Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Have fallen behind again
Have been so busy writing in other places and working on other projects I have not even read the last three readings until today. I really don't have the time right now to catch up either.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Dec. 25: Merry Christmas
Today's reading starts with Fred Whites comments about how Christmas magically transforms the mundane. He further states that writers tend to see story material everywhere/anywhere. However, he also touched on the fact that not all Christmas stories are happy ones. He reminds the reader that there are those for whom the holiday season is one of loneliness.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION
White talks about how writers, through their stories, can give the gifts of spreading goodwill, making a better world, blessings of joy and peace. He further adds that there can never be enough stories on these topics and they all need to be told.
TRY THIS
Compose a poem or short-story that will instill love or hope or compassion (preferably all three) in the hearts of others. Write it with the intention of reading it aloud to family and friends.
Merry Christmas all.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION
White talks about how writers, through their stories, can give the gifts of spreading goodwill, making a better world, blessings of joy and peace. He further adds that there can never be enough stories on these topics and they all need to be told.
TRY THIS
Compose a poem or short-story that will instill love or hope or compassion (preferably all three) in the hearts of others. Write it with the intention of reading it aloud to family and friends.
Merry Christmas all.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Dec. 24: The Ethics of Authorship
In today's writing Fred White discusses ethics as they apply to writing. He presents three key ways that ethics apply to writing; (1) what you write should be your own words and if they are not give credit to the person who uttered, or wrote them, (2) you should ensure that you write is factual unless of course you are writing fiction, and (3) if you are writing an autobiography "convey personal experiences as they actually happened without distortion." If you are going to exaggerate then we should call it "a novel, not a memoir".
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
Here Mr. White stated that the reader of a nonfiction has the right to expect the work to be truthful and accurate. However, he does allow for the fact that whenever a lived experience is turned into words there will be some distortion. But taking that into consideration authors should do all they can to "ensure theat the experiences they present are authentic. . . verifiable".
TRY THIS
After you finish a draft of your next essay, article, biography, or autobographical project, check it for accuracy, using the following checklist:
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
Here Mr. White stated that the reader of a nonfiction has the right to expect the work to be truthful and accurate. However, he does allow for the fact that whenever a lived experience is turned into words there will be some distortion. But taking that into consideration authors should do all they can to "ensure theat the experiences they present are authentic. . . verifiable".
TRY THIS
After you finish a draft of your next essay, article, biography, or autobographical project, check it for accuracy, using the following checklist:
- Are the dates and names of places and person accurate?
- Are incidents accurately described? Can they be verified by others?
- Are facts and explanations accurate?
- Is the sequence of events accurate?
Not much of this today. I agree with everything Mr. White says. Quoting sources is something that drummed into our heads in college. I don't know of any one who has ever written college term papers who had not heard from their instructor or professor the consequences of not quoting sources, or taking credit for someone else's work. Also I am in a profession that sets very high standards for ethics and I hope I will also maintain the high standards I have to date.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Dec. 23: Revelation
In today's reading Mr. White discusses how the Book of Revelation in the Bible has influenced writers through the ages. He discusses how the main theme of the book has been the plot used by many writers. He states that since "the influence of the book of Revelation on world literature is pervasive and profound, which is why writers should be familiar with it."
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION
In this portion White states that prophetic visions appears in all of the sacred texts of all religions and they have all influenced contemporary prophetic works. He further stated that the final battle in which the forces of good triumph over the forces of evil has become synonymous with nuclear holocaust. White feels that this is no accident. He also sated that the prophetic visions of sacred texts have greatly influenced contemporary prophetic works.
TRY THIS
Write a story in which two armies from two radically different cultures (or, if you like to write science fiction, two different planets) confront each other with the fate of a carefully guarded secret at state. What is the precious secret? Why are two mighty armies about to go to war over it? What will be the outcome? That is for you to decide.
This is another assignment that I will probably not work on any time soon. However, there has been an increased interest in recent year in prophetic writings of all kinds. Also a renewed interest in the book of Revelation and the biblical battle Armageddon.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION
In this portion White states that prophetic visions appears in all of the sacred texts of all religions and they have all influenced contemporary prophetic works. He further stated that the final battle in which the forces of good triumph over the forces of evil has become synonymous with nuclear holocaust. White feels that this is no accident. He also sated that the prophetic visions of sacred texts have greatly influenced contemporary prophetic works.
TRY THIS
Write a story in which two armies from two radically different cultures (or, if you like to write science fiction, two different planets) confront each other with the fate of a carefully guarded secret at state. What is the precious secret? Why are two mighty armies about to go to war over it? What will be the outcome? That is for you to decide.
