Revision

I believe more in the scissors than I do in the pencil.


--Truman Capote


I think I agree with this quote. I find that when I write, the first few paragraphs, or lines or even pages tend to be me getting warmed up. If you revise properly, you should be able to cut away a lot of the fluff and "warmup writing" and get down the the real meat of what you're trying to get at. I think a lot of writers can benefit from cutting away everything that is not vital to the story or message of their writing.

Revision should really be a "re-seeing," not just changing a few words or a few commas. I always try to second guess and question everything in my writing when I really revise, though sometimes I leave it to the eleventh hour and I only have time to change a few major issues.

I always take into account comments from my peers and professors, and they can be very helpful, but I think it is incredibly important to take your writing in the direction YOU want it to go. I wouldn't change a piece of writing just to get an "A" on it. Fortunately, most professors grade revisions based on how much effort you put in, and not how much they actually like the piece.

I think I like revising better than actually writing something for the first time. I like making discoveries about my own work, and realizing things about characters and plot lines that I never meant to happen when I sat down to write the original.

So, there you have it, my thoughts on revision. I can't wait to read what others of you have written!

<3 always,
Heather

Storytelling

The five most important stories to tell:
the story of my parents before my birth
the story of my childhood
the story of my relationship/a first relationship/abuse
a story about psychiatric disease
a story about finding passion in an unexpected place

Stories from the past three days:
Rooney, the drunk who always gets a yogurt covered cupcake
My lit teacher's freakout last week
How Kristine finally fired the girl who stole 30 bucks from the register
The story about the crazy kid's obsession with the poem shaped like a hand
The time the homeless guy shit all over the bathroom walls at work and Alex had to clean it
The story about Alex hating his new job
The history of the Italian mafia
The history of Jersey Mike's sub shop
The story of my aunt's abusive ex-husband
The storybod my cousins from Westfield and how they taught me all the things my parents tried to hide about the world

A Love Poem

In honor of Valentine's Day, here is a love poem I've drafted for my poetry writing seminar.

I had too much to drink.

I lost count at the tenth buttery nipple.

Emerald's Corner,

floors covered with

years of spilled beer and ranch dressing

grab at sneaker soles,

they grab harder at knees and elbows.

After I blacked out,

you held my weight,

all one hundred forty pounds.

I made it out without a scratch--

woke up the next morning

in a puddle of cold piss.

I squeeze my eyes shut,

hoping I'm dreaming.

The stench of ammonia

tells me this is real.

I roll over quietly--

please please please

don't wake up--

but there you are.

honey colored,

eyes wide open,

covered in my drunk piss,

smiling.

<3 always,

Heather

Edgar Allan Poe

 When I was a little kid, my mother used to read me Poe before bedtime.  I only ever had nightmares after she read me "The Tell-tale Heart."  As an adult, I decided to look back and re-read those stories from my childhood, and I fell in love with Poe all over again.  I also realized how NOT child friendly his stories are...I wonder what possessed my mom to read them as bedtime stories.  Anyway, here is the like to the Poe museum, which has a biography, selected works and so-on.  One of my favorite poems by Edgar Allan Poe is "Sonnet: To Science," which isn't on the Poe Museum website so here is the link to that poem.

I look forward to reading what everybody else has listed as their faves.  Enjoy the day off!


<3 always,
Heather

Burns Night and an Ode to Haggis

In honor of Robert Burns night (January 25th), I have decided to post his "Address to a Haggis" or "Ode to Haggis," which is currently being recited over haggis dinners across the world.  Unfortunately I am stuck at work, so I cannot celebrate my Scottish heritage with the rest of my family this evening; however, I will hopefully be attending a traditional "Burns Supper" this weekend.  If I can't do that, then I shall drink a ton of scotch whiskey whilst staring longingly at a picture of a haggis. Here is a link to a website that describes what haggis is (if you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it), who Robert Burns is, the original "Address to a Haggis," and finally, the translated version of the poem for any who may not understand "Scottish."

I think it goes without saying why I find this ode worthy...

<3 always,
Heather

Cummings

This is just an addition to my last post.  I had a hard time finding a good website for E.E. Cummings, but this site has quite a few of his poems and a brief biography.  Just be careful when you click the link because a bunch of stupid ads for 100$ hotel rooms in St. Lucia will pop up and probably cause your computer to explode into bits while simultaneously draining your bank account if you accidentally click on one...what was I saying now?  Oh yes, read more Cummings if you haven't already, and even if you have, read him some more because if will make your day a hundred times better.

<3 always
Heather

Literary Love

Ok, so...first blog post here.  I always feel like my favorite author is whichever author I've read last.  As far as fiction goes, I think Sherwood Anderson is my current favorite.  I was introduced to him last semester in my Modern American Literature class and I absolutely adored him.  He doesn't really have a website, but here is his Wikipedia page for some background info.

Chuck Palahniuk has been one of my favorite contemporary authors since high school; I've read all of his books, (excluding the most recent one) and though the quality of his writing seems to decrease over time, he wrote Fight Club so I will always love him for that.  His short story, "Guts" is a great introduction if you haven't read him before.

My favorite poet is, without a doubt, E.E. Cummings.  I'm sure most people have read him, but if you haven't, his poem "i carry your heart with me" is absolutely beautiful, and it also goes along with the whole "praise poems" theme.

I know we were supposed to avoid music for the most part, but in naming my blog, I got into a serious "Smiths" mood.  If you haven't heard of them here is a link to their music video for "There is a light that never goes out," a truly touching song.  My favorite lines... "And if a double decker bus crashes in to us, to die by your side, what a heavenly way to die.  And if a ten ton truck, kills the both of us, to die by your side, well the pleasure, the privilege is mine," they always get me...

Hopefully I'm able to introduce somebody in the class to something new with this post!  Enjoy guys, I look forward to seeing what you have to say.

<3 always,
Heather