Look over the quotes on writing and writers I handed out last class. Pick the one that resonates the most with you. Comment why (by 4 p.m., Wednesday). Be prepared to discuss your choice in class this Thursday.
"We tell ourselves stories in order to live." - Joan Didion
My family is very big, and very big on telling stories. Since I was young, family stories have been passed down - stories of cousins launching themselves off cliffs on their bikes, to my Grandfather's French mistress (during WWII) sending him a letter that my Grandmother promptly opened. These tales were told at morning coffee and evening parties. Over and over. Thing is, I'm not sick of a single one of those tales. Tales passed from generation to generation connect my family, living and dead. We can still laugh about that time my brother said, to my mother's shrieks, "no wanna mashed potatoes damn-it!" at a very young age. We still cry about the circumstances of the day my Uncle Tom was diagnosed with fatal cancer. Stories pass on information, traditions, and insight to these people I've been surrounded by my entire life.
Stories were also essential to life back in the day when there was no written word. Word of mouth spread folklore and history. Telling stories is a way people relate to each other, in and out of families. This is why I wanted to be a journalist. Telling stories is in my blood, and I have to do it to live.
“Technique alone is never enough. You have to have passion. Technique alone is just an embroidered potholder.” –Raymond Chandler
I agree with what Chandler says about having passion for one’s writing. I think that, as an author, you need to be passionate about what you are writing about in order for it to be a good read. It may be technically sound, but it will probably be boring. I know I’m guilty of this when it comes to essays or articles on topics I don’t really care about. I know that the writing itself is technically sound, and will get me the grade I want (most of the time!) but the content might not be my best stuff. At the same time, when I’m writing about something that matters to me, I feel like my writing is so much better. I wrote a movie blog for The Little Rebellion last semester, and I had a great time doing it, and it reflected in my writing. It sounded funnier, more cohesive, and was more enjoyable to write, simply because I cared about the subject. In my experience, it’s easier to write about something you are passionate about. The trouble becomes preventing yourself from saying too much, rather than struggling to finish a thought.
I think a few of the quotes presented overlap. I originally started writing about what Samuel Johnson said- “What is written without effort is in general read without passion.” He’s got a point; if the author doesn’t put any real effort into what he or she is writing, it won’t be his or her best work. It’s a New Year’s Resolution of mine to make sure I put extra effort into the assignments I really don’t care about, just so I am putting my best foot forward every time. Whether or not that actually works, I haven’t discovered yet.
"I write one page of masterpiece to ninety one pages of shit. I try to put the shit in the wastebasket." -Ernest Hemingway
It's late at night, and there is so much shit in my wastebasket, I wish I could light it on fire and light my cigarette with the flames. Sometimes writing can be very frustrating, and I am more than unsatisfied with draft after draft after draft. By then, I'm tired of the subject, exhausted of my own prose, and in dire need of some intoxicating vice. After that, it's time to start completely over. I find after that the writing process goes smoother. It's like I have to get all the bad writing out first.
I appreciate this quote because it is comforting to know that a master of words could know the same frustration. I also feel like the last part is a good reminder to keep the shit in the wastebasket-- just like "kill your darlings." Garbage writing is garbage writing, and there's no reason to be afraid to get rid of it.
Coleridge was a drug addict. Poe was an alcoholic. Marlowe was stabbed by a man whom he was treacherously trying to stab. Pope took money to keep a woman’s name out of a satire; then wrote a piece so that she could still be recognized anyhow. Chatterton killed himself. Byron was accused of incest. Do you still want to be a writer-and if so, why?- Bennett Cerf
Dear Mr. Cerf, Yes, I still want to be a writer. That is who I am. I’ve attempted to change that over the years, but I’ve come to accept the inevitable- I’m going to write.
Sometimes, I wish I was different. I wish I had the head for numbers so I could go into business, or that I had some marketable skill like doing hair. I’ve tried my hand at other things, things that might be more practical for a person who likes expensive perfume and weekend getaways. I tried to study psychology, nutrition, anything else that seemed more…practical. But then I’d take a creative write class, and a teacher would pull me aside, or I’d share a story with someone and they’d become genuinely moved. I’d find myself drawn back to the familiar comfort that is writing. Writing has been there when my mouth has failed me. When I was six, and my mother would do something to piss me off, instead of throwing a tantrum, I’d find a yellow Post It and write to her, I AM MAD AT U. If I suspected she was upset with me, I’d scrawl on a piece of paper in purple crayon, R U MAD WIT ME? It has always been easier to write the truth than to speak the truth. And even now, as I have become more self assured, less afraid to speak, I turn to my pen when a matter is really pressing. I write when someone or something should be remembered.
