The Poetry Fix News
| VOL. II, ISSUE 19 | July 31, 2004 |
"There is nothing new under the sun"
My mother use to tell me that all the time. When I was a kid, I use to secretly challenge her every time she said that; and sometimes not so secretly. My latency-age mind could not accept this little nugget of wisdom, partly because I took her literally. “Of course there are things that we haven’t already seen or experienced!” I would whine. On occasion, when I had thought of a really good one to stump her, I would blurt out: “What about the computer?! There was no computer in 1683” (like the random date would guarantee me a win in the debate). My mother would deftly explain that all the things that made up the computer, from man’s curiosity to the materials to construct it, already existed. Humanity just needed to figure out how to bring it all together; to manifest the computer. As I’ve grown up, and bumped up against the “nothing new under the sun” theory repeatedly, I am inclined to agree with my mother – at least as it applies to writing. More specifically, in cases when one is not writing, when that dreaded monster, writer’s block, rears its ugly head. If you go along with my mother’s logic it would be easy to combat this monster because: all the stories that will be written are really already out “there”. We just need to figure out how to bring it all together, to find the “new” in the familiar. Sounds simple enough, right?
If creating is so simple, why are we plagued with “the block”? That time when we sit in front of our computers, or canvasses, or pads of paper and nothing shows up? When we are completely stumped, or we fret that our muse has abandoned us? I think that in our zest to create the story, piece of art, or poem that has never been seen, we forget to take in the obvious. Let me take you back to high school for a minute.
Remember back in English class, there were some basic themes that were always being touched upon. Man against man. Man against nature. Man against machine. According to my 11th grade English teacher, all books were outlined in that fashion; from Call of the Wild to 1984. And it doesn’t seem to matter what genre you pull from. If you looked at the fantasy story, The Lord of the Rings it seems to ring true there too. In all its grandness and splendor, the story really boils down to a simple tale of good vs. evil and loyalty against all things. What Tolkien did was add a few elves, wizards, hobbits with hairy feet, create some new languages, move the story to Middle Earth, and make the danger larger than life. Simple enough, right? Before the reader knows it, she is totally sucked into this amazingly crafted world. But at its core, the story remains simple. Ultimately, Tolkien is successful in telling a story that has never been told by pulling together common pieces that already exist. Tolkien has freed himself by not worrying about the theme but concentrating on the story. Simply, there are general themes that are repeated in all stories. What makes things new is the way the writer spins the story.
Think about it this way: If you gave the exact same theme to 100 different writers, they would come back with 100 different stories.
In the age-old story of young love gone horribly wrong we find “Romeo and Juliet”. This story has been retold more times than I think we realize. One of the more successful “re-tellings” is “Westside Story” (both the stage musical and the 1961 movie). Maria and Tony are being kept apart by their families (the Jets and the Sharks). Their story has been moved from Verona and plunked into a NYC neighborhood. The writer has added songs and dance steps, and changed the ethnicity of the young lovers. I know people right now who will argue me down that there is not an ounce of the Romeo and Juliet in Westside Story. Clearly, they don’t get out much.
Now, I’m not saying to rehash old works, but to instead see all those familiar elements in a different light.
Artists need to free themselves from the self-imposed quest (or obligation) to create the 27th letter of the alphabet. Why not work with the ones in front of us? Remember, Newton didn’t invent gravity; he just explained how it worked. I belong to a screenwriting listserv and we got on the subject of The Flintstones (a 1960’s cartoon show).
One of the older members on the group reminded everyone that the cartoon was loosely based on the 1950’s sitcom “The Honeymooners” with Jackie Gleason. So basically they’re the same characters and similar themes, just animated.
Despite the similarities between the shows, who doesn’t’ love the Flintstones? Yabba Dabba Doo!
Writer’s Block can absolutely make you doubt yourself but believe it or not by noticing the obvious, the ordinary, you don’t have to worry about your work becoming predictable. Yes, it is a tricky balance of not letting your work become a retread of a retread, like some pop hip-hop song gone bad. But by bringing your authentic voice and viewpoint to your work you can slay the monster.
