SO MUCH TO DO, SO MUCH TO SAY.. (me!) sandra, tvgp
which reminds me of dave matthews, and no artist/musician has me more curious about who inspired their songs -crash into me- my God! who is that woman? man? person?
but to point here, to point:
i hope to return to write in great length about scott adam's recurring concern that we are all moist robots -but i have a great deal to do today- so start w/brief notes:
NOTHING has come my way, as a writer/thinker, that lends itself better to human life analogy than computers: we are hard wired (nature) * have default settings (nature) * become programmed (nurture) * accept software (nurture/environment) * reject software * get viruses * reach memory capacity * are sometimes "on", sometimes "off", have a variety of "modes" -toggle switches... caches.. and screen savers (mind keeps going back to...)
we can be programmed (brainwashed) -de or re-programmed...
the list does go on and on....
and i can spend great amounts of time, trying to figure out my own "program" and learning the ins/outs of other people's programs.. what is fixed (hardwired) vs. changable (software uninstall, new install)
and am fascinated with the complexities pharmaceuticals yield: when chemicals can in fact alter personality/behavior -when are we returning a diseased mind to health vs. robbing a unique mind of it's originality and making it standard or God forbid, normal
but foremost in my thoughts write now, is this question/fascination: we (humans) are designed/programmed with the ability to conceal our motives
so that one person can give of themselves altruistically
another can give of themselves, for hidden selfish/manipulative purposes
but on the outside, to the observer, their kind acts might be witnessed as having equal value; similar motivations
and there can be circumstances where there is no way to prove -in a court of law, say-
that one is altruistic and the other manipulative
this is only known to the individual... and for those who believe, the individual and God
for those who don't believe: only the individual
and isn't that a fascinating/interesting/curious element in the design/program of human beings...
why would such an ability even exist? that we can mask lies * be so limited in our public ability to prove/disprove truth...
but we all know there is such a thing as the "truth"
repeating then: isn't that fascinating/interesting/curious.. the value of truth and who has access to it...
***
lastly, and new page, different journal:
in scott adams's blog TODAY.. he mentions a conversation w/book publishers:
I remember having dinner with a group of book publishers and asking them how many great undiscovered authors there are. They answered unanimously “none.” It was their view that every good author can get published because the publishing industry is scratching the dirt to find them. I think that’s mostly true.
and after i vomitted in the bathroom and returned to read the rest, i thought to myself
who are you kidding?
no undiscovered/unpublished great authors? how can this be..
we have at least ONE WRITE HERE! (thinking here of james morrison's lyrics, i'm not lost, just undiscovered)
but that's just the beginning.. look at the number of "self publishing" businesses...
look at the success of blogs..
look at the number of writing workshops/conferences/local writer's groups in homes, libraries, bookstores across the globe
vs.
the number of published writers. to suggest out of this gigantic population there are no great unpublished writers?
between reading random blog posts and attending regular writer's groups, i have witnessed NUMEROUS OUTSTANDING, ENTIRELY ORIGINAL, FABULOUS, ENGAGING, KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF stories by unpublished authors
the publishers scott adams talk to are diggin' in the wrong dirt
i know where the rich soil is.. send them to me! (and with a lucrative contract please)
in my opinion/experience, the process of becoming published.. the queries/proposals..
rejections, -the process itself- very yucky, formal, detached
pulls/requires an energy/discipline/patience almost polar opposite from the energy/verve of the creative writer
who said this to me? kathy cordova? did someone say this to her? ~ writing is art/publishing is business..
and in that business the layers/obstacles keep multiplying.. used to be:
send to the publisher
then, send to the agent, agent to the publisher
but i had to laugh, in a cry kind of way, when i recently found that a writer now needs an agent to get to the agent that might get to the publisher; no shit. look here:
i just couldn't disagree more that there are no unpublished great writers. there is a plethora of unpublished great writers..
and when i listen to or read (or produce) great writing, i'm filled with the desire to make sure it is somehow shared
this desire not unique to me, and the very reason so many self publishing opportunities are born, growing and thriving
kurt vonnegut said it best (must go now to recapture his quote on charlie rose. brb...)
yes.. here it is. and worth pointing out this is from a september 8th, 1999 appearance on charlie rose, and i think (example above) it's only gotten worse for writers
but AGAIN what pleases me, is industry layers/obstacles/failings DO NOT stop the creative process,
the creative process continues; finds its own way; some way... any way...