I think of words as seeds-seeds with power. And it’s better to plant these seeds with the best tools of the trade than toss them about hoping they will take root on the fertile ground of a listener’s ear. I’m a reluctant sort of farmer. I have things that I want to say, and I intend to plant them into people’s hearts. I’m going to dig my stories into their skin one word at a time with the aid of a Bic pen. And maybe that’s makes me crazy, but then again, I’d be in good company, wouldn’t I?
“All writing is addiction, and all writers are hooked.” – Sadie Plant This couldn’t be said better. Ever since I was seven or so I’ve been writing in journals, on loose-leaf, Word documents, on the back of receipts, napkins, you name it. I’ll look at something and just get this spark – and I have to write about it. Sometimes it even keeps me up at night. I’ll be so tired but get this crazy idea of something to write about and although I try to push myself to just go to bed, my mind won’t allow it and I have to get up and write it down. Writing is a curse, but a good one. I feel like it can ruin relationships or even trust issues, you know? I can’t look at someone and not think of what I would want write about them. I am fascinated by people’s actions, looks, secrets, etc., and am constantly trying to take a deeper look into everything. A lot of people say writers are usually addicts: alcoholics, drug-addicts, you name it. But I agree with Plant. The writing itself is the addicting part. Even if what I write is shit at the moment, I have yet to lose that urge to just want to move my fingers across the keys or put my pen to paper.
But lately, I think I’m beginning to grow towards J.P. Donleavy’s “The purpose of writing is to make your mother and father drop dead with shame.” I’m definitely inching toward that with some of the things I've been writing about…just not at that disgrace part quite yet. Maybe soon though.
"All writing is addiction, and all writers are hooked.” – Sadie Plant
A few days ago, I had starred off six quotes from the paper that I would consider using for this post. This was not one of those six.
I’ve chosen this quote because I think I am becoming addicted to writing. Either that or I’ve got some sort of spasm in my Parietal Lobe because lately it’s all I think about doing. I can’t help it though — I just found out that a creative piece I submitted to a real publication is going to be published, and my feet haven’t touched the ground since.
Granted, I’m haven’t actually embarked on the whole excessive writing part of the addiction. But after this, I wouldn’t be surprised if it starts to happen. I mean, look at this. I’m writing this blog post at 3 in the morning. I’ve been awake since 8 a.m. yesterday. But I’m just having so much fun. Hmm, maybe this will get published somewhere??
Seriously though, it’s like a wistful hunger. The feeling that your superiors appreciate your work; that others will consume and respond to your work; that your opinion matters enough to send out to a 51,000 subscribership; that you are acknowledged — it’s so tragically appealing. Ugh, and that first taste. That first taste. Christ, the thing hasn’t even been published yet and I feel like I’m famous. I feel like I can write anything and it will be as just genius as that last thing and everyone will want to read it and publish it and talk about it...
I get it though, It’s not always going to be like that. I’ll have withdrawals, where people don’t like my work and people tell me they’re going to hold it until the next issue because it needs work, or just can it altogether (oh the humanity). But I’ll go out on a limb and guess that as with any addiction, the withdrawals just make you want it more.
“All writing is addiction, and all writers are hooked.” – Sadie Plant
A good writer knows that writing is their life. Writing is their purpose. Any writer knows the relief and satisfaction that comes with the first exhale after a completed project. Any writer can tell you that. But my guess is that most writers won’t admit to their problem. In fact they don’t think it’s a problem at all. They couldn’t imagine their life without it. Reading this quote helped me realize that since I started my journalism studies at SUNY New Paltz, I have spent a majority of my free time networking, and thinking about my next project. My God, I’ve turned into a junkie! I’m constantly thinking where I’m going to get my next story from. I ask my friends if they have connections. “I need this,” I tell them but they don’t understand. They don’t really get it. And when I don’t have it, it’s all I think about. Maybe drug addiction is a better choice. At least you can pay for that. As far as all writers being hooked, how could they not be? This job is very time consuming, especially for the perfectionist. And honestly, I’ve never heard of a writer coming out of the woodwork to write one story and getting so rich that they decide to call it a career (autobiographies being the exception). Most great writers do this because it is their high. This is how the feel something; anything. A great writer does this because they feel that they have something to share with the world; a life full of unique experiences and tragedies that they want to be remembered for. We recently talked about how some of the best writing comes from immersion. Well why is this any different than my friends going on a bender and telling me about all the crazy shit they did? When I have something I want to write, it’s all I think about. I am addicted to it. And maybe this quote is derived from the stereotype that most writers are “wierdos” or outcasts that society looks down upon; but that’s ok because I’d rather be weird than write like a fucking mainstream robot.