This is another assignment that I will probably not work on any time soon. However, there has been an increased interest in recent year in prophetic writings of all kinds. Also a renewed interest in the book of Revelation and the biblical battle Armageddon.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Dec. 22: Climaxes and Resolutions
In today's reading the author talks about the importance of the stories climax and then ultimate resolution. He give some suggestions for climaxes and uses a an example, what he called "the simplest kind of climax", is the Western "shootout". He further states that there are a thousand variations of possible endings to a story but the author can only chose one.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
Mr. White states stories are mirrors of reality and as such they heighten the situations we experience in our own lives. However, our experiencs are usually not as pronounced. He uses two types of experiences as examples of climaxes: courtroom verdicts and medical dramas which he believes are the closest to the way we experience cimaxes in real life.
TRY THIS:
1. Study the way two or three novelists construct their respective climaxes; then outline a short story that includes two or more possible climaxes--each one perhaps, mirroring those of the respective novels you've been studying.
2. Write a climax scene to a story that is still in its planning stage. Working out the climax first will give you a better idea of how to dramatically render the steps that lead up to it.
I tried to work on one of the assignments from yesterday at work today only to not have the time because another therapist had to call out and I ended up doing her groups. I will try again tomorrow. Meanwhile these two assignments will go into the growing composition book.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
Mr. White states stories are mirrors of reality and as such they heighten the situations we experience in our own lives. However, our experiencs are usually not as pronounced. He uses two types of experiences as examples of climaxes: courtroom verdicts and medical dramas which he believes are the closest to the way we experience cimaxes in real life.
TRY THIS:
1. Study the way two or three novelists construct their respective climaxes; then outline a short story that includes two or more possible climaxes--each one perhaps, mirroring those of the respective novels you've been studying.
2. Write a climax scene to a story that is still in its planning stage. Working out the climax first will give you a better idea of how to dramatically render the steps that lead up to it.
I tried to work on one of the assignments from yesterday at work today only to not have the time because another therapist had to call out and I ended up doing her groups. I will try again tomorrow. Meanwhile these two assignments will go into the growing composition book.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Dec. 21: Holiday Traditions and Innovations
For today Mr. White discusses how that this is the time of year for all the holiday traditions. However, he also states it is a time for innovation, particularly for writers who can put a new spin on the old stories or write new stories with a holiday theme. He urges writers to contribute to the legacy of the holiday season by add a new song, poem, children's story, etc.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
In this section Mr. White also reminds us that this is also the time of the winter solstice which is also a time of festivity that marks the shortest day and longest night but also that "the slow return to spring" has begun.
TRY THIS
Today has three assignments.
1. Write a poem in the manner of "Twas the Night Before Christmas"--only give it a somewhat contemporary spin.
2. Compose the lyrics for a song, perhaps in the manner of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," or "The Chipmunk Song," but use different animals instead.
3. Write a new version of the Kwanzaa folktale "Anansi and His Sons", or of the Dicken's A Christmas Carol.
I am going to have to do some research and maybe tomorrow I will have some time to attempt one or more of these. But tonight don't have the time.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
In this section Mr. White also reminds us that this is also the time of the winter solstice which is also a time of festivity that marks the shortest day and longest night but also that "the slow return to spring" has begun.
TRY THIS
Today has three assignments.
1. Write a poem in the manner of "Twas the Night Before Christmas"--only give it a somewhat contemporary spin.
2. Compose the lyrics for a song, perhaps in the manner of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," or "The Chipmunk Song," but use different animals instead.
3. Write a new version of the Kwanzaa folktale "Anansi and His Sons", or of the Dicken's A Christmas Carol.
I am going to have to do some research and maybe tomorrow I will have some time to attempt one or more of these. But tonight don't have the time.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Dec. 20: Reaching the Finish Line
In today's reading the author talks about how each step in a project is in fact a finish line. It takes several finish lines in able to cross the ultimate finish line which is the end of the project. Even scraping the project somewhere along the line, according to Mr. White, is a finish line.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
According to Mr. White "writers' work includes many finish lines that ought to be acknowledged as suchalong the way to the grand finish line". He states that this is "a simple psychological strategy that keeps one's energy and motivation levels at optimum performance". It also serves as a reminder that writing is a "multistage endeavor".
TRY THIS:
The next time you plan a writing project, regard each step as a finish line. Don't just think it, record it as the headin for each stage--initial one-paragraph overview; initial outline/synopsis; revised outline/synopsis; opening sentence; first paragrah, first page of the discovery draft; and so on.
Writing now my writing efforts are not as detailed. However most of my projects do include a rough draft, research, revised draft, and of course part of the rough draft and revised draft is the opening sentence, first paragraph, first page, etc.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
According to Mr. White "writers' work includes many finish lines that ought to be acknowledged as suchalong the way to the grand finish line". He states that this is "a simple psychological strategy that keeps one's energy and motivation levels at optimum performance". It also serves as a reminder that writing is a "multistage endeavor".
