Class 2 Sept 24
READING
This week, I would like you to consider the genre of creative nonfiction--what it is and isn't. Please read the following short craft essays by Friday Sept 28 at 9PM and post a short response, question, or remark to the comments of this blog posting. Respond to something one of your classmates brings up by Monday 5PM Oct 1 to the comments of this posting.
Advise to My Friend Beth's
Nonfiction is Translation
WRITING DUE BY MONDAY 5PM OCT 1
Create 5 separate postings this week on your personal blog that respond in list form (make a list numbered 1 to 10 with phrases, fragments, ideas, brainstorming) to the following:
1. Top Ten List of the topics, moments, and subjects you've always wanted to write about, but thought was impossible or too scary to actually write about.
2. Top Ten List of meals you've made with love for someone or were made with love, for you.
3. Top Ten List of Significant Moments (big or small, life-changing, epiphany, or slight shifts in the way you see the world) in your Life
4. Top Ten Most Significant Conversations in Your Life
5. Top Ten Things You Love The Most in This World and One Reason Why
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15 comments:
Frank's comments on reading assigned for Class 2:
1. The "Advice ... Beth ..." article left me wondering about just how good (and confident) a writer must be to go out on the limb and bring generally "taboo" bodily functions to life in his/her non-fiction. I think the general readership just won't accept it unless it is done very carefully and politely. My comments represent the societal climate - at least what I perceive it to be. I am not referring to censorship, but merely connecting with the reader. It is interesting that some of the first writers and dramatists, the Greeks, included rather extreme human behaviors and bodily functions into their works without inhibition. Theirs would likely be a hard sell today.
2. Regarding "Nonfiction is Translation," I agree with the author's premise, but was surprised to see no overt reference to how to deal with the target audience. What one really does when he/she communicates in writing is translate an event, concept, feeling, personality, or whatever into words understandable to the reader. So if one is writing a story to be published in a magazine read by the general public, and the general public has an average grade reading level of, say, ninth grade, the author must take that into consideration. So, the success of an author's "domesticating" or "foreignizing" text will depend on how familiar the reader is with the culture or sub-culture. Writers should not hesitate to help the reader out with appropriate explanations, if the reader is part of a greater audience needing clarification about some unfamiliar vocabulary or cultural phenomena. An author would never want to be accused of being solipsistically self-indulgent. ;-)
I actually thought that the second essay was a bit easier to read.
The first essay (advice) unnerved me... I'm not sure why, but it made me nervous to read the word "nonfiction" in that piece. It made me think of a struggle to put my story on paper, and it called to my English class grammar lessons in grade school.
The second essay, in focusing more on how writing nonfiction is like the process of translation, somehow made me believe that there is no right or wrong way to create your story.
I guess what impressed me about both articles was how well written they were. While the content was interesting, it was the quality of writing that stood out for me.
"Advice" at first incensed me. I didn't want to read about his bodily functions. As I reread the article I tried to think when I would/should use malfunctions of the body. My niece had a donor liver transplant and I want to write about it but I don't think the readers want to have the 8 hour surgery described in detail unless you're writing for a medical journal.
Come to think of it readers might be interested in the difficulty of the reattachment of the portal veins to two livers simultaneously.
Finally I got it. Great discussion article for a class and makes you think about what is interesting and necessary to get your point across.
Did anyone else get a chuckle out of the photographer's name "Dinty W. Moore"?
"Translation" was hugely interesting to me as years ago I decided to read translated novels from Nobel Prize winners from countries that I was flying in and out of on a regular basis. Mahfouz, Saramago and Marquez come to mind. The translation intrigued me. The translators made it sound like the books were written in English without giving up the flowery Spanish language origin or the cultural differences of Cairo. I imagined the translators sitting around together arguing about the right connotation and emphasis to give a certain phrase. Was the use of the word "solipsistic" great? I had to stop and look it up. This was a great example to end the article or I’m the only one that exists and the article didn't happen?
I love the discussion taking place here.
Frank, while I believe that audience is important, I also think your best audience or reader is yourself. By that, I mean, write the thing that you want to read. If you don't want to read things about bodily functions, don't write them.
I think making assumptions about the general readership can be really limiting and stifling. Instead, try to please yourself as a reader and writer.
Or think of someone you love--that you're writing an essay as a letter to someone you love.
Ceci--there is no wrong or right way to write. All that matters is a good story--conveying that story in a way that connects you to a reader.
Bob--I agree, good writing is good writing. Whether the subject matter is interesting or not, a writer can make it compelling through their craft.