"Don't you know all writers ever talk about is their troubles?"-Sylvia Beach
Oh, and what a troubled being I am.
I've come a long way from the dark place I was once so familiar with, and while I do not want to depict myself to be superior to anyone, I find that having experienced some outrageous and unfortunate things in my life has brought me a personal wisdom that not everyone may have. It makes my thought process different from another's, and what I put down on paper a bit unique (at least, when I am writing freely about myself).
I do call myself a writer, and I would be lying if I said that the troubles I've struggled with-and continue to struggle with-aren't frequently the roots of my inspiration. How is it possible for a writer to avoid the experiences that have molded them into what they are, in one of the most creative portals of all? If you write about your troubles, your allowing yourself to be vulnerable for your readers, allowing them into your psyche. You are writing about what is so personal to you, what you know, what entices you. Your readers become your judgers, in a way.
But beyond the judgement aspect of being a writer, writing about your own nasty experiences can become soothing and therapeutic. You have the ability to disconnect from those troubles when you put them on a page and make them a fictional character's issues instead of your own.
So you see, for a self-proclaimed fuck up, writing is something truly beautiful and real.
"The purpose of writing is to make your mother and father drop dead with shame." - J.P. Donleavy
I've been writing since I was a kid, and have loved doing so ever since. I think the last piece of writing I showed my parents was my recreation of Jack and the Beanstalk that I wrote in 3rd grade which ended up being around 60 pages (writing and illustrations combined). My parents have always known that writing was a source of my inspiration, but they never really prodded to see what I was writing. They've never been too involved in my creative process, save for attending a few of my concerts in various musical bands which they never sincerely enjoyed, mostly supported. The various poetry, short stories, or other creative writing work I've done throughout high school into my college career have never been shown to my parents -- they've never asked for it, and I have never really gone out of my way to show it to them. I think a big part of that is expressed in Donleavy's quote.
My writing, like most people's, has primarily been a medium to exorcise the demos I have about life. In that sense, most of my writing is depressing and vulgar, most of which my parents wouldn't go out of their way to read. I don't write to cause my parents to "drop dead with shame" but I do realize that most of my inspiration comes from thoughts I couldn't comfortably share with my parents. I know people who have more open relationships with their parents, to which this quote would maybe not apply, but writing to me is harnessing the uncomfortable and uncommon into words that make sense of insecurities and faults. I don't really want my parents to think I'm as fucked up as my writing may suggest, but when I feel like I'm writing something honest, my parents would possibly be ashamed to read it. Although I don't think that the purpose of all writing is to sham your parents (and I know this quote isn't to be taken too literally), I do think that this quote resonates with the feeling of writing something true or controversial. Sometimes I feel like writers have a tendency to remain loyal or protective of certain aspects of their lives, which is a fault Donleavy's quote seems to combat.
"There are no dull subjects. There are only dull writers," H.L. Menken
This just makes sense. Take the story about Disney for instance. "Disney sucks" is such a tired and cliche subject that I feel unoriginal when the thought even crosses my mind. But the story we read was so well written I became so engrossed in the journey that it was like I was hearing about the "Disney sucks" concept for the very first time.
I believe that if anything is written interestingly enough, it will in turn make it's subject interesting and engaging. I strive to be a non-dull writer who's use of language perfectly portrays what it is I am trying to communicate to my reader in a masterful and fantastic way, no matter the subject matter.
Even though it was already discussed in class, “no ideas but in things” is still my favorite quote given on the sheet. The quote is probably more relevant to our popular culture now than ever before. Every time I turn the TV on, which isn’t often because I can’t afford cable, it seems that half of the channels have a host speculating about something; whether it be politics or anything else. But what we’ve clearly lost is the ability to speculate on the basis of fact and experience. The dialogue shifts between two things; what’s going to happen in the future (e.g. if health care reform is enacted, your grandmother will die a SLOW, PAINFUL DEATH) and something that might have happened, but isn’t really provable, such as guessing who Alex Rodriguez is sleeping with this week. We need a writer like Crane to share real experiences. Our media covers everything from such a distant perspective, and stories lack a true empathy and different point of view (despite our best attempts to be objective.) We like to claim that with the internet, we’re a global generation, where racism is dying and prejudices aren’t a factor. But in reality, we judge as much as ever, and a huge factor is the stories we perpetuate, which have no basis in truth or experience. The only quote I didn’t understand was “writing is a dog’s life, but the only one worth living.” It’s a bit glorifying and self-praising. A janitor could say the same thing about being a janitor. I just wish there was something about why a writer’s life is the only one worth living.