TRY THIS:
The next time you plan a writing project, regard each step as a finish line. Don't just think it, record it as the headin for each stage--initial one-paragraph overview; initial outline/synopsis; revised outline/synopsis; opening sentence; first paragrah, first page of the discovery draft; and so on.
Writing now my writing efforts are not as detailed. However most of my projects do include a rough draft, research, revised draft, and of course part of the rough draft and revised draft is the opening sentence, first paragraph, first page, etc.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
The irony of it all
This is the first time in days that I have had the time to post anything. It is ironic because when I came to the blog there was a comment from someone commending me on my persistence in, to use her terms "bang the keys". There are times when the way my Lord works things out that just made me laugh. He has such a sense of humor. It also points up the fact that today's technology also connect like minded individuals in ways that we don't even intend or imagine.
So now down to business. Catching up on my comments on the readings since my last post.
Dec. 16: The Art of Concision, or Less is More
In this reading, as can be guessed from the title, is about keeping our writing concise unless there is a very definite reason to not be brief. Mr. White states that most novice writers have a tendency to "overwrite". He then gives three reasons for this: "diction- and syntax-level wordiness, faulty sentence construction, and excessive description, explanation, or narration". He then gives two examples; one of when a short one word sentence would have served a better purpos and one in which the author deliberately uses "stream-of-consciousness language". In "FOR FURTHER REFLECTION": He goes on to say that "writing concisely. . . takes practice". He then suggests a good way to learn to be concise, which is to study the principle in a grammar handbook.
The "TRY THIS" assignment is to practice condensing paragraphs in drafts of essays and stories; both yours and other peoples.
Dec. 17: Inner Listening:
In this day's reading Fred White talks about using listening as a learning experience and to listen with your whole being "holistically", and also to use it as an opportunity for personal growth. The then goes on to talk about The Tao of Peace by Diane Dreher in which she "addresses the need to resolve conflicts" which separates us from the things that are truly important in life. In quoting her he stated that first we need to admit when we are ignorant of certain matters. White further states that as we learn from others, others also learn from us and this learning is greatly "enabled through inner listening". In "FOR FURTHER REFLECTION": White tells us that in order for us to become successful writers we need to "open ourselves to the ideas and experiences of others." We need to listen to them with our whole being, even if we disagree with them. The "TRY THIS" assignment is a suggestion for an experiment in inner listening. Basically he tells us to engage in a discussion with a friend about a particular controversial topic and then after listening carefully to write down what we consider our friend's assumptions about the issue and ask your friend to do the same thing. Then compare notes.
Dec. 18: Visions of Sugarplums
In today's reading the author tells us that holidays (all holidays) "are ideal times for letting your imaginatio roam free". He goes on to state that he means to "explore in a manner unfettered by rules and regulations. He states that for the writer "our sugarplums will take the form of bold new story ideas, whimsical characters, and whimsical situations in which to embroil your whimsical characters." "FOR FURTHER REFLECTION": He suggests that we use every holiday as a potential sugarplum. He suggests that this is particularly beneficial for those who write for younger audiences. The "TRY THIS" assignments are to (1) take several sheets of notebook paper (pages in a composition book) and at the top of each page write a holiday and then over the next few days use these pages to develop lists of topics you can write for each holiday for either children or adults. (2) Then take one of the topics and compose a rough draft in one or two settings. Set this aside for a few days and then revise it.
Dec. 19: Collective Experiences
In today's reading the author addresses the topic of collective experiences. In particular the uses a section of Margaret Mead's study of adolescent behavior among the natives of Samoa, where she lived for several years. Fred White states "by comparing parent-child interaction in two different cultures, Mead enables us to better understand human relationships." In "FOR FURTHER REFLECTION": White states that writers are like anthropologists who help us understand different cultures and customs which in turn "can foster peace and good will". In learning about other cultures we are better able to live in harmony with them. The "TRY THIS" assignment for today is: Learn all you can about a little known society. He suggests those "in the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, the Alaskan and Canadian arctic, or Sub-Saharan Africa. Then assimilate ethnographic studies of their social, religious, and articistic customs. Use this information to write an essay about the society, target for young adults.
As you might have gathered all of these assignments are going to have to be consigned to my composition book for future consideration. There are already enough assignments in that book to keep me busy for a long time. Maybe there will come a time (such as when I retire) that I will have far more time to really work on these assignments. Unless of course I can fit it into something that I need to write - say for a client to get paid for.
So now down to business. Catching up on my comments on the readings since my last post.
