Reading Response #13

Repetition. I remember very well those many years ago in grade school where the non-rule quoted in chapter 4 of Steering the Craft, “never use the same word twice in one paragraph” was drilled over my head over and over. I’m sure most of the time my repetitions did sound awkward but I’m sure other times they made a point. I know you have to know the rules before you break them and all that jazz, but sometimes old habits die hard.

As far as structural repetition goes, I really haven’t had much of a chance to utilize it yet since I’ve been unable to form a lengthy (or complete) enough short story to do so. I do enjoy catching the structural repetitions in the novels I read and would definitely enjoy trying my hand at it. While I haven’t done the exercises suggested in our reading, I believe they will be useful when the time comes to make my attempt at replicating the device.

Reading Response #12

The topics of sentence length and syntax covered in chapter 3 of Steering the Craft are some of the stronger points I feel I possess in my writing( research papers that is). Though I still rarely use a semicolon and sometimes overuse my commas, I enjoy setting a rhythm between complex and simple sentences. Paradoxically, my writing is usually help up by a lack of being able to go back and edit my rough work. It is very difficult for me to tear the parts that are worth saving out of my free writes and reincorporating them into a new piece. It just doesn’t feel organic for me and most of the time appears clunky and roughly put together. Maybe this will grow easier with time, or maybe I’m not cut out to write.

Random Impulse- To a Presentation

Here is my class assignment from Monday when we were fortunate enough to spend class outside in the beautiful weather. Seems pretty hokey to me, but it is all I have for now.


The black madonna struts with an air of authority across the intersection of concrete walkways checkered with grassy knolls that are populated by students grateful to be in the sunlight. Clutched in her powerful hands is a paper( a lengthy research one probably). I imagine the paper to be about the social constructs of modern black women in a university setting of an urban area (that is something to the effect of what we talked about the one and only time we met).

Her stern countenance oozes with a concoction of hubris and fear. She is set on changing the world, her lot in life, and the lot of the people she loves. The presentation I am sure she is about to give is the first, of many, steps for her. I can see the words of some long gone relative, her grandmother maybe, bouncing across her mind along with the outline and finer details of her speech. Those last words from Mawmaw so many years ago are imprinted on her psyche. The wound has healed, but there is power in pain. As she reaches the threshold of the building, she pauses for just a moment and her hand rests on the handle of the door. The moment was so brief that I could not make a guess at her thoughts. She simply continued moving forward.

Junkyard- Week 9

Ran across this quote from philosopher/psychiatrist Jacques Lacan while researching for a paper in a different class. It offers an intresting play on Descartes' idea of cogito ergo sum. Anyways, something fun to think about.

I think where I am not, therefore I am where I do not think.

Junkyard- Week 9

Wow, doing most of my work before Sunday? Strange times we are living in. Anyways, Here are some quotes from the film Masked and Anonymous(which was actually produced in 2003, not 2002 like I implied in my previous post). Most of these quotes are put on a bit heavily through quips and not with the flow of the story, but I think that was their point. These are all by the character Jack Fate(Bob Dylan). Dylan also helped write the movie, which is probably why his character got all the cool stuff to say. Anyways some neat existential(and nihilistic existential) stuff here so enjoy if you enjoy the sort!

--I was always a singer and maybe no more then that. Sometimes it's not enough to know the meaning of things, sometimes we have to know what things don't mean as well. Like what does it mean to not know what the person you love is capable of? Things fall apart, especially all the neat order of rules and laws. The way we look at the world is the way we really are. See it from a fair garden and everything looks cheerful. Climb to a higher plateau and you'll see plunder and murder. Truth and beauty are in the eye of the beholder. I stopped trying to figure everything out a long time ago.

--All of us in some way are trying to kill time. When it's all said and done, time ends up killing us.

--Some of us pursue perfection and virtue and if we're lucky, we catch up to it. But happiness can't be pursued. It either comes to your or it don't. You can always say, "if only this and if only that", but if only is a state of mind that we get into when we feel deprived.

--Would you reach out your hand to save a drowning man if you thought he might pull you in?

 Hm, I seem to be running short on quotes for the movie as there are little on the web and I have already returned the movie without scribing more down. Oh well, you get the idea!

