Noted journalist and memoirist Jason Howard is offering a nonfiction workshop, “Writing Memoir,” at the Appalachian Center in Berea on Saturday, September 26th from 9 AM to noon. In addition to class-time, the workshop will feature a manuscript critique and a 20-minute individual conference. Howard is the coauthor of Something’s Rising and the editor of the anthology We All Live Downstream. The former senior editor for Equal Justice Magazine in Washington, D.C., his works have appeared in publications such as The Louisville Review, Paste, Appalachian Heritage and Kentucky Living. He is also acquisitions editor at MotesBooks.
Registration is $50; space is limited. The registration deadline is September 19th. To register or for more information, contact Howard at kynatureboy@gmail.com.
Posted in Resources.
Tagged with Appalachia, Berea College, Kentucky, Louisville Kentucky, Managing editor, Memoir, Memoirist, Writing.
By
– 1 September 2009
In the spirit of cultivating inspiration, I would like to list posts from around the web that will help you get your inspiration juices flowing. If you have any other inspiring suggestions, please add them to the comments.
Posted in Resources.
Tagged with Arts, Blogs, ideas, Inspiration, Knowledge Creation, Knowledge Management, mind map, Mind Mapping, On the Web, Weblogs, Writers Resources, Writing, Writing Exercises.
By
– 28 August 2009
A great way to overcome writer’s block or just start a writing session is by using stream of consciousness writing. A goal that a writer should always have is to expand the scope of consciousness. You must first tap into the wealth of the subconscious. During stream of consciousness writing the subconscious bubbles up to the surface and displays itself to you on the page.
Try to write a couple of pages in a stream of consciousness style. This is not poetry. This is playing with unrealized possibilities. When you have several pages and are ready to stop (don’t stop until you are ready), look at what you have written. Be sure to read this uncritically. Either use a line, or a thought from the pages you have written as a jumping point for your next poem or short story.
When you put pen to paper without thinking about it at all, something happens. It is possible to be swept away into an unfamiliar and wonderful place where you write directly from the thoughts you don’t always acknowledge. The thoughts that are waiting beneath the surface of your mind are displayed on the page. This can be stunning and brilliant. It can also help you generate some great ideas to work with.
Posted in Resources, Starters.
Tagged with art, Consciousness, Consciousness Studies, Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Poetry, Short story, Stream of consciousness, Subconscious, Writer, Writers Resources, Writing.
By
– 27 August 2009
A writer can write 10,000 pages, but if it is without purpose or not based on an idea, then it will fall flat. So what is a writer to do when the ideas don’t seem to come? Put the pen to paper and write until your knuckles are blue? What if that doesn’t work? James Webb Young has written a marvelous, short book to help with this process. Below I have outlined the key points to help you get started.
- Gather materials—specific and general knowledge.
- Work over these materials in your mind.
- Incubate the thoughts subconsciously
- The Birth of the idea
- Final shaping and developing of the idea to practical usefulness
Posted in General Writing, Resources.
Tagged with Arts, Business, Communication, Concept Mapping, Consciousness, Creativity, ideas, Innovation, Innovation and Idea Management, Inspiration, James Webb, Knowledge Creation, Knowledge Management, Mind Mapping, Publications, Subconscious, Writers Resources, Writing.
By
– 25 August 2009
I write memoir because of a picture that hung on the hallway wall of my childhood home. Taken in 1969, it showed my maternal grandmother in a weary pose, prematurely gray hair neatly combed and teeth gleaming. It rested against the dark paneling, just below my first baby picture. As she died nearly two years before I was born, our adjacent portraits became my connection to her. I would wait until my mother was cooking or on the phone, and creep into the hallway to stare at her kind face and cream blouse with the Peter Pan collar. After experiencing these secret moments of communion, I was confused when her portrait would disappear for months on end, only to reemerge at seemingly random times. It was much later when I understood that my mother sometimes couldn’t bear to look at it because of her grief.
As a writer, I find that I’m often carried back to that hallway, gazing up at a blank space on the wall. My job is to be a spiritual detective of sorts, to look for clues leading to the location of the missing picture, or at least the reason for its absence. This sleuthing isn’t simply restricted to my deceased grandmother, of course, or even my mother, father, aunts, uncles.
I must investigate my own life as well. I must tell my story—my truth—as best I remember it. I must discover, understand, communicate, preserve.
In Writing Down the Bones, author Natalie Goldberg puts it like this: “Here is a chance to bring your reader deeper into your heart. You can explain with deep knowledge what it means to be a Catholic, a man, a southerner, a black person, a woman, a homosexual, a human being. You know it better than anyone else. In knowing who you are and writing from it, you will help the world by giving it understanding.”
Reaching that place of understanding is often a difficult process. Unlike fiction writers, we memoirists don’t have the luxury of a buffer zone between the story’s plot and our own lives. We must mine the hidden recesses of our hearts—its sins, triumphs, motivations, desires—and then go public with our findings. We must summon the courage to be vulnerable, to put our struggles down on the page. We must own our story, ugliness and all, and throw ourselves into what is hopefully a net of self-identifying mercy from the reader.
