Dan Jorgensen's Blog, page 112

'Not just what, but how'

 

“Mygreatest joy comes from creativity: from feeling that I have been able toidentify a certain aspect of human nature and crystallize a phenomenon inwords.” – Alain de Botton

 

Swiss-born (on this date in 1969)British-based author de Botton authored the massive best-seller Essays in Love, which in turn led to thehit movie My Last Five Girlfriends,based on Essays.

 

De Botton’s books, which usuallyemphasize philosophy's relevance to everyday life, have almost all been bestsellers, but none to equal the romantic comedy Essays, which has sold well over 2 million copies.

 

Positive reviews of his books attestthat he has made literature, philosophy and art more accessible to a wideraudience, as has his popularity as a guest lecturer and televisiondocumentarian, usually based on his ownworks.                                                 

 

“I passionately believe that's it'snot just what you say that counts, it's also how you say it - that the successof your argument critically depends on your manner of presenting it . . .  the communication of ideas.”

@font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;}@font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}.MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}

A Writer's Moment: 'What makes her writing distinctive'

A Writer's Moment: 'What makes her writing distinctive':   “The nice thing about writing a novel is you take your time, you sit with the character sometimes nine years, you look very deeply at a s...

'What makes her writing distinctive'

 

“The nice thing about writing a novelis you take your time, you sit with the character sometimes nine years, youlook very deeply at a situation, unlike in real life when we just kind of snapsomething out.”– Sandra Cisneros

Bornon Dec. 20, 1954 Cisneros – whose name means Hope in English – is a Mexican-American writer best knownfor her novel The House on Mango Street and short story collection WomanHollering Creek and Other Stories.
“Onepress account said I was an overnight success. I thought that was the longestnight I've ever spent,” she said after spending many years developing House on Mango Street while working as ateacher, counselor, college recruiter, and poet-in-the-schools.
 She is the recipient of numerous writing awards including a National Endowment for theArts Fellowship and a Ford Foundation “Art of Change" fellowship.           

“Iam a woman, and I am a Latina,” she said. “Those are the things that make my writing distinctive. Those are thethings that give my writing power.”

A Writer's Moment: 'Because life is ambiguous'

A Writer's Moment: 'Because life is ambiguous':   “Songwriting's a weird game. I never intended to become one - I fell into this by mistake, and I can't get out...

'Because life is ambiguous'

 

“Songwriting'sa weird game. I never intended to become one - I fell into this by mistake, andI can't get out of it. It fascinates me. I like to point out the rawer pointsof life.” – Keith Richards

 

Born on this date in1943, in theLondon suburb of Dartford, Kent, Richards started life on the go as his familywas temporarily evacuated from their home during the Nazi bombing and rocketcampaign of 1944.   In 1951, whileattending primary school, Richards first met and befriended Mick Jagger in whatwould not only become a lifetime friendship but also the start of a musicaldynasty, leading ultimately to their being enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hallof Fame.

 

The pair founded the Rolling Stonesas a rhythm and blues and jazz group when they were still in their teens andnever looked back, although it wasn’t until they changed their style tostraight rock in 1964 that they really hit their stride on songs mostly writtenby Richards, the biggest being I Can’tGet No Satisfaction.

 

Despite their image as the“anti-Beatles,” Richards said “It was a very, very fruitful and greatrelationship between the Stones and The Beatles. It was very, very friendly.”

 

While writing music is his forte’,Richards also wrote his autobiography and memoir Life, which was a worldwide bestseller and showed remarkable commandof writing style.  But, like some of hissongs, it was jabbed at by some critics as being a bit ambiguous.

 

 “I look for ambiguity when I'm writing,"he said, "because life is ambiguous.”

@font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;}@font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}.MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}

A Writer's Moment: 'Loving things for what they are'

A Writer's Moment: 'Loving things for what they are':  "We love the things we love for what they are." - Robert Frost    One of the most famous “winter” poems was actually written by ...

'Loving things for what they are'

 "We love the things we love for what they are." - Robert Frost 

 

One of the most famous “winter”poems was actually written by Frost on a mild morning in June.  Frost wrote thepoem after working all night on his long poem New Hampshire, the foundation for his 1923 book by the samename.  The book would win the 1924 Pulitzer Prize. 

 

After a long night at his desk,Frost went outdoors to view the sunrise and instead, clearly saw (in hismind) the scene that became his famous winter poem.  He said he hurried back inside and wrote thepoem down in just minutes.   For Saturday’s Poem here is Frost’s,   

  

  Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

 

Whose woods these are I think Iknow.

His house is in the village though.

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up withsnow.

 

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

 

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound’s the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

  

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep.

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

@font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}@font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}.MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}

A Writer's Moment: 'Going beyond – to the impossible'

A Writer's Moment: 'Going beyond – to the impossible':   “I don't pretend we have all the answers. But the questions are certainly worth thinking about.” – Arthur C. Clark...

'Going beyond – to the impossible'

 

“Idon't pretend we have all the answers. But the questions are certainly worththinking about.” – Arthur C. Clarke

Born in England on Dec. 16, 1917Clarke wrote dozens of best-selling science fiction books and short stories butis perhaps best known for penning the screenplay for one of the top 100 moviesof all time, “2001: A Space Odyssey.” 

 

A lifelong proponent of spacetravel, he joined the British Interplanetary Society while still a teenager andultimately served for many years as its chairman.  Not only a writer but also a gifted thinkerand planner, he proposed a prototype satellite communication system as early as1945.

 

Clarke emigrated from England to Ceylon(now Sri Lanka) in 1956 to pursue his interest in scuba diving.  There, he discovered the underwater ruins ofthe ancient Koneswaram Temple off its coast. 

 

The author of 21 novels, 15nonfiction books, and 12 collections of short stories, Clarke also hostedseveral popular television shows, including the award-winning “Arthur C.Clarke’s Mysterious World.”   He wasknighted for his achievements by Queen Elizabeth, named a Grand Master by theScience Fiction Writers of America, and awarded Sri Lanka’s highest civilian honorfor his achievements and service to his adopted nation. 

  

 “The only wayto discover the limits of the possible,” Clarke once said, “is to go beyondthem into the impossible.”

@font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}@font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}.MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}

A Writer's Moment: Starting with 'one good sentence'

A Writer's Moment: Starting with 'one good sentence':   “Journalism taught me how to write a sentence that would make someone want to read the next one.    I do feel that if y...