Having been in school for the last 2 years, immersed in text book and peer reviewed article hell, I haven't had much time for leisurely reading.
This summer I have decided to make up for lost time. The library has become my new intimate niche. I began with several novels in the chick-lit genre. They were entertaining, and a good way to ease myself out of the purely informational written works I have been deciphering. I have now moved on to a memoir. I was reticent at first, afraid that the transition from the predictable and humorous to meaninful and tragic would be difficult.
It wasn't. The memoir is well written and I'm captivated. (For those of you interested, it is titled The Tender Bar, the author, J.R. Moehringer.)
All of this chain-reading is stimulating the deaply burried creative writer in me. (I'm fairly certain there is one in there, however, its level of ability is certainly in question). This memoir business got me pondering, What makes a memoir readable? How does one's life story become interesting to the masses? Would my memoir be marketable? Would I want to share my life story with just anyone? Then I decided that my childhood memories are extrememly disjointed and vague. Conveying them through an organized written work would be nearly impossible (and there is still the question of entertainment value).
Then I thought-I could write chick-lit! Although, I realized shortly after this epiphany that any chick-lit I write will be a variation of my memoir. Experience (I believe) is the best material.
I have also resolved to read more classics. I have never read "The Great Gatsby", nor Dante's "Inferno", never read any Tolstoy, nor any Sylvia Plath, and I have only seen movie versions of the Bronte sisters works (though my hopes are not high after seeing Wuthering Heights-sorry TN I'll read Jane Eyre first, okay?).
Who knows? Maybe one day I will sit down and begin writing something other than a thesis, or an article review, or a blog post. I think I'll just keep blogging and reading for the time being. You know, build up my writing momentum.
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3 comments:
I hate Wuthering Heights the movie. L-O-V-E the book.
If you do decide to write memoir, a great book is Writing the Memoir: From Truth to Art by Barrington. She has some great excercises in there and some tips that I find myself using even in my fiction writing. I'm also a big fan of journaling. Many memoirists use their personal journals as source materials. (Not to mention the value of self-analyzation and general venting to a person's sanity. It's like a blog, except there's no need whatsoever to hold back.)
Thanks for stopping by.
Very nice blog! I'm somewhat embarrased to admit this, but I love Marian Keyes. (I say this as a straight male.) On a whim, at a supermarked check-out line, I picked up "Last Chance Saloon," despite the Hallmarky pastel cover. I opened it up and started reading it. It was sharp, funny, and engaging. I didn't want to stop reading it, so I bought it. It kinda reminded me of a British "Sex and the City." I'm a fan now. :)
Laura-You make a good point. Since when is any book NOT better than the movie. And thanks for the tip on the memoir book, I'll certainly look into it.
David-Thank you. And don't be embarrased, there is never anything wrong with enjoying a good book! I haven't read any Marian Keyes, but I will if you'll read Jennifer Weiner-she's hilarious. Start with "Good in Bed"
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