Warning: Some Violence and Much Strong Language.HE WROTE: Agnes, A Storm, Books on Writing, Agents
Amidst everything, we are still writing Agnes. Yesterday I worked backwards. I was kind of stuck, so I started with the climactic scene, and, like the famous Seinfeld episode of the wedding in India, I went backward in time. I kept going: And prior to that . . ..
I worked all the way back to where I was stuck. Through the darkest moments for Agnes and Shane. Of course, this was not easy. Gave me a headache. This morning I took this rough outline I made backward yesterday and cut and past the paragraphs in reverse order and, voila, I have an outline in correct order. Now I just have to get rid of the 'And prior to that' lines.
It's raining here, but the storm is passing far off-shore. Wasn't even worth bringing the kayak in from the floating dock.
There's a book getting a lot of reviews-- Sunday in the NY Times and today in USA Today-- for writers titled READING LIKE A WRITER. Which is good advice. I also advise writing like a reader. One point the author, Francine Prose (interesting name), makes is that "one difficulty faced by writing teachers is the lack of interest many students show in reading." This is very true. She also says you should 'savor' books rather than race through them. I know I read slower now than I used to. Maybe because I appreciate that every word, every sentence, in the book is important, so I focus on everything.
There was an articule in the Aug 28 USA Today about another book: THE CREATING BRAIN. I liked one question: What is the relationship between creativity and mental illness? The author studied people attending the Univ. of Iowa's Writers' Workshop and found many had a history of depression or bipolar disorder. (Bob chuckles evilly). Then the author gives some suggestion to 'give your brain a workout.' One was: 'Spend time each day thinking.' Huh? That one is deep. Actually, I make mock, but the truth is most people don't think. That's why creative writers are kind of bonkers. Every day you're trying to create something completely new. Very few jobs require that.
So I am still holding to my 9 September deadline of giving Jenny the draft of Agnes with my parts done. This is in the midst of other stuff going on, but no rest for the wicked or the crazy. I'm still rewriting CHASING THE DEAD and really cutting, paring it down to focus on the character. I'm cutting every line that makes me the slightest bit uncomfortable.
Did anyone see the season finale of ENTOURAGE the other night? I thought it was a really good reflection on agents and the 'corporate' mentality that has afflicted Hollywood. One thing that is really causing problems there and is seeping into New York is the clash between the corporate mindset and the artist mindset. I think that's where an agent is really the key. The agent has to bridge that gap. I think the episode did a good job of showing what is meant by that. The artist often is very emotional, while the corporate mentality is very logical. The agent has to be able to handle both very well. For example, an agent has to be able to tell a writer bad news, yet make the writer feel positive about it. But that also means the agent has to pick clients they'll know can take bad news and make positive spin out of it. There's a synergy involved. More on this in the future.
128 Comments:
Glad you have no probs with the storm.
We aren't faithful ENTOURAGE watchers but Jeremy Piven is fascinating to watch as Ari.
The finale was good.
Something strange is going on - this post has been up for nearly an hour, with few comments on it! I'm probably the only one taking a coffee break (literally coffee and doughnut!).
The storm is supposed to continue dumping rain on people all the way up the Eastern seaboard (strange word, I don't think I've ever written it down before), but it does sound as if it's more inconvenient and sloppy than dangerous, for which I am thankful.
No "Entourage" - I watched "Bones" last night and read Suzanne Brockmann's Ladies' Man.
I'm very much looking forward to reading all the carefully-chosen words!
fmazo: fondly manufactured apparel zips obediently
Be careful anyway, Bob, I heard up to a foot of rain with flooding is headed your way.
Creative writers are "kind of bonkers"? I am completely and utterly bonkers. (Insert insane Daffy Duck laugh here.) Well, they say you have to suffer for your art.
dnjonn do not jump on nerdy ninjas.
Lots of good stuff here Bob.
First off, glad to hear that Agnes is moving ... backward, forward, you know whatever works.
The storm. Glad to hear its not going to be a bad one when it hits up here. Actually people are oddly looking forward to it because we so very badly need the rain.
Savoring books. I have a tendency to devour them too fast if I'm excited about the book ... a la DLD. But the beauty of books is that you can reread them and I do. Some people have been puzzled when I tell them I do that. These same people will watch the same movie 100 times, though. Its not different. The second time I'm cozying up with an old friend and I can relax and groove on the little jokes, personality quirks and so forth. So I have shelves and stacks and drawers of much loved books that I go back to again and again and, yes, savor.
Relationships between creativity and mental illness. There was an article awhile back ... maybe in Time? Don't remember now, but there was a study done of people who had suffered strokes or otherwise lost some cognitive function. And in many cases, like savants, they sometimes acquired a new artistic ability.
And yes, sadly, most people don't really think; they just function. They memorize what they need to know to get the job done and little more. They are basically rats in a maze. That's probably the worse thing computers do to us, well that we let them do to us ... we don't try to figure things out for ourselves anymore. I've seen this happen with kids and that's just sad.
ENTOURAGE and DEADWOOD are the only shows I watch religiously. I also love Comedy Central's Colbert Report and Daily Show, but that's a lot of TV to watch. Gotta save time for blog-reading and book-savoring.
Yes, ENTOURAGE captures the clash between ideas people and money people--a clash that's been around as long as there have been artists and patrons. The balance of power shifts over the decades; the current corporate mindset ruling Hollywood and publishing got rolling in the late 80s, with the rise of the MBA.
I have to admit smiling at calling corporate types "logical." It's more like a difference in focus: personal vision vs. bottom-line economics. Both sides can be emotional and creative. I admire the agents who can get in the middle and honorably bring it all together.
This is where I would normally jump in to say the choice of locale for the case study might have skewed the results, but my recent peace treaty with Iowa prevents me from making any such comment.
I’ve noticed I read different books at different speeds. I can’t pinpoint what makes me speed through one and savor another. I’m sure things like free-time, mood, and style of book play into it. I reread and savor the favorites as well.
Rosie- Totally with you on the Piven thing.
Me said... “do not jump on nerdy ninjas.”
There go my plans for the weekend...
hsprjrvj: He said, "People really just repectfully venerate Jenny."
Bob - talking about being all over the page? Geez, got a headache from reading the post. Floating docks are an interesting thing. Don't have one. Ours is wood, with metal posts that kind of get stuck in the sand and are a bitch to get out. And that is on the agenda for the weekend. Sigh, labor day, out comes the dock, in comes the cold.
My mom is making her way from Florida to South C. They are building a house on Lake Keowoe (sp), anyway, I hope her travels are safe. Lots of rain.
I'm going to be commenting on this post in spurts because my creative brain is malfunctioning. Bob gave me too much to consider. So, I'm going to start from the bottom and work my way back. (I'm cute, arent I.)
The agent thing - synergy - putting a postivie spin on things. Hey, I live by being positive. Fake it till you make it kind of attitude. I'm not the most emotional kind of gal, so the bad news that comes with rejection, turn it twist and plug forward. With that said, rejection still kind of sucks and well, it takes a certian frame of mind and lots of engery to keep that stellar attitude going. I'm waiting on a letter to come from an editor, and while I keep telling myself that if it's a rejection, than it's okay. Move forward, work on it, yadda, yadda, yadda. But I know it will be killer if I don't get the news I want. Yeah, I need to get me an agent. As I glance to the piles of rejection letters on my desk. Okay, well, I'm going to be positive. me smiling....
Off to the HS again to do more locker stuff. I think she and her friend are meeting boys. Yikes! How do you put a positive spin on a 15 year old going to meet boys! This is not fun for this mother. Might have to stick around to check out the boys myself!
Blasted Blogger! I had an entire comment previewed and ready to post when Blogger ate it for lunch. Recreations are never as good as the originals, but here goes anyway. . .
No comments about the link between writing and mental illness.
