Sun Striking

Nice capture of a special moment, D.

"I read recently that when one writes, one should write as if writing for someone."

Some thoughts on that…

FWIW* I think you should never write for someone else. That's what maps and menus and instruction manuals are for. Neither should you write for yourself. That's what diaries and shopping lists are for.

I think your loyalty, allegiance and commitment should be strictly to the mystery and essence of that which you are attempting to capture, that which haunts you (for if it doesn't haunt you, why even bother?). And if you can capture THAT, the result might be of actual benefit to another.

One of the dangers of writing "for someone else," possibly a teacher at some point, is that you will hear something like "Good form. I like the voice here. Yes." The danger being that on hearing this you might be inclined to stop, thinking your work is done, not realizing that Form and Voice are meaningless without Spirit, which is the sine qua non of the creative act.

And unless that "Yes" has the ;power to materially change your life (with the implication that a "No" would be equally devastating in some regard), you must question the motives of the person giving it.

Undoubtedly it's just an expression of a need to appear as someone's whose "Yes" means a damn and has nothing to do with the recipient.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This piece reads very young, but all manifestations of Spirit begin that way, so I think you're on the right track.

* not much!

I like it, 'gardless of for whom it's written.

fav

Matt, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to communicate your thoughts on writing to me, the novice, the new voice. Of course, now I cannot find the exact quote I was referring to, but it was from a recognizable literary figure.

Instead, I did find this one ""Any writer, and especially the talented writer, needs an audience. The more immediate that audience is the better for him because it stimulates him in his work; he gets a better view of himself." - Truman Capote
So, having had a muse, as it were, has actually stimulated me, motivated me, served as a catalyst to listen to my inner voice, my imagery, to commit it to paper (which is now a figurative word for a computer screen). This week, I have taken the leap to fictionaut, for feedback and dialogue, and it already is a rewarding experience. I have been haunted, sometimes awoken at night even, filled images and the words to illustrate the thoughts/feelings that churn within. I imagine this is a common experience for virtually everyone on here.

Ultimately, we are writing because we have to. Because we are filled up with something that has to come out. By forcing myelf to write something every day, and now by posting my humble attempts at expression, and reading those of the many Fictionaut members, I can hone my voice, my craft, and that is gratifying.

Perhaps others will chime in here, because this is a conversation that goes to the crux of what any of us are doing.

Thanks, James

I just read Penny Dreadful. I liked it alot. My little piece is a but little leaf on a forest floor made up of all of you big trees.

I like it! Classic voice.

I always appreciate when folks speak their minds as Matt has here. There are no rules. Do whatever you want to do, but don't ever write what you don't feel just to please someone else. I agree with Matt - write for the story's sake, which means that if someone offers you a critique and thereby offers input on how to do it better, and you know they're right, then humbly suck it up and make the changes...for the sake of the story. Would be a good forum discussion.

Thanks, Michael.
I agree it would be a good forum discussion. Ultimately, I am writing because something inside needs to see the light of day. I always loved the concept of a catalyst. Recalling college biochemistry, a catalyst is an enzyme which lowers the energy it takes to perform a biochemical reaction. Having a muse has had the same function for me. It helped me overcome the inertia that I had when it came to writing, both inspiring and compelling me to develop imagery with words and set it down and communicate it to others, whether strangers or those who are close. In the end, that is what we are ultimately doing.

Here is another interesting quote on writing, this one by Molière

"Writing is like prostitution. First you do it for love, and then for a few close friends, and then for money."

This is beautiful. It calmed me to read it.

Niya, you made my day. To know that even one soul on this unruly planet was calmed by my six lines is very gratifying. Thank you, thank you.

I love the sun doing what it does and your poem describing it. Lovely. *

Thank you, Beate!

It's not a haiku, but it has the same kind of calming, contemplative vibe. It's like a watercolor painting. *

Michael,
Thanks so much for taking the time to say such wonderful things about Sun Striking. Now, at least two souls on this unruly earth were calmed by my verse. Makes me happy.