"All writing is addiction, and all writers are hooked." - Sadie Plant
When I read this, I thought about the quote from Faulkner that at times we must all "kill our darlings" in writing. My biggest problem in writing is falling in love with what I write. I can't distinguish the shit from the great writing because the shit is wrapped in such beautiful language and technique.
This quote from Plant struck me not so much that once someone begins to write that they cant stop, like a drug. It struck me more as all writers fall in love with what they create, and it is because we enjoy being good at something, enjoy creating pieces that others can experience through our words that we continue to struggle through and write. It's not like it is glamorous or profitable to become a writer, but much like a few of the other quotes on the list, especially Flaubert's, it is something that we need to do. Maybe not because we consciously choose to but because we are all addicted to it.
"To be a writer is not to preach the truth, but to discover the truth" -Milos Kundera
I choose this quote because it applies to every kind of writing, whether it be fiction or nonfiction. Writing is a process in which, I feel, the writer is trying to get across a ‘truth’ to the reader. This ‘truth’ doesn’t have to be obvious or in the readers face, but it must be present. In fact most good writing has hidden truths, and I think that is what Kundera means by juxtaposing ‘preach’ and ‘discover.’ The writer shouldn’t be preaching their point, but instead let the reader discover it just as the writer discovered it. Writing is a process, in which both the reader and the writer are finding things out, learning truths and then decipher for themselves which truths resonate with them and which truths they believe.
In a journalistic perspective, truth is the most important part of an article. The truth of the article is what they are trying to get across to the reader. Yet sometimes in a plain sense they are preaching this truth because it is something they have not discovered themselves. I think that is where a lot of bad writing comes from, when someone is familiar with a topic they tend to preach it on to others, instead of letting the reader discover it for themselves.
When I write I try to fully understand my ‘truth’ and display it to the reader in a more ambiguous way so they can decipher it how they want to. The beauty of writing is that everyone interprets it differently, and as a writer I believe that is my main goal- to make sure my writing is good enough so each reader can interpret it differently and be able to relate it to themselves and their experiences. That’s why I read, and that’s also why I write.
"We tell ourselves stories in order to live." - Joan Didion
Although I feel like I could go really deep into the meaning of this quote for me I’m not sure how much I can go into it on a blog for class. This is something I need to work on.
This quote relates to me in more ways than just as a writer. My stories make a a stronger person. Not just the ones I write but the ones I have floating around in my head. They show me that I’ve made it to where I am today because of something. I have accomplished and over came so much within these past 20 years and will not let myself forget this. If I didn't tell myself these stories I would have nothing to build off of and grow from. Without going into too much detail (because like everyone else in the world I’m scared to share my feelings) I have had many different obstacles in my life that lead me to new discoveries about the world and myself. I write because of my experiences and I re live them a little bit each day when I read and analyze these stories. I tell myself these stories to take a step forward, if I didn't do this I would be stuck in a spot of sadness and regret.
I have two that I like, and think are interrelated, if that's ok.
" We tell ourselves stories in order to live."- Joan Didion " The purpose of writing is to make your mother and father drop dead with shame."- J.P. Donleavy
I think Didion is trying to say with her quote is, stories are written and spoken about that are adventurous tales that a normal person wouldn't do in a day. My dad has told me stories of his college days, and they are awesome stories that put my dad in a role that I now wouldn't envision him in. His fraternity stories sort of shape him in my head to be a fuller person that has lived these crazy experiences, that I wouldn't know about from just viewing him as my dad.
I feel that these two quotes are similar because Donleavy says that stories should be written that would put your parents to shame, while Didion is saying we tell our stories in order to live. I think that a story you would retell would be a reckless story that your parents wouldn't approve of. Donleavy is saying a story you write should differ from an everyday life experience, one that a parent wouldn't want to know, even though they probably have similar stories. Didion then says we should take that story and retell it because it shows the true colors of living.
“We tell ourselves stories in order to live” –Joan Ddion
Even people who don’t love to read or write enjoy hearing or telling a good story. It’s what we do as people; we tell stories. I see a lot of truth in this quote. I think what is meant by “in order to live” is that we need great experiences that we can talk about and reflect on in writing to feel fulfilled in life. When something wonderful or absurd happens in my life the first thing I do when it’s over is tell someone the story about what happened. Then, after some reflection, I write about it. That way it’s always preserved, not only in my memory, but on paper. I always read old journal entries that I wrote years ago to remember all the experiences I have turned into stories. Looking back and reading my stories has made me see how much I’ve grown and matured throughout life. Also, stories are a form of entertainment; films, T.V. shows and art all tell stories, not just literature and without them life would be boring.