Dec. 16: The Art of Concision, or Less is More
In this reading, as can be guessed from the title, is about keeping our writing concise unless there is a very definite reason to not be brief. Mr. White states that most novice writers have a tendency to "overwrite". He then gives three reasons for this: "diction- and syntax-level wordiness, faulty sentence construction, and excessive description, explanation, or narration". He then gives two examples; one of when a short one word sentence would have served a better purpos and one in which the author deliberately uses "stream-of-consciousness language". In "FOR FURTHER REFLECTION": He goes on to say that "writing concisely. . . takes practice". He then suggests a good way to learn to be concise, which is to study the principle in a grammar handbook.
The "TRY THIS" assignment is to practice condensing paragraphs in drafts of essays and stories; both yours and other peoples.
Dec. 17: Inner Listening:
In this day's reading Fred White talks about using listening as a learning experience and to listen with your whole being "holistically", and also to use it as an opportunity for personal growth. The then goes on to talk about The Tao of Peace by Diane Dreher in which she "addresses the need to resolve conflicts" which separates us from the things that are truly important in life. In quoting her he stated that first we need to admit when we are ignorant of certain matters. White further states that as we learn from others, others also learn from us and this learning is greatly "enabled through inner listening". In "FOR FURTHER REFLECTION": White tells us that in order for us to become successful writers we need to "open ourselves to the ideas and experiences of others." We need to listen to them with our whole being, even if we disagree with them. The "TRY THIS" assignment is a suggestion for an experiment in inner listening. Basically he tells us to engage in a discussion with a friend about a particular controversial topic and then after listening carefully to write down what we consider our friend's assumptions about the issue and ask your friend to do the same thing. Then compare notes.
Dec. 18: Visions of Sugarplums
In today's reading the author tells us that holidays (all holidays) "are ideal times for letting your imaginatio roam free". He goes on to state that he means to "explore in a manner unfettered by rules and regulations. He states that for the writer "our sugarplums will take the form of bold new story ideas, whimsical characters, and whimsical situations in which to embroil your whimsical characters." "FOR FURTHER REFLECTION": He suggests that we use every holiday as a potential sugarplum. He suggests that this is particularly beneficial for those who write for younger audiences. The "TRY THIS" assignments are to (1) take several sheets of notebook paper (pages in a composition book) and at the top of each page write a holiday and then over the next few days use these pages to develop lists of topics you can write for each holiday for either children or adults. (2) Then take one of the topics and compose a rough draft in one or two settings. Set this aside for a few days and then revise it.
Dec. 19: Collective Experiences
In today's reading the author addresses the topic of collective experiences. In particular the uses a section of Margaret Mead's study of adolescent behavior among the natives of Samoa, where she lived for several years. Fred White states "by comparing parent-child interaction in two different cultures, Mead enables us to better understand human relationships." In "FOR FURTHER REFLECTION": White states that writers are like anthropologists who help us understand different cultures and customs which in turn "can foster peace and good will". In learning about other cultures we are better able to live in harmony with them. The "TRY THIS" assignment for today is: Learn all you can about a little known society. He suggests those "in the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, the Alaskan and Canadian arctic, or Sub-Saharan Africa. Then assimilate ethnographic studies of their social, religious, and articistic customs. Use this information to write an essay about the society, target for young adults.
As you might have gathered all of these assignments are going to have to be consigned to my composition book for future consideration. There are already enough assignments in that book to keep me busy for a long time. Maybe there will come a time (such as when I retire) that I will have far more time to really work on these assignments. Unless of course I can fit it into something that I need to write - say for a client to get paid for.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Dec. 15: Wish Lists
In today's reading Mr. White talks about how various types of wish lists can serve as inspiration for writers and that writers should make wishes even outlandish wishes. Mr. White gives several examples of possible wish lists.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
Here again Mr. White tell us that "wishing and wish-listing are good activities for writers to indulge in." He tells writers that they should in fact allow themselves to "wish uninhibitedly".
TRY THIS:
1. Start keeping a list of fanciful, fantastical, fabulous wishes. Challenge yourself to conjure up the most outlandish wishes you can imagine.
2. After a week or so, review your fantastic wish list and choose one or more of them as the basis for a children's fairy tale or n adult fantasy story.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
Here again Mr. White tell us that "wishing and wish-listing are good activities for writers to indulge in." He tells writers that they should in fact allow themselves to "wish uninhibitedly".
TRY THIS:
1. Start keeping a list of fanciful, fantastical, fabulous wishes. Challenge yourself to conjure up the most outlandish wishes you can imagine.
2. After a week or so, review your fantastic wish list and choose one or more of them as the basis for a children's fairy tale or n adult fantasy story.
Dec. 14: Holiday Histories
In this reading Fred White talks about how Holidays offer the freelance writer a wealth of material write about. This is particularly true about the histories of holiday traditions. He offers some suggestions on how to take this material which has already been written about in the past from a new perspective.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
In this section Fred White makes a very interesting comment, one that will give the writer much to think about and write about. "No matter what the subject, it has a history that may prove fascinating enough to tap into for short stories and essays."