Random Impulse- Being

So, yea writing this piece I confirm a feeling I have had for a few weeks now. When we started our class with poetry, all I wanted to write was prose. Now, however, I feel a tug at the challenge to write poetry. I am really torn right now, but don't know to either patch that tear or simply let it bleed. Seeing your life-blood leave you lets you see life. Anyways, I was watching a newer film(2002) starring Bob Dylan, and it had so many great monologues(my junkyard will be filled this week) but one stood out in particular to me. Here is what I wrote, I'm high but I enjoyed it.

His voice presented to me a life-changing thought. Seeing Jake Fate in his later years made me think of how opposite and greater than the Rolling Stones he was. He didn't try to be who he was, he was who he was every moment of who he was. He wasn't who he used to be, he was already he. He existed in his own current moment.
I used to wonder what living is, I now no longer wander.

P.S.
I did in fact correctly spell the last word, because it is not the same as 'wonder'.

Random Impulse- Class Assignment

This is from the first assignment in class on Wednesday, I don't remember quite what for. It is horrible, I am greatly shamed by it but have nothing else to write at the moment, so here we go. Also, the formatting is quite different in word, but I can't seem to get the indenting right on my blog.

Buster busted through the dark threshhold of the tin-roofed house and began to ramble, "Man, I just can't stand those fatcats man. They don't care about anyone but themselves and their dollar bills".
Buster was high, as usual, and once again was on one of his tears about the evil capitalist pigs who are the greatest evil of the world.
"Shut the fuck up you hippe," an annoyed Adam hissed. He was fighting the nodding-off effect of the heroin to berate Buster further."I get tired of hearing this same bullshit every-motherfuckin'-time I fucking shoot up. Go out and hug a fucking tree or something dude."
"Que pasa amigo? Holly not suck your dick right last night?"
"I told you not to say that name around me you God-damned peace-sign-wearing crack-head. Do you have the pot and zannies? I haven't slept in days and

That's as far as I got, its trash, so go easy please.

Random Impulse- Addict

Here is a heavily unfinished piece that I would really like to draw into a lengthy short story. Advice and criticism is most welcome!

From the way they crawl on me, I imagine that the roaches must be masochistic and wish for a swift death at my hand. Or maybe it is their life-long dream to soar through the air, like birds. Do they dream the same as we dream, begging the gods for aviation, for freedom? Why have wings if you can’t use them? I mused over this as I curled into a cheap, musky bed in a cheaper, muskier motel. If you didn’t spend all that money on the coke, you would be able to stay somewhere that didn’t reek of trucker and prostitute, I thought.

But if I didn’t spend all that money on the coke…I can’t finish the line of logic. My drug-addicted mind can’t fathom what it would be like without that high, that joy, the only thing to ever make me feel whole. My mind only addles on in between binges, but when I shoot that nectar in my arm, I become aware. Everything clears, and I view the purpose that God has for me. Actualization is fleeting, however. It doesn’t take long now before I calculate how to achieve my next score. They were right; you only get to see paradise once. Each subsequent binge, I enjoy it less. Too late to stop though, I’m an addict.

Classmate Response #8 Whitney's "It'll Be Fine" Part 1

Wow, what a great short story! Your vivid descriptions do an excellent job of helping the reader feel the experience of young adults having a unfortunate evening partying. I was really able to relate with the character's indifference to the situation from my own experience of friends' reacting to accidents while drinking. By making the short story more than one part, you create a desire to immediately read the next part to find out exactly what happened to Kim. I especially loved the conversation about the road block, you can't run from them! The only thing I could find to work on would be the instance that read, "who were pacing back and forth making bald spots in the hay". While you projected the character's indifference in the conversations, this instance seems to contradict their feelings. Other than that, I think you have a great piece and look forward to the next installment!

Reading Response #11

Chapter 2 of Steering the Craft was very inspirational for me. The author's is opposed to people who are over critical of other people's speech, and I feel the same. While I feel I do a manageable job at speaking and writing clearly, I know I do not always follow the rules. I understand the importance of appearing intelligent in scholarly endeavors, but I don't think someone's ideas should be discounted because they are presented in a less-than-clear manner. Sometimes I over-edit papers because I am anxious there may be some minor errors that my examiner will notice and moan over. Hopefully there is some truth in my favorite quote from the chapter, "people who don't worry at least a little about semicolons aren't likely to be writer" (34). I worry about them, constantly.

Reading Response #10

Richard Brautigan's "1/3, 1/3, 1/3" was a fun story to read beginning our section on prose. It is a provocative story that really explores several topics that we have discussed so far in our other required reading. I enjoyed the twist of the story turning into one of irony. From the way the story began, I thought the typist may have been scammed or something to that effect. This unique approach is something I would like to incorporate in my own work.