- Image by szlea via Flickr
There is a statue that stands on the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Designed by the noted sculptor Robert I. Aitken, it depicts a woman with an open book in her lap, lifting up her eyes to the broad avenue. Carved into its base is a Shakespeare quotation, taken from The Tempest: “What is past is prologue.”
Memoirs, then, are spiritual documents, prophecies that direct the writer—and hopefully the reader—to a place of awareness and acceptance and even salvation. We memoirists have to do what my mother eventually realized she must do—take the picture out of the nightstand drawer and return it to its proper place on the wall, and in doing so, confront the turbulent emotions that accompany its reemergence. It’s only then that we can hopefully get to a plain of understanding. Or at least to its edge.
Visit Jason Howard’s Web site.
Posted in General Writing.
Tagged with Arts, Communicate, Discover, Human, Memoir, Memoirs, Natalie Goldberg, Pennsylvania Avenue, Peter Pan, Preserve, Washington D.C, Weblogs, Writer, Writers Resources, Writing, Writing Down the Bones.
By Jason Howard
– 19 August 2009
We can learn a lot about poetry from the way that poets read their poetry. I have always loved reading the beat poets because of the natural musicality in the poems. Listening to the recordings that they made can make the poetry come to life all the more. When I first listened to the recording of American Haikus by Jack Kerouac, and its accompaniment by Al Cohn and Zoot Sims, I was beside myself that a poet could be so lively and serious in the same recording. Kerouac had a voice that was created to read poetry, which also made his prose reading come alive.
Not all poets are blessed in the way that Kerouac and the other beats were. Some poets read their work and make you think they want to put you to sleep. It is possible to learn from even these poets, though. When we listen to dull poetry readings, we can ask ourselves why the poem fell flat? Was it the poem or the reading that made it dull? What part, if any, peaked your interest? Why? Why was your interest not sustained?
When we listen to wonderful poetry readings that are full of life and wonder, we should also ask ourselves what made it so enjoyable? Was it the poem or the reading? What can you learn from the way the poet paced him/herself? Was the silence used like you would have expected by just reading the poem yourself? Did the silence detract from the value of the poem, or add to it? Did the words have a natural rhythm, or did the poet have to help it along? Were you able to forget about the rhymes as if they were not there (a feature of all great rhymed poems)? Did the poet use harsh sounds (cacophony) or pleasant sounds (euphony), or did the poet mix the two?
I have compiled a list of online audio poetry collections that you can and should visit to listen to great poetry recordings. Listen to the poems, both those you know and also new-to-you poetry. As you listen to the poems, first enjoy the poem for what it is, then ask yourself the above questions to help you understand why the poem had the effect it did on you. This will not only help your own readings, but also your writing. It will give you a better ear for what works and what doesn’t. The poetry and other audio on the sites listed below are free to listen to. Warning: you can easily spend many hours on each one of these sites.
10 Online Audio Poetry Resources
- PennSound Center for Programs in Contemporary Writing at the University of Pennsylvania. PennSound is an ongoing project, committed to producing new audio recordings and preserving existing audio archives.
- UbuWeb is a completely independent resource dedicated to all strains of the avant-garde, ethnopoetics, and outsider arts.
- Lannan Foundation Audio Archives. You can find links here to all of the audio recordings available on the Lannan Foundation website. The archives contain audio files from the popular Readings & Conversations series, other public Lannan events from the past 16 years, as well as selections from the award-winning literary radio program “Bookworm” with Michael Silverblatt.
- The Poets.org Listening Booth. There are more than 400 audio clips on Poets.org, and our list is always growing.
- Poetry Audio at Salon.com.
- BBC Poetry Out Loud.
- Book of Voices. The Book of Voices is e-poets’ living gallery of literature in text, spoken word, and multimedia; a literary collection lending context, a sense of place, and identity to aural poetry from artists throughout e-poets’ community. It illustrates what we mean when we advocate “aural literacy”: language and wisdom are no less valid when borne of breath instead of paper.
- HarperAudio!
- The Poetry Archive. The Poetry Archive exists to help make poetry accessible, relevant and enjoyable to a wide audience.
- The Poetry Foundation Audio & Podcasts.
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Posted in Poetry, Resources.
Tagged with Al Cohn, Arts, Audio, Beat Generation, Beat poetry, Jack Kerouac, Literature, Michael Silverblatt, Online Writing, Poetry, Poetry reading, Spoken word, UbuWeb, University of Pennsylvania, Zoot Sims.
By
– 17 August 2009
I was recently in a writing workshop with author Pinckney Benedict, who spent a portion of his time discussing manifestos. A manifesto is defined as a public declaration of intentions, opinions or motives. As an exercise, Benedict suggested we draw up a list of items or subjects that would make up our own manifestos. For the purposes of writing, think of it as a list of items that usually (or always) appear in your own stories, poems or essays — either subconsciously or by your strict intention.