As for working in reverse. I SOOO totally get that strategy. In middle school, I developed a fear of taking tests. My favorite teacher recommended that I start at the end of the test and work my way to the beginning. It worked for me, and working in reverse continues to be my general way of tackling most projects.
I must confess I carry this strategy into my reading also. Unless a book is by one of my 'autobuy' authors, I always read the last chapter, and the first page before I buy. I am not going to waste my time, or my money buying a book that has a crummy ending. And, well, if I'm not hooked by the first page, I'm not usually willing to spend my money. (Wait on library loan - maybe.)
Do I ever change my mind - sometimes. But, only based on recommendation from someone I trust with similiar likes/dislikes or from a trusted reviewer.
Ok - maybe I should revisit that whole writing(artistic ability) and mental illness topic.
sjotm - so, just overlook the mess.
About the brain and stroke recovery. I have someone dear to me who had 2 strokes before she was 20 (she has lupus and it basically turned her blood to sludge). One thing she did as she recouperated was read. Since she was in college, she was tested for reading disabilities. Of all the skills she tested on, anything having to do with reading, vocabulary, comprehension would up being much better than it had in high school. She has to work at the short term memory thing, but then that's what lists are for.
And she did get her degree in just 5 1/2 years. Not bad considering she was out for nearly a year doing (physical) rehab. She's a very lucky lady. The really funny thing is her driving improved.
The weather has been rainy all week (long distance left overs from the hurricane) and the DSS's football practices have turned to mud bogs. Sigh. We've resorted to wrapping the seats in sheets of plastic to transport him home and getting lots of strange looks. I will never get another car with creme interior. DSS has had nothing but grins since practice has started, so I suppose he really likes it. He's like a pig in a puddle. Yea us. I'm definitely going to have to start that scrapbook and take some photos.
Between practices and a garage sale 3 years in the making that is actually coming to be, I'm not seeing a whole lot of TV lately. I did make time for Bones though. David Boreanz (sp?) cracks me up.
aolsxes: battle between the sexes on the service provider or:
Almost on limb, Suzie xeroxes efficient stacks.
Glad the hurricane isn't too bad although I heard again this morning that the Carolina's were going to be hit. Haven't checked the news in a few hours though, so hope you didn't speak too soon Bob.
T.V. not much of it watched here. I don't even know what Entourage is, or what channel it's on. : ) Watched the first show of Celebrity Duel the other night and enjoyed that. I like T.V. shows and movies that really entertain me, or make me laugh, I don't want to think. Not too much anyway, unless I'm really really in the mood, or my kids visit and choose some horrific thing that scares the pants off me and causes sleepless nights. I value sleep.
After writing all day all I need is a good catharsis.
(A cleansing of emotions and different to cathartic, which is a cleansing of the bowel, but hey, they're both good.) : ) That's just the old nurse in me ... sorry.
On to bi-polar stuff, there's probably an element of truth in the "artist as madman" but I think more than that, most writers are happiest in their little world of fantasy. The fantasy takes over and becomes more important, more liveable, than the reality. My friends are threatening an intervention with me. "You need to get a real life" and so on. Okay, maybe next year. : )
rg
Okay, nope - didn't watch TV, missed ENTOURAGE. I find this disucssion of doing things backwards very interesting. And let me tell you why (oh stop rolling your eyes and just listen, geez.)
First, when I was a kid, Dad bought the kids a 12 rowboat with a 6 horse Evenrude on it. My brother wanted the Johnson, I'll let you figure that one out. Anyway, the boat was named Bass Akwards. Which was choice number 2. First choice. Ass Backwards. Yep. I grew up in an interesting family.
Okay, now on to something else a little backwards in my life. As you all know, I'm dyslexic. For years I tried to read right to left. Yeah, kind of hard to understand English that way, but on Jupitor, things are different. Anyway, I also tried writing things right to left. I think everyone thought I was just being funny and well, I learned to fake it, then lie and I think my dog (which I didn't have until I was 18 and on my own!) eat my homework, a lot. Yeah, almost flunked out of high shcool, but you all knew that. Anyway, I can write backwards almost as well as I can write forward. I mean that literally. Starting from the right so it might look like this, except the letters are backwards too.
ytlaT .srM
And when I was a student teacher, talk about an ice breaker. The kids would walk into the room, I would start to write my name on the chalkboard, and a few personal info. A few whispers, then silence. Yeah, I got their attention. That's hard to do in a classroom of teenagers.
Can I write mu stories backwards? Haven't really tried, although I always know how they end. The last two chapters are outlined and ideas jotted down probably before I even figure out where it starts. So I guess the answer would be yeah, I knind of do it backwards. But when I sit down to write the bulk of the book, I'm pretty linear and I'm kind of married to it.
Back to the HS to pick up giddy girls hanging with a few Eddy Haskle types. They were nice, but a little over the top with the compliments to the mom. But hey, it worked. Then off to get my nails done. See ya!
I heard it said a long time ago that a crazy person never doubts his sanity. I figure I'm in the clear. I question my sanity all the time, usually by saying things like, "Why do I like writing? I must be #@*&@# nuts." Okay, maybe not alll the time, but only when the writing isn't going well.
Ernesto's gaining strength as it approaches the Carolinas and could make it back to a Cat 1. Better double-tie that kayak, Bob!
xafqzp: Xavier asked for quatro zeppolis, per favore.
Jen, they call that mirror writing and what a cool skill to have. I think DaVinci could do that and used to write his notes that way to prevent his ideas from being stolen. Now you know, of course, that you'll have to give us a performance in NJ.
On reading...
I'm one of those that can get so into the book I'm reading that I'm completely oblivious to my surroundings. I'm wherever the book is.
Also one of those that read the end first...If that suits me with HEA I'll read the rest.
yvxmzxl...blue
too many end of alphabet letters
Louis said...
I'm one of those that can get so into the book I'm reading that I'm completely oblivious to my surroundings. I'm wherever the book is.
Oh yes. I remember the first time I read Linda Howard's SON OF MORNING. I was exhausted half way through the book, what with being on the run and in fear of my life and all. You know it goes back to what Jenny was saying about the relationship between reader and writer and why movies often don't measure up. When you watch a movie, you are the audience. When you read, you are right there in the scene.
Hello all ... did you miss me? Probably not, but I missed ya'll. I was gone for a few days helping a friend who has lupus (ironiclly btuda posted about the same illness; coincidence amazes me). She had to go back to work (maternity leave is up) and they are giving her grief about the fact she was on bedrest for half her pregnancy. I advised her to contact a lawyer. What kind of a-holes give grief to a woman who has a deadly illness because her miricle pregnancy was really hard? I think they need to visit Moot. But I went to babysit because she had no childcare lined up this week and she and her hubby were both working day shift. The baby is 7 weeks old. My daughter is 17 mths old. A good time was had by all. Actually her baby is a low-matainance 'good' baby so it worked out well. But I am very very tired. The roughest part was my nightowl would go to be and her early bird would wake up six hours later. Plus, moring sickness was not fun to deal with when I am also giving a newborn a bottle. But enough whining about me ...
I'm glad Bob will not get rained out. We need that book on time. To feed our voracous appitets (how do you spell that?) for Crusie/Mayer books. Which I will savor. If by savor you mean read thru the first time like a greedy pig on crack and reread to enjoy more fully. I also have shelves of books I re-read. They are yummy every time.
Jen-T: you are the bomb. To become a writer with dyslexia, like become an artist while colorblind. Allow me to applaud you. (clapping sound)
I watched Bones last night (finally something I watch someone else on this blog does too!) I'm an anthropologist and I like to give the field my support in whatever form. Plus, Angel is still hot.
I'll try to get back on her at least once tonight. Good reading you all again!
Kyra! hey, yes you've been missed. If you get the chance to go back through you will see we did worry. Tell your friend that you know some people wish shovels.
Curious to know if you read Kathy Reichs, a big fav of mine.
