GoulburnIs Angst Essential For Inspiration?
October 17th 2006 14:32
Again, this is not a rugby specific post. Just a curious notion post. I really should be writing Rugby and I will.
Next post – Interview With The Perfect 10. Rugby people, you know who this is*.
I’ve just joined Orble and I really am amazed at the depth of writers and writing... amazed...that sounds condescending... perhaps humbled is a better word.
I am humbled and awestruck by the depth of talent and penmanship and subject matter and expression and candidness.
I could read and comment all day, which is really not a good thing because, before joining, I had a life away from my computer.
Well sort of... I work from home and my computer is my Weapon of Mass Construction. I’m a Journalist. Gasps all around.
Even though journalism is about reporting fact (who laughed?) and not creating (okay, no more laughing), I have written Opinion Columns, pop culture prose and many interpretations on The Gamma Type... so I am able to write/create from scratch, ya know?
My close friend, PJ**, whom I love dearly, is a Writer (books, screenplays), an exceptionally gifted visual wordsmith. Unfortunately, he is of the opinion that being a Journalist, I am not a Real Writer (Pen-occhio!), “...besides, you’re far too optimistic...where’s the discontent?”
I’ve laughed at this and ribbed him about the me-writer-me-suffering cliche. I really believe PJ relishes his anguish and seeks more at the slightest chance he may be getting content, just so he can harness and channel this nervous energy onto paper.
For PJ, being content equates to complacency, which leads to inertia.
I make no apologies for being happy and optimistic. I’ve had my fair share of shit but big deal, it’s all relative. It is possible to be cheerful and abstruse (love that word!) and if I’m never considered a Real Writer, so be it. I didn’t waste time navel-gazing.
BUT what I have come to notice...which makes me think PJ’s Channel of Angst is the real deal....some^ of the most popular blog writers, the ones who post the most and who get the most response are...hmmm...how do I put this?...really dark.
You could say, it’s exactly because they post the most, that they’re popular...Very prolific and very talented and very profound... but there does seem to be strong undercurrents of angst manifesting as dark wit.
Is angst necessary to be a great writer? Is suffering of any sort, essential for inspiration?
*no, it's not DC of AB from NZ
**fabricated initials, real person...may no longer be friend after this post...
^I said some, not all. Happy and popular writers abound on Orble.
Next post – Interview With The Perfect 10. Rugby people, you know who this is*.
I’ve just joined Orble and I really am amazed at the depth of writers and writing... amazed...that sounds condescending... perhaps humbled is a better word.
I am humbled and awestruck by the depth of talent and penmanship and subject matter and expression and candidness.
I could read and comment all day, which is really not a good thing because, before joining, I had a life away from my computer.
Even though journalism is about reporting fact (who laughed?) and not creating (okay, no more laughing), I have written Opinion Columns, pop culture prose and many interpretations on The Gamma Type... so I am able to write/create from scratch, ya know?
My close friend, PJ**, whom I love dearly, is a Writer (books, screenplays), an exceptionally gifted visual wordsmith. Unfortunately, he is of the opinion that being a Journalist, I am not a Real Writer (Pen-occhio!), “...besides, you’re far too optimistic...where’s the discontent?”
I’ve laughed at this and ribbed him about the me-writer-me-suffering cliche. I really believe PJ relishes his anguish and seeks more at the slightest chance he may be getting content, just so he can harness and channel this nervous energy onto paper.
For PJ, being content equates to complacency, which leads to inertia.
I make no apologies for being happy and optimistic. I’ve had my fair share of shit but big deal, it’s all relative. It is possible to be cheerful and abstruse (love that word!) and if I’m never considered a Real Writer, so be it. I didn’t waste time navel-gazing.
BUT what I have come to notice...which makes me think PJ’s Channel of Angst is the real deal....some^ of the most popular blog writers, the ones who post the most and who get the most response are...hmmm...how do I put this?...really dark.
You could say, it’s exactly because they post the most, that they’re popular...Very prolific and very talented and very profound... but there does seem to be strong undercurrents of angst manifesting as dark wit.
