Creativity is Flowing and the River is Moving Fast

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I'm still writing. In this last week I listened to a recording of a radio script I'm working on - a second or third draft, not the final one. It was very helpful to hear them read it. To hear where they stumbled or laughed or said "I like this" or "WTF." And to hear my too often used words. I've been focusing on the script revision and it is slow going. I'm editing content, as well as trying to add appropriate radio script formatting, sound cues, and all of those technical things. I appreciate the producer and the actors taking the time to make this rough, uncut recording of the script so far; it is very helpful. Like realizing that the "slice of life" story I created is fine, but the ending isn't. Right now the characters all seem to just disappear off the edge of a cliff or something. I need to add a little more "oomph" and end with something a little more solid, as well as making my point a little more clear, because it isn't. I also wrote a guest blog post for Portland Center Stage this week, and have started working on another post for them for an upcoming show.

I interpreted a fantastic production of "Eyes for Consuela" at Profile Theatre last week. If you are in the Portland, Oregon area and haven't seen it, yet, I highly recommend seeing the play. It's the first play for Profile in their new space, the first play in the Sam Shepard series, and it is really good. The interpreted performance is over, but the play continues through this weekend. Go!

And I am interpreting a unique play which is making its West Coast premiere at CoHo Theater on Friday night, January 31 (and there will be a second interpreted performance on Sunday, February 2 at 2:00 pm). The play is "Enjoy" by Toshiki Okada. The script has virtually no blocking or set cues or anything other than dialogue. And the actors don't have names; they are designated as Actor 1, Actor 2, Actress 1, and so on. There are names of characters within the play - they are just not written in the script because. Well, nevermind. That would be giving a part of the play away. It is another play worth seeing. The actors do a great job, the directing is solid, and it is an intimate setting for an intimate play.

I realized that it has been over a week since I posted. I wanted to catch up. Because I know I won't be posting anything tomorrow.

I am feeling creative, in spite of some "tension in the field" of my life. That situation has been pervasive and is at a point where it is out of our hands and the process and resolution will take some time. Yet I am holding onto my creativity. This is good. And it's new - holding on when there is a significant event happening and it's winter. The pace right now is busy; I'm in the current, and life is on the move.

Diversify

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I've been working on the M- book for a few years. Which is the way of some books, I hear; some take longer to write than others. The truth is that this book didn't start as a book and I was against writing a memoir. I thought it was silly for someone who wasn't famous or hadn't done anything of significance to write a memoir. There had to be a reason to write the book and a bigger reason for someone to be willing to read the book.

I didn't qualify.

Then I started reading memoirs. I met memoirists who were young, who were "ordinary" in that they weren't famous. They had stories to tell and told them well and people listened and read them. And I listened - to my writing mentors and other authors and to myself. The stories started coming and I started writing them down. Sometimes the stories didn't come easily and sometimes they were rough and not ready for others to read. But, over time, the stories started coming together and I accepted that there was, just maybe, a memoir in all of those words.

I discovered that I was writing a memoir. Or an M-book as I call it. I'm not sure why I still balk at "memoir" but I do. I pull back from more writing; I get blocked; there are still gaps in the overall story; I write new pieces; I think I have something important to say and then I think I'm full of shit; I find a new angle or a significant new piece of information; I wonder if I'm writing it just for me or if anyone will be interested. Right now I'm hovering on the line of this book being for my personal healing/self-expression and that there is something in it worth sharing with others. I sometimes think the goal is just to write it and then see what to do with it. I have considered turning it into a novel.

In November I finished a very rough draft of a novel and I like it - NaNoWriMo Novel #6. It obviously needs much revision and rewriting and some parts need a lot of work. But it's worth working on and I want to do that.

For the past couple of months I've been writing poetry, as well. I took an online poetry writing workshop/"playshop" with Daphne Gottlieb and that sparked more poetry. And the poetry sparked some prose. Which sparked some poetry. And so it goes.

I've also been wanting to write a script. I spend time with theater and scripts and I've had ideas popping into my head about writing my own script. I've written a few short skits and have thought, off and on, about writing a full length play; or at least a one-act play.

I met with one of my writing friends on Friday and we talked about writing. Along with other things, but we spent a lot of time talking about writing. He suggested I write a script - a radio script. I think I will. It has a timeline. Yes, a short script will be one of my writing projects.