McB,
Is a wish shovel one that you twirl three times and then... ouch! Hey, watch it there!
rubs her head Hi Kyra! Watch for whirling shovels
Kyra--Welcome back! You were definitely missed.
My grandmother and my aunt always read the last few pages of a book before starting it. Something about not wanting to die and not knowing the ending.
No cable at Mom's. Only NBC, CBS, ABC and three different PBS networks. And lots of DVDs. At least it makes sure I don't waste too much time in front of the boob-tube.
I made a cake. It's from a box-mix, but then again I am lazy. Off to frost it now.
fgcovcht--forget covert chat
Ok, first about mud and boys. My DH played football in school. He would walk home, knock on the door and go stand out in the yard. His mom would come out and hose him off. Once most of the mud was removed he would strip down to his undies before she would allow him in the house.
As to TV, I pretty much got out of the habit of watching. Between kids interrupting every 5 minutes, and kids wanting to watch (fill in blank), I just got tired of it. Now I find it annoying to even watch most of it. I like the medical shows on Discovery Health and will put on country music videos while I am reading. The best part about books is that you never miss anything when you get interrupted.
mcb said...
most people don't really think; they just function. They memorize what they need to know to get the job done and little more.
That's what I loved about working at startups, the good ones, anyway. You had to think on your feet, the playing field was continually changing. Great for the brain!
Jen-T said...
Back to the HS to pick up giddy girls hanging with a few Eddy Haskle types. They were nice, but a little over the top with the compliments to the mom.
Where are Davy and Simon when you need them?
bob said...
I'm cutting every line that makes me the slightest bit uncomfortable.
Ouch. I'm one of those writers who is afraid to truly "cut" anything. After the first draft, when I start to edit and revise, I turn on Track Changes. Then I can go back and look at what I deleted, 'cause maybe it was better before I made the change.
And stuff that makes me hinky? I highlight anything like that in the light gray. On the next run-through, if it reads fine without it, it gets "deleted." Stuff that needs to be researched or where I'm pulling bunnies out my...ahem, making things up for lack of factual data), I highlight in red.
I have a whole color chart for what different highlights mean in my ms. I should probably say that I work with the whole ms. in one file until I'm pretty satisfied with it. I mark chapter breaks, then keep typing. So, if I want to look for places where I mentioned a time-sensitive event, for example, I just do a quick scroll, stopping at the yellow highlights - helps me keep events on track when I'm checking my timeline. Stuff like that.
One writing book I found interesting was Writing on Both Sides of Your Brain. It looks at how the right and left brain and their different ways of operating affect/influence your writing. Manias aside, that subject fascinates me - right and left brain and creativity. Another book with a similar take is Writing the Natural Way.
Another one that sounded interesting when I was looking for the links to those two books* was, Virginia Woolf: Becoming a Writer. The author is a psychologist who teaches at Columbia. She looks at Woolf's early journals and juvenilia to show how Woolf used writing to stay (relatively) sane, until it stopped working for her. Interesting writer (Woolf) and sounds like a good look at her period, too. I'm buying it. ;+)
Reading fast vs. reading slow - When I read Judy Cuevas/Judith Ivory, for example, I read slowly and savour every word and every image. She's a goddess for the visual reader and for the reader who truly loves and reveres words. I read Jenny fairly quickly because her stories tend to move along very quickly with lots of dialogue and not a lot of visuals. I reread both of them repeatedly to savour the very different experiences.
Linda Howard, another of my faves, engages me in a totally different way, maybe somewhere in between. I reread her, happily, too. It's hard for me to ever give up a book. It has to have been a ho-hum or less read the first time through before I can give it away sans angst. ;+)
* Does Amazon have the most screwed up search engine on the Web, or what? When I put in the title of the Writing on Both Sides... book, it took me straight to a book page: Kreschev's Shoe, a book on how to get and hold an audience's attention, live and in person. And you know how they have those things where they recommend a second book to go with and give you a special price if you buy them both??? Well, the second book they recommended was one of the Woodwright's Shop books. WTH?
zdtsh (green)
an exclamation of disgust in one of those slavic languages that's stingy with the vowels
gkzvjije (red)
Good, kind ZaZa (en)visioned, "Just imagine, Jenny eating."
Welcome back, kyra you were greatly missed.
I think I have been certifiably crazy at least twice so that must make me really creative. I can see how being crazy would make you more creative because you are dealing with emotions constantly and not dealing with reality. If you like fantasy that all works to be creative too. Right? /,D
Bob get the hell out of the way of that storm. You aren't listening. It is coming your way. Bring in the kayak, get the dogs and Deb and get in the car and go. You are our egg. Listen to us. The CBs have spoken. Eggs crack you know. /,D
blue almeij
(BoB) At least make efforts inland 2 Jenny.
Kyra,
you were missed - several people commented (or one person commented several times, or something). I'm glad you had a good time, and hope you can get rested up (and that the morning sickness eases up!). Glad to see you back! Voracious, I think.
I like David Boreanaz better as Agt. Booth than as Angel (though I watched devotedly). Brooding is NOT my thing... They did some fun stuff with the new character, Camille. There was an interview with Kathy Reichs on the "Diane Rehm Show" on NPR a little more than a week ago. The links to listen are to the right - it's about 50 minutes long - she talks about the show and the books both.
Jen-T: wow, very impressive. A party trick I've seen a professor do is to draw on the board with both hands simultaneously - that also gets students' attention!
pkmfrky: advice for those who like the off-beat
Kyra! Welcome back! Yes, we did miss you and wonder how you and your friend were doing. We've got some really nice people on this blog. One of whom would be you, sweetie.
Speaking of sweets (Christina started it, Mom), I tried an experiment with shortbread, and it worked beautifully. I was in the mood for chocolate, to which I am allergic. So, I decided to try making shortbread with a single "square" of chocolate in the middle - those cookies are so rich, I can only eat one, so very little chocolate. I mooshed half the dough into the bottom of the pan, then laid out the chocolate pieces about an inch apart. Sprinkled on the other half of the dough, pressed it down, and baked.
I've tried baking cookies with chocolate pieces in them before, but the chocolate gets "singed" and crystallizes because the heat is too high. But shortbread cooks at a relatively low heat, so the chocolate was fine. Yum, yum, yum. The only hard part was guestimating where to score the shortbread so the chocolate would be in the middle of each cookie, rather than oozing out the sides. *sighs, presses back of hand to brow* Such a hardship.
rdpjoik (green)
Really, don't push Jenny over in kilts.
"Through the darkest moments for Agnes and Shane."
oooo, Agnes and Shane have already had their darkest moments? want to be a little more specific?
i saw Entourage finale. and can i just ditto Bob on what he said since i was thinking the same thing? also, not so much just "corporate mindset" but that mentality that everything has to be the same. no uniqueness. it also brought to mind that businesses are looking for people with creativity/who can think outside the box because all these kids are coming out with the same "blah" mind that they are taught and can't seem to think for themselves.
wasn't there a big discussion about mental illness and creativity and how it's a borderline between the two a few years back? i suffer from chronic de ja vu so maybe not...
i read the first page. if it doesn't hook me, back to the library it goes. and since i'm short on cash, i mostly just buy fave authors that i know i'll love.
i used to write endings for all my stories. and beginnings. i liked making beginnings and endings. the middle was hard for me. still kind of is.
i'm a fast reader. and i don't mean a fast skimmer (though i am that too) but a fast reader. i've tried slowing down but that doesn't make me enjoy/dislike a book any more than if i read it at the speed i like. i do read books more than once (some i've read so much they're falling apart), and i discover little things about it that i didn't pick up the first time. but that isn't because i'm reading quickly. it's because i just don't get everything the first read. no one really does. you always pick up more. and i can read fast and still pick up a lot of details.
kyra: we missed you. and so sorry to hear about your friend. remember, lots of shovels to pick from. and i have daggers up the wazoo.
and JJ: Da Vinci did use to do that. one of my friend's wrote in my yearbook that way. she writes as fast that way as she does the other way, and she writes pretty fast. and is so damn neat.
diane said "I like David Boreanaz better as Agt. Booth than as Angel (though I watched devotedly)."
yeah, but when he was younger Angel he was so much hotter. started watching Bones but after awhile it just annoyed me. do like that it's based off a real woman though.
my grandma, to keep her mind fit, would work on crossword puzzles. don't think she does that too much any more, but her mind still works fine. body screwing with her, but mind is still pretty good.
i mean, as good as it always was. we have a lot of craziness in my family. (and yes, this is the cop-kicking grandma, BCB).
i don't have to worry about if i'm crazy, because i know i am, and crazy people never know they are, so that means i'm really not.
you follow that? cause that's some sound logic there.