Is angst necessary to be a great writer? Is suffering of any sort, essential for inspiration?
*no, it's not DC of AB from NZ
**fabricated initials, real person...may no longer be friend after this post...
^I said some, not all. Happy and popular writers abound on Orble.
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Comment by somu
Comment by Homer Joyce
I’m too worried and anxious about the future and what choices I have to make regarding my future to answer the first questions about angst.
And I’m too busy flagellating myself in order to empty myself of self and have divine wisdom poured into my soul to answer the second question.
As to journalism versus writing. There are days when I wish I was a paid journo rather than an unpaid writer, regardless of my wordsmithiness.
Homer …
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
I like to think of Hunter S., creating near-literature through his Gonzo Journalism...
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
I'm getting there, I'm getting there...
If I was Homer, I'd say something pithy and droll to explain my kid-in-Candyland manner right now. Alas, I'm just me...
Homer...that was a compliment.
You...man...I am humbled..and I LOVE that you answered my question(s) the way they needed to be answered.
A brush with the divine. I am not worthy...
Cibbuano...I've fawned elsewhere.... is all this, blog writing...is this a form of Gonzo Journalism? Method writing right?
"Journalism is unreadable and Literature is unread" Oscar Wilde
"Journalists do not live by words alone, although sometimes they have to eat them" Adlai Stevenson 23rd US VP
Comment by Chantal
I think angst can be a powerful inspirative tool but I think you can go without as well.
In terms of writing, I find that angst, pain, sadness, etc are generally more beautiful to describe. Words such as "melancholy" or "sombre" are words you associate with sadness but they're more exciting/poetic than "joy" or "happiness".
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
I get what you mean...but why is sadness more beautiful to describe?
I like the word 'melancholy', it has a lilt, it is poetic but so is 'joy'...it's a joyful word.
Full of hope and light and life and pleasure and exhilaration...and could you all stop vomiting now please??
Maybe happiness is not conducive to humour.
It's easier to be darkly witty about despair because maybe,
that's the best way to deal with it.
With mockery and wit and flair.
We revel in the good times and mock the bad. So, angst does have its merit. It makes us happy.
As Captain Jean-Luc Picard would say: "make it so".
Thanks Chantal...and thanks for the comment you made about me on your site (about my comment...this all starts to get confusing). I'm chuffed.
PS. You look and sound like such a joyful person.
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
I have travelled far and made the perilous journey to visit your humble apost. I am so pleased that there is a post on non-football - although I still would've left my vote anyway. The bad news is that I am a football illiterate, be that as it may, I am of kindred journo-spirit and share the angst with my fellow writers.
One word of advice on entering the great "Orble" it takes time to come out, and real life will diminish.
You keep a lovely table of godly wordsmiths and I will return periodically in the hope that you post a non-footbal blog every now and again.
I cannot add anything of consequence to Homer's response.
I loved your words and the quotes *lol*
Thanks
Lilla
Comment by Lily
Ars Poetica
and question, and the abounding orblites drew me in...
'it’s all relative'
.. i think that's my answer too..
can i ask a dumb female question? not really clued up on rugby, but .. hmm union or league...
see?
~Lily
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
There's no need to know Rugby. I just happen to love it and will fiercely defend it.
But then I fiercely defend my Right to Shoes (just call me Imelda) and my comic book collection.
I'm not sure about Orble's rules on this but I intend to intersperse my rugby with my curiousity. So there will be others...
Lilla, do you write about Lucid Dreaming? And Dream Laughing? This is truly one of the most pleasurable feelings I have experienced. Laughing in my sleep.
I hope you come back.
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Not a dumb question at all, in fact I'm quite chuffed that you bothered to ask...it's Rugby Union.
Tip - It's Rugby Union and thugby league.
Gasp...I am so going to get mauled...
I could apply "it's all relative..." to code comparisons but this is how I feel about the game I love:-
Rugby Union is a thinking game. It may look brutal but it's not mindless.
