Good artists borrow, great artists steal.

I went through a bit of a progress last semester in coming terms with this wonderful idea, (which, I'm pretty sure, is originally Picasso's). I was in a Medieval Lit class titled Heroes and Warriors, which ended up being pretty disappointing as I’d had very high expectations for that class and I soon learned that they were higher than the professor’s. 

Well, one of the books assigned for that class was the Nibelungenlied and as I got farther into the book I begun to see details which I’d always thought of as being completely original to, first the Lord of the Rings, and then later the deathly hallows from Harry Potter, which I now know are also in Chaucer’s Pardoner’s Tale. 

Anyway, (I realize this is not very organized, I blame approaching finals), I was upset that these authors who I had looked up to for so long had stolen! from other writers. I could even go as far as to call this few week period a spiritual crisis concerning writing. I questioned my own desire to write, and felt that if it meant stealing and not being able to come up with something completely original, (I keep hearing this is not possible), then I did not want to write. Well, long story short, I finished reading the book and by the end the details that had been borrowed were minimal and I realized I had overreacted, though at the time I'd felt completely justified. 

To recap, I used to feel that writers stole from previous works. I begun to understand the sources of the works I love and felt cheated in response. The more I write myself the more I realize that it doesn't work that way. That the borrowing—the stealing—is not purposeful. Could even argue it’s not always conscious. As those of you who follow my posts know, my WIP is a fantasy novel in which dreaming is a big theme. I completely blame my Dream as Form lit class last semester. But anyway, turns out I myself am a thief. 

I am re-reading Chaucer’s Book of the Duchess and there are tiny details that I borrowed. I had purposefully borrowed an image from it, but it worked more as the inspiration. When I asked my independent study (and Chaucer) professor about it she hadn't realized what I had intended to be from the Book of the Duchess was actually from there. Two weeks later, I rushed back into her office to tell her I’d read the Book of the Duchess and she wore a knowing smile, she’d been waiting for me to come back and finish the “stealing” rant I’d had with her earlier this semester. 

Turns out that I had stolen a setting, completely and subconsciously. I didn't mean to, but I guess I just thought "well of course that’s where this specific mythical figure lives," and had assumed that it was an inherent part of my story (I was close to the end, so it was really all I thought about during those three weeks) and not that I had read it somewhere else. It's not extremely obvious, and they really are minor details that I borrowed, so no harm no foul, but this personal experience made me see the truth of this idea, and how truly wonderful it can be when it comes out right. 

I realize this was an extra ranty post, and I apologize, I promise to have more brains before my next post :-). 

Did anyone else have to come to terms with the magpie nature of writing or had you accepted this before you begun?

Overwhelmed

So there is a lot going on in my life right now, which is why I've been rather neglectful of this blog. But I'm trying. Graduation is right around the corner (exactly one month), and there is just too much left for me to do before the date comes rushing up at me and then I'm left in the uncertainty that will no-doubt come after.

My writing, unfortunately, is taking the fall for this, mainly because it's one of the few things that can be put on the back burner for now. But it saddens me. I want writing to be a priority but it just can't right now. I just keep telling myself that in one month I'll be able to make more time for it--and that I'll be able to read whatever I want, which I haven't done since Christmas break.

But the few days I have been able to work on my writing I have worked on rewriting my WIP, and I realize that if I had spent more time planning things out the first time around I wouldn't have to spend all this time now, organizing the pieces of my story. Even that makes me feel slightly guilty though. I spend so much time working on the second draft, that I'm ignoring all these other stories that are waiting to be developed. I have two larger ideas that I'm slowly expanding, and then about six or seven short story ideas, but my obsessive compulsive nature demands that I finish what I'm working on before I can move on to the next project.

How do you deal with multiple projects? Do you feel the need to finish what you're working on, even if it means sacrificing other unique ideas, that could be potentially better stories than what you are working on now? Or do you split your time between rewrites and new projects?

Game of Thrones

If you plan on reading the books or watching the show any time soon I warn you that the following little rant contains spoilers.

Although I am writing my response to this article  a little bit after the general hubbub has died down, I have a reason. I wanted to wait to see the first episode myself. The article specifically said that not only were George R. R. Martin's books 'boyfiction', a term I might not even have been aware of before I read it, but that there is sex in the HBO show simply to target female audiences, because that is the only reason they would watch.

If you have read the books I will let this statement sink in.

First off, there is just as much sex in the books as in the first episode, only difference is that the episode condenses chapters into minutes, and therefore having the naughty parts pile up into the second half of the episode. But the writer's statement simply proves that she hasn't read the books.

Also, the three sex scenes in the one hour episode, I feel, are aimed more at men than at women, which also contradict's the article's point. It's either doggy-style or a whore-house scene. And while that is pretty accurate in terms of the book, I'd imagine the scene between Jamie and Cersei differently, simply because they do care about each other.