19 comments:
"We tell ourselves stories in order to live." - Joan Didion
My family is very big, and very big on telling stories. Since I was young, family stories have been passed down - stories of cousins launching themselves off cliffs on their bikes, to my Grandfather's French mistress (during WWII) sending him a letter that my Grandmother promptly opened. These tales were told at morning coffee and evening parties. Over and over. Thing is, I'm not sick of a single one of those tales. Tales passed from generation to generation connect my family, living and dead. We can still laugh about that time my brother said, to my mother's shrieks, "no wanna mashed potatoes damn-it!" at a very young age. We still cry about the circumstances of the day my Uncle Tom was diagnosed with fatal cancer. Stories pass on information, traditions, and insight to these people I've been surrounded by my entire life.
Stories were also essential to life back in the day when there was no written word. Word of mouth spread folklore and history. Telling stories is a way people relate to each other, in and out of families. This is why I wanted to be a journalist. Telling stories is in my blood, and I have to do it to live.
“Technique alone is never enough. You have to have passion. Technique alone is just an embroidered potholder.” –Raymond Chandler
I agree with what Chandler says about having passion for one’s writing. I think that, as an author, you need to be passionate about what you are writing about in order for it to be a good read. It may be technically sound, but it will probably be boring. I know I’m guilty of this when it comes to essays or articles on topics I don’t really care about. I know that the writing itself is technically sound, and will get me the grade I want (most of the time!) but the content might not be my best stuff. At the same time, when I’m writing about something that matters to me, I feel like my writing is so much better. I wrote a movie blog for The Little Rebellion last semester, and I had a great time doing it, and it reflected in my writing. It sounded funnier, more cohesive, and was more enjoyable to write, simply because I cared about the subject. In my experience, it’s easier to write about something you are passionate about. The trouble becomes preventing yourself from saying too much, rather than struggling to finish a thought.
I think a few of the quotes presented overlap. I originally started writing about what Samuel Johnson said- “What is written without effort is in general read without passion.” He’s got a point; if the author doesn’t put any real effort into what he or she is writing, it won’t be his or her best work. It’s a New Year’s Resolution of mine to make sure I put extra effort into the assignments I really don’t care about, just so I am putting my best foot forward every time. Whether or not that actually works, I haven’t discovered yet.
"I write one page of masterpiece to ninety one pages of shit. I try to put the shit in the wastebasket."
-Ernest Hemingway
It's late at night, and there is so much shit in my wastebasket, I wish I could light it on fire and light my cigarette with the flames. Sometimes writing can be very frustrating, and I am more than unsatisfied with draft after draft after draft. By then, I'm tired of the subject, exhausted of my own prose, and in dire need of some intoxicating vice. After that, it's time to start completely over. I find after that the writing process goes smoother. It's like I have to get all the bad writing out first.
I appreciate this quote because it is comforting to know that a master of words could know the same frustration. I also feel like the last part is a good reminder to keep the shit in the wastebasket-- just like "kill your darlings." Garbage writing is garbage writing, and there's no reason to be afraid to get rid of it.
Coleridge was a drug addict. Poe was an alcoholic. Marlowe was stabbed by a man whom he was treacherously trying to stab. Pope took money to keep a woman’s name out of a satire; then wrote a piece so that she could still be recognized anyhow. Chatterton killed himself. Byron was accused of incest. Do you still want to be a writer-and if so, why?- Bennett Cerf
Dear Mr. Cerf,
Yes, I still want to be a writer. That is who I am. I’ve attempted to change that over the years, but I’ve come to accept the inevitable- I’m going to write.
Sometimes, I wish I was different. I wish I had the head for numbers so I could go into business, or that I had some marketable skill like doing hair. I’ve tried my hand at other things, things that might be more practical for a person who likes expensive perfume and weekend getaways. I tried to study psychology, nutrition, anything else that seemed more…practical. But then I’d take a creative write class, and a teacher would pull me aside, or I’d share a story with someone and they’d become genuinely moved. I’d find myself drawn back to the familiar comfort that is writing.
Writing has been there when my mouth has failed me. When I was six, and my mother would do something to piss me off, instead of throwing a tantrum, I’d find a yellow Post It and write to her, I AM MAD AT U. If I suspected she was upset with me, I’d scrawl on a piece of paper in purple crayon, R U MAD WIT ME? It has always been easier to write the truth than to speak the truth. And even now, as I have become more self assured, less afraid to speak, I turn to my pen when a matter is really pressing. I write when someone or something should be remembered.
