Lucinda Moebius's Blog, page 8
October 8, 2011
How do you define Literature?
I have been an English student/teacher for 20+ years. I have heard all the arguments about what is considered literature and what is not. I know how I define literature. What I want to know is how you define literature. Once I hear your responses I will give you my definition.
Just another Random thought. And now it's a challenge. Post your responses to the blog.
October 6, 2011
Rubik's Cube
I would like to start off by saying I am sorry it has been so hit and miss with my postings this past month. There have been a lot of things happening in my life that has taken me away from my postings. I hope things have settled down enough that I can get back to regular posts.
That being said, it is now time for this week's literature lesson.
This weeks lesson is the Rubik's Cube. What is that you say? What does a Rubik's Cube have to do with literature? Well, let me explain. I have been teaching psychology and I use the Rubik's cube as a lesson in learning and brain function. I personally have never been able to solve a Rubik's cube. In fact, when I was a kid I took my cube apart and put the squares back in the right order. The cube never worked the right way again.
I decided I would try to learn to solve the cube. I purchased a new cube and made sure the package contained instructions. Over the past week I have worked on trying to follow the instructions to solve the cube. As I went through the process step by step I studied the instructions over and over again. I noticed as I went through a few of the steps the instructions contained a few errors. The steps were explained in a very logical, sequential manner, but since I have an abstract mind I made many errors. There were times the cube was almost complete and, after a few turns, it was completely messed up again.
I persisted and spent hours going through the steps and over and over again until the movements became incorporated into my sensory memory. What was important to me as a reader was the detailed instructions that helped me develop the knowledge to solve the cube.
The literature lesson I learned from solving a rubik's cube is the importance of creating clear, specific details. Without the instructions I would never have solved the Rubik's Cube. Is still don't understand the logic and sequence behind the cube, but since I solved it once, I know I can solve it again. It's important to step outside your comfort zone and try something new. Working on the cube taught me so much about the importance of specific details and clear directions.
September 27, 2011
Lady Godiva
Imagine the moment. The beautiful woman, standing before her husband. She had been pleading for him to ease the taxes and labors of the serfs. For years she has seen their penitent faces, begging and pleading for surcease of suffering. Her husband tells her: "If you strip naked and ride through the square and I will grant your petition". The lady agrees, shocking. The announcement is made. All peasants are warned to go into their homes and close their doors and shudders. All peasants obey, but one. Tom the tailor has bored holes into his shutters so he can peep at the beautiful lady. As a result of this crime "Tom" is struck blind or, according to some legends, is struck down dead. The lady strips off her clothing in front of her husband and fulfills the dare. In the end the Lord keeps his word and the peasants' labors are eased.
So, why would I write about a woman who needed to degrade herself to get what she wanted? Well, it's because I don't believe she was degraded. The story of Lady Godiva shows self-sacrifice and compassion. There are many different versions to this story. Everything from the Lady approaching her Lord as a penitent sans jewels and in her shift to actually riding through Market at the busiest time of the day sans clothing covered in nothing but her hair. No matter which version you read, and most seem to prefer the one where she is completely nude, Lady Godiva is the symbolic representation of a woman fighting against everyone in society who is trying to repress those without choices and rights.
Lady Godiva took a stand by completely disregarding society norms and putting everything on the line for everyone to see. One of my favorite aspects of this story is the absolute love and respect her people had for her and the harsh judgement on the one man who did not respect his Lady. Would any one of us be willing to buck society norms and stand up for our beliefs and values?
September 25, 2011
Inspire me!
I'm going to ask my reader's to inspire me this week. I am looking for a scripture to use as a prologue for my next book. The concept for the novel is the young Protagonist is extraordinarily strong and he relies on that strength to fight battle after battle. Perhaps this young man is over-reliant on the physical strength. He needs to learn there is a strength beyond the physical and he needs to rely on that strength to overcome the enemy.
I have a few scriptures in mind, but I would love for my readers and fans to help me choose a good one. What scriptures do you love that talks about strength?
September 17, 2011
Street Fair
My husband and I went to the Hyde Street Street Fair today. I love to go to fairs and Street Markets. There is so much scope for the imagination. I sometimes wonder what would happen if all export and import stopped and we had to rely on local markets to survive.
It seems everything you would need to survive could be found at the market, I mean what do we really need to have in our lives to live? We need food, water, oxygen, sleep, shelter and love. That's it. All the trappings of the world is just noise to distract us.
