Dan Jorgensen's Blog, page 128

A Writer's Moment: Sharing the beauty of the language

A Writer's Moment: Sharing the beauty of the language:   “I’m not trying to stump anybody … it’s the beauty of the language I’m interested in.” – Buddy Holly Much has been made of “the day...

Sharing the beauty of the language

 “I’m not trying to stump anybody … it’s the beautyof the language I’m interested in.” – Buddy Holly

Much has been made of “the day the music died,” Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holly’s death in anIowa cornfield when the plane carrying him, J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper)and Richie Valens crashed on Feb. 3, 1959.  His brilliant writing/singing career ended at just age 22.   [image error]Born on this date in1936 to a musical family from Lubbock, TX, Holly is often held up as the iconic figure of the musicalexuberance of the 1950s' Rock-and-Roll boom years that also, of course, produced American superstarsElvis Presley and Chuck Berry.  During his shortcareer, Holly wrote, recorded and produced most of his own material as well asdozens of songs recorded by others.  Heis often regarded as the act that defined the traditional Rock-and-Roll lineupof two guitars, bass and drums, and a major influence on later popular bandslike the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and Elton John.
In 1986, he was in the first “class” inducted into the Rock and Roll Hallof Fame.   Rolling Stone magazine ranks him 13th on its list of "100 All-time Greatest Artists" and EncyclopædiaBritannica states that Holly "produced some of the most distinctiveand influential work in rock music’s history.”  "Death," Holly said, "is very often referred to as a good career move."  In his case it snuffed out a brilliant career still in its infancy.

A Writer's Moment: 'A book that writes itself'

A Writer's Moment: 'A book that writes itself':   “ Our life is a book that writes itself and whose principal themes sometimes escape us. We are like characters in a nov...

'A book that writes itself'

 

“Ourlife is a book that writes itself and whose principal themes sometimes escapeus. We are like characters in a novel who do not always understand what theauthor wants of them.” – Julien Green

The first non-French national (he’sAmerican) to be admitted to the famed Académie Française, Green was born onthis date in 1900 to American parents living in France.  After spending time in America in his lateteens, he returned to France and in 1922 – after a false start as a painter –began a nearly 80-year career as a writer.

 

By 1927 he had established himself onFrance’s literary scene only to leave at the outbreak of World War II, whichonce again drove him to the U.S.  Duringthe war, he played a major role in the United States Office of War Information,becoming the “French” voice for Voice of America’s war efforts. 

 

Following the war, he wrote numerousessays on faith and religion but is most noted for his 19-volume diary.  Spanning 80 years (until his death in 1998)the diary provided the world with a unique window on the artistic and literaryscene in Paris.  Its popularity was, hesaid, based on his free form and spontaneous writing style, folksy and highlyreadable.

 

 “The secret is to write just anything, to dare towrite just anything,” he said,  “becausewhen you write just anything, you begin to say what is important.”

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A Writer's Moment: 'Scribes to the ticking of the days'

A Writer's Moment: 'Scribes to the ticking of the days':   “As writers, paying attention is what we do. We are scribes to the ticking of the days, and we have a job to do. We are...

'Scribes to the ticking of the days'

 

“Aswriters, paying attention is what we do. We are scribes to the ticking of thedays, and we have a job to do. We are not at peace unless we are doing it.”– Larry Brooks

 

Brooks, born in September of 1952, is the authorof Story Engineering, Story Physics, and Story Fix and a writing instructor and freelance writer.   The Phoenix-based Brooks also is criticallyacclaimed for his psychological thrillers, including Darkness Bound, Pressure Points, and Serpent’s Dance. 

 

 I met him when we both spoke at theHistorical Writers of America (HWA) Conference in Williamsburg, VA, where we alsoshared a table at the guest authors’ autographing session.  Sitting side-by-side with him for 3 hours Ihad the chance to pick his brain about his take on the writing craft.

 

Brooks said he likes to referencethe "First Plot Point" (also referred to as "The Moment of No Return,"or "Call to Action") as a focal point for writers, especially those still learning their craft.

 

“It's more than a story twist—it'sthe transition between the story's setup and the launch of the hero's coredramatic journey, and it has a specific mission in terms of how it changes thestory, along with criteria that make it work,” he said.  “Mess this up, and the story will suffer in apotentially drastic way.”

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A Labor Day Salute

 

“Every day I remind myselfthat my inner and outer life are based on the labors of others, living anddead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as Ihave received and am still receiving.” -  Albert Einstein
 On this Labor Day weekend I debated over whether to use Einstein's great quote above or the great illustration below (that included a quote by Einstein) to salute our workforce.  So I decided on both.  Thoughtful and thought-provoking.  Happy Labor Day!

 [image error]

A Writer's Moment: A Labor Day Salute

A Writer's Moment: A Labor Day Salute:   “Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of others, living and dead, and that I must exert myself ...

A Writer's Moment: Words that 'speak to all'

A Writer's Moment: Words that 'speak to all':   “The poet speaks to all men of that other life of theirs that they have smothered and forgotten.” –   Edith Sitwell                 ...

Words that 'speak to all'

 

“Thepoet speaks to all men of that other life of theirs that they have smotheredand forgotten.” –  Edith Sitwell

                    Sitwell, born on Sept. 7, 1887 was both a patronof the writing and art worlds and also a critic and noted poet herself.  She startedwriting while still in grammar school and had her first poem The DrownedSuns, published in London’s Daily Mirror in 1913.  

                    From 1913, the date of herfirst poem, she published poems continuously until her death in 1964.   Perhaps her best-known poem is Still Falls the Rain about the WWII blitz of London and set to music by Benjamin Britten.   Her poem TheBee-Keeper was set to music by Priaulx Rainier, as The Bee Oracles. 

                    For Saturday’s Poem, here is Stiwell's,
                 AnswersI keptmy answers small and kept them near;
Big questions bruised my mind but still I let
Small answers be a bullwark to my fear.

The huge abstractions I kept from the light;
Small things I handled and caressed and loved.
I let the stars assume the whole of night.

But the big answers clamoured to be moved Into mylife. Their great audacity
Shouted to be acknowledged and believed.

Even when all small answers build up to
Protection of my spirit, still I hear
Big answers striving for their overthrow.

And all the great conclusions coming near.