I think of words as seeds-seeds with power. And it’s better to plant these seeds with the best tools of the trade than toss them about hoping they will take root on the fertile ground of a listener’s ear. I’m a reluctant sort of farmer. I have things that I want to say, and I intend to plant them into people’s hearts. I’m going to dig my stories into their skin one word at a time with the aid of a Bic pen. And maybe that’s makes me crazy, but then again, I’d be in good company, wouldn’t I?
“All writing is addiction, and all writers are hooked.” – Sadie Plant
This couldn’t be said better. Ever since I was seven or so I’ve been writing in journals, on loose-leaf, Word documents, on the back of receipts, napkins, you name it. I’ll look at something and just get this spark – and I have to write about it. Sometimes it even keeps me up at night. I’ll be so tired but get this crazy idea of something to write about and although I try to push myself to just go to bed, my mind won’t allow it and I have to get up and write it down. Writing is a curse, but a good one. I feel like it can ruin relationships or even trust issues, you know? I can’t look at someone and not think of what I would want write about them. I am fascinated by people’s actions, looks, secrets, etc., and am constantly trying to take a deeper look into everything. A lot of people say writers are usually addicts: alcoholics, drug-addicts, you name it. But I agree with Plant. The writing itself is the addicting part. Even if what I write is shit at the moment, I have yet to lose that urge to just want to move my fingers across the keys or put my pen to paper.
But lately, I think I’m beginning to grow towards J.P. Donleavy’s “The purpose of writing is to make your mother and father drop dead with shame.” I’m definitely inching toward that with some of the things I've been writing about…just not at that disgrace part quite yet. Maybe soon though.
"All writing is addiction, and all writers are hooked.” – Sadie Plant
A few days ago, I had starred off six quotes from the paper that I would consider using for this post. This was not one of those six.
I’ve chosen this quote because I think I am becoming addicted to writing. Either that or I’ve got some sort of spasm in my Parietal Lobe because lately it’s all I think about doing. I can’t help it though — I just found out that a creative piece I submitted to a real publication is going to be published, and my feet haven’t touched the ground since.
Granted, I’m haven’t actually embarked on the whole excessive writing part of the addiction. But after this, I wouldn’t be surprised if it starts to happen. I mean, look at this. I’m writing this blog post at 3 in the morning. I’ve been awake since 8 a.m. yesterday. But I’m just having so much fun. Hmm, maybe this will get published somewhere??
Seriously though, it’s like a wistful hunger. The feeling that your superiors appreciate your work; that others will consume and respond to your work; that your opinion matters enough to send out to a 51,000 subscribership; that you are acknowledged — it’s so tragically appealing. Ugh, and that first taste. That first taste. Christ, the thing hasn’t even been published yet and I feel like I’m famous. I feel like I can write anything and it will be as just genius as that last thing and everyone will want to read it and publish it and talk about it...
I get it though, It’s not always going to be like that. I’ll have withdrawals, where people don’t like my work and people tell me they’re going to hold it until the next issue because it needs work, or just can it altogether (oh the humanity). But I’ll go out on a limb and guess that as with any addiction, the withdrawals just make you want it more.
“All writing is addiction, and all writers are hooked.” – Sadie Plant
A good writer knows that writing is their life. Writing is their purpose. Any writer knows the relief and satisfaction that comes with the first exhale after a completed project. Any writer can tell you that. But my guess is that most writers won’t admit to their problem. In fact they don’t think it’s a problem at all. They couldn’t imagine their life without it.
Reading this quote helped me realize that since I started my journalism studies at SUNY New Paltz, I have spent a majority of my free time networking, and thinking about my next project. My God, I’ve turned into a junkie! I’m constantly thinking where I’m going to get my next story from. I ask my friends if they have connections. “I need this,” I tell them but they don’t understand. They don’t really get it. And when I don’t have it, it’s all I think about. Maybe drug addiction is a better choice. At least you can pay for that.
As far as all writers being hooked, how could they not be? This job is very time consuming, especially for the perfectionist. And honestly, I’ve never heard of a writer coming out of the woodwork to write one story and getting so rich that they decide to call it a career (autobiographies being the exception). Most great writers do this because it is their high. This is how the feel something; anything. A great writer does this because they feel that they have something to share with the world; a life full of unique experiences and tragedies that they want to be remembered for.
We recently talked about how some of the best writing comes from immersion. Well why is this any different than my friends going on a bender and telling me about all the crazy shit they did? When I have something I want to write, it’s all I think about. I am addicted to it. And maybe this quote is derived from the stereotype that most writers are “wierdos” or outcasts that society looks down upon; but that’s ok because I’d rather be weird than write like a fucking mainstream robot.
"Don't you know all writers ever talk about is their troubles?"-Sylvia Beach
Oh, and what a troubled being I am.
