Most of this weeks readings are intended for beginning writers but some readings have applications for all writers. Mary Pipher's, “Writing to Connect”, from her book is applicable to writers of all levels. This chapter describes the methods writers can use to effect change. Literature, op-ed pieces, poems, film, art and music can all be used to effect change. Methods can encourage passive agreement, as in propaganda or encourage activism, such as the March on Washington in 1963. Her theme is “All writing is designed to change the world”. If a writing makes you smile, sweat, sit on your hands or March for PETA, it has changed you. This quote from Tobias Wolff sums up the theme, “A true piece of writing is a dangerous thing. It can change you life.”
Mary Pipher’s second chapter, “Know Thyself” is geared more to the novice writer. In this chapter she asks writers to expand upon the three words “l Am From”. She uses those words to encourage writers to examine who they are, their experiences, likes, dislikes, values and history. In her words, “Our writing comes from our being.”. “The better we know ourselves the richer our writings.”, to paraphrase Goldberg, becomes the major theme of this chapter.
The writings “We are not the Poem” and “Man Eats Car” from Natalie Goldberg’s “Writing Down the Bones” is geared to all writers. In “We are not the Poem” Goldberg relates Galway Kinnell and her experiences of being handcuff to their past work. The implications of being identified by your past efforts affects both novice and experienced writers. The message here is that “Once you align your feelings with the words you write, you are free”. What you wrote was you when you wrote it not now. Writing like people is fluid.
In “Man Eats Car”, Goldberg explores the use of metaphors, which personally threw me for a loop. What is a metaphor and how do I use them. I am quite sure many beginning writers know what they are for and how they are used, but I do not. The way Goldberg describes metaphors and how they come into being is useful for all writers. How metaphors come to be leads to the main concept of this writing. Metaphors can not be forced, they are the result of a open mind, a mind not restricted by preconceived notions or facts. Metaphors are the result of thinking outside of the box. Metaphors are pearls to physicists.
The final reading from Goldberg, “Writing is not a McDonald’s hamburger”, is geared more towards a novice writer. In the writing she describes how one of her student had difficulty words to events or feelings. It’s a problem I have and I am sure most beginning writers have too. The theme here is that good writing is not the product of a recipe. Good writing is a product of your feelings and can’t be rationalized.