Kevin--Dinty Moore is the editor of Brevity--a great creative nonfiction online magazine. He answered some questions from one of my classes, if you're interested:
http://writingfromlife.blogspot.com/2007/04/week-3-exciting-news-author-will.html
Great work!
Regarding the piece by Professor Brian Goedde: I did not previously consider foreign translation in terms of demestication vs foreignization and am pleased to deal with the question. No, I don't want the translator to pick exact translations for that will not tell the me the intent of the writer. Hell, a monkey can grab a foreign dictionary and select synonyms but that will probably have adverse affect on the writers message. I want the translator to become an associate writer conveying the subtleties of the original writer and thus be an honest communicator. Hal Fishbein
Regarding the piece by Dustin Michael, a doctoral student???
Perhaps the problem is a multigenerational gap, but I don't get it. "Wierd jacked-up stories." That's not writing. That's the idiom of the street. In my considered opinion, and I claim no standing or credentials to render such an opinion, Dustin Michael wrote nothing worth reading. His is not writing of one approaching a PhD. It's just juvenile. And yet, he's an instructor, working on a PhD and who am I? But I just don't get it. Hal Fishbein
Class 2
I feel that responding to items one thru five is 'heavy stuff.' Here it is, Sunday, the 30th 7p.m. and I'm just getting started. There's no way I can give lesson 2 the time and thought it deserves but please accept this inadequate response and I promise to do better in the future.
Ten subjects I wanted to write about: I don't have that list, but let me think about subjects in which I may have interest: 1. Intimacy and commitment. 2. The importance of truth. 3. What you can and cannot take for granted. 4. Leadership. 5. U.S. presidential commonality. 6. Raising well behaved children. 7. Keeping commitments. 8. The common denominator of my friends. 9. How I make people laugh. 10. The second greatest man of the 20th century.
Ten meals I made w/love for someone. This exercise leaves me depressed as I cannot think of anytime I attempted to make a meal of such significance for anyone. Thus this, my response, may be a subject deserving great thought and analysis.
Ten life-changing moments.
1. When I found out I could sell hearing aids with such success that those consequently affected suddenly perceived me with an entirely different attitude. 2. Graduate work at Columbia University - not a moment, but surely momentous. 3. Surviving life-threatening cancer times two. 4. My solo flying experience. 5. When a police officer drew his pistol and pointed it at my nose. 6. Giving my first all day seminar on selling. And, of course 7, 8, and 9 which should have been numbers 1, 2, and 3, getting married and the birth of my two sons.
Ten most significant conversations: 1. The time I was unjustly accused of stealing by my employer and my response. 2. My interview with the Columbia University dean of admissions. 3. My response to the request of a college department head, when an undergraduate senior, to evaluate an instructor. 4. Termination of one of my most valuable business associates. 5. Termination of one of my least valuable business associates. 6. Recommendation of instituting a profit sharing plan. 7. My wife's advise to not accept an unjust accusation by a significant financial source. 8. Advise from my wife in dealing with an automobile transaction. 9. Advise on negotiating. 10. Advise on buying.
Ten things I love most in this world and why.
No, I just cannot attempt to deal with this most profound subject with this limited format, but will be happy to do a serious piece on this at some future time.
Best,
Hal Fishbein
When I read Dustin Michael’s article Advice to Beth’s I immediately think of the statement that “art emulates life.” As outrageous or cutting edge art appears – reality comes through.
In contrast, I recently heard Admiral James Stavridis, Southern Command Combatant Commander and a Fletcher graduate, talk about why he likes fiction – “in many ways it does a better job than nonfiction of capturing the real ideas of culture, history, social justice, humor, compassion, and competition – all of which makes up the fabric of societies.” This statement made me think about creative nonfiction as a blurry line between fiction and nonfiction in the way Michael provides his definition. Only the author knows the truth.
From there I jump to the recent case of distorting non-fiction in James Frey’s A Million Little Lies, which really makes one think about the truth or even the necessity in knowing the truth about creative nonfiction.
I found Nonfiction is Translation thought provoking and interesting. My immediate thoughts went to Mark Twain’s a Tramp Abroad, where he made fun of the German language and traveling abroad. I know that I appreciated that humor to a completely different level after having spent a year abroad learning German and had an appreciation of the culture.
My other comment from the opposite perspective is how funny it is to watch a James Bond movie translated into German – there are just some things that have to be watched in the native language to get the true meaning.
From those two examples I can see how writing non-fiction can be the work of a translator - completely independent of a foreign language. If I write historical non-fiction I need to be cautious of the culture, language, and meaning of the times and the documents or oral interviews I use to base my piece. If I am creating a textbook on structural engineering I need to make sure I get the language, culture, or emphasis correct based on the intended audience.