I've come a long way from the dark place I was once so familiar with, and while I do not want to depict myself to be superior to anyone, I find that having experienced some outrageous and unfortunate things in my life has brought me a personal wisdom that not everyone may have. It makes my thought process different from another's, and what I put down on paper a bit unique (at least, when I am writing freely about myself).
I do call myself a writer, and I would be lying if I said that the troubles I've struggled with-and continue to struggle with-aren't frequently the roots of my inspiration. How is it possible for a writer to avoid the experiences that have molded them into what they are, in one of the most creative portals of all? If you write about your troubles, your allowing yourself to be vulnerable for your readers, allowing them into your psyche. You are writing about what is so personal to you, what you know, what entices you. Your readers become your judgers, in a way.
But beyond the judgement aspect of being a writer, writing about your own nasty experiences can become soothing and therapeutic. You have the ability to disconnect from those troubles when you put them on a page and make them a fictional character's issues instead of your own.
So you see, for a self-proclaimed fuck up, writing is something truly beautiful and real.
"The purpose of writing is to make your mother and father drop dead with shame." - J.P. Donleavy
I've been writing since I was a kid, and have loved doing so ever since. I think the last piece of writing I showed my parents was my recreation of Jack and the Beanstalk that I wrote in 3rd grade which ended up being around 60 pages (writing and illustrations combined). My parents have always known that writing was a source of my inspiration, but they never really prodded to see what I was writing. They've never been too involved in my creative process, save for attending a few of my concerts in various musical bands which they never sincerely enjoyed, mostly supported. The various poetry, short stories, or other creative writing work I've done throughout high school into my college career have never been shown to my parents -- they've never asked for it, and I have never really gone out of my way to show it to them. I think a big part of that is expressed in Donleavy's quote.
My writing, like most people's, has primarily been a medium to exorcise the demos I have about life. In that sense, most of my writing is depressing and vulgar, most of which my parents wouldn't go out of their way to read. I don't write to cause my parents to "drop dead with shame" but I do realize that most of my inspiration comes from thoughts I couldn't comfortably share with my parents. I know people who have more open relationships with their parents, to which this quote would maybe not apply, but writing to me is harnessing the uncomfortable and uncommon into words that make sense of insecurities and faults. I don't really want my parents to think I'm as fucked up as my writing may suggest, but when I feel like I'm writing something honest, my parents would possibly be ashamed to read it. Although I don't think that the purpose of all writing is to sham your parents (and I know this quote isn't to be taken too literally), I do think that this quote resonates with the feeling of writing something true or controversial. Sometimes I feel like writers have a tendency to remain loyal or protective of certain aspects of their lives, which is a fault Donleavy's quote seems to combat.
"There are no dull subjects. There are only dull writers," H.L. Menken
This just makes sense. Take the story about Disney for instance. "Disney sucks" is such a tired and cliche subject that I feel unoriginal when the thought even crosses my mind. But the story we read was so well written I became so engrossed in the journey that it was like I was hearing about the "Disney sucks" concept for the very first time.
I believe that if anything is written interestingly enough, it will in turn make it's subject interesting and engaging. I strive to be a non-dull writer who's use of language perfectly portrays what it is I am trying to communicate to my reader in a masterful and fantastic way, no matter the subject matter.
(I still have work to do.)
Even though it was already discussed in class, “no ideas but in things” is still my favorite quote given on the sheet. The quote is probably more relevant to our popular culture now than ever before. Every time I turn the TV on, which isn’t often because I can’t afford cable, it seems that half of the channels have a host speculating about something; whether it be politics or anything else. But what we’ve clearly lost is the ability to speculate on the basis of fact and experience. The dialogue shifts between two things; what’s going to happen in the future (e.g. if health care reform is enacted, your grandmother will die a SLOW, PAINFUL DEATH) and something that might have happened, but isn’t really provable, such as guessing who Alex Rodriguez is sleeping with this week.
We need a writer like Crane to share real experiences. Our media covers everything from such a distant perspective, and stories lack a true empathy and different point of view (despite our best attempts to be objective.) We like to claim that with the internet, we’re a global generation, where racism is dying and prejudices aren’t a factor. But in reality, we judge as much as ever, and a huge factor is the stories we perpetuate, which have no basis in truth or experience.
The only quote I didn’t understand was “writing is a dog’s life, but the only one worth living.” It’s a bit glorifying and self-praising. A janitor could say the same thing about being a janitor. I just wish there was something about why a writer’s life is the only one worth living.
adam, why is it the only one worth living? i kind of answer it for myself in the interview i sent last night.