I, too, am observing Lori’s treaty terms with Iowa. Damn it.
Backwards. Someone told me once about a mental exercise they used as a sleep aid: let your mind wander from thought to thought, stream of consciousness stuff, and then at some point stop and re-trace your thoughts backwards, trying to remember what connected one to the other until you get back to the beginning thought. It’s harder than it sounds, especially if you let your mind wander through more than a few thoughts. A dozen or more is a good number, to make it somewhat of a challenge. I’m always more wide awake afterward, so I don’t recommend it as a sleep aid. But good mental calisthenics. Also helpful for use in conversations with Jen – we jump around a bit. Mentally.
I was very concerned for a long while after coming back from Atlanta that I couldn’t concentrate long enough to read or write. I’d pick up a book to read it or sit down to write and I couldn’t concentrate. I finally figured out I was thinking. Processing information.
A month later, I’m still reading more slowly than usual, especially with books that make me think (yes, as a writer). Doing much better with ones that are easy to breeze through for pure entertainment. And I’ve worked through a point at which I was stuck in my writing, so am looking forward to this weekend, which is writing time for me.
I can’t stand to read a book more than once. I’ve tried it but I know exactly what happens next and I hate that. It’s like I can see it. And then what is the point? Waste of time.
Thought provoking post, Bob. Sure wish we could have sat down together in Atlanta and had a long chat.
Welcome back KTR. And Scope Dope, that storm passed Bob’s island hours ago. The 8-12 inches of rain is headed for my yard though, if you want to worry about me... kidding, I’m kidding –- there’s a canoe in the basement. Paddles, too.
Back to work now. Yes, the boss is gone (again) but I still have things to do.
bw
I could happily avoid turning on the tv for days at a time, but my dad is one of those guys who are addicted to the remote control. If the TV isn't on, he gets the shakes.
I don't watch Bones because I read the books first and it makes me a little crazy to have this character who is supposed to be Tempe but is not Tempe. I know the show is supposed to be a prequel or something to the books, but I know the books and it doesn't quite jell for me. The other explanation is that the show is based more on Reichs herself. But then why call her Tempe? And what's with have a forensic anthropologist, with degrees and experience supposedly up the wazoo, who looks about 25 on a bad day?
And on that subject I saw an ad last night for some new show about lawyers on high profile cases. And I'm watching the clip and thinking to myself, the lawyer wannabes we get around here are older than that.
MCB - My mirror writing is what it used to be, but I'll be more than happy to show off what little I have left of this skill. I don't do it anymore because well, I don't teach HS anymore. I haven't in 15 years. I teach dance to 3-5 year olds and well, they can't read.
Kyra the red - I MISSED YOU! Welcome back. Thanks for the applaude, but really, lots of people with learning disabilities do great things. I'm just an average person. Of course, don't forget to pick up my book when it comes out next year (I know, I'm a hussy!). You are a nice person to help out like that!
kl - Ha! I hose down my kids all the time! And sometimes just because I feel like it. Middle child started leaving bottles of shampoo out in the garage so he could get clean. yeah, he'll strip anywhere. Must be a guy thing.
SDCB - "eggs crack you know." Um, SDCB - bob is a writer, therefore he's already cracked. Sorry, just couldn't resist that one.
OH - you mentioned something about kids not being able to think for themselves. Oh, is this a big concern for me as a parent. I want my kids to be independent thinkers. I try and not influence their opinions too much, well except for maybe body peircing, tatoos and long hair on boys. Seriously, it's important that our children learn to look at everything from every angle and make an informed decision.
As far as the mental illness is concerned. Well, for years I thought there was something wrong with me. Now I know there is something wrong with me. LOL
BCB said ...I can’t stand to read a book more than once. I’ve tried it but I know exactly what happens next and I hate that. It’s like I can see it. And then what is the point? Waste of time.
Oh no. nonono. I love it all the more because I know what's coming. The anticipation you see. But more than that its getting to spend time with those characters again. Its like visiting with old friends.
mjwwa: Spanish for Mhwwa
zaza wrote: Speaking of sweets (Christina started it, Mom)
Dude. So not my fault. People talk about sweets all the time on this blog. And if we are going to point fingers, you get one directed at you....your dessert description was WAY more appetizing than mine.
So there. ;)
evoaue -- how the word evacuate sounds under water
MCB mentioned how people look at her funny for re-reading a book, yet those same people will watch a movie over and over again. (And they think WE are weird?!) I totally agree with you, MCB!! I have shelves of books that are old friends and I love to take one down and savor it again and reacquaint myself with much-loved characters.
I didn't watch Bones last night--I don't know what channel it comes on and I really wanted to watch it because a guy I went to school with was in the show! He belongs to an actors' guild of amputees--he was born with a deformed arm--and I guess there was a need for someone with his "ability" for this episode. This guy is an amazing baseball player, by the way--he could catch the ball in the mitt, whip it off and throw the ball as fast as a regularly-abled guy!
Glad to hear the storm is passing quietly. Certainly don't need another Katrina any time soon...
I like the bit about how people don't think. I agree with that statement. Everyone always seems to want someone else to tell them what to do! I work with people who have been on the job years longer than I have, and they still call into the office to ask if someone can ride the bus for free because they don't have a fare! Hello?! That's the DRIVER'S call--there's no rule that says you can't let them ride, it's a personal call. Drives me crazy when they do that...
As for reading fast or slow--I read very fast. Always have. I tend to skip over the really descriptive stuff so as to get to the meat of the story. I want to know what is going to happen and I want to GET there! If a book is really good, I will stay up all night and finish it--hard when I have to get up at 330 AM to go to work! LOL!
I am not into stories that have to describe the heroine's flowing gossamer gown and silky long hair or the hero's tight pants and rugged good looks for three paragraphs. Feh! Get on with it--some description is necessary, but I am not reading Vogue, for crying out loud! If I want a fashion lesson I will watch "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" or whatever. I don't know. Maybe it's just me...
lmzrovm--Lusting mightily, Zeb ripped off Violet's mantle...
Ooo--bad romance novel!!
oh damn--took too long
pkajkf--oh, for get it!!
The nice thing about reading a book a second time, or thrid, and in my case, over and over again, is you pick up on things you missed. Also, I can be looking for something specific when I read it a second time. Like how does the author do this or that, handle setting, POV. Where are the clues that lead us to the killer, the anwser the protagonist has been looking for. Lots of different things that can help me in my writing. Many times I will read a book just to read, relax and enjoy. Then I will go back and study it, especially if I like the author, or it's a book that really grabbed my attention.
I read really slow.... but that has a lot to do with my learning disability. With that said, I can read a book in a day, depending on the book. Funny, I got turned on to Romances because I found it so difficult to read some of the other books, since it's hard for me to filter the information. If I hear, cool, I'm fine, but reading it, well it takes a lot more for it to soak in.
Take Bob's post for example. I'm reading it for like the 4th time today and I think I'm finally starting to understand some of it. But if he just spoke the words to me, I'd get more of it the first time around.
BCB - yeah, would love to sit down and have a long chat with the GAM. And Jenny, who in my book, is pretty damn talented!
rg sez: Watched the first show of Celebrity Duel
Now that would be a reality show I might watch. Give two celebrities swords and let them go at it...Like celebrity death match, only more renaissance.