And lastly, if the sex was included to appeal to female viewers than why are no men naked? Ahem...I mean, if these scenes were targeted at women there would have been an equal ratio of nudity--I think anyway.

Overall it is apparent that the writer of the article did not read the books, and that what she described was her personal reaction to the show, which is fine, but in that case she should not have made it an issue of gender. The vast majority of people who enjoy Martin's books and others like them are women. HBO shows such as True Blood and Mad Men are also greatly enjoyed by women. The writer of this article should have done some form of research before making the claims she did, instead of stating her opinion and hiding behind her sex.

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On a slightly off note, for anyone who has read the books and seen last night's episode. Aren't the cold ones supposed to be slow, mindless creatures (ie. zombies), not dashing through the woods purposefully like vampires or werewolves? I hope they don't take that into a whole different direction from how they are in the books.

Anyway, Thanks for reading!

Eureka!!!

I never thought I'd say that word, much less write it, and even less as a post title, but there you have it! I am extremely frustrated by my ability to express my extreme levels of excitement and happiness on here so...Eureka!! Woo Hoo!!! I know what kind of story my novel will be. I have finished masticating the mediocrity of my draft zero, and today I discussed its entirety with my independent study professor.

Two hours or so of me rambling about what I was going to change and discussing what should be changed and trying to figure out how to do it. It ended with me telling her the background story, the behind the scenes of the explicit plot and she pointed out something that I guess I already knew but never actually acknowledged: I'm trying to tell two stories from a very narrow perspective. And so I left our discussion with two incredibly different options for how to tell my story: a first person narration in the form of a travel journal, or a third person omniscient perspective....yes, I know--quite different.

Now, I may very well have gone temporarily insane, in which case I will regret writing this post, but I just had to share!! I have decided to do both! Yup...frame narrative to be precise, and I know it is probably way above my ability as a writer but heck, I say fuck it! I will try. And considering I have been thinking about this manuscript as my practice/will probably never get published manuscript what have I got to lose? (Well besides a lot of time and energy, but sh!)

The best part about this eureka moment is that it has completely refueled my love for this story because, as I said earlier, I was only telling half of the story, and now I'm allowing myself to tell the bigger, behind-the-scenes, funner stuff! Oh boy oh boy!

I felt that I had to record this moment for all those other times in my life that I forget why I want to write, because of this feeling right now. When, even though I know I have incredible amounts of work ahead and don't even know how/if I'll accomplish what I want, I am so excited and happy about the prospect of writing something for no reason other than I get to tell myself a story...even in this case, when I've already told myself one a large part of it.

Writing Group

So I am about to embark on yet a new writing adventure...but then again I only really started Writing quite recently, so anything to do with the subject is proving to be an adventure.

So--my wonderful professor/aforementioned 'mentor' has gotten in touch with a group of her students who, as she put it, are working toward future publication. Naturally I'm very excited. I was driven to start this blog by the sheer necessity to ramble about all things writing and the lack of people in my life whose interest in it equal mine. But besides being extremely happy and excited and feeling incapable of waiting to actually start meeting, I am also terrified.

I'm not a good writer, not even close, but I have stories--and they demand to be told! (I've been tempted to write that last part on big poster board and hang it over my bed, or to get it printed on a t-shirt).

For too long I've been too scared to actually write things down--letting the stories play out in my head and eventually wither and die because they never saw the light. But I'm now determined to write them down, even if it's just a seed of a sentence that never manages to germinate, I will at least give it the opportunity.

As terrified as I am of relinquishing my hold on my stories and allowing strangers, for now anyway, to read and critique them, I am so ready. Because I know that this is just a small way to allow myself the opportunity to grow as a writer.

Are any of you in writing groups? Do you have any stories/advice from your experience in one?

When we Meet Again

It's impossible to not feel close to one's characters when writing them. When writing their story. They react as you create or destroy the world around them, and because of that you feel what they feel, even when it is not how you would react.

I've gotten to a very sentimental section in revising my first draft, and I'm sorry to say that I don't relate to my characters and their reactions nearly as much as I did when I was writing this set of scenes. I distinctly remember my own emotional response then, but now--I've crossed out most of it! I've even made a note in my notebook that says "less crying."

But I wonder, does it have more to do with the distance that's created in reading something slowly? I'm partly editing as I go along, and therefore spend close to ten minutes on certain pages. Or is it simply because I'm now more objective, and realize that my characters are a bit wimpy in this section, and completely in contrast with the kinds of characters I want them to be/become?

Has anyone encountered a similar problem? Do you raise your brow at a certain character's response and wonder what, exactly, you were thinking at the time?