"well, as i say, people are responding now intelligently, instinctively to all sorts of dampers on their lives. -all sorts of cultural dampers on their lives,
like monopolies of the communications industry
and few outlets for publishing;
few outlets on television
but they're doing it locally anyway
and God bless 'em
'cuz that's smart
'cuz their souls are gonna grow." -kurt vonnegut.
posted by SHE @ 7:21 AM
6 Comments:
Okay, to start:
I like your comparison of us and computers. On the subject of truth, my personal experience is that most people are afraid of truth and what it means, what it brings. BB could not say an honest thing to save his life. I think people are hardwired (or programmed?) as youth to think that everything is a game, a competition and you're supposed to win, no matter the cost. If that makes sense.
Secondly, I ADORE Kurt Vonnegut. He is amazing and sorely missed. And I to disagree with the man about no unpublished good (great) authors. Look at you and look at me. :) It's just harder to get published now I think because it IS such a business and I know for myself that I'm not geared toward the business side of things.
Wow, inspiring post. Much love.
Hmmm, walk into any of the big box book stores (love them or hate them, it doesn’t matter because they sell so many books, they drive what is published) it is the same 10 people with a gizzion books. Having read more than my fair share of them, there are really only 2 authors out there that their skill justifies that many, S King (and I don’t like horror but the man can write) and J Grisham, (his last 2 have me doubting)
We SHALL be discovered my dear! It just takes time. And screw the publishers. They just want a quick buck. We want to write and to create art. Isn't that more important than publishing andyway? (I say this of course because I loathe marketing my work.)
Are computers metaphors for life or is life a metaphor for a computer?
karma: yes indeed! -and i have encountered many people raised on the belief system you describe:
life is a game/win at all cost.
with no regard for others.
helps explain the mess we're all in, and i refuse to contribute anymore to that failing, soul-robbing, life-destroying system
and am happy to report that they are starting in the elementary schools.. in fact, in the pre-schools here, with a greater promotion of
respect, collaboration, team work..
not so much dog eat dog, but true collaboration, where success as a whole is more important than success for the individual
the planet needs this
AND big yes/agree re: kurt vonnegut. i do not know him except for interviews on charlie rose, but sure did appreciate his take on things..
he was a true visionary -wish more people could really hear what he was trying to tell us..
he was write.
and don't you love e-blogger where we are "successfully published" every time ")
much love back to you! ~s.
8": exactly! an unfortunate trend with many industries, be it publishing, film, music...
repeat of the tried and true to point of ad nauseum
which gives birth to the "independents" because there's just no stopping the artist..
kmg/bbf: that's the spirit!
and i do agree.. recently wrote, and strongly believe, that writing is 50,000 times more important than publishing
so while i have ambitions to become a famous american writer -and to publish & profit
if that never happens, as you can see..
it does not rob me of the personal growth, the enormous pleasure, the tremendous thrill of
creating. of writing.. of thinking.. learning..
and i see this with you as well, and all of us bloggers
and in many ways, i know we benefit in larger ways, not formating our styles/words, etc. to meet the needs/criteria of..
it is in this more liberated environment genius is born
i read it all the time...
feel like a lucky pirate.. landing on X, finding secret treasures
part of me wants to share my great finds with the whole wide world,
the other part looks left and write, "shhh" -let's not ruin this..
but either way,
"God bless the blogosphere!"
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