Kyra: glad you're back! You probably know this from the last baby, but my mother says keep saltines by your bed and eat a few before you even lift your head from the pillow in the morning. My friend says it worked for her morning sickness.
And sorry if this effects the morning sickness, Kyra, but whoever had that chocolate shortbread? Pass some over hear IMMEDIATELY! Yum. Yes, I'm still not eating sweets, but definintely WANT to eat sweets. Esp. chocolate.
Note to self: Send all books to MCB when done with them.
Really, I just can't re-read them. Makes me crazy. Well, crazier, if we are to believe those Iowans. (Lori, that doesn't count; it was just a friendly shot across the bow.)
I guess I read to see what happens -- in the plot, to the relationships, how the writer does certain things -- and once I've finished the book I know all that. And I think a small part of it is the fear that if I study it (which would pretty easily result in memorization) I'll use someone else's words in my own writing. But mostly it's because re-reading a book makes me squirm with impatience and does not engage my intellect. God, does that sound snobbish. But it's true so I'm not going to delete it.
I've re-read J&B's posts on this blog, but after a couple times through I can see them without looking at them and I remember them. Same with some of the comments. But that isn't like re-reading a story, it's more like studying a lecture. It's different. Ok, so I'm weird. But you all knew that.
bw
BCB sez: Ok, so I'm weird. But you all knew that.
Welcome, sister. You are among your own kind here. :)
BCB: we don't have to worry about you. you can swim, remember? :) (of course if don't post at least once an hour you'll have CBs all over the world freaking out).
g-g: i'd watch that show!
MCB: do you not hate that? it bothers me even more in books when the person is on the verge of 27 and is the owner of a multi-national company built from the ground up. yes, it does happen in real life. BUT NOT THAT F-ING OFTEN!
sheri: when it comes to descriptions that last longer than a page, i'll skim them. not that interested in the exact shade of her hair or the way the wind blew just those three leaves. have to be a really good writer to make me read every word.
of course, as this teacher once told me, i probably pick up as much skimming as most people do reading word for word. something about how my brain works. even did these tests with me.
mom giving me nasty looks AGAIN for typing loudly. that woman has a worse case of selective hearing than my grandma- and hers is pretty bad!
Hey all. I have a million other things I Should be Doing but I am on here like a blog-whore. Someone stop me before its too late ...
I haven't read Kathy Reichs, but I know she's supposed to be a wunderkind in the field. The woman in bones is really, really loosely based on Kathy Reichs which is the reason for the name change.
OH: take the daggers out of your wahoo. It will hurt when you sit down.
I know the saltines thing but with Tweety Bird saltines made me sick (iknow, the irony) but I could eat cheezits. Hate to be graphic here, but one bad bad morning I threw the cheezits up into the bathtub (dammit, DH was at the sink and the toliet lid was down and there was NO TIME. Trust me, I had to ralph into the tub) and discovered that 15 minutes in my belly had changed neither the odor or the color of the cheezits. I will never be able to eat them again. Never.
DH just called and said he almost got mowed down by an old guy on a Segway. It was most amusing.
I've missed you all. It's good to be back.
Housework becons. I bitch-slapped it.
There have been some interesting studies on the topic of creativity
as a form of mental illness:)
Here are a few links to browse,
if anyone finds the topic intriguing:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/10/031001061055.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/02/060213183707.htm
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro99/web2/Gosselink.html
The first link makes more sense (that creative individuals are simply more open to stimuli) than that they're bonkers.
If you think about it objectively, depression and bipolar disorder are just reactions to external stimuli.
Take a look around at the world we live in. An intelligent person can't help but be depressed at the daily examples of needless stupidity, greed, or cruelty. And then thrilled when something extraordinary, beautiful or unexpected happens.
That's not a disordered mind, just a sane reaction to stimuli by an intelligent, perceptive or sensitive person.
Also, there's the high associated with physical exercise; could be that the manic state is just a state of mental giddiness, rather than a physical rush.
What about children? There are gifted children, and there are stupid children, but the quality a lot of them share, regardless, is a lack of limits, or a disregard of limits.
They're simply unaware of how they're expected to behave. If they want to sing, they just do. If they want to crayon the wall, they will. They'll just launch into a story without considering whether or not you want to hear it.
Later in life, adults willingly accept restrictions for themselves. They say they can't sing, can't paint, don't know how to dance.
Maybe they're right. It's completely possible they're just being honest. But on the other hand, maybe they're just afraid to look foolish.
On the other hand, ask a child if they can do any of the above, and most of the time, they'll agree that sure, they can. Why not?
So, maybe creative people just retain that quality of, well, sure I can, why not?
Of course, that's a facile and overly simplified example, and maybe the better way to define that particular quality would just be confidence.
Creative people have confidence in themselves, in what they see, in how to translate it into tangible form,
in exactly what they want to say, how they want to say it, and why it's important. It's not arrogance, it's just integrity.
Do agree that most people simply don't think enough. The mind is a powerful resource, so it's a shame that more people don't take advantage of it.
Every tangible thing on the planet got there by first by being an idea in some strange person's head. Many intangible things, as well. Ideas sometimes have more power than an H-bomb.
It's an interesting topic, though. Creative people are definitely different, in many ways, but whether it's due to genetics or environment, or some other factor, no one's really been able to work it out.
After all, how do you test creativity in the lab? What IS creativity? Are the criteria really definable? Is it an inherited strength, to ensure survival under all conditions, or is it a mental flaw? Also, is creativity a knack with words, or musical notes? What about people who can create things with their hands? Machines? Pottery? Tech people are creative. So are mechanics.
And how is it possible to explain or measure the importance of inspiration? It can't be reproduced in a controlled experiment, but it definitely exists.
So, creativity.
Think about the creative people you know. What makes them different?
And, while you're at it, what makes YOU different?
This is a particularly relevant question for a lot of parents out there, and mothers in particular, who spend a lot of time worrying about their children, to the point where they think it's unfair to have a few dreams or hobbies of their own.
Maybe right now is a good time to have a coffee break all to yourself, and think about who you are, what you dream about, what makes you happy, and just what makes you tick. It's not a crime. Go ahead.
How did you see the world? How do you see it now? Why do you see it that way? And how would you change it, if you could just rewrite a few things, in your own mind?
And if you've always wanted to try something, or accomplish something, and just never thought there was enough time to do it, well, in another few years there's going to be even less time, so you might as well go for it now.
It's true that creative people are very different, but everyone has the ability to be creative, if only they would stop being afraid of themselves and what other people think.
Half an hour is enough to try something new, learn something new, or create something out of thin air. Or at least, to make a good start at it.
So why not give yourself the chance to see what you've got to say, or create, that's completely unique?
Whether you think it's selfless or selfish, everyone in the world has to live their own life and no one else's.
It's not a point of view, just a fact, because no one else can be you.
PS: Just a footnote on corporate vs. artistic mindset. Don't agree that artists are purely emotional and corporate people are purely logical.
Artists definitely use logic to create anything, since the process of idea building REQUIRES logic. Maybe they're not the most keen on creating a product to reach a certain definable market, but that's not their job.
Whereas corporate interests are sometimes logical, in that their goal is to package a product as cheaply as possible, and find as many purchasers as possible. X dollars of investment, minus X expense, equals X profit. That's logical.
But they're illogical when they try to pre-package content for markets.
Markets aren't concrete, measurable blobs of jelly. Markets are masses of people, all with individual tastes.
So, what's meant to appeal to people age 18-34 might or might not appeal to everyone in that age group. All they've really got is a best guess scenario.
There's no way to guess what will appeal to most people, all of the time. Just some of the people, most of the time.
There are so many cultures in the world that there's no way to cram them all into some kind of database and come up with logical numbers. What's right in one country is completely wrong in another.
Then a product catches on or tanks unexpectedly, and skews the numbers completely.
