Thursday, May 6, 2010
Poetry Disconnect
I'm sure everyone's got their version of this, but I'm starting to feel like my utter lack of production in the literary world is making me a de facto pariah there. Whether it's self-imposed or not, the fact that I'm neither reading my cohorts books or flooding them with manuscripts of my own leaves me feeling like I'm undeserving of their company or something. It's a weird feeling, and I think I'm stating it publicly to see if it's a real phenomenon or not.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Cheer up, chum. So if not that, then what are you up to these days? I've gotten cozy out east with poets and performers a plenty, but nothing makes me stop wishing for a poetry shit shooting fest in between classes. I read so often now about the increasing failure of MFA programs to either satisfy students or supply them with adequate skills, but I've nothing but praise for my time with you and the rest of our community at Mills those couple of years. I will admit that in speaking to others, my experience is certainly in the margins, but I believe it was so satisfying because of the degree to which all so many people actually effected my practice. I would not be working in the way I am now were it not for that community. All that to say, I hope you stay hooked into all this somehow. You are missed.
if you put together a piece about education-we will publish it Dillon. And lets talk about stone-weekend of June 12th-and the week after!!
g
So strange to have someone besides my friend the Chinese Spammer Bot (see comments to previous posts) stopping by.
Jeremy, I too am still pro-Mills, although I piss myself laughing every time they send me an alumnae letter asking for money. If I send some in, do I get to take some back too?
I think poetry is a full immersion sport, and unfortunately so is stone masonry. Any writing project I dream up that sounds interesting to me also means intense research. Every stone project I'm currently involved in is 60-80hr.-a-week job. I know, boohoo, but all this is to say that neither world seems that interested in liminal characters. While I can still hang with my Mills cohorts on a friendly/boozy basis, it's best to avoid the poetry question altogether. Those of us who are producing at their peak, like J.D., will by comparison make me feel like a charlatan. Not by any ill-will on their part, but just poetry seems to be like that.
So, what used to be this kind of romantic dual identity as working-class stiff by day, poet/musician by night, has turned into a kind of charade.
I agree with Ratcliffe about writing every day, and while I agree, I have never practiced it.
I have had a few long spells between writing projects.
When I don't write, I read or watch or simply start paying attention to things that I normally wouldn't.
I always try to keep accurate records.
I do recommend keeping a notebook handy for scribbling whatever scribble-scrabble comes into your brain for later, when you are writing.
So in sum, the A's are 6 games back in a mediocre league. You should keep a notebook with you and jot down ideas when you have them.
Does the stone masonry schedule prevent your participation in the various musical projects you so dillongently love? You've always made time (drumpun?) for so many diverse musical personae. Always respected that commitment & stamina.
That is, leave the poetry-specific pissing contest to the tight sweaters & skinny jeans. Your elbows needn't participate in such rubbishery. Create as you can & do. As you will. Eyethumbs to the moo-sayers.
An educational experience shouldn't pigeonhole your creative explorations, neither should it dictate them. No allegiance but to that community of energies that nurtured each other's derring-do, & of course to the derring-doing.
Whatever the form.
Try to find some Dillon-time in amongst all that mason-a-rizing. Vox-recording journals in the truck whilst to&froing praps? (tho hands-free in Cali of course of course. Only bluetooth-voodoo dictation...)
& as a wise Remy sed "stay hooked into all this." Keep in touch & dialogue.
Huzzah! & cheers!!
Post a Comment