

The Weight of Shared Suffering

This Chapter explores the complex relationship Maggie Smith has with her poem "Good Bones" and its connection to collective suffering. Smith shares how the poem's viral success often coincided with tragic events, leading to a strange and complicated experience of her work being tied to grief and loss. She reflects on the power of commiseration as a source of belonging and the importance of acknowledging and processing collective suffering.

00:42:49

Metabolizing Transition and Unanswerable Mysteries

This Chapter delves into Maggie Smith's process of writing her memoir, "You Could Make This Place Beautiful." Smith reveals that the book was a way for her to process the end of her marriage and the beginning of a new chapter in her life. She emphasizes the importance of art as a tool for metabolizing difficult experiences and the value of embracing life's unanswerable mysteries.

00:47:53

The Need for Stillness and Rest

This Chapter explores the challenges of balancing a demanding creative life with the need for solitude and rest. Smith shares her personal experience as an introvert who requires significant time alone to recharge and create. She discusses the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care to maintain a healthy balance.

00:51:06

The Good Life: Be Yourself

This Chapter concludes the conversation with a reflection on the meaning of living a good life. Maggie Smith emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself, acknowledging that it's not always easy but ultimately simple. She shares her own definition of a good life, which involves solitude, music, writing, and the courage to be fully oneself.

Keywords

Q&A

• How did music influence Maggie Smith's writing style?

  Music, especially the lyrical work of singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Neil Young, became Maggie Smith's first poetic teacher. It allowed her to express pure experiences and emotions without relying on plot, shaping her unique writing style, which is characterized by lyrical language and vivid imagery.

• What was the impact of "Good Bones" going viral?

  The viral success of "Good Bones" brought Maggie Smith widespread recognition and a global audience. However, it also created unexpected challenges, particularly in her marriage. The poem's popularity, often coinciding with tragic events, led to a complex relationship with her work and the weight of shared suffering.

• How does Maggie Smith balance her creative life with family responsibilities?

  Maggie Smith acknowledges the challenges of balancing a demanding creative life with family responsibilities, especially as a single parent. She emphasizes the importance of solitude and setting boundaries to maintain a healthy balance. She also believes in modeling a life of authenticity and self-expression for her children.

• What does Maggie Smith consider to be the key to living a good life?

  Maggie Smith believes that living a good life involves being true to oneself, embracing solitude, and finding joy in the simple things. She emphasizes the importance of telling the truth about who you are and not compromising your authentic self to fit in or please others.

• How does Maggie Smith use writing to process difficult experiences?

  Maggie Smith uses writing as a tool for metabolizing difficult experiences, giving shape and form to amorphous ideas and emotions. She finds satisfaction in taking swirling thoughts and feelings and transforming them into something tangible, which helps her find peace and understanding.

• What is Maggie Smith's perspective on unanswerable questions?

  Maggie Smith embraces unanswerable questions, recognizing that they are an inherent part of the human experience. She believes that spending time with these questions, even without seeking definitive answers, can lead to deeper understanding and personal growth.

• How does Maggie Smith define The Good Life?

  Maggie Smith defines The Good Life as being true to oneself, embracing solitude, and finding joy in the simple things. She believes that living authentically, pursuing one's passions, and finding meaning in life are essential components of a good life.

Show Notes