As a history buff I can see the truth in this statement. Everything, every topic, every subject has a history attached to it.
TRY THIS:
Brainstorm for unusual story or essay ideas on the history of Christmas, Hanukkah, or Eid. How, for example, did Jews celebrate Hanukkah in Victorian times or during the Renaissance? How many versions of the story of the Three Wise Men (or Magi) can you discover? How did each one originate? What role do children play during Eid?
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
In this section Fred White makes a very interesting comment, one that will give the writer much to think about and write about. "No matter what the subject, it has a history that may prove fascinating enough to tap into for short stories and essays."
As a history buff I can see the truth in this statement. Everything, every topic, every subject has a history attached to it.
TRY THIS:
Brainstorm for unusual story or essay ideas on the history of Christmas, Hanukkah, or Eid. How, for example, did Jews celebrate Hanukkah in Victorian times or during the Renaissance? How many versions of the story of the Three Wise Men (or Magi) can you discover? How did each one originate? What role do children play during Eid?
Sunday, December 13, 2009
What a week
I have really been amiss this week; partly because I lacked the time to set and write and partly because when I had the time I chose to do something else. I am not even going to take the time to put the missed days discussion or assignments here but instead will just post my thoughts about each days reading.
December 8: Sensory impressions
As I read this day's reading I thought about ways in which I could improve my novel that I wrote in November for the NANOWRIMO Challenge. There are several scenes in which several sense could be used. So will store those ideas for the next time I go through the novel to make revisions.
December 9: Cinematic Drafting
This reading inspired me to use a cinematic approach in the opening part of the novel mentioned above. It could be used to lay down the scenery of the town and then a cinematic type viewpoint drawing the reader to the house where the main family lives.
December 10: Exploring the Psychology of Dreams
Although this is an interesting topic I really had no real thoughts about utilizing the topic. I have not really given much credence to dream analysis. However, at some point in some of my stories I might be able to utilize the idea. I know I would not use either of the writing assignments Fred White gave because neither type of story currently interests me.
December 11: Flying by the Seat of your Pants:
The type of writing Fred White describes here is precisely what the NANOWRIMO Challenge is all about. Without research, or other aids the writer was to write a 50,000 word novel in one month. The idea was to get the words down in the computer and then go back after the month ended and fininess the book with aim of possibly getting it published. In order to get that many words down you had to set a goal each day of so many words.
December 12: Critiquing as Coaching:
White talks about viewing critiques by reliable critics as being coached by a writing coach. I really would like to find a reliable critic to go over my writing to see if it is really as viable as I think it is. Of course, I also need to get the final revisions done and then print it off.
December 13: Holiday Foods for Holiday Stories
In this reading Fred White talks about incorporating descriptions of holiday meals into stories. Again back to my novel there are two holiday meals, as well as several other meals that are included. I need to go back over these and include some additional senses as well as more descriptive terminology about the food. This was a relatively easy assignment in the initial writing because There is a wealth of past holiday meals that I can chose from, and a number of holiday meal traditions. This is particularly true with the South where the story is set.
Now if I can keep up with things next week; will be back on schedule.
December 8: Sensory impressions
As I read this day's reading I thought about ways in which I could improve my novel that I wrote in November for the NANOWRIMO Challenge. There are several scenes in which several sense could be used. So will store those ideas for the next time I go through the novel to make revisions.
December 9: Cinematic Drafting
This reading inspired me to use a cinematic approach in the opening part of the novel mentioned above. It could be used to lay down the scenery of the town and then a cinematic type viewpoint drawing the reader to the house where the main family lives.
December 10: Exploring the Psychology of Dreams
Although this is an interesting topic I really had no real thoughts about utilizing the topic. I have not really given much credence to dream analysis. However, at some point in some of my stories I might be able to utilize the idea. I know I would not use either of the writing assignments Fred White gave because neither type of story currently interests me.
December 11: Flying by the Seat of your Pants:
The type of writing Fred White describes here is precisely what the NANOWRIMO Challenge is all about. Without research, or other aids the writer was to write a 50,000 word novel in one month. The idea was to get the words down in the computer and then go back after the month ended and fininess the book with aim of possibly getting it published. In order to get that many words down you had to set a goal each day of so many words.
December 12: Critiquing as Coaching:
White talks about viewing critiques by reliable critics as being coached by a writing coach. I really would like to find a reliable critic to go over my writing to see if it is really as viable as I think it is. Of course, I also need to get the final revisions done and then print it off.
