Labels - Be Gone!

Reading so many blogs, notes, Facebook posts, literary reviews, and articles in journals and newspapers on the subject of creative nonfiction and memoir, and I have come to this conclusion: DUMP THE LABELS.

It seems the only reason we have labels in the art of writing is to categorize work for the sake of an editor and the shelves of a book store (brick-and-mortar or virtual), but in reality, it doesn't really matter, does it? Oh sure, we want the reader to "know" what he/she is getting, but I wonder if that really matters anymore. Good reading comes from good writing, and labeling what genre it is just doesn't seem relevant in today's world.

Memoir crosses the boundaries of journalism, fiction craft, and personal anecdotes. Creative nonfiction has elements of fiction writing, memoir, essay, journalism, and scene sketches. Fiction, as it always has been, many times (even if just partly) coming from personal experience that somehow enhances, exploits, makes bigger, becomes more poignant in order to create an imagined story. But all of it - every bit of it - comes from one place - the human experience. The lines are so blurred now, does it matter what silo we drop our stories into?

I can't tell you the times I have written a piece - be it memoir, essay, fiction, journalism - and the reader or and editor asks me -- IS THAT TRUE? That question arises no matter what the genre. Sometimes I say "yes" - sometimes I say "partly" - sometimes I say "well, a little" - sometimes I say "I think so, but it's MY truth. Others may think differently." So, if the question is always the same - IS THAT TRUE? DID THAT REALLY HAPPEN? - why put a label on it. The reader's reaction is the same.

Dump the labels and write; write what is in your heart, what is relevant, emotional, passionate, telling, engaging, compelling. Drop the categories and tell the good story, one that resonates over and over again, true or not.

David

Spring!

It's an old cliche, but spring is for renewal. And that's what I've been thinking a lot about.

First - it's time to renew my commitment to this blog. I have been back at Columbia College with a number of projects underway, including the publishing of my short-short fiction book - AFTER OPIUM. (Kindle version)

I'm happy about getting these works out in a collection. Some have been previously published, but now it's out for good. And getting some decent reviews. Thank you all!

A number of significant things have occurred since we last connected - here's a link to many, including Mike Wallace, memoir writing, and the state of the publishing world...all of which struck me as interesting, telling moments about writing, journalism, authoring, and our culture and society these days...

On other notes - I am honored to be speaking this week at a University of Wisconsin-Extension Educators conference about my memoir, ACCIDENTAL LESSONS. Also honored to be asked to judge personal essay writing for the Southwest Prairie Literary Festival, and to conduct a writing workshop at the LaGrange, Illinois library in late April.

Here's what I leave you with this time around - a quote I recently came across --

"Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Best,

David

Where the Hell Have You Been?

Yeah, I know. It's the pattern of a blogger sometimes. Try to stay on top of posts, and you really do try and really are committed, but - -

Anyway, I'm back. Trying to get into the pattern of writing these blogs again.

Just some updates might be the best way to start...

1. I'm getting ready now - at a coffee shop in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago - for a performance, a reading at Stage 773 for the storytelling series "Here's the Story."

2. Been involved with a number of the reading/storytelling events - Story Club, This Much is True, Essay Fiesta. Wonderful stuff!

3. New short-short story collection is out - AFTER OPIUM. Kindle version now; paperback soon to come. Please check it out...

4. I'm involved in a great new storytelling venture called "Cowbird." The website - www.cowbird.com - is a small group - although international - of storytellers. Check it out. It's a beautiful site.

5. I have to run - to get to Stage 773. I'm going to try super hard to stay on top of his blog. :)

David

An Experiment?

It's been a good autumn.

I'm in the process of wrapping up another semester of teaching at Columbia College Chicago, finishing up some freelance writing assignments, and working on some new material for a considered Kindle publication, a possible ebook adventure, if you will. The stories will be a mixture of fiction and creative nonfiction. An editor is working through the stories and I'm cleaning up some of the material, some of it needs more cleaning than others.

