This whole 'Creative Writing' course is a voyage of self-discovery. I knew I wasn’t a magazine reader, I just didn’t realize how little interest I really have in reading them. I think I’m more of a ‘discussing’ person – some would say ‘arguing’ – and, probably due to my British background, that’s best undertaken in a British pub with a group of friends and with a couple of good pints already inside you. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the first few pages of “The Writer".
The article I’ve chosen to ‘review’ is called “Casting Words in Nature’s Best Light”, by Caitlin O’Connell. Ms. O’Connell is “a consulting professor at Stanford School of Medicine and teaches science writing…” online: she has written three non-fiction books and her novel is about to be published. She’s very much into photography and “…has been studying elephant ecology and behavior”, and one of her writing interests is getting science students really ‘turned on’ to their subject. One of her beautiful photographs of elephants in the magazine probably drew my interest. I really like elephants, too.
There is a line from a play or a movie I’ve seen where a writer is asked by a reporter what the book he has written is all about. The writer replies to the effect that if he could answer that question in a few short sentences then he wouldn’t have needed to write the book. I have the same difficulty summing up what Ms. O’Connell is saying in her article. However, I must try. I think it’s best summed up in the single quotation from the article: “How to look at what surrounds you – in some cases, what seems everyday, normal – and cast it in its most radiant form, to see with words that serve as a crutch for others, who, for whatever reason in their hurried life, may look but cannot see on their own.” Not grammatically correct, but that's another issue...
I think that’s what I believe – that everything I write should have the sole purpose of waking my reader up. That’s arrogant, of course - the assumption that I’m awake while everyone else is half asleep - and it’ll probably mean that I’ll never get published as long as I have that attitude. Are my readers paying to be woken up, or to be entertained? That’s rhetorical, by the way.
Seriously, though, Ms. O’Connell’s article has made me think that everything I write - every sentence – should have a purpose, the purpose being to convey to my reader an experience they perhaps have not previously had. A tall order, but a worthwhile goal to strive for?
Roy--Not that your writing isn't interesting, but we don't get the benefit of that charming British accent when we read your writing. Therefore, I concur that your spoken word is vastly more interesting and entertaining. BUT that doesn't mean that your writing doesn't peak the reader's interest. I think you should definitely write a book about your life in the Pacific islands.
ReplyDeleteBetty, thank you for your kind words - I think!
ReplyDeleteYou actually raise an interesting point: it's a real challege - which I appear to have not met - to incorporate an accent into one's writing without trying to change the way words are spelled or pronounced, without even the use of dialogue. Our class seems to have concluded that you are indeed able to do that, judging by the many compliments you receive relating to your 'southern' story-telling.
That's a real compliment, by the way, in case you were wondering...
Oh dear! I certainly did not intend to be critical of your writing in any way, shape, or form and apologize if it came across that way. I realize accents can be a plus or a minus. Although I don't think of myself as having an accent, obviously I must. However, southern accents apparently make people assume you're not very bright whereas, a British accent makes you sound very intelligent. I'm reminded of a friend who, when visiting in Massachusetts, and upon being asked where in the South he was from, replied, "How'd you know I was from the South?" The answer: "Because you have corn pone dripping out of both sides of your mouth." Not exactly a compliment. My friend, incidentally had a PhD from Duke & is very bright. Interesting how we make assumptions. Have you ever considered being a reader for books on tape? or CD or whatever they're on nowadays? You'd be great!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for your compliment.
Lol, I enjoyed reading the comments between you two. As far as accents go, I think our writing can have the ability to reflect where we have come from and I find it very interesting to be able to pick up on this flare, especially when you don't know that much of a person's background. To Roy, I think, and this might be totally off base, that your writing will possess a very dry sense of humor, which I embrace whole heartedly. And yes Betty, whether I had met you or not, I think your accent is more of a southern way of thinking reguardless of your physical accent.
ReplyDelete