- Image by pfeyh via Flickr
Benedict asked workshop members to begin drafting our manifestos by listing up to five (5) items. This exercise might be best designed for intermediate writers who have a few stories under their belts. With actual material to look back at, it should be easier to see those noteworthy reoccurrences. Benedict prescribed we list very specific items. Our manifestos should not be vague or too general.
As an example, Benedict talked about his love for a certain model of Cadillac and that one often comes into play in his stories. My own writing is often set in rural locations — either the farm where I grew up or in a made-up location that borrows heavily from my personal experience. In looking back at my own stories, I found a cow has often made an appearance, sometimes as an important device in the story or simply as a detail to describe the location and to add to the sense of place. The range of subjects that occurred within our small group was pretty amazing, including lawn mowers, Christmas trees, fruit, robots, song birds, cars, monsters, doctor’s offices, diners, guns, fireworks, etc.
Benedict believes once you recognize what kind of items keep popping up in your work, you should embrace them. “Only obsessive interests are interesting,“ he said. Maybe it will help you to investigate why your mind is triggered to bring these subjects back to the page. Or maybe it will work for you to not examine it too closely but to just go forward with it. That’s up to you and the writing.
Here are two additional exercises for you to try once you have your manifesto.
- Attempt to write your next piece of work by excluding anything on your list. See how hard it is, and possibly find out why those subjects are necessary to you.
- Trade manifestos with a writing partner and attempt to use most of all of the other person’s items. This could be a great way to explore new characterization and settings.
Posted in General Writing.
Tagged with Arts, Bird, Cadillac, Christmas tree, Manifesto, Manifestos, Pinckney Benedict, Poetry, Short story, Writer, Writers Resources, Writing, Writing circle.
By Denton Loving
– 12 August 2009
Everyone needs to be inspired from time to time. That is why I have listed below 10 ways to get a fresh idea and take on a new perspective. Though this is intended for writers, it can certainly apply to anyone in need of inspiration.
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Smell the flowers. I mean to take this literally as well as figuratively. For me this phrase is the epitome of being an “in-the-moment” kind of person. If you make an effort to enjoy small pleasures the moment they strike you, then you will live a life full of inspiration. Guaranteed.
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Take a walk. I live in the mountains now, but when I lived in the city I walked everywhere. Though I do not walk as much, I still enjoy my walks when I can take them. Experiencing a place by foot is the best way to do it. You will see, smell, hear, feel, and sometimes even taste things that you would otherwise never encounter. It is a great way to get your senses active.
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Take some photographs.
Taking photographs gives you a different perspective. You have to capture the perfect angle in the perfect light. Taking photographs also gives you a tone that is particular to the experience. If you are photographing a parade, then you will most likely take on a fun, quirky tone. If you photograph a willow tree, then perhaps a somber mood will saturate you.
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- Image by tyfn via Flickr
Drink Earl Grey tea. The bergamot will be uplifting to your spirits and the caffeine will give you an energy boost. I recommend sipping slowly and letting your thoughts rise to the surface as you enjoy a piping hot cup of tea.
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Mind map. This is one of the easiest way to get inspired. By picking any topic and then branching off into other related areas, you can generate more ideas in 15 minutes than you ever thought possible. Do this as often as you need to. It is one of the best ways to organize thoughts and find new connections. After all, finding new connections is most of what creativity is.
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Try a new medium. Are you used to writing on a computer? Then try writing longhand. If you are downright adventurous then you might even try writing with a fountain or a quill pen. Experiment with color, too. A new color may trigger a new train of thought.
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Read a Great Book. There is a reason why some books are considered great. There are even college programs that use the great books as their teachers (I attended one). The great books force you to wrestle with ideas and can certainly challenge the way you think about things. If you are new to the concept, then I recommend starting with Plato, the gadfly himself.
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Partake in an engaging conversation. This one is easier said than done. Most conversations are superficial or informative, not engaging or soul-wrenching. How does one remedy this? By engaging in conversations here at Writers Community for one. Comment, ask questions, toss around some ideas, write a post, etc. There are numerous ways to engage in meaningful conversation here.
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Drive. I have written quite a few poems while driving. It helps to have a voice recorder handy, or a pad of paper to quickly jot down an idea. Caution: If you are behind the wheel, it is best to focus on the road, of course. Aside from that the drive can be very inspiring. Driving gives you the constant sense of movement and time passing. Putting pen to paper with the sole intention of movement and passing time can be an exhilarating exercise.
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Sit on a park bench. This can be any bench, really. People watching is a great sport. You can write lives for people on the spot. It is usually a life far different from the one the person is living, but that is part of the fun. Unlike most people, I love to go shopping during the busiest holiday seasons. I do not love the shopping itself, I love watching the other people shopping. I always walk away with great character sketches and insight into the nature of relationships and interaction. People reveal a lot about themselves when under pressure. As a writer, it can be a great time to watch them.
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Posted in General Writing, Resources.
Tagged with Arts, Earl Grey, Earl Grey tea, mind map, Plato, Shopping, Writer, Writers Resources.
By
– 9 August 2009
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Posted in General Writing.
Tagged with Arts, Reader response, Writer, Writers Resources.
By
– 7 August 2009
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