Did a committee sitting in a board room really have the numbers to forecast the popularity of, for example, the Cabbage Patch Kids, Pokemon, the Da Vinci Code or Titanic? Some trends just happen spontaneously. Product can't be developed solely by crunching numbers or facts.
These products were the result of a strong-willed individual who just followed their artistic instinct to the logical conclusion:)
It can be argued that an artist given free rein can also produce an unintelligible amount of nonsense, but on the other hand, artistic integrity at the best level produces masterpieces. An original work is usually the closest in origin to the artistic vision, and usually the one that genuinely moves people, or makes them angry, happy, inspires them, makes them think, whereas a sequel is a diluted version, at best. A remake, even more removed from the source. A genuine masterpiece really can't be duplicated. It can be changed, remade, or printed over and over again, but never recreated in quite the same way.
Also, a lot of corporate decisions are driven by fear, which is not a particularly logical emotion, because the underlying cause of fear is completely subjective.
They're afraid they won't make money, sure. But based on what reason?
Take your pick. The product is too long, too short, too violent, not violent enough, no one's ever done this before, too many people have done this before, this genre isn't popular with 12-18, 18-34, won't appeal to men, won't appeal to women, it's too religious, it's sacrilegious, too political, too foreign, author's unknown, too girly, too much of a niche, not enough of a niche, the author's controversial, the author's dead but three other films are coming out based on this work, blah, blah, blah, blah.
Let's just greenlight this remake of King Kong, instead, because that's a sure fire winner.
Or, for the bookish set, how about some fiction about mad monks, or sexy vampires? City chicks obsessed with fashion? Diet book? Lose 20 Stone on the Pringles Diet, but let's get Oprah to plug it. That'll work.
It's so contrived, because decisions made en masse like that depend on the perceived stupidity and herd instinct of the target audience. Is that not just a bit unrealistic?
Yes, it's true in some ways, because when people are lazy, they'll accept what they're given, because they can't be bothered. They're too busy.
But change is inevitable. At some point or other, someone's going to get fed up with pop culture force feeding and go off and read, listen to or watch something that has nothing to do with a current trend. Eventually, other people catch on, and it becomes just another ripple in pop culture.
But there's no way to control or predict just how narrow or wide that circle of influence will be.
Most corporations are so hostile to individual expression that they're sort of like a band of lemmings leaping over a cliff, anyway.
Only the head lemming's the last to jump, and it's got a golden parachute.
Sheri - "Bones" is on Fox. At 8 p.m. on Wednesdays.
I had the TV on last Spring because I was being a Nielsen family, I stopped at "Bones" because I saw David Boreanaz. It was a depressing episode, but I tried again because there is some interesting physical anthro stuff, and other people told me it wasn't usually so depressing.
I don't think of the two Tempe Brennans as being the same person, because then there would be no tension with Agt. Booth - since we know she ends up married to, then separated from Pete. NOT a happy ending. I couldn't get into the more recent "Star Wars" trilogy, partially because they were pretty boring (sorry, fans!), but also largely because I knew it would end badly.
I re-read a LOT. Sometimes to remind myself what happened (e.g. when number x of a series comes out, re-read the previous one(s)), but most often because, yes, I know what happened, I liked it the first time, and it's a reliable source of pleasure. Which new books are NOT. Sometimes I only read parts, sometimes I skip over some things (in Devil's Cub, I skip all the stuff with Mrs. Challoner and the younger sister, because they're odious, but I love when Mary meets the Duke, but doesn't know it's him), sometimes I cherish every word (I couldn't re-write The Riddle Master of Hed trilogy, but could probably place just about any line within a 20 page region, since I've been reading them for 25 years).
And I read pretty fast, especially when I'm reading something new, so I run out of things I know I want to read, and don't always want to waste time or money on something I probably won't like, when I could read one of the hundreds of books I love. And it's slightly easier to put down a book I've read before - a plus near bedtime or time to leave for work.
fnyyroh: when someone puts an oar in my hands
G_G said...
rg sez: Watched the first show of Celebrity Duel
Heck, I'd watch it too. : ) Probably better than a duet.
I'm a bit like you BCB, you said:
I was very concerned for a long while after coming back from Atlanta that I couldn’t concentrate long enough to read or write.
That happened to me after I finished the witch story, it took me several months before starting the current one. Longest time ever. I remember talking about it on the blog and gettting all kinds of wonderful feedback from all of you. On the upside of that, when I started to write again, it took off like a rocket.
It was difficult while going through the thinking period though and I often wondered if I'd lost the ability to write. AND, I couldn't find anything in the bookstores that I really wanted to read. I wasn't going to movies either. Was I in the depressive stage of my psychosis, Bob? Heh.
Now, when I reflect back on that stage it's almost like my mind was being cleansed so that once I started the process of thinking through this story it would come together in a crystal clear vision. And it did. I think I wrote the outline in two or three days. Then I did Jenny's card system, you know the, No. 1 The trouble starts, through to The trouble Ends. I love that one.
Another of Jenny's that I got at the Aussie National, was her Conflict Grid. I'd used a slightly different plotting device before but hers is much better. It really made sense. Like a quick slap to the head and a, "By golly, I do believe she's got it."
One of these days I'm going to listen to the entire workshop of his and hers, on YEX and violence. I had to leave right in the middle for appointments and was really ticked off, they were just getting to the good stuff. Would love to go to NJ if they're doing it there, but then again, the conference budget is kind of empty.
Sigh.
Hey, a big black cloud just rolled in from the South West. Must be hurricane John sending rain up to the mountains. It's so dark in my office I had to switch on a light. Weird. It's supposed to 109 today and it looks like it's going to rain. It never rains here. Just passes over us and leaves disgusting humidity.
Sorry for the length of this. Break is over. Back to writing.
rg
anon wrote: There are gifted children, and there are stupid children, but the quality a lot of them share, regardless, is a lack of limits, or a disregard of limits.
Ah. This explains the blog comments. We're all just gifted children.
and Creative people have confidence in themselves, in what they see, in how to translate it into tangible form,
in exactly what they want to say, how they want to say it, and why it's important. It's not arrogance, it's just integrity.
And just how is it that someome intelligent and insightful enough to write something like this can't manage to figure out how to slap some kind of a name on it? Well, welcome, whoever the hell you are. You've made it damn hard to engage in conversation, however, as refusing to do so with you "anon" posters has become something of a matter of integrity for me.
bw
Hey, do you think that anonymous posting above is from Tom the Old Coot? It sounds like one of his rants and has a similar style.
Hi Tom.
rg
yghubhu
young guys, hubba hubba
The discussion of creativity is interesting to me in other areas as well (since I write, but not fiction). Last night for the first time in ages I actually went to a tango class, instead of just going after class to dance. One of the instructors there is quite keen on connection between partners and relation with the music, but last night decided instead to focus on play.
In Argentine tango, there is a lot of potential for individual expression and "decoration" by either or both partners within the connection created between leader and follower. Homer was pointing out that children just romp around and move their bodies simply because they can, but that as adults we become more restrained. He wanted us to play with embellishing steps and goofing around while responding and connecting to the music. Which I sometimes do just playing around dancing pseudo-tango in my livingroom for the heck of it.
During the class, after a demonstration of what we were doing by the two instructors, one of the women in class said, "But I have a vocabulary of about 8 steps and you just did all this stuff." Homer pointed out that none of what they'd just done was a technical tango step, it was just a step where they felt like stepping at that time. She was focusing on the individual steps instead of the concept of moving in a way that you are inspired to move by the music. Which was kind of the point of the class: we get so boxed in to what is an allowed or led step, that we can't improvise and have fun with our partners and the music. I always like partners who surprise me with their lead or make me laugh by introducing a playful series of steps. I also like those who don't just lead, but give me time to interpret the music in a way that makes sense to me as well. One of the most fun things about Argentine tango as a style is that the leader could be dancing to the violin while the follower is focusing on the bandoneon, but they are also both within the pattern of the various tango vocabulary of steps and the fact that they are responding to different parts of the same song makes their dancing that much more complex and beautiful to watch: the dancers fit together in the same way that the instruments playing the music fit together.
