Should I Write Something Risky?

There are times when writers asks themselves if something they are contriving and placing into a story is out of place or risky. What is wrong with risky? I say, "dare to impair." And by that I mean to write to ensare.

Why does sex and violence sell? Because people, though opposed to being open about it, are not against reading about either. As long as it is behind closed doors and in the confines of their own sanctum. Am I encouraging filth? I do not mean that to sound like the case at all. What I am simply trying to state is that risky motives make for tempestuous ventures.

Consider why it is that you love a show or film that is "risky". Why is that you love it? Might it be due to the situation? Fantasizing as what life could be like. And why is it that such a perverse thing is frowned upon?

As you remember my blog is here to make you think. Not to give you answers. Do not first arrive at the answer if you do not know the question, for the question is the plot whereas the answer is the adventure to the end of said mentioned plot.

Ponder this as well. Why is it that some of the best selling books in history question sexuality, intimacy,  gender roles, mental illness, and gross expenditures of wealth? How were they successful in relating that subject matter to their audience? And what audience does it appeal to?

As a writer it is important to always have a question. Then it is up to you to write a version of the answer that is best led to its end by empirical evidence whether that be fiction or non-fiction.

Out for July 4th weekend.

Enjoy your July 4th my fellow American buddies, friends who serve, and family members. I will be out till Saturday. Go see some fireworks and hear those great tunes!

Here is a link to a fun light show from the past. : P

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUJqcu4tWw4

Try to Relax

No long winded lecture today. Just providing some songs for inspiration again. Enjoy your daily writing or reading. Be creative and intuitive.

Micheal Ortega-"It's Hard to Say Goodbye"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_Am4cHMBKM

Axel Rosenberg-Straight from Within
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5Tt5SNjd9w

Johannes Brahms-Concerto N#2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJnpsuv3E7s

Gustav Holst-The Planets Op.32
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHVsszW7Nds

Spawn the Story

In college I had a professor/author by the name of Tait , a man whom once taught us an important lesson on writing. Oftentimes he heard from several struggling students that they could not spawn the proper ideas and complementary plots and characters that needed to go along with their ideas. My professor at the time gave us several exercises to get our gray-matter in working order.

The first example he came up with was a stage. And on that stage was a rotating chair with a white shelled egg. The unassuming learners was told to imagine themselves sitting in that chair while carefully nestling the egg. As the chair spun around two brick doors appeared. The door on the right appears to refuse you, not willing to be opened at this time. However the left door swings open and there you see... What exactly?

The second example was a lie. Stating that it is a lie was a story in itself, yet we did not know this till the end. As it started, Professor Tait told us a story about his old home in Florida. He said, "The state itself is weird, but could you image my disbelief when I found out a horrible truth. I used to see this older man with graying hair and a cane that looked so brittle it might snap. But that is not the weird part. No that is quite normal. What was weird is that he was a mass murder. How was it that I found out? Several days after my forty-third birthday I noticed an odd sight. There seemed to be red all over my neighbors garage. At the time I thought it was paint and that his grandson Nick was there to do some work. Yet I did not see Nick there, I didn't see him anywhere for that matter. I was at my mailbox at the time and I noticed the smudges and splatters leading up to his Porsche. This was startling and it made me quiver. Was it blood? I wondered this. Taking out my cell phone I took a few pictures as I got closer. With each step I felt as if someone was looking over my shoulder or from a bush. As I focused on his car I felt my stomach lurch to my mouth. There was a woman's head looking at me from the back seat...and all I saw was just the head".

To our relief the story was fake. Tait laughed with great amusement at our troubled and gawking stares. But he had us going. That was the key. He simply told us a lie. How were we to know it was fake? When you know not who the story teller really is or anything about them for that matter, you find yourself trying to discern the truth. Think about it for a moment. What is a lie but a well told story?

The third exercise was a bit more straight forward. Tait told us to think back to our childhood. If I had to pick one cartoon character to be friends with and go on adventures with, who would it be? What would we do? Where would we go and when? We were told to unlock our imaginations and let loose. If I wanted to have a beer with Jessica Rabbit, why not? Maybe I could meet up with the G.I. Joes and hunt down Cobra. It was limitless. The possibilities were numerous and plenty.