Rugby is not vulgar nor misogynic. It teaches camaraderie yet encourages individuality.
Rugby is an equalizer - all shapes, all sizes, both sexes.
I'm a very 'girlie-girl' Lily and I am passionate about Rugby Union. Watching it, playing it, living it.
Thanks for visiting Lily. Please come back.
Comment by Homer Joyce
I've been busy reading the comments ...
My first novel centres around the fortunes of a football team (alas it is worse than thugby ... it's that dreaded aerial ping-pong) ...
But to me it is a book about life and the characters (larrikins) that grace this life ... as much as it is about football ...
I am often quite disappointed when 'literary' people say to me ... I don't want to read a book about football ... when it is such a big part of Australian culture ... They are the ones missing out ...
Okay, I've had my whinge ...
Homer ... (one of the few literary heads who loves football ...
PS: I think I'd die if I couldn't read the sports section of the papers ...
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Lord of Words. Knight of Dark Wit. Keeper of The Faith. Defender of Culture. Reader of Diversity.
And all round cool guy.
Where can one get a hold of your first novel?
I may not read it because well, aerial ping-pong is just not my thing (the players all look the same and there’s goalposts everywhere BUT boy, can they kick)...but then again, I might because it’s a novel and that’s what it’s meant for. To be read.
Tell me...those that consider themselves too ‘literary’ to read your novel, do they also believe that Earth is the sole planet?
Homer Joyce is a nom de plume, yes? (or is that nom de clavier? – but that could be wrong as ‘clavier’ means keyboard as in piano, etc...but I digress...again..). Clever.
Thanks for coming back Homer.
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
"...I might because it's a novel about life and that's what it's meant for. To be read."
Because what do we really know other than life?
Comment by Homer Joyce
I've started putting it on my blog ...
It's Beyond the Boundaries (and it's out of priint) ...
Homer ...
Comment by Homer Joyce
I am also a master of interpretation ... as in, I make so many typos, I can generally read through other people's ... and know what they mean or meant ... without being mean ... (Ah, words ...
Homer ...
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Ahh words...what would we write without them?
Comment by Homer Joyce
We'd be painting pictures on cave walls I guess ...
All I can do is be grateful I was born in the century I was ... regardless of how out of control everything is in the modern world ...
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
I can't take credit for that...read it somewhere, don't know who said it.
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
It's 3:05am where I am.
Why am I awake?
Comment by Homer Joyce
I normally live on the streets ... but one of my friends was kind enough to let me stay at her place for a while ... so I'm taking advantage of having a computer ...
And Friday it's back to the streets again ... I can sleep all day long then ...
Homer ...
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Will ponder this during REM.
I bid thee good night, good write.
Dusk Devi
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Thanks for asking. A great question!
Laughter in any dream or language is joy - well unless like me you laugh when others cry and cry when others laugh. However, what you are laughing at would be the key to waking yourself with peels of laughter. I've only ever done it once and I laughed some more, whilst awake ...
hergm....Lucid dreaming is very interesting at the best of times and my research is not conclusive, at all but lucid dreaming is the beginning of controlling our dreams ourselves and being aware we are dreaming. The term 'lucid dreaming' was coined by a Frederik van Eeden' Lucid = mental clarity.
Low level lucidity involves those dreams I have talked about on my dream blog about flying. The dreamer is still not fully aware of what the people and signs represent in these dreams, but has a heightened sense of awareness of themselves and that they are controlling the dream (their flight) to some extent. There is little chance of psychological damage on this level. However, higher lucid levels include OBE's [out of body experiences] where much more knowledge needs to be gained as it touches on astral travelling and the needs for protection.
There is much information on google, perhaps even Wikipeadia. The FAQ2 section of www.lucidity.com is really concise.
btw ... talking about nome de plumes, I like yours, any hints as to its origins/inspirations? The mask has me, unless you are making a precognitive auspices on multi-cultural Australia ...
Always a pleasure,
Lilla.