December 13: Holiday Foods for Holiday Stories
In this reading Fred White talks about incorporating descriptions of holiday meals into stories. Again back to my novel there are two holiday meals, as well as several other meals that are included. I need to go back over these and include some additional senses as well as more descriptive terminology about the food. This was a relatively easy assignment in the initial writing because There is a wealth of past holiday meals that I can chose from, and a number of holiday meal traditions. This is particularly true with the South where the story is set.
Now if I can keep up with things next week; will be back on schedule.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Dec. 7: Heroes, Superheroes, and Antiheroes
In today's reading Fred White talks about the idea of heroism in writing. He further discusses how complex the idea of heroism has become. He states that now heroes can be flawed and downright unheroic. He also talked about antiheros, "protagonist who violate the very idea of heroism". He stated that these characters are often found in what is called "theater of the absurd". But in this absurdity there is a sense of a deeper commentary on the moral or spiritual crisis that some of our sacrosanct insitutions have fallen.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
White believes that it is only natural in our modern age that heroism should come under artistic scrutiny. He believes that we have not lost our appreciation for heroic acts but we have made our heroes less predictable. They are no longer heroic, mythical peope with magical powers but rather more compatible with our understanding of human nature.
The TRY THIS assignment:
1. Write a story about a flawed hero--say a superman-line crime fighter whogets mixed up with a group of Robin Hood types who decide to help the poor in unconventional ways.
2. Write an absurdist comedy in which your main character is a coward or suffers from paranoid delusions or who decides to live out a childhood fantasy, sacrificing his career as an accountant in the process.
Again another assignment that will have to go into the composition book. It is also one that probably will not be under taken any time soon. But who knows.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
White believes that it is only natural in our modern age that heroism should come under artistic scrutiny. He believes that we have not lost our appreciation for heroic acts but we have made our heroes less predictable. They are no longer heroic, mythical peope with magical powers but rather more compatible with our understanding of human nature.
The TRY THIS assignment:
1. Write a story about a flawed hero--say a superman-line crime fighter whogets mixed up with a group of Robin Hood types who decide to help the poor in unconventional ways.
2. Write an absurdist comedy in which your main character is a coward or suffers from paranoid delusions or who decides to live out a childhood fantasy, sacrificing his career as an accountant in the process.
Again another assignment that will have to go into the composition book. It is also one that probably will not be under taken any time soon. But who knows.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Dec. 6: Free-Associating
In today's reading Mr. White tells us that we have two different types of knowledge. There is ariculate knowledge. This is knowledge that we are aware that we have because we use it on a regular basis. The second type is tactic knowledge which we don't realize that we know because it has been store in our subconsiousness. However, if we will just begin writing without stopping to prematurely edit we will begin to tap into this tactic knowledge. According to White this free association opens the channel to this hidden knowledge.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
Here White says that much of what we learn is placed into deep storage "because we can't find a use for it in our daily lives." However, since writing requires "more dynamic knowledge retrieval". He also states that "the more you write, the thinner will be the boundary between your tactic and articulate knowledge."
Today's TRY THIS assignment:
"Spend a half hour writing nonstop, free-associating on a broad topic, and writing down whatever comes to mind, no matter how irrational or irrelevant it seems. Shut off the editor in your brain that will want to put a stop to such nonsense. Your goal here is to see how readily you can retrieve tactic knowledge about the subject. Afterwards, pluck out the morsels and use them as the basis for a poem or short story.
I like the sounds of this assignment and since I have some free time tonight I may try this assignment after supper. I won't be able to post it here but if it results in anything I will add it to the new blog I am thinking of doing as a storage place for my short stories.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
Here White says that much of what we learn is placed into deep storage "because we can't find a use for it in our daily lives." However, since writing requires "more dynamic knowledge retrieval". He also states that "the more you write, the thinner will be the boundary between your tactic and articulate knowledge."
Today's TRY THIS assignment:
"Spend a half hour writing nonstop, free-associating on a broad topic, and writing down whatever comes to mind, no matter how irrational or irrelevant it seems. Shut off the editor in your brain that will want to put a stop to such nonsense. Your goal here is to see how readily you can retrieve tactic knowledge about the subject. Afterwards, pluck out the morsels and use them as the basis for a poem or short story.
I like the sounds of this assignment and since I have some free time tonight I may try this assignment after supper. I won't be able to post it here but if it results in anything I will add it to the new blog I am thinking of doing as a storage place for my short stories.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Dec. 5: The Gift of Reading
In today's reading Fred White states that, as writers we can foster a love for reading in children by giving them gifts of books this holiday season. We can also give books to the adults on our Christmas lists. The gives The New York Times Book Review and The New York Review of Books which are published each year as good sources for gift book ideas for both children and adults. As writers we can serve as examples to our family members to encourage reading.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
Writers are best suited to give reading as a gift particularly for the young people in our lives. White states that "children are naturally voracious readers; yet, sadly, children are sometimes made fun of for readings a lot." However, the adults encourage reading and do so by example "the less likely reading will be an object of ridicule."