That same friend, several years ago, was the person who introduced me to idea of having three writing projects in process at a time. The topic came up again today and I realized that a script is the missing writing piece.

Recently I've had several writing project ideas and I'm taking notes. I won't run out of things to write for a while. It feels good to have my creativity flowing.

The Power of Music - of The Arts

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I was driving from the pool to work today, listening to NPR. There was a rerun of a story I heard driving home after work last night, and then a new program came on. Traffic was heavy on I-84 so my focus shifted to the road and away from the story, though I caught pieces of it.

When I merged onto I-5 South, I had a couple of miles until the next bottleneck in my journey and tuned in to the story again. Part of the problem is that I couldn't quite catch where they were talking about on the radio.

But I did catch that they were talking about music being banned. It had started as a ban on "satanic" music, meaning any type of music which conflicted with their Islamic beliefs (meaning from the government's view), which soon became any type of music in this country whose name I didn't know.

The name of the country or of a group was mentioned, finally, just as I hit the second congested part of my drive, where I have to make a crazy jog from I-5 South onto I-405 North for a few feet and then this weird overpass onramp to Highway 26 West. It doesn't matter the time of day, there is always some type of backup or traffic interference there, and there was a minimal slow down. So when the country was mentioned, and it wasn't one I was familiar with so I didn't quite catch it, it slipped away.

But when I was safely on 26 and in the lane I wanted I could focus, again. And I caught the end of the story with a festival organizer talking about the life of musicians in this country.

He talked about them having to hide their instruments. If they wanted to play music they had to do it very, very quietly with all drapes and windows closed and no neighbors home; and even that was extremely risky. Even mobile phone ringtones were banned, and of course any type of music players - digital or otherwise.

I was thinking about this and at the same time I was thinking about the people who doubt the power of music. Or of any of the arts. And here was a government who thinks that the music is so powerful that it will corrupt an entire country so they've banned it all.

Music - and art, writing, dance, theater, creativity - heals. It teaches. It gives us cause for and enhances celebration. It calms us and excites us and eases our fears. It puts us to sleep and it wakes us up. Creativity gives us purpose and goals and reasons to keep on, well, keeping on. Music and writing and all types of creative activity help us explore and express our experiences.

Powerful.

I was able to find the country with the total music ban: Mali. Click on the picturesk and the one headline, of Mali musicians below to read some articles about this situation. And, yes, I know there are other places where music and writing and art have been banned. But this is what I learned today. And it struck me as powerful and as something more to explore.

In Mali, Musicians Flee South



cool planet. on the line.




militants declare war on music

  

about muscian, Keletigui Diabate

... and a video of Mali music to listen to. Beautiful. ..


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submissions wanted

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Writers Read – Stage & Studio

Stage & Studio is looking for writers IMMEDIATELY as part of its 2011 development into a regional arts show. Writers and musicians are requested to submit their work for a curatorial process. All entries will be considered for technical and editorial review.

Writers Read – Stage & Studio, hosted/produced by Dmae Roberts, will begin a regular Writers Read segment starting in February featuring Northwest writers exclusively. Poetry and prose segments must be no longer than 1-2 minutes. Writers are asked to identify themselves and their city/town and the title of their work before reading their piece.

iPhone users may use a numerous audio apps including Audioboo (which also allows you record online), iTalk and even memo apps as long as recordings have no distortion, p-popping or handling sound. Video recordings are also accepted if close miked in quiet room and can be uploaded on YouTube or Vimeo.

Writers will receive on-air and online credit with links to author sites. Any genre or style of writing is acceptable but must adhere to FCC guidelines, (PG-13).
For complete submission guidelines visit this link:

http://stagenstudio.com/2011/01/writers-and-musicians-wanted/

Pointed Circle

Portland Community College's annual literary magazine, Pointed Circle is seeking submissions for its 2011 issue. We publish poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction and artwork. Please email Lutgarda Cowan to receive a submission form with all guidelines. Manuscripts will not be accepted without a submission form attached. Deadline is March 11, 2011.

Lutgarda Cowan
Dept. of English
Portland Community College/Cascade
lutgarda.cowan@pcc.edu