Respond to something one of your classmates brings up by Monday 5PM Oct 1 to the comments of this posting.
Advice to the unwary -- DO NOT read people's descriptions of meals they've cooked, or had cooked for them, when you're hungry!
Hi guys
Hope you're having a great week.
Hal--Take what you want from the readings and forget what isn't helpful.
In the future, in this forum, if you don't like a piece, please focus your comments on content and not attacks on the writer. Thanks!
Beth--I agree that fiction can ironically be more truthful than nonfiction. That said, there are ways to use ficitonal techniques, or maybe "storytelling techniques" is more accurate.
I think there is a very clear line between fiction and nonfiction. Don't make anything up in something you label nonfiction or memoir, unless you've informed the reader that you've collapsed moments into one or created a composite character out of many, or label the work, fiction.
Lynda Barry writes something she calls, autofictionalbiography. I like that term.
Bob--you're funny.
I look forward to all your lists.
Beth -
Very interesting perspective on the two articles, particularly your view of the blurry line between fiction and CNF. When I read what I think is factual in a fiction piece, I always do a double take to determine if the content is factual or the author's opinion. Some authors think their opinions are not fiction. (I'll stop - don't want to get sidetracked by a long dissertation on 'what is truth.')
Regarding your comments on the Tranlation article you may want to look at Grace's feedback to mine. You said it better than I in the importance of connecting with the audience. Ultimately, we need to know how our writing will be interpreted unless we are writing solely for ourselves.
Kevin-
I too had to stop and look up the word! I appreciate that I wasn't the only one. :)
Colleen's Top Ten
Topics, moments, and subjects I've always wanted to write about:
1. my childhood memories (especially those involving my sister)
2. important women in sports, politics, and science
3. eating disorders
4. spirituality
5. nature
6. rape and sexual assault
7. nutrition science and policy
8. health and well-being
9. my family history
10. relationships between people (including family relationships, romantic relationships, and friendships)
Loving Meals I've made or that have been made for me:
1. chocolate chip cookies
2. mom's chili
3. beef stew
4. Christmas cookies
5. a pasta, tomato, and asparagus dish
6. chicken soaked in red wine, coated with cinnamon
7. lemon-pepper chicken
8. pumpkin mousse
9. pancakes, eggs, and sausage
10. pizza
My Most Significant Moments:
1. meeting my now-boyfriend for the first time
2. crying after my big sister left for college
3. reading on the porch hammock in the summer
4. yearly family vacations to Ocean City, Maryland
5. graduations: from high school, college, and graduate school
6. meeting my niece Amanda for the first time
7. running my first (and second and third) marathon
8. seeing the David while in Florence, Italy
9. long conversations with my sister, brothers, and old friends
10. funerals: my grandpa's, and two friends from high school
Most Significant Conversations in My Life:
1. My brother called me to tell me he joined the army
2. My brother called me to tell me he might be going to Iraq by the end of the year
3. My sister called me to tell me she was engaged, and then when she called to say she was pregnant
4. Discussing whether or not to move to Buffalo with my boyfriend, which would mean leaving behind friends and a job
5. Various interviews for various jobs, some of which I got offers for and some of which I did not
6. Opening up to a friend, and then my parents, about my struggles with an eating disorder
7. When I called my grandmother after I found out my grandpa had passed away
8. Anytime that I tell someone I love them- close friends, family, or my boyfriend
9. Anytime that I apologize for something I have done wrong
10. Any conversation I have with my youngest brother or oldest friend- I always end up laughing a lot
Things I love the most in this world:
1. Family (my brothers, my sister, my parents, my nieces, and my extended family)- for all of their support and love through the years.
2. Friends (those I met in kindergarten to those I have met in the last month)- for their laughter and joy, and for being there when I need them
3. My boyfriend- he's been very supportive and nurturing to me, but also pushed me to grow
4. My three nieces- they may be covered in the family category (#1), but they are all so special to me. It's amazing to see the siblings I care about so much having their own children.
5. My alone time- I am so busy, so a chance to sit still, nap, be peaceful, read, or write is nourishing.
6. Running- it keeps me physically in shape and mentally stable!
7. Traveling- I love seeing the world, meeting new people, and exploring new areas
8. Holidays- I love decorating for and celebrating a holiday. It reminds me of my childhood, since my mother would do the same thing.
9. Learning- I love to learn about myself, about others, and about the world around me. I think it keeps you young.
10. Animals- I have always loved animals, as they have been a source of unconditional love to me.
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