Take a word of advice from me. Don't stress about what to write. Writing is meant to be about the story, about the characters and places. Write to escape. Write to invent. And lastly, write to have some fun for once.

Continuing Our Study on Sound

The sounds of words and their emphasis are not unique concepts to poetry. Consider for a moment the world of the playwright, opera, and musicals. On these stages music and the written word are one. Though musicals and operas may appear similar to movies, they are dramatically different due to the individual actor chosen for each role and due to interpretation. It is not about the camera work but about the actor's performance of said character before a live audience. They are the center of the world for that moment, they are the breathing life of the room.

The three clips below are from different playbills and consist of variations from pitch to tone. Listen to the words and ponder the use of sound and music. What does music do for an audience and what do the words recited provide for said audience? I ask this quite a lot but it is important to thoroughly digest the knowledge gained from researching to draw from said experiences gained and to create or further comprehend the true nature of sounds in literature, film, and theater.

The Sound of Music-Do Re Mi Fa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIjobdArtiA

West Side Story-"I Feel Pretty"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye7PIyIcCro

Phantom of the Opera-"All I Ask of You"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpINCCWn4tk

Luciano Pavarotti-Vesti La Giubba-I Pagliacci  (You may cry on this one. Emotional piece).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kbi1EMcD3E

Again, take some time to think over how the words and music combine to evoke emotion and feeling. Hopefully as the week has come to an end you, as a writer or reader, have questioned the usage of sound.

Tuesday and Wednesday Combined: Concluding sounds and accents

Continuing with the current lesson of accents and sounds, what are some typical sounds that have a strong emphasis? Think of the word it. The word it can be heard and seen in many other formulated words.

Robert Pinksy used rabbit as a prime example. Think of the words fit, bit, and litter. each of these has a sound that is emphasized. It is relatively strong, the accent is notable.

In the book The Sounds of Poetry A Brief Guide, Pinksy utilized a poem crafted by Ben Jonson. The poem was given the fitting title "To the Immortal Memory and Friendship of the Noble Pair, Sir Lucius Carey and Sir Henry Morrison". Granted, it is a lengthy title.

In Jonson's poem he writes:

"It is not growing like a tree
 in bulk, doth make man better be".

Observe the section of the poem above. What words stick out? What words are accented and which syllables are stressed? Take a moment to ponder and study this. Knowing the words in thought is one thing, but feeling the way they pass over your lips is another.

Also, think for a moment why each of these two lines has four stressed syllables as Pinksy mentions in his book. What does this allow the poem to do? One thing you may conclude is that doing so allows certain words to stick out, such as the first is in the first line.

When crafting your own poems, think about the words more carefully. What links to what? What leads to what? Where am I going and what sounds am I hearing?

This is something to keep in mind when creating a piece of poetry. Neglecting the accents and sounds would be like a band forgetting to practice before chirping wildly without form.

Practicing Poetry: Step Two

Practice writing poetry if you are attempting to further your craft. The only way to get better is to practice. But only do so after you have studied sound, form, style, and length. For this part of our study I would recommend buying or borrowing a copy of Robert Pinksy's The Sounds of Poetry A Brief Guide. I will be extrapolating a few concepts from his theory on poetry.

To begin with pick any word. What does it sound like? Really listen to the word. Is it quick? Is it drawn out? Perhaps it is a bit lengthy and cumbersome to pronounce. When pondering how to improve upon your own poetry concentrate on the sounds and the tone. What importance does each word carry? Is it a bridge to the other side or an obstacle of flow? Robert Frost might tells us to listen for "sentence sounds".

In the first chapter Pinksy mentions Robert Frost amongst others such a William Shakespeare, Wallace Stevens, Emily Dickinson, Robert Browning, and John Keats, he wrote the following as an example:

" The fire that stirs about her, when she stirs

or,

 In a smart burnoose Khadour looked on, amused

or,

 Absence my presence is, strangeness my grave

or,-".

Each example before the "or" is from a different work. What are comprehending? What is it that we actually hear? Take a moment and contemplate what sounds you hear in your own poetry. Sometimes finding that linking bridge to the the next step in the sentence makes all the difference between a bad poem and a good poem. One of many things that can actually.

For now practice your hand at what Pinksy wrote as "accent and duration" and pay attention to the sounds.

To follow along with the next few entries feel free to jump ahead and read more in The Sounds of Poetry A Brief Guide.