Aimee Liu's Blog: Aimee Liu's New Blog Launch!, page 3
October 30, 2009
Ghost World (By Anonymous)
I feel a bit transparent this Halloween. You see, for the past six months I�ve been a ghost. That means no habeus corpus, no credit, no identity. I�m so insubstantial I can�t tell you whether I�m writing a kiss-and-tell or a how-to or a what-if, or all of the above. I can�t name the author of the book I�m writing. I can�t even name myself! But worst of all, from my new vantage point I can see that today�s publishing business is riddled with spectral writers � some of whom don�t even know they�re ghosts.
October 22, 2009
Accidental Art
WHEN I WROTE THIS MINI ESSAY 11 YEARS AGO, I'D NEVER HEARD OF THE TERM "FLOW" -- THAT MAGICAL STATE IN WHICH CREATIVITY THRIVES. BUT HERE ARE SOME PRETTY SPOT-ON DESCRIPTIONS OF FLOW...
Long ago and far away, when I used to paint, I found that my best paintings were blessed by accident. A line would wobble, I’d use the wrong color, I’d rub up against the canvas. The undercoat of gesso would go on rough, causing the colors that came on top of it to catch and build in unexpected textures. I would paint what I saw – the surface of an enamel sugar bowl – and discover myself in its reflection. Unhappiness, too, produced useful effects, and if not accidental, this certainly was unintended. Read More
Long ago and far away, when I used to paint, I found that my best paintings were blessed by accident. A line would wobble, I’d use the wrong color, I’d rub up against the canvas. The undercoat of gesso would go on rough, causing the colors that came on top of it to catch and build in unexpected textures. I would paint what I saw – the surface of an enamel sugar bowl – and discover myself in its reflection. Unhappiness, too, produced useful effects, and if not accidental, this certainly was unintended. Read More
Accidental Art
WHEN I WROTE THIS MINI ESSAY 11 YEARS AGO, I'D NEVER HEARD OF THE TERM "FLOW" -- THAT MAGICAL STATE IN WHICH CREATIVITY THRIVES. BUT HERE ARE SOME PRETTY SPOT-ON DESCRIPTIONS OF FLOW...
Long ago and far away, when I used to paint, I found that my best paintings were blessed by accident. A line would wobble, I�d use the wrong color, I�d rub up against the canvas. The undercoat of gesso would go on rough, causing the colors that came on top of it to catch and build in unexpected textures. I would paint what I saw � the surface of an enamel sugar bowl � and discover myself in its reflection. Unhappiness, too, produced useful effects, and if not accidental, this certainly was unintended.
Long ago and far away, when I used to paint, I found that my best paintings were blessed by accident. A line would wobble, I�d use the wrong color, I�d rub up against the canvas. The undercoat of gesso would go on rough, causing the colors that came on top of it to catch and build in unexpected textures. I would paint what I saw � the surface of an enamel sugar bowl � and discover myself in its reflection. Unhappiness, too, produced useful effects, and if not accidental, this certainly was unintended.
October 12, 2009
WHY WRITE?
HERE'S ANOTHER CURRENT POST!
THE OTHER NIGHT I WAS HONORED TO RECEIVE THE ALGONQUIN WEST HOLLYWOOD LITERARY AWARD. I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE THOUGHTS THAT THIS AWARD PROMPTED IN ME...
It seems to me that literature is teetering on the brink of obsolescence. Youtube and twitter, and facebook, and 900 cable channels are only part of the problem. I am part of the problem, I think. I’m not doing nearly enough to defend good writing.
So I thought I’d take a few minutes to remind myself why quality writing still deserves defending.
To my mind, the most compelling virtue of literature is that, short of telepathy, it’s our only means of inhabiting someone else’s thoughts word for word. Read More
THE OTHER NIGHT I WAS HONORED TO RECEIVE THE ALGONQUIN WEST HOLLYWOOD LITERARY AWARD. I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE THOUGHTS THAT THIS AWARD PROMPTED IN ME...
It seems to me that literature is teetering on the brink of obsolescence. Youtube and twitter, and facebook, and 900 cable channels are only part of the problem. I am part of the problem, I think. I’m not doing nearly enough to defend good writing.
So I thought I’d take a few minutes to remind myself why quality writing still deserves defending.
To my mind, the most compelling virtue of literature is that, short of telepathy, it’s our only means of inhabiting someone else’s thoughts word for word. Read More
WHY WRITE?