Today's TRY THIS assignment:
"Make a list of all your family members. Beside each name, name the books you think he or she would likely enjoy. This will be your gift list for the holidays."
As I have stated else where reading has long been a pleasureable activity for me. As a child I really was a voracious reader. My parents, fortunately, encouraged this activity. They did not always encourage my writing but they always encouraged my reading. My mother was also an avid reader. Her taste in reading was much simplier than mine but she always enjoyed reading. I also encouraged my daughter's love for reading and many of the books she was given, or opted to read, were the same ones I enjoyed reading as a child. We have attempted to encourage this love of reading in later generations. Not always successful but we continue to encourage reading. Now days this is a struggle because television, dvds, computer games are often more enjoyable than readings. We, as a family, though have not given up and do still frequently give books as gifts. They are on the gift list not only for Christmas but also for birthdays.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
Writers are best suited to give reading as a gift particularly for the young people in our lives. White states that "children are naturally voracious readers; yet, sadly, children are sometimes made fun of for readings a lot." However, the adults encourage reading and do so by example "the less likely reading will be an object of ridicule."
Today's TRY THIS assignment:
"Make a list of all your family members. Beside each name, name the books you think he or she would likely enjoy. This will be your gift list for the holidays."
As I have stated else where reading has long been a pleasureable activity for me. As a child I really was a voracious reader. My parents, fortunately, encouraged this activity. They did not always encourage my writing but they always encouraged my reading. My mother was also an avid reader. Her taste in reading was much simplier than mine but she always enjoyed reading. I also encouraged my daughter's love for reading and many of the books she was given, or opted to read, were the same ones I enjoyed reading as a child. We have attempted to encourage this love of reading in later generations. Not always successful but we continue to encourage reading. Now days this is a struggle because television, dvds, computer games are often more enjoyable than readings. We, as a family, though have not given up and do still frequently give books as gifts. They are on the gift list not only for Christmas but also for birthdays.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Dec. 4: Authorship and Marketing
Today's reading deals with the fact that publishing a book is a business venture and a risky one. Mr. White also states that the best way for a new author to break through the competition is to find a reputable agent. He lists three sources to check and see if an agent is reputable. He further states that now days it is a literary agent that does what an editor used to do which is to screen through thousands of proposals in search of promising material.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
Mr. White tells us that althought the competition is formidable to not let that discourage us. "There is always room at the top." We should see the competition as the reason do always do your very best work.
Today's TRY THIS assignment:
After you finish the draft of a book, select the best three chapters and send them, together with a proposal, toa reputable literary agent. The proposal should consist of the following:
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
Mr. White tells us that althought the competition is formidable to not let that discourage us. "There is always room at the top." We should see the competition as the reason do always do your very best work.
Today's TRY THIS assignment:
After you finish the draft of a book, select the best three chapters and send them, together with a proposal, toa reputable literary agent. The proposal should consist of the following:
- a detailed chapter-by-chapter outline or synopsis of the entire book.
- a market analysis: why your book should be published; existing books that are similar to it, how your book is different, and who the target readers will be
- an estimated time for completion of the book
- a resume listing your credentials and previous publications
- a cover letter summarizing your project and a description of the proposal package you're enclosing.
- a stamped, self-addressed envelope for the agent's reply.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Dec. 3: Breaking the Rules
In today's writing the author talks about the fact that there are established rules such as sentence structure and grammarical rules. In poetry their are certain types of rhyming patterns. However, sometime new rules and/or practices come into being only by the writers who are daring enough to break the rules. According to the author "essence of art is its daring to penetrate the dark corners of the psyche, of human experience in general. To do that, one cannot be bound by conventional rules."
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
It is in artistic context that the aurthority of standard rules diminishes. It is in this artistic context that new rule replace the old ones.
Today's TRY THIS assignment:
Write a story without thinking consciously of the rules of short story writing as you have learned them. (For example, "tell the swtory from one point of view only"; "keep your tense consitent throughout"; "begin a new paragraph when a different person speaks"). After completing the draft, reread it carefully with the rules in mind, and decide which of them you want to eliminate or reinstate as the case may be.
Can't do this one today (again) so it will be placed in the composition book for later consideration.
However, thanks to the spelling and grammar check of modern wordprocessing software programs we have come to depend on these programs to show us where we have made grammatical errors and we can then chose to make the suggested changes or not. It often depends on the context whether I will change or chose to leave the sentence unchanged. If it makes the speaking of the story more conventional or in keeping with the character I will often chose to not change the sentence.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
It is in artistic context that the aurthority of standard rules diminishes. It is in this artistic context that new rule replace the old ones.
