Monday, December 19, 2011

on it's way down a trailing falling meander
a wish, entitled or the sparkling reminisance i tell you
becomes insane in my head can you hear it
a dream, like silicone sliced into rainbow colors intended for
decoration do not lick them i promise like tall shoes unused
on the floor, a silvery bookcase that holds candy, this mug
covered in snowflakes a seasonal disruption of the entirely monotonous
again or still wandering toward a falling intention trailing behind
late fees and rituals of excuse could not remove the photos due to broken fingers
and the terminally ill scent of the pathetic.

Friday, December 16, 2011

student blog post

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The end of creative writing--well the class that is

What I found particularly interesting reading through the last couple of chapters of "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott was her final paragraph of the book.

"'So why does our writing matter, again?' they ask"

"Because of the spirit, I say. Because of the heart...[Writing and reading]They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: they feed the soul...We are given a shot at dancing with, or at least clapping along with, the absurdity of life, instead of being squashed by it over and over again." p 237.

I found this paragraph enlightening. Not only to writers, but to all really. The last sentence to me describes that writing allows an escape from normal day to day activities. In our stories we can alter our appearance, change events, and most importantly change the outcome. If we were to able to travel back into time and change the outcome of past events that occurred in our lives, it would be extraordinary.  If only, if only.

I also agree with her that writing and reading "widens and expands our sense of life." We learn a lot about others and life through reading. Writing about those feelings and experiences helps build a bigger understanding of the big picture. Ultimately, it helps widen and expand our feelings on life.

From this novel, I think the most important lesson Lamott has given me is to get to know your characters. To me this really means to get to know one another. So many times we shoot off our mouths before actually getting to know someone. If we had just taken the time to sit ourselves down and listen to them, we could educate ourselves to our fullest potential. 
 
0 comments

Monday, December 05, 2011

Barrett Watten:
 
Jill killed! An outstanding defense. My favorite one-liner: in response to a question on whether literature can effect political change: "Some people read a lot of books and don't learn at thing." And whacking it back over the net after a hard serve by her outside reader, "I'm game." If you like verbal art, this truly was your game--a performance like a good tennis: taught, relentless, all the fundamentals in place.Friday at 6:44pm · · 2
Jill Darling will defend her dissertation, *Writing the Self: Feminist Experiment and Cultural Identity*, tomorrow: Friday, December 2, 12:30-2:30 PM, Conference Room, 10302 5057 Woodward, Detroit. Committee: Barrett Watten, Jonathan Flatley, renee hoogland, Rachel Blau DuPlessis. The public is invited!