Points to Ponder - Writing with Themes

Writing usually contains themes. Writing sometimes contains themes. Writing only contains themes because a reader places them there. Writers intend to put themes in their writing. Writers unintentionally put themes in their writing because they come through via human psyche.

Many of the above statements get tossed around the room repeatedly whenever writers or English majors congregate. As to which one is most correct, I cannot say.

The idea for this article is really just to try them all out. Try writing with a theme in mind; actively pursue to include the theme in your work. Try just writing about something and letting your mind do the theme-including for you.

You can never really know if writers intends to include a theme in their work unless you ask them, but in my experience there really isn't one way that's better than the rest.

Keep Writing. Never Stop

I just finished writing and editing my novel. Despite its not being yet published, I have already begun writing Book 2 for the series. I still have to pass around my manuscript to my editor friends and my writer friends for comment (the ones who offered, that is). I still have to contact a publisher or agent, but I've already started on book 2. If I take a hiatus who knows when I'll get back to it.

Keep writing. Set a goal for yourself and achieve it no matter what. My goal is to write three pieces, or pages, a week. I usually wind up writing way more, but if I skip it, I sometimes don't make up for it and I may go a month.

Luckily for me, I have writer friends who make sure I stay on track, and get me to keep them on track.

So far I'm happy with the progress.

Rhyming Help

This may seem obvious to some, but if you want to rhyme - for whatever reason - get a rhyming dictionary or go to a rhyming dictionary website. Word of warning though, don't rely too heavily on this because it can be the poetic equivalent of writing an essay with a thesaurus at the ready. Rather than taking the time to reorganize thoughts, and rewrite, rewrite and then rewrite again, you may find yourself slipping into the rhyming dictionary all too often.

A rhyming dictionary can also be a great source of inspiration. Pick a word or two and compile a list of words. Then write a poem using as many of those words as possible. I used to do this all the time out of laziness and boredom. I rarely ended up with something I actually liked, but sometimes it spurred other ideas.

Here is one resulting poems I found surprisingly intriguing:

Beds
By: Devin PL Edwards

Still stuck in bed
In the morning with a dread
Of the coming day
Because the sun’s already fled
And left me in the dark instead
Of the light I was promised
For every shred of my soul I sold
To buy bread and even though I’m well-read
I’m pushed like a thoroughbred
That’s neck and neck for last place
I try to get ahead
But the disgrace I face
Has left my educated head in a difficult space
You know, the one between a rock and a hard place
But that overwhelming dread gracing the whole flock
Stems from widespread – growing but unsaid – intelligence
Of just how interbred, and crowded, is the marriage bed
Between the media and the ministry
The merchants and the military
The police and the policy
And
Just
How
Far
Away
All
The
People
Are


From all of it.

Poetry Review - Gangson

A few weeks ago, I was asked to review a poetry book written by a former professor of mine, Andy Weaver. Weaver is a Canadian Poet and a tremendous talent in literary culture. The published review of his book Gangson can be read on Excalibur's Site and despite a misleading headline -- which I did not write -- and some editing issues, the article is vaguely in line with my high opinion of his work. Weaver's publisher, NeWest Press, sells Gangson online. You can also find the book on Amazon, and a number of other online book stores.

Prism Magazine also reviewed Gangson a few days before I did. If you don't believe me, read the high praise all over again.

Only the Beginning

When you're feeling guilty because you haven't written anything for a while but you just don't have the energy, much like my suggestion to write only a few lines and see what happens, try just writing the first sentence of a piece you never really intend to finish.

Number a page 1-5, like this:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Just like that. Write in each place the first sentence for a story. This sentence should really start to form a whole story in a reader's mind, but they can be simple. Here are some examples:

1. Let me tell you about my dog.
2. I once saved my brother Michael's life by not being good at archery.
3. I like being a good student, because no one will believe it when I suddenly decide to turn bad.
4. The loose stone ground struck Benjamin's stumbling feet, and he returned the favour by leaving a trail of red behind him.
5. Angela stopped digging; she was quite certain no one would find it here, not this deep.

A beginning should not always be an introduction, because introductions can be boring. Instead use the beginning to get to the point like in line one. Also, try leaving your reader just a little bit in the dark like in the fourth line. What exactly is 'it' and why is Angela so obsessed with keeping 'it' hidden. Benjamin from line four seems like he's probably wounded and who can possibly resist discovering a little more about the archery almost accident.

Don't bother finishing these stories. We can get back to them later, when we have more time and energy.

Write often

Writing something, anything, even if it's just a little bit, is very important for any aspiring writer, more important for professional ones. Delay begets delay, and before much time has passed in your mind, time will have passed in the real world by weeks, months or even years, and no one, especially you, wants that. Sit down to write just three sentences, like I did today, and you'll be amazed how much you actually write.

"Don't get it right; get it written" - James Thurber

Once its down on paper (see also: screen) editing can begin, and then you can make it right.

Canadian Literature

I have not often kept a journal; I tend to put my thoughts into my work. My intention here, however, is to promote the writing of many people I feel are being overlooked. For whatever the reason, I have read a multitude of work by local writers and for a reason I cannot understand is not published and what's worse may have even been rejected by publishers who work in that area.

Though I also intend to indulge in a little shameless self-promotion, I will primarily concern this blog with the work of others. Where my work is concerned I will discuss mostly my technique, my method and my thoughts regarding writing method in general.