If you hang out with writers or writer wannabes for any length of time, you’ll hear them talk about Voice. They mention the word with awe and respect, like the Voice is Gandhi’s or Caruso’s or God’s (a Voice, according to the clergy and Kevin Smith, that would literally Blow. Your. Mind.) and every writer wants one. A strong narrative voice. A recognizable voice. An exciting voice. Y...
How does an obsession begin? Usually with something unknown, an experience or event outside our frame of reference with an overwhelming amount of detail. We want to understand how it happened, to put it into context, but the matters that trigger obsessions usually resist easy categorization. So, we dig deeper, thinking one more visit, one more review of the facts and we’ll figure out the problem and finally lay ...
Fans are the double-edged sword to creative people, everyone knows that. Actors, artists and poets makes a living (occasionally a good one) because the fans like and purchase their work, which is great. Develop a big enough fan base and an artist will encounter those who want to thank him or her personally. A smaller group than that will mistake their enthusiasm as the basis of a personal relationship. Gain enoug...
I was thinking about the concept of grace last week when I flashed on a scene from Streetcar Named Desire. Blanche hears a declaration of sorts from Mitch and, recognizing the man provides a real lifeline to her, responds “Sometimes there’s God so suddenly!” I smiled at Blanche’s recognition of Grace until I remembered what I think of her. Friends and neighbors, I hate Blanche duBois and I don&#...
It’s a phrase they teach that makes no sense on its face. How can the road to Hell be paved with Good Intentions? If someone starts a course of action with benevolent goal in mind, the results should be good as well. Well, history and nature say otherwise. Sometimes the failure comes from lack of imagination: rabbits were sent to Australia as pets and a possible food source about the same time Kudzu w...