Thought #58

Why do we only appreciate our health when we’re ill?

The Vanity of Writing

I recently read an article by Jane Goodall who was frustrated with a particular literary genre:

“… the Bookers just aren’t doing it for me any more. The truth is I don’t like the writing. It’s brilliant, of course, but the better it is, the more I hate it. Sometimes I hate words, words in themselves, words that draw attention to themselves in the vanity of writing …”

I like that expression, “the vanity of writing”. She of course does not mean that the writing is futile but rather she is referring to the excessive pride in the creation of the words. These are the words that gleam and soar brilliantly above the page even as the reader frowns trying to make sense of the sentence!

Jane Goodall would much rather read a novel with a good plot. For her, good writers are good storytellers:

“Storytelling is a tradition surely as ancient as human speech and, if our oldest mythologies are anything to go by, suspense is always at the heart of the matter … [yet] a combination of influences have served to almost eradicate the plot from high-end fiction and, along with it, most of the technical apparatus belonging to the art of suspense.”

However a good section of readers will affix themselves to the literary novel. The beauty in the words are paramount, the story is incidental.

I am rather promiscuous in my own reading diet, moving from genre to genre without any loyalties.

What kind of books do you like to read?

Winter

Winter silently slips our loved ones into slumber …

Their seasons have gone as they’ve climbed the mountain, sometimes strolling, sometimes crawling, often climbing vertical cliffs. Surveying their life and the seasons they’ve left behind, snow like a cold carpet lays beneath their feet.

Inside, they are still that joyful child of spring, the confident adult of summer, the older person of autumn. In these shortening days, they feel the chill of the remaining days. Some loved ones are already slumbering. To those held in fear or in pain; love and strength I wish them for their remaining days. No one wants to leave but life is about letting go and the cherished memories they leave behind.

As I tread through my autumn days, I know winter is not so far away.

Creative Writing: Back to Basics

A few weeks back, my wife and I had a meeting with my son’s teacher. It was a regular meeting, to brief us on his progress and to check out his school work.

We talked about maths, their unit of enquiry into reptiles and then moved on writing. The teacher asked my 7 year-old son, “What do you need to have in a story?”

“A main character,” said my son.
I looked on proudly.
“What else?”
“Ummm …”
“A problem?” she asked.
My son nodded.
“And an ending,” she said.
I smiled.
I had just learnt a big lesson.

Even 7-year-olds are taught the very basics of creative writing.

In a story, we should make sure that there’s:

1. A main character
2. A problem
3. An ending

I sometimes need to be reminded of these basic elements. Sure, I know, there’s much more stuff that we can add to the list but, when writing a story, these 3 points are a good place to start.

Do you have these elements in your story?

Thought #214

What price will petrol have to reach before you stop using your car?

Name this Baby

This is the time I fear, yet I’m also incredibly excited.

I’ve almost finished my children’s book. It’s about Malaysian history with lots of pictures, photos, maps, diagrams. I’ve done almost all the work including the page layout. It’s taken 4 years and I’ve really enjoyed working on it.

I’m still trying to find a name for this baby though. The title must convey that:

1. It’s a children’s book
2. It’s about Malaysian history
3. It’s an encyclopedia

So here are some titles:

A. History of Malaysia: A Children’s Encyclopedia
B. A Children’s History of Malaysia Encyclopedia
C. A Children’s Encyclopedic History of Malaysia

Which one do you like?

Creative Writing: Which Cliches drive you Nuts?

We writers know that we should avoid cliches.

What are cliches? Cliches are overused phrases. Those that spring instantly to mind are “thin as a rake”, “raining cats and dogs”, “all and sundry”, “pretty as a picture” or “quiet as a mouse”. The list goes on …

Cliches are dynamic. Cliches from long ago may become fresh and original now. That’s because no one uses them now. Similarly, what was once fresh and original, can become cliches because they’ve become overused.

Two examples are the phrases “Fast forward” and “The jury is out”. These drive me nuts. Here’s how they’re often used:

“Fast forward to 2008 and Zainal was now a wealthy investment banker. But the jury is out on whether he will make it to the list of 10 ten richest bankers in the country.”

Both phrases were original once. Not anymore.

I lose total interest in any article I’m reading as soon as those words hit me. Maybe I’m a bit extreme. But, to me, they’re off putting. No matter how interesting the article. I find them time and time again in the Australian newspapers. I wonder if the journalists can come up with a better phrase.

We should avoid cliches as they make our writing seem unoriginal. It makes our writing seem lazy. Instead of a cliche, find some other phrase to express your thought and feelings.

Which cliches drive you nuts?

Thought #232

“What is new will become old.”

Creative Writing: Why the Craft is Wonderful

Writing is wonderful.

I know no other activity that exercises the mind, sends the imagination soaring and delivers a deep sense of satisfaction.

Writing sets the mind free, allows it to wander, gives it the opportunity to reminisce, to recall events, to set the imagination on fire. It allows you to create characters, events and places. It’s a world of feeling and images built with only words, sentences and paragraphs. Then using the craft you’ve learnt, you’ll set about improving and editing your work. Then, if you like, you can share it with family and friends.

Of course if you’re writing an essay about the molecular composition of palm oil under super heated conditions or the formula used to calculate the captial asset pricing model for shares in the KLSE or your local stock market then writing may not be such a wonderful activity.

Not for me anyway. Others may find such subjects pure heaven.

When I talk about writing, I mean creative writing. Creative writing is about writing stories or, at least, stuff that uses imagination, like poems. It’s ultimately fiction rather than non-fiction. It’s fantasy rather than facts. It’s story rather than essay.

Having said that, much of the tools used in creative writing can be used in non-fiction. Economy and choice of words are but two examples. Also, and this is the big one, as your creative writing improves so will your non fiction writing. Creative writing will improve all your writing. You’ll be using your creative writing skills in writing non fiction: whether a school essay, a university dissertation, a financial report or a marketing brochure. These works of non fiction can come alive and become a real joy to read.

Back to creative writing. Ask yourself what sort of creative writing you want to do? You might just want to try it out, perhaps a page or so, just to see what it’s like. Or maybe you have to write a short story for school, perhaps you’re keen to write a longer story or maybe a novel that’s lodged in your heart which you just need to get out. Maybe you might want to write your own version of War and Peace or perhaps just a snippet for your blog.

It’s all up to you.

Thought #684

“When was the last time you bought yourself flowers?”