Which gets back to creativity and thinking and creating something out of nothing. It's not just for writers, you know. You can be creative in the scope of dance, cleaning, walking, looking around, and anything that lets you do things in a way that is uniquely yours.
And that includes these comments, which are clearly recess for many of us.
Ooooh. Did this soapbox get higher since last time? It seems awfully far to the ground today. Hey, BCB. Give me a hand climbing down from here, would you?
RG: I don't think that's Tom -- the writer is encouraging creativity, reflection, daring us to be different. Nope. Not The Old Coot.
G-G: Just jump down, it only hurts for a minute. Don't pull that muscle again! I've got to go eat dinner before the water rises above my chin and I have to don the mask and snorkle.
OH wrote: BCB: we don't have to worry about you. you can swim, remember? :) (of course if don't post at least once an hour you'll have CBs all over the world freaking out).
Yes, I can swim. Couldn't graduate from my HS unless you could swim four different strokes, can't remember how many yards each. I used to teach little kids how to swim, bless my heart.
And you are SO wrong -- if I commented once an hour you all would just stop reading the blog.
[glug, glug -- water is rising -- burble... help]
bw
JenT: Many (many)years ago I started out as an education major. In my educational psych course, the prof made us learn something new Backwards, upside down writing. He walked around telling us things like "Don't hold your pencil like that, it's the wrong way." "Why are you doing it that way, it's stupid?" "You have to hold the mirror at a precise (whatever) angle, you have yours at a _____ angle. You are doing it wrong."
His point was that what is important is achieving your objective, learning something new and it doesn't matter how you do it. There are many "right" ways.
This was probably the most important thing I ever learned. It helped me understand how hurtful and destructive you can be when you are trying to "teach" someone.
You're awesome lady.
Diane: I so love meeting another Georgette Heyer fan. That's one of my favorite scenes in Devil's Cub too. My Heyer books had been reread so many times over the last 30+ years that they were falling to pieces. They are some of my comfort books. Books I read when everything else in my life is going to Hell in a Handbasket. I need to start checking the booksellers to replace them because unfortunately they were destroyed by water earlier this year.
I'm one of the fast, rereaders. I too have trouble letting go of books tho I'm getting better at it. Now I keep the ones I know I will reread (Crusie and Mayer in all his incarnations are of course among these)
Very interesting discussions here on creativity etc. As someone has posted before, I'm reading nodding my head.
I'm with BCB. ID yourself please. Enjoyed your post.
Kyra so glad you're back. Missed you.
Enjoyed your post Bob. Tho I don't watch any of the shows. When my three were small there was so much noise in the house, that once I got them in bed or later in school I didn't turn on TV, radio or anything just so I could savor the silence. I'd rather read than watch any day and now it's read and write.
Read once? More? I attended some special classes eons ago, when I was a whipper snapper of just 16. (Yeah, OH, I really did used to be younger than you are.) Well, we had to learn speed reading, one of our classes that summer. So now I speed read if I’m not paying attention to myself. Of course, if it’s technical, I slow way down. Thus, with certain authors, I know I will be rereading and enjoying it immensely while I do.
My specialty in not reading the "right way" is reading upside down. Freaks people out!
Creativity! So many ways to be creative. Here are a couple of ways you may not have tried for maybe 10 minutes of thinking different thoughts (Don’t snark until you’ve tried them!) Close the other handedness nostril for a few minutes; that is, If you’re right-handed, press your left nostril closed. Another trick is to write for that 10 minutes with your non-dominate hand. I didn’t believe it would work, but I had to go with the flow or look like a jerk to a whole bunch of people. I was surprised.
Ya know, I’ve been making occasional jokes about writing Infinity in the Kitchen. Guess what! I’m really doing it. It’s killing me, it’s so hard. The concept is lots of small real life 1-pager vignettes about math. The target audience is people (usually women) who don’t think they can do math.
gatorperson: the book sounds great (though I always rather liked math...you could do things with it that were helpful)! Keep on going, because it sounds like fun!
I play scrabble upside down. Right side up now confuses me and looking at the board from the side seems to distort things. So I opt for upside down. Everyone I play with always says "are you sure?" but that's me. *shrug*
BCB said ... Yes, I can swim. Couldn't graduate from my HS unless you could swim four different strokes
Oh thank Bob I didn't go to your school. I am so blasted uncoordinated that all I can manage is floating. And my parents put me in the water really young too so its not their fault. If I had been in your school I never would have graduated.
Creativity ... And now that I think about it I believe it was SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN MIND. One of the things it discussed was how most of us are more creative when young, that we give more rein to that side of the brain. But as you get older and have to function in the world you call more and more upon the other side of your brain because unfortunately the world requires reasoning and rationality and a certain amount of linear thinking in order to survive. But it also said that creativity can be learned, that you can 'loosen up' that side of the brain. Won't necessarily make you a painter or cellist, but you can learn to see things differently.
And I think book people, both the writers and the readers, have a good head start on this. Writers because as Bob said "you're trying to create something completely new" and readers because we open up our imaginations and let the writers take us along for the ride.
I definitely fall into the reread camp. I go through moods where all I want to read are books in my personal library. The funny thing is, some of my favorite "rereads" are from JAK, and I hear that she absolutely hates to reread. Won't do it. To each their own.
Jenny, I believe books are like cuisine. Some are meant to be devoured rabidly while others are meant to be savored like a pair of long long lovers doing it for the nth time. Or maybe not quite nth, coz that would mean they'd rather go to sleep than do anything else.
Hmmm...might have to revise that analogy somehow.
Kyra the Red...
Welcome back!
Anon...
Your comments re: the corporate mindset are right on the spot.
khdff...blue
kindly have details Friday first
MCB wrote: and readers because we open up our imaginations and let the writers take us along for the ride.
Which is why I always drive.
GP: I always thought you lived in FL, but you mentioned something recently about being in NC -- which is it? And if NC, which part? If you're down east, take care, ok?
Many interesting things said here about creativity. I think a lot of what we lose as we grow up results from the fear of looking different or ridiculous. It takes a good deal of courage, or maybe just bravado, to put a part of yourself on display. It's a risk to self-confidence and self-perception.
When I'm writing, I don't know that I'm consciously trying to create something "new" so much as trying to avoid the commonplace or familiar. Maybe in the pre-planning stages there is an awareness of that, but when writing I get too involved in the story to worry about that particular aspect. And there is a certain amount of arrogance involved -- the assumption that someone will want to read what you've written and will enjoy it or learn from it or be otherwise moved by it. It requires not so much a big ego as a strong one. IMO.
bw
bcb: I grew up in FL, moved to CA, then to NC - in the piedmont for 28 years. The hurricane rain has let up, but we need more; only a few limbs down. Thanks for noticing. Bob probably did right in getting his kayak out of the water. Joke, but real (where's Tal?) Higher up from here is called the FOOTHILLS, but here it's lower in elevation, so is called the PIEDMONT. Go figure!
Ah, we do indeed need to be all in a room to debate creativity well.