HERE'S ANOTHER CURRENT POST!
THE OTHER NIGHT I WAS HONORED TO RECEIVE THE ALGONQUIN WEST HOLLYWOOD LITERARY AWARD. I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE THOUGHTS THAT THIS AWARD PROMPTED IN ME...
It seems to me that literature is teetering on the brink of obsolescence. Youtube and twitter, and facebook, and 900 cable channels are only part of the problem. I am part of the problem, I think. I�m not doing nearly enough to defend good writing.
So I thought I�d take a few minutes to remind myself why quality writing still deserves defending.
To my mind, the most compelling virtue of literature is that, short of telepathy, it�s our only means of inhabiting someone else�s thoughts word for word.
THE OTHER NIGHT I WAS HONORED TO RECEIVE THE ALGONQUIN WEST HOLLYWOOD LITERARY AWARD. I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE THOUGHTS THAT THIS AWARD PROMPTED IN ME...
It seems to me that literature is teetering on the brink of obsolescence. Youtube and twitter, and facebook, and 900 cable channels are only part of the problem. I am part of the problem, I think. I�m not doing nearly enough to defend good writing.
So I thought I�d take a few minutes to remind myself why quality writing still deserves defending.
To my mind, the most compelling virtue of literature is that, short of telepathy, it�s our only means of inhabiting someone else�s thoughts word for word.
October 9, 2009
If You Give a Friend a Sample
I WISH I COULD SAY MY BEHAVIOR AFTER SENDING OUT MY WRITING TODAY IS MORE MATURE OR ASSURED THAN IT WAS ON Thursday, July 25, 2002 WHEN THIS ENTRY WAS WRITTEN. ALAS, WITH SOME MORTIFICATION, I CONFESS THAT IT IS NOT.
Half a decade ago, when my bedtime reading was skewed to my young son’s, one of our favorite books led off with, "If you give a mouse a cookie... he will ask for a glass of milk," and followed through pages of acts and consequences to the inevitable conclusion, "if he asks for a glass of milk, he's going to want a cookie to go with it." I find myself adapting this classic as I await the reaction of a friend to a sample section of my new novel... Read More
Half a decade ago, when my bedtime reading was skewed to my young son’s, one of our favorite books led off with, "If you give a mouse a cookie... he will ask for a glass of milk," and followed through pages of acts and consequences to the inevitable conclusion, "if he asks for a glass of milk, he's going to want a cookie to go with it." I find myself adapting this classic as I await the reaction of a friend to a sample section of my new novel... Read More
If You Give a Friend a Sample
I WISH I COULD SAY MY BEHAVIOR AFTER SENDING OUT MY WRITING TODAY IS MORE MATURE OR ASSURED THAN IT WAS ON Thursday, July 25, 2002 WHEN THIS ENTRY WAS WRITTEN. ALAS, WITH SOME MORTIFICATION, I CONFESS THAT IT IS NOT.
Half a decade ago, when my bedtime reading was skewed to my young son�s, one of our favorite books led off with, "If you give a mouse a cookie... he will ask for a glass of milk," and followed through pages of acts and consequences to the inevitable conclusion, "if he asks for a glass of milk, he's going to want a cookie to go with it." I find myself adapting this classic as I await the reaction of a friend to a sample section of my new novel...
Half a decade ago, when my bedtime reading was skewed to my young son�s, one of our favorite books led off with, "If you give a mouse a cookie... he will ask for a glass of milk," and followed through pages of acts and consequences to the inevitable conclusion, "if he asks for a glass of milk, he's going to want a cookie to go with it." I find myself adapting this classic as I await the reaction of a friend to a sample section of my new novel...
October 3, 2009
Hello Today
We interrupt this blog to post a CURRENT piece!
THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S LOS ANGELES TIMES, ON THE OP-ED PAGE.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/c...
Opinion
Hello Today
One family finds that a daily e-mail chain keeps everyone connected.
By Aimee Liu
October 4, 2009
Two years ago, following my father's death, my mother found herself living alone for the first time in six decades. The situation, to her children and grandkids, was fraught with peril.
THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S LOS ANGELES TIMES, ON THE OP-ED PAGE.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/c...
Opinion
Hello Today
One family finds that a daily e-mail chain keeps everyone connected.
By Aimee Liu
October 4, 2009
Two years ago, following my father's death, my mother found herself living alone for the first time in six decades. The situation, to her children and grandkids, was fraught with peril.
