Quoteskimming

[kellyrfineman]

Today's quote is, of course, from the Edgar Allen Poe poem "The Raven".

On first drafts

Bernard Malamud said that the first draft "is the most uncertain-- where you need guts, the ability to accept the imperfect until it is better."

On revision

Well, in a way. I just finished reading A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett. And somewhere back

Comments

[anonymous]

I take it Stephen King isn't too crazy then about J.K. Rowling's books? Isn't she criticized a lot for her heavy adverb-use?

Jules, 7-Imp

[kellyrfineman]

He reviewed at least one of her books, and is on record as loving them. Apparently, good story-telling trumps good writing.

[fabulousfrock]

My ancestry? Probably not! My influences, for sure. I read a lot of classic, late 19th century to mid 20th century kidlit growing up, plus fantasy, and I think simple and old-fashioned language comes easiest to me. I do *try* to write sentences with a good rhythm. I read everything I ever write aloud to my boyfriend, who makes an excellent audience, and as a kid I often used to tell stories on tapes or read aloud to the cat (also an excellent audience, although a bit less interactive).

[kellyrfineman]

Cats make excellent listeners, as do dogs. And I agree about the reading influences being huge.

What about yours?

[slatts]

I should try what Cindy suggests but then again, I haven't been too awfully successful getting any book-writing done.

But poetry. I "sing" all my poems. And the true test is the poem that can do it to blues, country and funk.

As a rock n' roller not a disciplined musician (nor poet), I do too often just "let them go -- as is."

My ancestry?

[slatts]

I think the music-thing applies here as well.

Re: What about yours?

[kellyrfineman]

I don't sing my poems, but I do try to read them aloud. The funny thing is, what passes muster when I read aloud to myself doesn't always pass when I read aloud in front of an actual audience. You hear things differently when you know someone's listening, I think.

interesting that....

[slatts]

...by your process/theory, a poet might be wise to try out one's material at an open mic....

[kellyrfineman]

I'm sure the overarching metaphors might be related. Then again, I listened to a lot of sermons and read a lot of scripture as a kid too (fellow PK here), and metaphors aren't always a given in either forum. So obviously, we all pick and choose what sings to us.

[jamarattigan]

Love that last quote. I'm not sure about ancestry, either. It's more like geographical influences that affect speech patterns, that would probably surface in writing rhythms.

[kellyrfineman]

The rest of the article talked (in part) about how college writers all sound like Henry James for a while, but get over it. And your comment about geographical influences got me to thinking that perhaps some of our ancestry comes out. My family on both sides is British Isles all the way, with family from New England and the Mid-Atlantic region, and I think my writing reflects that. So some of it is regional/geographic, and some of it might actually be (for want of a better word) ancestral.