Today's TRY THIS assignment:
Write a story without thinking consciously of the rules of short story writing as you have learned them. (For example, "tell the swtory from one point of view only"; "keep your tense consitent throughout"; "begin a new paragraph when a different person speaks"). After completing the draft, reread it carefully with the rules in mind, and decide which of them you want to eliminate or reinstate as the case may be.
Can't do this one today (again) so it will be placed in the composition book for later consideration.
However, thanks to the spelling and grammar check of modern wordprocessing software programs we have come to depend on these programs to show us where we have made grammatical errors and we can then chose to make the suggested changes or not. It often depends on the context whether I will change or chose to leave the sentence unchanged. If it makes the speaking of the story more conventional or in keeping with the character I will often chose to not change the sentence.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Dec 2: Giovanni Battista Tiepolo: "Time Unveiling Truth"
In today Fred White explains this painting by Tiepolo. I really don't grasp what he is talking about but maybe that is because I am really not into this type of art. However, according to White this painting is full of allegories and states that within art or writing the artist/writer can use allegories to represent individuals and objects through complex abstract ideas.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
Here White states that "Tiepolo's painting helps us realize the difficulty of truth to prevail in a world of mortality, vanity, carnal desire, and fear. Yet truth does prevail. She may be vulnerable to the temptations and corruptions of the flesh, but there is a divine spirit that shines forth giving her strength and endurance."
Today's TRY THIS assignment:
Compose an allegorical poem in which you dramatize Time's struggle to expose Truth to the things of the world that will threaten to undo he. You might use as a model Keat's "Ode on Melancholy", in which Melancholy 'dwells with Beauty-Beauty must die;/And Joy, whose hand is ever at his lips/Bidding adieu..."
Again this is an assignment that I defineately do not have time for. It would take more brain cells and research than I really have resources to expend at this time. I'll add it to the composition book but I doubt that I will get to it any time soon because I really am not interested.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
Here White states that "Tiepolo's painting helps us realize the difficulty of truth to prevail in a world of mortality, vanity, carnal desire, and fear. Yet truth does prevail. She may be vulnerable to the temptations and corruptions of the flesh, but there is a divine spirit that shines forth giving her strength and endurance."
Today's TRY THIS assignment:
Compose an allegorical poem in which you dramatize Time's struggle to expose Truth to the things of the world that will threaten to undo he. You might use as a model Keat's "Ode on Melancholy", in which Melancholy 'dwells with Beauty-Beauty must die;/And Joy, whose hand is ever at his lips/Bidding adieu..."
Again this is an assignment that I defineately do not have time for. It would take more brain cells and research than I really have resources to expend at this time. I'll add it to the composition book but I doubt that I will get to it any time soon because I really am not interested.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Dec. 1: Winter Festivals
In today's readings the author states that the months of December and January are full of festivities. According to him the imagery of winter are one of positive associations. "The colder it gets outside, the cozier people make themselves inside." He further state that this is a time when writers can spread good cheer and that there never can be too much good cheer. Therefore the writer should not refrain from writing about holiday season topics even if there have already been a number of writers to do so. He reminds us that everyone has their own distinct voice.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
The writers through the use of our "spirit and imagination" fill the cold dreary months of winter with the magic of "birth and renewal". All of the imagery of past hoiday seasons and even the earlier ancient winter celebrations give the assurance that life and life with ultimately "prevail over death and darkness."
Today's "TRY THIS" assignment:
1. What is your favorite holiday ritual? Write and essay about it and how you have come to love it.
2. Just for fun (or for satiric purposes) invent a ritual and build a fantasy story around it.
The first assignment has already been accomplished. I recently wrote an article for examiner.com on the pleasant memories of my mother's holiday baking and making of special treats. The second assignment will again have to added to the composition book due to lack of time. A few quick thoughts would be to have a winter soltice festival in some prehistorical time maybe instead of the typical depictions of such celebrations set in European settings to have one set in prehistoric America among a Native American tribe like the Anastaze in the southwest.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
The writers through the use of our "spirit and imagination" fill the cold dreary months of winter with the magic of "birth and renewal". All of the imagery of past hoiday seasons and even the earlier ancient winter celebrations give the assurance that life and life with ultimately "prevail over death and darkness."
Today's "TRY THIS" assignment:
1. What is your favorite holiday ritual? Write and essay about it and how you have come to love it.
2. Just for fun (or for satiric purposes) invent a ritual and build a fantasy story around it.
The first assignment has already been accomplished. I recently wrote an article for examiner.com on the pleasant memories of my mother's holiday baking and making of special treats. The second assignment will again have to added to the composition book due to lack of time. A few quick thoughts would be to have a winter soltice festival in some prehistorical time maybe instead of the typical depictions of such celebrations set in European settings to have one set in prehistoric America among a Native American tribe like the Anastaze in the southwest.
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