I just gotta say: buy yourself a gol-darn journal. Those little treasures will be the key to your creative success and endeavors in the future. I NEVER journaled before I came to college, but I was challenged to do so in many of my courses freshman year and it has become and irreplaceable part of my life. I fucking (I know we are supposed to think of our audience here, so I am just hoping you are an audience that is not offended by swears) my journals!!
Oh man these goodies are GOLD! I don't remember what I did or felt like yesterday, but thank Sheba I've got my journal to go ruminate my yesterdays and years!
This summer I made a massive journal--my biggest one ever. A 200 page moleskine stuffed with remnants, drawings, musings, feelings, and color-pencil experiments. That journal has become the go-to source for inspiration for my printmaking class.
I am telling you folks, get a journal. You'll be glad you did it. You'll be glad you have it. You'll just be glad. period.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Also, I saw Einstein on the Beach this past Friday. It was the most incredible night I've had in the theatre in a long time. Those of you who got to see it I hope you enjoyed it as immensely as I did. I don't think I've ever seen more commitment from performers than I did during that performance: the chorus and the Lucinda Child's Dance Troupe absolutely blew my mind. And I thought Robert Wilson's lighting was especially beautiful. Here's a little clip for those of you who have no idea what it is: it's a pretty big deal we got to have it here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b26E0D2pm1c
Ah WRITING! Something I used to love, and now something I fear yet respect greatly. While I have had my successes and failures as a writer, I think above all I know that I truly love it. I just do not have a talent for metaphor, a problem which I think greatly compromises my writing. Because of this a lot of my writing is stoic and stale, and not representative of how colorful my imagination is. I. Write. Like. A. Robot. Sometimes.
A very important thing for when I begin writing is that I know what I am writing about. If I do not have a hearty amount of research, and questions or an interest in what I'm writing about, my writing will go nowhere. I generally compile a gigantic word document of sources and quotations I find inspiring, and then work on formulating an essay from what I have chosen. Granted, I choose these sources and quotations with a theme in mind. So if I'm writing an essay about "the lack of free will" I will find many quotations and sources about that topic and see from there what I want my particular thesis to be.
I still haven't found a writing haven. I'm pretty uncomfortable wherever I write. I am such a perfectionist that I become obsessive about my writing. Regardless of how peaceful my surroundings are, my mind is racing furiously and my internal system is by no means calm. I know writing at home can be particularly challenging for me. I start organizing my desk or decide that I really would love a cup of peppermint tea, or even better! how about I just go cook a meal for an hour instead.
I used to think I couldn't write while listening to music but I've recently learned that is not true. Bob Dylan seems to be a catalyst for success, so I've taken to listening to his nasal musings while I write.
As far as wisdom, I don't think I can share any. I was surprised in class to hear how different everyone's writing style is. I was expecting more people to follow the generic: find sources, make an outline, write a first draft, edit, write another draft etc. etc. but it seems many people have their own unique ways of writing successfully. All I know is that writing one draft and turning it in is NOT the way to go. This is what most of my friends do. I don't know if it was because people didn't want to acknowledge the fact that they are actually quite lazy, or if everyone really does work hard on their papers, but I was surprised no one said that they write their papers a day before they're due and cross their fingers it all turns out ok.
Sometimes I wish I could take this approach. But I'm far too possessive of my homework to do that. I read and read and re-read my little puppies until I know them so well I don't even understand my own argument anymore. It's sort of a problem.
When I am writing creatively, I like to write short sentences I find interesting that I've created or discovered in the day. I like to take these sentences and run wild. Today I thought of the sentence "You smell like a lemon popsicle." Delightful!
A very important thing for when I begin writing is that I know what I am writing about. If I do not have a hearty amount of research, and questions or an interest in what I'm writing about, my writing will go nowhere. I generally compile a gigantic word document of sources and quotations I find inspiring, and then work on formulating an essay from what I have chosen. Granted, I choose these sources and quotations with a theme in mind. So if I'm writing an essay about "the lack of free will" I will find many quotations and sources about that topic and see from there what I want my particular thesis to be.
I still haven't found a writing haven. I'm pretty uncomfortable wherever I write. I am such a perfectionist that I become obsessive about my writing. Regardless of how peaceful my surroundings are, my mind is racing furiously and my internal system is by no means calm. I know writing at home can be particularly challenging for me. I start organizing my desk or decide that I really would love a cup of peppermint tea, or even better! how about I just go cook a meal for an hour instead.
I used to think I couldn't write while listening to music but I've recently learned that is not true. Bob Dylan seems to be a catalyst for success, so I've taken to listening to his nasal musings while I write.
As far as wisdom, I don't think I can share any. I was surprised in class to hear how different everyone's writing style is. I was expecting more people to follow the generic: find sources, make an outline, write a first draft, edit, write another draft etc. etc. but it seems many people have their own unique ways of writing successfully. All I know is that writing one draft and turning it in is NOT the way to go. This is what most of my friends do. I don't know if it was because people didn't want to acknowledge the fact that they are actually quite lazy, or if everyone really does work hard on their papers, but I was surprised no one said that they write their papers a day before they're due and cross their fingers it all turns out ok.
Sometimes I wish I could take this approach. But I'm far too possessive of my homework to do that. I read and read and re-read my little puppies until I know them so well I don't even understand my own argument anymore. It's sort of a problem.
When I am writing creatively, I like to write short sentences I find interesting that I've created or discovered in the day. I like to take these sentences and run wild. Today I thought of the sentence "You smell like a lemon popsicle." Delightful!
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