Here are some tips that help me when I run up against the block:
Become a “watcher”: Don’t confuse that with being a stalker. I do this all the time. Sit in a coffee shop or bookstore and watch the people who come in. I assign my version of the "truth" to their lives and I am off to the races. I take “their” story to the furthest possible end. I come up with stuff that is totally implausible based on the people I am watching and still take it further.
Play the “what if” game: What if Suzy wants to become a skateboarder but she is blind. What if on the planet Tootie -Fruitie, they run out of pineapples and they most find a new supply, before everyone dies. Recently, I went to an acting/playwright workshop – facilitated by Carolyn Gage. She is a prolific and talented playwright. Carolyn has a basic theme to her work (women are valuable and will prevail). Because she sticks to that premise in almost 100% of her plays (47 at last count) she is free to twist and turn each story in a way that is unique, and often surprising. Her award winning play “Harriet Tubman goes to a Therapist” is one of those unique stories. In this play, she takes a huge chunk of “what if” and goes as far as the story will let her take it. In a very unusual and effective way the story explains how Harriet Tubman came to run away and return to the south 27 times to free other slaves. If you get a chance to read (or see) the play you will not be disappointed.
Daydream: Spend time creating a new language for your characters to speak, or put them in a new place, or give them a unique set of problems. Be as fanciful as you dare. There are no rules; this is your work to do with what you want.
Write it down: Whatever comes to you put it on the paper. It doesn’t have to be complete and it doesn’t have to be “the” story. You can use your “first draft” as a road map or sketch to build from.
Read a good book: And if your muse does pack up and leave you high and dry check out this book that was recommended to me: Writing Without a Muse by Beth Joselow. This book provides 60 creative writing exercises that are designed to give creative writers a boost. So when it comes to writer’s block let yourself off the hook. Spend your creativity on how to make the story better. Just look at the themes and imagine a story that only you can come up with. Remember, the universe is vast. Breathe – there are infinite stories to be told and they are just waiting for you to look up and notice them.
Michelle
michelleinbold@aol.com
*A special thanks to all the my "editors" (Carmen, Megan, and Pat) this week. Thanks for letting me whine and reminding me of the difference between "bear" and "bare".
Venues of the Month
Word of Mouth - Spoken Word/Poetry Open Mic
Is a spoken word community dedicated to the
growth of every individual's creative expression.
We seek to create an environment of welcome, warmth and support.
Bossa Bistro/Gallery/Lounge
2463 18th Street, NW
Washington, DC
Adams Morgan (202) 667-0088
2nd and 4th Monday of each month
Monday, August 9, 2004
8-10:30
Free
More Info: laurie@wordofmouth.cc
_____________
Women In the Life Open Mic
2nd Tuesday of the month
August 10, 2004
Corner of 17th & R
Washington, DC
8:30pm
No cover
Hosted by: Shauna and Teri
____________
Sistah Cypher
Women Empowerment Through Spoken Word!
Washington, DC Miami, FL Norfolk, VA Chicago, IL
Sistah Cypher is the coming together of the wickedest sisters around the country (and the brothers & boiz who support them) united for social change and women empowerment, metamorphosized into spoken word!
Sistah Cypher is kicking off in Washington DC
on August 14th
Don’t Let The Movement Pass you By!
This and Every Second Saturday
Location: Between Friends
1115 U Street Northwest # A, Washington, DC 20009
Hosted by The Original Woman and Queen Sheba
Time: Doors open at 6:30pm
Open Mic and Features from 7-11pm
Afterparty til’ 2am
Suggested Donation (everything goes to the movement) $10
No one turned away!
Fore more information contact Nitche Ward @ Bookings@theoriginalwoman.com or call 202-215-1236
For info on other locations of Sistah Cypher visit www.theoriginalwoman.com/sistah_cypher.htm
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