Femi Kuti performed at the Minnesota Zoo last night. King Sunny Adé opened the show. What struck me is the stage presence that Kuti commanded. He was not timid in either subject matter--"Stop-stop-stop AIDS, Fight-fight-fight AIDS", or volume--I would not have lasted without earplugs.
How does a writer take command of the page? In the same was as a musician, I say. Although the subject need not be controversial or sensationalized, the writer must step out boldly into the topic. Emily Dickinson's reserved demeanor is a part of her persona. She's not known for her volume. But she emphatically spoke with definition:
Wild Nights - Wild Nights! (249)
Wild Nights - Wild Nights!
Were I with thee
Wild Nights should be
Our luxury!
Futile - the winds -
To a heart in port -
Done with the compass -
Done with the chart!
Rowing in Eden -
Ah, the sea!
Might I moor - Tonight -
In thee!
My own belief is to write with originality. Elizabeth Berg amazes and humbles me with her lyrical prose. From her novel, The Pull of the Moon:
(from a letter to her husband) "I don't mean this to be against you. I don't mean any of it to be against you. Or even about you. I have felt for so long like I am drowning. And we are so fixed in our ways I couldn't begin to tell you all that has happened inside me. It was like this: I would standing over you pouring your coffee and looking down at your thinning hair and I would be loving you, Martin, but I would feel as though I were on a ship pulling away from the shore. As though the fact of your sitting there in your usual spot with your Cornflakes and orange juice was the most fantastic science fiction."
Mark Strand's poem, Eating Poetry, delights me in its clever, unconventional subject and word choice:
Ink runs from the corners of my mouth.
There is no happiness like mine.
I have been eating poetry.
The librarian does not believe what she sees.
Her eyes are sad
and she walks with her hands in her dress.
The poems are gone.
The light is dim.
The dogs are on the basement stairs and coming up.
Their eyeballs roll,
their blond legs burn like brush.
The poor librarian begins to stamp her feet and weep.
She does not understand.
When I get on my knees and lick her hand,
she screams.
I am a new man.
I snarl at her and bark.
I romp with joy in the bookish dark.
Now it's your turn to take command of the page. See what you can do with the following prompt:
- the subject must refer to something hidden
- use the word "oyster"
- limit your piece to 100 words or 300 words if prose, 10 lines or 25 lines if poetry
- include an idiom
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Comments: 32 ( 1 removed by Susan Budig )
'In the same was as a musician.' Exactly. The quality of bending a note on guitar is a feeling and there's always great desire for perfect tonal quality when in the zone. It's exactly the same feeling for me when writing.
Seems like an odd question to ask, since we were just talking about breaking rules, but are you giving us the choice between 100 verse 300 words or 10 lines verses 25 lines, or are you saying our pieces should fall between 100 words to 300 words or 10 to 25 lines? Exact word counting/line counting brings this effort into a whole new realm of "wow" for me to complete today. lol
It just now occurred to me that people might not have a word-counter on their word processor. Or they might publish directly into the editor here on Gather and therefore wouldn't be able to easily count words. :-(
I meant *either* 100 words or 300 words. But I don't want people to have to sit and count words! That's no fun! So if word-counting doesn't work for you, then use the line counting. Or use the line counting if you prefer it. That's what I did on my prompt submission.
I would guess, Lynn, that most people don't consider word count as a common parameter. That's what makes it a great challenge. I happen to use word count almost daily as my editors for newspapers request I turn in my work according to word count.
Had to play enny-meany-minny-moe with the two choices that popped into my head, but picked the one most suited to "short-poem," and lucked out on line count. So much easier than fighting the word-count. lol - The Pearl
I wish I could have been at the Zoo! I used to be a big fan of King Sunny Ade'. And I used to listen to Fela Kuti, Femi's father, way back when. I love your examples Susan. Once again you have given us a worthy challenge.
Atticus, I'll link you to my review when it's published. I need to turn it in today and haven't even started it. Gulp. fwiw, King Sunny was a blip on my screen compared to Femi.
Yea I'm behind the times. I liked Sunny in the 80's (if that tells you anything). Fela was always way cool. I need to listen to more Femi. I'm looking forward to your review!
You've put together a nice challeng for us. I wish I had time to participate.
10 4 u
susan,
I've worked quite a bit with musicians in different ways (as I think you'll recall), so as I was reading your post and examples, I was thinking of another thing a musician must do as he/she takes the stage -- invite listeners in, connect and engage with them. of course that's in some ways a function of taking the stage with confidence, but it's a fine line, in music and in writing. as you know. interesting reading your examples of writing with that idea in mind also.
Yes, Kerry, there are several ways that a musician takes command. And I like how the analogy works with writing, too. Your comments have given my (unwritten) review even more direction. :-)
Loved your examples here.
Very effective post!
Hmm, I will think on this one. It is a bit challenging. But, I'm sure I can be up to the task.
Hi Angela, thanks for your comment. It *is* a bit challenging on first glance, but I think once writers put their pen to paper (would that now be an idiom?), they'll discover how smoothly it all falls out onto the page.
Hope to see your submission.
Good writing need not be loud to gain attention. People do not need pain to hear.
I might think of something on this a bit later on today, sounds interesting to me Susan
Wow! This one really "packs a wallop", Susan! Topnotch prompting! Love it!
Pure genius in these writings!
oooh i might try this....I shall see what creeps into my consciousness and beging to boil, fester or foster.......
begins.
but begging works, too....
Okay, here's my somewhat odd entry: Cloister
Great post, Susan.
I agree that a writer's voice must be distinct with every piece they write. I love Elizabeth's Berg's writing. Rick Bragg has a great presence in his work as well.
Lovely examples. I like William's comment about bending the guitar string - my son's been showing me what it means.
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Thanks, Kathryn. You're a busy beaver here for a person who was going to take a break? :-)
You continue to inspire creativity, Susan.
True, John,
Susan is very inspiring. I'm going to try this as soon as I get a little time, which is alreay after the fact, as it's already Thursday *sigh*, again.
Marilyn
Time is relative, right? I'm running my Toastmasters meeting in the morning and just NOW sent out the theme and agenda! I was suppose to do that last Monday. ;-/
I gave it a whirl, but could not for certain figure out how to post to the right group. Thanks for a great prompt.