The street fairs remind me of all the simple things we need in life. I know I can buy bread and vegetables for cheaper at Walmart, clothes too. Yet, there is nothing more satisfying than tasting the freshness of locally grown produce and freshly baked bread. I love the uniqueness of the clothing found at the market. I know when I wear the colorful skirt I bought at some random place no one else is going to have exactly the same thing.
I wrote a market scene into Raven's Song because I loved the idea of a community being so self-sufficient they wouldn't need anything beyond what could be found at the Street Market.
September 14, 2011
Second Draft
I am very close to being done with the second draft of 'Raven's Song'. I know it has been a long wait and many people are waiting to get their hands on it. I made so many mistakes with Echoes of Savanna when it came to editing. One of the biggest mistakes was I never gave it a rest. I would edit the story from beginning to end and then start all over again without giving the book a time to rest.
I am going to put the lessons I learned about the editing process to 'Raven's Song'. As soon as I finish this edit I am going to put the book aside for two weeks and move on to other things. I need to work on my Doctorate and establish my research problem. This will give me some time to work on promoting my novels as well.
September 12, 2011
The Crucible
I am currently reading The Crucible by Arthur Miller. I know, I know your all thinking 'what, no vampires?' Well, I graduated from vampires to witchcraft. Actually I am re-reading this play because I am teaching one section of Junior English this year and The Crucible is what the other teachers are using to teach the the Puritan Mindset. I really wish I wasn't teaching it right now, though.
Don't get me wrong, I love this play. It's a great commentary on the dangers of mob mentality and false accusation, it just is far from being historically accurate. Miller wrote the play as a commentary on McCarthyism and the 'Red Scare' panic of the 1950′s. I wanted to teach the play during second semester when we discuss propaganda and the beginning of the cold war literature movement. Oh well, I know I will enjoy teaching it. Miller was a great playwright and I get to teach about witches. [image error]
September 11, 2011
September 11 2001-2011
As everyone else was running away from the fire those who are our greatest heroes were running towards the flames. A hero is one who is an ordinary person who, when in the face of danger, does extraordinary things. We will never forget those heroes because they are the faces of America.
I was teaching a classroom full of students. During the following weeks, when I wasn't with my students, I was with the ones I love, my brothers and sisters, their children, the man who is now my husband. I cling to them more now, holding them closer and thanking God every day I have a family who is so close. I pray for my brother who is on the front lines more often than I would like. I pray for the young men and women who leave my classroom with the dream of becoming soldiers, firefighters, policemen and medics. Over the past ten years I have had many students go to those same front lines and my heart breaks thinking of them.
This is a day to celebrate life, too. My beautiful niece turned one on that fateful day. We turned off the television for half an hour, sang her happy birthday, let her open presents and then we turned the TV back on to see what was happening. It took us a few years to learn how to celebrate this child's birthday with all the love and the joy that should accompany this glorious day.
Today I was able to be at a beautiful memorial as we remembered those who sacrificed their lives that day. I was able to stand by my firefighter husband and give thanks to all those heroes who stand on the front lines then and now. I will always remember those who lost their lives those days and those who put their lives before ours so we have freedom to live our lives as we choose.
This is the defining moment I chose to talk about this week. My life changed that day. I grew up as a generation Xer. I was told my whole life my generation had nothing that defined them. On this day, ten years ago, my generation had its defining moment.
I will never forget.
September 9, 2011
Literature Lesson: Organization
I wanted to see more progression of my character in my novel. I wanted to see her in conflict and see the conflict progress. I wasn't quite sure how to do it with the plot I currently have. As I was looking at the order of events in the story I realized the rising action was all there, it was just in the wrong order.
I needed a new perspective. I actually took apart the the story and separated it into different word documents. As I read through the events I realized the entire story was there, I just needed to put it in the correct order.
When people ask about my writing process I say I do outline and I plan what I am going to write, but as I looked at the completed manuscript I realized I don't outline as much as I thought I did. I guess I can say I know the major events of the story and I know he changes the character will be going through, I just don't always realize how those events are going to play out.
I have a lot of work to do before I send the book to editors. Every time I write I learn more about the craft and more about myself. Hopefully my readers will enjoy this story as much as I've enjoyed writing it.
September 8, 2011
Defining moment
This weeks defining moment will be delayed. Know that I am working hard on this idea and will have something special and very important to me when I do post this defining event.