Fiction Packet 2

Fiction packet two was much more enjoyable and easier to relate to. It had multiple stories in it which I found easier to connect to because they had more of a premise and purpose. The first story was contagion which was written in a very interesting way. So much detail, ironically so considering the job he held with his boss. The sections provided different avenues through which to follow the story, aside from the interesting writing style and sections I thought this story was one of the more dull ones.

In fact, I found that most of the stories were dull. In writing a short story you have to pack a lot of punch in a small space and these just required more attention and content than they offered to enjoy them. "People In Hell.." was better than the others however.

Overall, I found that the short stories were much more enjoyable. When we discuss them in class I have a feeling we will have more to say seeing the fact there is more real content.

Attack of The Difficult Poems

Some poems are very outwardly accessible. However, it is our duty as a reader to understand that this does not mean the poem has no message or it is intentionally difficult. Some of the best poems you may read might take days or even weeks to decipher, however, once understood, will posses a truly heartfelt and personal message with you.

Songs often do that with me personally. Listening to a song once might seem catchy or even unpleasant but after you hear it a few times and really start to listen to the music and lyrics it may become a song you are absolutely in love with. This isn't surprising seeing as how songs are music-accompanied poetry.

It is encouraged to give every piece of art a chance, no matter how accessible or inaccessible it may be. Sometimes the greatest messages in your life may take even a lifetime to understand.

Cameron bad Writing

Cameron speaks of what it is to be bad writing. Hitting home, the point is made that writing is doomed to be 'bad' from the get if the targeted audience is anything but genuine. You cannot write to someone who you wouldn't just as enjoyably speak to, because the writing will lose all sense of authenticity and emotion.

Often as students we are asked to write for a certain project or paper to a teacher. We get so caught up in writing how we would want the professor to see us that in fact we degrade our own writing. In doing this, we lower our grade far lower than where it would have fallen if we would have just been genuine.

We cannot force voice, immediately learn scholarly diction and syntax just the same as a first time weight lifter cannot get under heavy weight simply to impress his colleagues. Writing is an art that takes time to learn, and as Cameron said, writing must be done towards a genuine and well felt audience, even if they aren't actually going to be reading it. Do yourself a favor and write to someone who you think would enjoy it!

Poetry

After Standing Strong

The streets speak calmly- orders clear as the stars piercing that black blanket.

Here is where the chalk would be drawn.

The lines drawn near to home,

This is progress; the path he was shown.

The streets cradle with warmth unlike anything he had ever felt.

Unlike anything he had ever felt.

Had he ever felt?

Felt lining the coffin he would close:

That liquid rose,

That twisted pose left chalk imprinted upon the concrete.

“Not me,” he said.

Met with open arms and heads nodding except his was throbbing;

Laying in bed the streets called his name,

Softly, an easy way out.

Even easier to blame.

Simplified

Such an instant reaction, my hearts impacted.

A fraction of doubt but your eyes guide me past it.

Your hands lead me on and your lips dripping passion-

Two souls drifting closer with fear of attachment.

But I fear detachment.

Loss and looking back wishing that we had done things different but my backs,

Against a wall.

The odds stacked against it all.

It’s odd because my past has me tripped to fall,

But your smile for a while has me caught in awe.

I’m a simple man with a complex mind,

But simply put you make this simplified.

It feels too natural to hold and confide,

I don’t know if I can make you happy,

But I know I’ll try.

Blood Dazzler Reflections

One of the most prominent aspects of this book is its extremely powerful presence of diction. Much more precise and tangible than City Eclogue, Blood Dazzler tells throughout a multitude of poems the essence in New Orleans after the hurricane.

One of my favorite is on page 24, titled "Voodoo II, Money". It is a great poem because it so expertly captures the almost humorous uselessness of our so valued 'currency' during a time of real disaster. Writing, "it's too thin to hold back tomorrow", in response to someone holding up their dear money in the face of the coming carnage. Money cannot and will not save you, neither physically or spiritually.

Another powerful poem is Katrina on page 31. This poem uses some of the most gritty and effective diction of any poem I've read in my life. Each word almost exponentially stacks in power with the words previous. Words like scrap, grimey, rip and tear that just leave you grimacing for sake of whoever the words are directed at.

I very much enjoyed the style of this author. Her powerful sense of diction is only amplified by her ability to remain so precise and directive with it. I am very impressed.

I look forward to discussing this book further in class!

City Eclogue Weekly Post

City Eclogue is one of the most difficult pieces of writing I have ever been assigned to read. More difficult than Thoreau, than Shakespeare, than any piece of abstract spirituality search because it literally made absolutely no sense to me. I read for purpose and found none. I read for rhetorical prowess and discovered interesting use of diction but relatively unremarkable writing.

I will admit that his syntax is...interesting. I understand why we study it in creative writing, because it most definitely is creative. However, where does the line get crossed from creative into meaningless. I understand the goal. He wished to portray his home city, Pittsburgh in a light that he felt was correct.

His style of writing provides quick glances at ravaged streets, busied lives of people and animals bustling around a city that was far from beautiful. I feel that his purpose could have been met so much more directly and with more power if he would have just written less abstractly and used his rhetorical skills in a more traditional sense to drive home a true meaning. It is a problem when I, as the reader, have a hard time even understanding the most raw components of his writing. Half of the time I felt as though he was just jumbling words together with random indents.

I'm sure there is much to this piece that I did not understand. Perhaps scholars have studied it deeper and have pried more meaning out of it. It was just frustrating to me because I was looking for a needle in a very large haystack.

I look forward to class discussions in hopes that it sheds more light on City Eclogue!

Week Three Blog Post

Week Three Blog Post

     Goldberg-

During the introduction, Goldberg primarily focuses on the act of writing not as a cognitive process but as a literal function. Breaking down step by step, she  delineates each individual step that must be followed. From the purchasing of a viable pen and journal, to the speed of which you write. Breaking it down into such a tangible process helps ease the often overwhelming nature of conjuring up a piece of "writing".

She then promotes the idea that writing is not something to be made so permanent. I completely agree with this notion. Each word put on paper is nothing more than an idea we let loose; it is not something so descriptive of our intelligence. Rather, it is something let out of us, if not only for the satisfaction of its release. This is an idea I can strongly relate to. I often find myself struggling to sound a certain way whether to impress a teacher or simply to impress myself.

Then, moving onto the topic of obsessions she brings about a very applicable epiphany. We are completely driven by compulsions. Creatures of habit, we find ourselves performing various miniscule busy-work tasks and often without reason; these invisible reasons are compulsions. Habits. I think writing is a habit that we can all use a bit more of. Not only does it exercise the mind and soul, but it helps to promote a general maturing of the brain. You will come to many realizations writing. You will learn.

Syntax and detail, this is the crux of any piece of writing. It will just as soon be the crucifixion. Someone who focuses too much on style and beautiful detailed writing will forgo the most simple ingredient: content. The most raw component of any delivery of an idea is the idea itself. Writing is an art, but just as an artist must have a preconceived picture in his mind so too must the writer have a general direction. I love how the author relates these processes to cooking throughout the text. It is such a realistic comparison because writing very often is much like baking.