The author also did an excellent job in painting vivid descriptions of the characters. My favorite aspect was the use of local dialect to describe the "book" in the story. This use really helps create humor by contrasting it with how serious the "book" is alluded to in the story. Hopefully I can learn to mimic and eventually make-my-own these devices in prose writing.

Junkyard- Week 8

"Oh sister am I not a brother to you

And one deserving of affection ?

And is our purpose not the same on this earth

To love and follow His direction ?" - excerpt from Bob Dylan's "Oh Sister" 

We had this song in one of my seminars and I thought it was pretty cool. The rest are just some excerpts from the Bible. Been pretty busy this week and haven't done any reading that isn't class related other that the big book. These are just some that help keep me motivated for school and living.

Have I not commanded thee?  Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. - Joshua 1:9

The kingdom of God is within you. - Luke 17:21
                                                           

There is no fear in love; for perfect love casteth out fear. - John 4:18
                                                                                   

Happy is the man who finds wisdom and understanding for the gain from it is better than gain from silver and profit better than gold. - Proverbs 3:13-14

Classmate Response #7 Yeeva Cheng's Week 7 Random Impulse

Your piece on the boarding school was a great read Yeeva, I really enjoyed it! You have an engaging story that really made me curious to find out where it was going. Some items I might work on would be formatting and possibly contracting down some nonessential parts that seem to slow the piece down. I liked the rhythm you established with the alternating of short and long lines, but there are a few places where it seemed that there could have been more purpose for it. What I mean is some of your lines end with weak words that don’t really aid in the pace or visuals. Ending on stronger words will help engage the reader even more I believe.  I also wonder what effect breaking your piece into stanzas would have. Could doing that aid in the story process? You have a great piece to work with and hope this will help with possible revisions!

Random Impulse- Linclon Park Poem

A rough revision from class the other week. I haven't felt like writing much lately, hopefully I will get out of my funk soon.

Rapunzel retrieved her hair,

But it was too late,

This man was a track and field superstar.

Scaling the vertical challenge with candor and ease,

Porthole unbolt with jewel thief precision.

A banshee, he was upon Rapunzel without little sound.

Her eventual shriek stifled by chloroform dreams from handkerchief-ed hands.

(Baby wails)

Panic-the castle erupts in light, the guard bell roars. Rapunzel’s brother busts through-too late.

No console for the prince. Gold exchanged, ransom paid, dark prevails.

Junkyard- Week 7

Man is nothing else but what he makes of himself. Such is the first principle of existentialism. -Jean-Paul Sartre

I had to do a genogram of my family for a class this past week and this is how I felt about the overall utility of a genogram.

For the rest, I have been enjoying my spring break watching old seasons of "The Simpsons". Homer is a genius. Rich with satire and irony, "The Simpsons" are great to watch when one is down and even better when you're up. The following quotes are all from Homer. Just a few of the plethora of gems from him. Hope everyone has a great spring break!

Dear Lord, The gods have been good to me. For the first time in my life, everything is absolutely perfect just the way it is. So here's the deal: You freeze everything the way it is, and I won't ask for anything more. If that is ok, please give me absolutely no sign. Ok, deal.

Marge, don't discourage the boy! Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals! Except the weasel.
I think Smithers picked me because of my motivational skills. Everyone says they have to work a lot harder when I'm around.

I'm in no condition to drive...wait! I shouldn't listen to myself, I'm drunk!

Beer: The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems.

Random Impulse- Nonsense

"Federal researchers declare eastern cougar extinct" -AP news release today. 

I'm sorry, but the implications of this title prohibited me from not posting this. 'Cougar' is just a far too misused word now. I want to make a poem or short story about the sad decline of 'eastern cougars' in our society now-a-days. I mean, where is my 'eastern cougar'? They seem nothing but myth to me. Bring the 'eastern cougars' back! Let's reintroduce them into their native habitat and let them dominate and reproduce at their pleasure, isn't that their purpose?According to the article, they seem to be doing well in the west, and are slowly making their return to the east. Why is the east always behind the times of the accepting west? This beautiful species isn't one to be shocked or dismayed at. We should celebrate their keen predator-like and survivalist nature.

 Ok, enough of my obnoxious post. I do want to make some work off of this topic later though, the topic is just too rich with innuendo and irony giving our current times.

But seriously, where's my cougar?