Some of my greatest creativity has been in designing and implementing computer systems. No users could really see the design, and almost no one ever looked at the code. I knew it was brilliant (really!), but no one else did. I'd occasionally open a file to gaze at it and pat myself on the back at its beauty, since no one else did. OK, everyone sigh together now, "Ahhhh, such beauty." Snort!
uvlprg: Ululating Vultures Laugh Prodigiously, Remaining Guarded.
rg said "Then I did Jenny's card system, you know the, No. 1 The trouble starts, through to The trouble Ends."
card system? huh? share, share!
to piggy-back off g-g's dance topic: as she said (or anon said), children are unrestrained. and then they get told about restrictions and standards and all the rules and they stop. when i dance (not step dances, but just dance in a club or something) i just move. dancing is about moving your body. sometimes in a set of moves already made, which can then be changed to fit you, and sometimes just move. i had to teach these two guys (twin brothers, actually) how to dance once (we were at a party and they were just standing at the wall, which they hated, but they didn't want to look "like idiots") so i took them to a corner and told them to just move, feel the beat, let it into you, and then move how you see fit. pretend no one else is around. just you, and the music, and the moves.
well, they both got dates that night, so obviously listening to me is smart.
i think i lost the topic at one point though. well, basically, pretend your alone (when your much more willing to do "foolish" things) and let go. that's creativity- stepping away from the restrictions so you can do and think and move. and i think thinking is a very creative process, even if what your thinking is completely logical stuff. or math. i mean math as in, something with a set answer you have to achieve. getting there is a creative process- just a different form of creativity i've hated since, oh, about 6th grade and up.
rg: anon is definitely not Tom. Tom was, oh, what's the polite word? ah yes, an a**hole, and this person is kind and thinks.
gp: book sounds helpful. and hey, that's cool that you find beautiful things in what some would consider logical, boring, or just, you know, there. so here: "ahhh, such beauty".
GP...
I know what you mean...
To me, there is nothing prettier than a well put together electronic installation. Way back when I was not retired, that was part of my job...to install and construct electronic "stuff".
On writing...
Today's San Diego Union Tribune has an article re: a 3-Day Novel Contest. It's based in canada. Registration has to be post-marked tomorrow Sept. 1. www.3daynovel.com
qzcscli...green
quiet zips Crusie, since Crusie loves italics
Someone mentioned dance - well, I had my dance meeting this evening where I got my class list, dance schedule and we talked about the coming season. One of the reasons I really enjoy working at this particular dance studio is the fact that my "creativity" is not stifled. They know that our backgrounds in dance are all different and instead of making us conform to one way or the other, they encourage us to teach the styles we are comfortable, as long as we don't put down another teacher in the process. I'm a broadway kind of gal. My mom was a rockette and I did a lot of choreography in local broadway shows, so I like to do stuff to thinks like, BIG SPENDER, ALL THAT JAZZ, KANSIS CITY, to name a few of my favorite songs. Well, today that is considered kind of old school. I don't do hip hop, actually watching me try is kind of funny, but the kids I taught loved doing something "different". They got to try a different style and it was fun.
Now I just teach pre-schoolers, so my choreography is really limited. But I do have fun with them. Last year I had a couple of boys and we had fun with some Elvis songs and then for ballet we did SOME DAY MY PRINCE WILL COME, the boys twirled the girls and it was so dang cute! That was until one of the little girls decided she didn't want to be twirled and pushed the little boy. Yes, this was during recitial. The little boy looked over at me on the side of the stage, then turned and stuck his tongue out at the little girl then got back in line and finsihed the dance. Yeah, they stole the show.
Still processing Bob's post. Lots to think about. For about 15 years I was in counseling, for various reasons. It started when I was a kid when my parents seperated, then when I started ingesting, well, things teenagers should ingest, then, well, the counseling became comfortable.
Writing can isolate you from the rest of the world. I know for in the last three years it has. I had behind my computer, in my office and there I times I resent that I have to get out of my sweats and leave my home. Normally, I'm a pretty happy person. At the dance studio they call me Mary Poppins. Most people think I'm just happy all the time, and usually I am. But I make myself that way. I could easily fall into the depths of depression. I've been there, a long long time ago. Not a pretty place. Not a place I ever want to see again. I guees my message is this, a smile goes a long way, and not just for the person looking at the smile.
:) :) :)
OH - good insight into dance. One of the things i used to teach in Modern Jazz, when I taught it about ten years ago, was that it's not just about being "technically" correct. A huge issue in ballet. If you don't have your feet and arms in just the right position, well watch out! But dance isn't just about proper technique, it's about expression. How does the music make you feel and how can you get that across in your movements. I have a CD that has music that is supposed to represent certian emotions and I would play them and have the kids express that emotion through their movements. Very interesting what the kids would come up with.
Watching Ballet is fascinating. While in this case, proper technique is very important, it always amazes me how the dancers get across the emotions of their characters and the story in their dance. Of course it amazes me because Ballet is my weak point. Never really very good at it. Jazz, tap, but mostly theatrical dance.
GP: I love a really well written software program -- if that means I can make the computer sing and dance. I'm good at being the end user and have a lot of respect for the ones who enable my fascination with it. And I do find a certain satisfaction in making all the numbers line up and balance at work, even though I'd much rather be playing with words.
Jen: I think we've all been in that black hole of depression, one time or another. You ever fall back in, let me know, I'll come haul you out. And will expect the same from you next time I take a tumble.
Louis: Thanks for that website. LOL! Those crazy Canadians. I especially liked the "Survival Guide." My RWA chapter does something similar every month called "Book in a Week" though no one expects you to write a whole book. The point, if you participate, is to put aside all distractions -- including meal preparation, laundry, shopping, work if you can get away with it, back to school chores, but mostly that internal editor -- and write like crazy. Get as many words on the page as possible. A little friendly competition, a lot of hilarious creative excuses, and the freedom to do it badly if you have to, as long as you do it. It starts Saturday, coincidentally, and I believe I might participate this month. Some of the page totals are truly impressive.
This will be the first weekend in longer than I can remember with no distractions or outside demands. Bliss. Don't worry if you don't hear from me for a while.
bw
BCB - Thanks.
SDCB - So, are we ready for some Hockey! Geez, next week starts regular practices. We've got two kids on tuesday night, one on wednesday, two on thrusday and one on friday, then middle child has 5 games next weekend between sat and sunday and youngest child has one. Oh, and how about some football! That bed really gets going, especially on Monday night. Yeah, I'm one of those bad mommies that let their young children stay up and once one hour of football, that is if all the homework is done and they've disinfected themselves from the nasty hockey smell that they live in. Oh yeah! I love winter. I know, I'm really shark food.
Let me get this out of the way first ... yes OH we know you are young and energetic. You don't need to rub it in. But keep in mind that we have wisdom and experience on our side. Add it up and you got a whole lot of experience. So don't get cocky.
GP brings up a very good point. That creativity doesn't have to result in recognizable art. Its really about thinking outside the box, isn't it? I mean if you have to talent for music (passenger seat twirling aside) or painting or whatever, are you less creative? Of course not. You just channel it differently. So I do think that a well done computer program can be a thing of beauty.
In order to make or improve upon anything you have to visualize it. Whether its a painting, a book, a computer program or a filing system. Because all of it requires bringing elements together in a way that works, that's balanced, its creative.
mind games. One that I've seen before and that I thought was pretty good, is a paragraph of text, each word a color. But each word is printed in a color not its own. The word Yellow is printed in blue. The word Red is printed in green. Purple is in orange and so on. The color isn't important so long as it is different from the word.
The idea is to read each word, reading the WORD not the color. Its harder than you think. Then reverse and read the COLOR rather than the word.
Good night, sleep tight, God bless, and don't let the bed bugs bite.
orangehands said...
all these kids are coming out with the same "blah" mind that they are taught and can't seem to think for themselves.
That's so true. There aren't enough classes in most schools, at all levels of schooling, that require the student to think for themselves. Even in the sciences, where at least some of the students are going on to be doctors or researchers. I had two notable courses, one Organic Chem and the other Cell Bio, where the profs gave the principles, showed many examples of how they were applied, then gave questions on the test which required us to apply those principles. Those two profs were almost universally reviled as bad teachers. My god the wailing and gnashing of teeth, the cries of "that's not fair!"
Both those classes were required for several majors, so people had to at least pass. The ones who were doing badly hated me and the handful of others, mostly women (hmmm), who were acing the tests, so they wouldn't listen when we tried to show them how simple it really was. And why would all the Pre-Med students wait until their last semester to take a class they had to pass and one that many students