The working title is After Opium, the title of one of the pieces. The theme is about all those many things that we feel we need, are addicted to, and believe we can't live without - when in reality, we can live without most of it. It's just a matter of deciding to carry on, move on, change, accept heartache, loss or a new beginning.

This venture into e-publishing is really an academic experiment. I want to see what self-publishing through the ebook experience is really like. I hope to have something available sometime in the early part of 2012. Good way to start the New Year, huh? We'll see.

Here are a few of the pieces - at least early versions of them - that will likely be included in the e-collection. Each has been published, but reworked, newer versions - some only slightly changed - will likely make it into After Opium (the collection).

Hope you enjoy.

Epiphany Magazine - "Over the Edge and Into the Wind"

Epiphany Magazine - "The Smell of Dead Soldiers"

Character-i - "After Opium"

This Much is True

After being immersed in writing while at the Jack Kerouac House in Orlando this summer, it's been tough getting back into the swing of things - the writing swing - here in the Chicago area. Not that I don't want to write - I certainly do and have, to some extent - but the routine is off. And that makes be wonder about how writers - of all kinds - get themselves back in the groove after a change in their usual or planned writing routine?

It's not that easy, is it?

Writing is work, and it takes time and thought, introspection and consideration, and many times what is needed it a difficult commodity to cultivate - quiet. Those who don't write sometimes don't get this. Even our loved ones don't always understand the process. How could they if they don't also write?

So, I'm wondering today - what do you do? What do you do to get your writing swagger back after a break, a respite? How do you jump start the process? Or do you? Maybe you slog back into it like I'm currently doing. Or maybe you are atypical and simply never fall off the writing track? You lucky devil, you.

I have one thing that may help. This coming Tuesday night in Chicago I'll be reading at the This Much is True event at the Hopleaf Bar, 5148 North Clark. TMIT is a marvelous addition to the storytelling circuit in Chicago and really is a kick to experience. Come on out and help me get my writing juices flowing again! It might also electrify your writing, too.

Best,

David

Scribbler's Retreat - A Great Experience

Thanks to all who turned out for the Scribbler's Retreat and Conference at the Sea Island Lodge on St. Simons, Georgia. What a great group and a well-run writing conference!

I was fortunate enough to be asked to give the keynote address Saturday evening, and was thrilled by the response and enthusiasm of this group of writers. A speaker certainly can thrive off of that! And great questions, by the way.

Scribbler's does a number of conference at year, and it is truly a good experience for all levels of writers. And these people are FUN! I know this sounds a bit like a commercial - but honestly - it is one of the better writing conference experiences.

Back from JK House and trying to find a new pattern for writing here in the Chicago area again. A road trip of 1285 miles from Orlando through Georgia and South Carolina and Asheville, North Carolina (stunning beauty) and the Smokey Mountains and Tennessee and Ohio and Indiana and Illinois. It is a little tricky getting the groove going again, but I've got some ideas and some energy...so...off I go...

Best,

David

-30-

I sat in Jack's room this morning, my last minutes in the Kerouac House.

There on the bed, and then at the desk, I thought about my 2-and-a-half months here. Not about every minute, every breakthrough in writing, or friend made, or visits to the Essay Club, or my readings at Infusion or inside this house, or the workshop with MadAboutWords, or my final weeks of writing inspired by the Downtown Credo coffee shop, or my book manuscript. Instead, I thought about the energy in that room, how I wanted to bottle it, to wrap it up in a sealed plastic bag and put it on ice to thaw whenever I need it.

I left behind my Zen bracelet I once wore, wrapping it around the small Buddha shrine in Jack's room. I wanted to leave something behind, more than just the memory of a writer who once worked here.

My last week was a good one despite the AC dying at the house on the next to last day. But somehow it was fitting. When Jack lived here, there was no air conditioning, so he wrote at night when it was cool, his keys echoing out the open window and bouncing off the trees and homes on this usually quiet street. Neighbors said they could hear the furious typing until dawn.

To all those who supported me - thank you. To all the writers before me - thank you. To the writer's to come - savor the work, and breath every bit of the omnipresent energy. I promise I left a little behind.

Best,

David