October 1, 2009
Research Rapture
I WROTE THIS ON October 22, 1997, WHILE WORKING ON MY LAST NOVEL, FLASH HOUSE. PERHAPS THIS ENTRY EXPLAINS WHY I HAVE NOT PRODUCED ANOTHER RESEARCH-BASED NOVEL SINCE?
A couple of years ago I heard Oakley Hall, writer and director of the Squaw Valley Writers' Conference, talk about "research rapture," that great black hole that looms over the writing process and too often swallows both writer and work. I knew precisely what he meant.
A couple of years ago I heard Oakley Hall, writer and director of the Squaw Valley Writers' Conference, talk about "research rapture," that great black hole that looms over the writing process and too often swallows both writer and work. I knew precisely what he meant.
April 23, 2009
Aimee featured essayist in new issue Ms. Magazine
Dear Friend:
I’d like to let you know that the Spring issue of Ms. is just about to hit
the newsstands, featuring an essay I wrote—“The Perfect Pantomime”—about
how eating disorders are wordless cries for relief.
As I write: “Just think of an infant in pain or discomfort. She has no
words, so how, beyond crying, can she call for help? She rejects her food.
Soon enough, her parents or doctor notice she’s failing to thrive. They
comfort her. They figure out what’s wrong and solve the problem. Why
shouldn’t the same tack work for the embattled psyche of a suffering young
woman?”
The new issue of Ms. also includes several other articles that reflect on
the gains for women and children in the first 70 days of the Obama
administration, from reversing egregious Bush reproductive health politics
to signing anti-discrimination legislation to recognizing women’s
employment needs in the stimulus package. One of the stories of particular
interest shows how Hillary Clinton is already transforming the State
Department into a place where women’s rights are of prime concern rather
than just an afterthought. Ms. wil further expand its post-election
coverage to Obama’s first 100 days on the www.msmagazine.com
website.
The Ms. cover story is the first-ever Ms. “Guide to Women’s Studies,”
which overviews the burgeoning academic field—over 90,000 students!—and
offers data on nearly 200 undergraduate and nearly 50 graduate programs
(with more undergrad data online).
Finally, if you or your child is a fan of the Twilight series of books and
films, there’s an article called “Taking a Bite out of Twilight” that
gives a feminist critique of its views of young women’s sexuality.
Ms. helps us to be righteously angry (instead of depressed) about what’s
going on in the world, and encourages us to use that energy to move
forward. Look for it on newsstands or, even better, join the Ms. community
at https://store.msmagazine.com/
and have the new
issue sent right to your door.
Aimee
www.gainingthetruth.com
I’d like to let you know that the Spring issue of Ms. is just about to hit
the newsstands, featuring an essay I wrote—“The Perfect Pantomime”—about
how eating disorders are wordless cries for relief.
As I write: “Just think of an infant in pain or discomfort. She has no
words, so how, beyond crying, can she call for help? She rejects her food.
Soon enough, her parents or doctor notice she’s failing to thrive. They
comfort her. They figure out what’s wrong and solve the problem. Why
shouldn’t the same tack work for the embattled psyche of a suffering young
woman?”
The new issue of Ms. also includes several other articles that reflect on
the gains for women and children in the first 70 days of the Obama
administration, from reversing egregious Bush reproductive health politics
to signing anti-discrimination legislation to recognizing women’s
employment needs in the stimulus package. One of the stories of particular
interest shows how Hillary Clinton is already transforming the State
Department into a place where women’s rights are of prime concern rather
than just an afterthought. Ms. wil further expand its post-election
coverage to Obama’s first 100 days on the www.msmagazine.com
website.
The Ms. cover story is the first-ever Ms. “Guide to Women’s Studies,”
which overviews the burgeoning academic field—over 90,000 students!—and
offers data on nearly 200 undergraduate and nearly 50 graduate programs
(with more undergrad data online).
Finally, if you or your child is a fan of the Twilight series of books and
films, there’s an article called “Taking a Bite out of Twilight” that
gives a feminist critique of its views of young women’s sexuality.
Ms. helps us to be righteously angry (instead of depressed) about what’s
going on in the world, and encourages us to use that energy to move
forward. Look for it on newsstands or, even better, join the Ms. community
at https://store.msmagazine.com/
and have the new
issue sent right to your door.
Aimee
www.gainingthetruth.com
Aimee Liu's New Blog Launch!
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