"All writing is addiction, and all writers are hooked." - Sadie Plant
When I read this, I thought about the quote from Faulkner that at times we must all "kill our darlings" in writing. My biggest problem in writing is falling in love with what I write. I can't distinguish the shit from the great writing because the shit is wrapped in such beautiful language and technique.
This quote from Plant struck me not so much that once someone begins to write that they cant stop, like a drug. It struck me more as all writers fall in love with what they create, and it is because we enjoy being good at something, enjoy creating pieces that others can experience through our words that we continue to struggle through and write. It's not like it is glamorous or profitable to become a writer, but much like a few of the other quotes on the list, especially Flaubert's, it is something that we need to do. Maybe not because we consciously choose to but because we are all addicted to it.
"To be a writer is not to preach the truth, but to discover the truth" -Milos Kundera
I choose this quote because it applies to every kind of writing, whether it be fiction or nonfiction. Writing is a process in which, I feel, the writer is trying to get across a ‘truth’ to the reader. This ‘truth’ doesn’t have to be obvious or in the readers face, but it must be present. In fact most good writing has hidden truths, and I think that is what Kundera means by juxtaposing ‘preach’ and ‘discover.’ The writer shouldn’t be preaching their point, but instead let the reader discover it just as the writer discovered it. Writing is a process, in which both the reader and the writer are finding things out, learning truths and then decipher for themselves which truths resonate with them and which truths they believe.
In a journalistic perspective, truth is the most important part of an article. The truth of the article is what they are trying to get across to the reader. Yet sometimes in a plain sense they are preaching this truth because it is something they have not discovered themselves. I think that is where a lot of bad writing comes from, when someone is familiar with a topic they tend to preach it on to others, instead of letting the reader discover it for themselves.
When I write I try to fully understand my ‘truth’ and display it to the reader in a more ambiguous way so they can decipher it how they want to. The beauty of writing is that everyone interprets it differently, and as a writer I believe that is my main goal- to make sure my writing is good enough so each reader can interpret it differently and be able to relate it to themselves and their experiences. That’s why I read, and that’s also why I write.
"We tell ourselves stories in order to live." - Joan Didion
Although I feel like I could go really deep into the meaning of this quote for me I’m not sure how much I can go into it on a blog for class. This is something I need to work on.
This quote relates to me in more ways than just as a writer. My stories make a a stronger person. Not just the ones I write but the ones I have floating around in my head. They show me that I’ve made it to where I am today because of something. I have accomplished and over came so much within these past 20 years and will not let myself forget this. If I didn't tell myself these stories I would have nothing to build off of and grow from. Without going into too much detail (because like everyone else in the world I’m scared to share my feelings) I have had many different obstacles in my life that lead me to new discoveries about the world and myself. I write because of my experiences and I re live them a little bit each day when I read and analyze these stories. I tell myself these stories to take a step forward, if I didn't do this I would be stuck in a spot of sadness and regret.
I have two that I like, and think are interrelated, if that's ok.
" We tell ourselves stories in order to live."- Joan Didion
" The purpose of writing is to make your mother and father drop dead with shame."- J.P. Donleavy
I think Didion is trying to say with her quote is, stories are written and spoken about that are adventurous tales that a normal person wouldn't do in a day. My dad has told me stories of his college days, and they are awesome stories that put my dad in a role that I now wouldn't envision him in. His fraternity stories sort of shape him in my head to be a fuller person that has lived these crazy experiences, that I wouldn't know about from just viewing him as my dad.
I feel that these two quotes are similar because Donleavy says that stories should be written that would put your parents to shame, while Didion is saying we tell our stories in order to live. I think that a story you would retell would be a reckless story that your parents wouldn't approve of. Donleavy is saying a story you write should differ from an everyday life experience, one that a parent wouldn't want to know, even though they probably have similar stories. Didion then says we should take that story and retell it because it shows the true colors of living.
“We tell ourselves stories in order to live” –Joan Ddion
Even people who don’t love to read or write enjoy hearing or telling a good story. It’s what we do as people; we tell stories. I see a lot of truth in this quote. I think what is meant by “in order to live” is that we need great experiences that we can talk about and reflect on in writing to feel fulfilled in life. When something wonderful or absurd happens in my life the first thing I do when it’s over is tell someone the story about what happened. Then, after some reflection, I write about it. That way it’s always preserved, not only in my memory, but on paper. I always read old journal entries that I wrote years ago to remember all the experiences I have turned into stories. Looking back and reading my stories has made me see how much I’ve grown and matured throughout life. Also, stories are a form of entertainment; films, T.V. shows and art all tell stories, not just literature and without them life would be boring.
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