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| The
Disappearance of Garcia Lorca |
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| You
may already know about The
Disappearance of García Lorca,
but in case you don't, I thought I'd post a mention
about it here. While the movie may not be historically
accurate, it does present a depiction of a writer's
life that I haven't seen presented in quite the
same way in other films. It brings to light the
reality of the kinds of dangers that so many writers
before us have faced. It also makes one consider
those writers, unsung or unknown, who may be working
under perilous conditions today.
Would
I be brave enough to continue writing if I thought
that doing so would give someone reason to jail
or kill me? This is the kind of question that
watching this film will make you want to ask.
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| Cartoon |
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Above
is an old cartoon by Alex Gregory. In case you can't make
out the caption, it reads: "What if my inner demons
want to write about bunnies?"
It
makes me smile, because as a teenager, especially, I
thought that all good writing must contain some bit
of self-loathing or unsmiling, thorough self-analysis.
What, indeed, are we supposed to do if we find ourselves
writing happily, when for whatever reason, we are not
accustomed to doing so? Is happy work less valuable?
Does "happy" have to mean "fluffly?"
How many writers devalue happiness in their own work,
or devalue joyful writing altogether? I put this cartoon
to you as food for those kinds of thoughts.
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| Dear
Diary |
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Like
other past works, your old diary can inform you quite
a bit about yourself. Recently, while rereading my first
diary, I was able to realize, as I often do when I go
back and read my older work, that I'm having some of the
same troubles now that I had when I was nine, 10, 11 years
old! I was also able to see that I still have some of
the same gifts I had then. One early diary entry, written
when I was 11, reads: "I have a huge notebook full
of poetry and songs, yet they just sit there..."
I'd forgotten that I'd spent so much time writing at that
age. (No, I won't share any of the old poems with you.
Eek!) I also think it's interesting that even then, it
wasn't enough for me to have simply filled up a notebook;
I wanted something more. If I'm going to be really honest
with myself, I would guess that what I wanted was an audience,
and that what I wanted from that audience was understanding.
What I may not have been able to articulate then, but
know now, is that in order to get those things, you have
to give those things, or be those things. |
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Do
you have an old diary or journal? What do you and your
little brother or sister-self have in common? |
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| Authors |
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For years, my
mother has gushed about this game, and about how much
fun she had playing it with her family when she was a
little girl. It's apparently been around since the 1850's.
(Obviously, my mother and her family played it at a much,
much later date!) Authors
is supposed to be a little like Go Fish, rule-wise, and
fun enough for both kids and adults to play.
When you go to purchase the game, be sure to say that
Bronmin's mother recommended it. The seller will have
no idea what you're talking about, and you'll get absolutely
no discount of any kind, but you will see what it's like
to try to answer the question, "What's a Bromninamin?"
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That Old Dictionary |
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When
I'm writing creatively---that is, when I'm writing poetry
or a period piece, or for an eccentric character, I will
often refer to old dictionaries. I'm awed by the peculiar
definitions... They give me a real sense of time. Occassionally,
they give me a good chuckle, too. For instance, in the
dictionary pictured to the left, The Consolidated-Webster
Comprehensive Encyclopedic Dictionary, A Library of Essential
Knowledge, published in 1953, a certain word that is normally
associated with female reproduction is defined in such
a way as to make one think of one's plumber before thinking
of, say, one's mother. |
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I
would encourage anyone to take some time on a lazy Sunday
afternoon to go through their closet or bookshelf (or
parent's or grandparent's closet or bookshelf), and seek
out those old dictionaries and other old reference materials.
But hunters, beware: Friends and family members tire quickly
of listening to antiquated definitions when they're uploading
videos to their laptops or trying to listen to their iPODs.
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How
to Feel Miserable as an Artist
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As a writer,
or as any kind of artist, you've probably taught yourself
to do one or more of the items listed below. Most of us
are very good at feeling sorry for ourselves when we don't
get the support we feel we need, or aren't getting the
dues we think we're owed, and at finding excuses for not
taking risks, myself included.
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My hope is that you'll save the list above and use it
to remind yourself that you can take risks as an artist,
and that you can choose joy more often than you might
believe, even if the road to obtaining it is barbed and
contains a dizzying number of forks.
(Image/list courtesy of writer and artist Keri
Smith.)
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An Anagram |
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Below
is an anagram for the name of a famous poet. Take your
best guess, then click on the question mark to the left
to see if you were right.
uplander boa
Hint: This particular poet was born in southern Chile.
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