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
I do know that the residue of these dreams are pleasant, as in, I know I'm laughing because it made me happy, not because of mockery or cruelty, from me or for me.
As for Lucid Dreaming (thanks for the site link)..well, my culture teaches the importance of cerebral and corporeal 'oneness' BUT also the voluntary segregation...as in, detachment (to let go of pain and anger), meditation (which unfortunately I do not have the serenity for) and Astral Travelling. And yes, also about protection, about the necessity of shields.
Don't worry Lilla...I'm not one of those people that thinks just because I experience something a few times I'm an Expert...I'm not even a novice, but I am aware of when this happens to me.
My nom de plume (isn't this term just lovely??) is a mix of my name in my language and in English. 'Dusk' is the English translation of my Sanskrit name and 'Devi' is Hindi for (oh dear...this is so hard to live up to, I've given up!) Goddess.
What can I say? I was born at 6pm and my parents had high hopes!!
As for the mask...I wish it was because I was "making a precognitive auspices on multi-cultural Australia"!
Not as meaningful as thatl...I'm wearing my Wallabies cut-off beanie (this is a Rugby blog after all...but don't we always rebel against being pigeon-holed?)...and I just wanted to be semi incognito.
I'm a print journalist, we hide behind our by-lines!
Thanks for visiting me again Lilla.
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Wow I lived in India for 2 whole years. I embraced the entire Hindu culture, religion, food, and - the temples and art, a beautiful place ...
I loved everything about it, especially the differences to our culture. I will get back to you in some detail on this perhaps ... and where you were born, do you mind telling me? I lived in Faridabad in Haryana. but more later as I have to go now ....
A little revelation is a good thing I think, as it helps us see ourselves clearer, especially in my case as I can't see myself at all some days, most days. This allows us to grow a bit, hopefully.
I think any writer reveals more about who they are by their comments than anything else they do, don't you?
and I love yours,
keep them coming - I may even learn something about football this year too ....
Lilla.
Comment by somu
Good to know that you lived in Faridabad... its much close to Delhi.
Is it for a vacation did you go down there ?
I am almost to the south end of India. Its called Chennai.
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Then my work here is done! "I may even learn something about football this year too ...." !!! You know, that is actually quite a compliment you've paid me.
A little revelation leads to revolution. External and internal.
Yes I agree "...any writer reveals more about who they are by their comments than anything else they do..." and perhaps this is why most of choose to stay semi anonymous, we have nom de plumes and masks (or both!) and photos that express the essence of who we are...it's very liberating.
We all get judged first by appearances and then we have to work at either upholding that first impression or changing it or expanding upon it, etc. We say we don't care but we do BECAUSE we know ourselves to be who we are...why can't everyone feel it straight away?
Here...in OrbleLand...we are what we are. Not limited by that first physical impression. Freed by the Power of our Keyboards.
We are able at Orble to all be noble and global.
What the heaven do I mean by that?? Sorry Lilla, my fingers have a voice of their own!
Speaking of global...ahh Mother India...alas Lilla, I have only lived in India for a few years, when I was a wee lass. I grew up in England and the Pacific and went to school here.
BUT I am truly Miss Indian-a Jones. My father was from Punjab and my mother, Rajasthan.
I envy you your adult memories of India. Please tell me more when you have time.
Thank you Lilla... 'see' you soon?...
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
I am so very curious about this - how did you get to me, to Rucks and Rolls?
Are you a rugby fan?
Was it the post title?
Was it my Orble tag?
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
It's a long story how I got there, a very long and interesting story - actually it's part of my memoirs and I may post it on An Ordinary Life in two or three parts one day, suffice to say that I loved everything about my stay and integrated into the culture completely. I lived with a lovely family of some standing and enjoyed the best that it had to offer.
So many beautiful memories, they flood in and overwhelm my current reality, whnever I open that mental album.
I know your town but unfortunately never made it too far south. I went north up into the Himalayas. It is a beautiful place and a beautiful religion. A part of Hindu is always with me ... the good part - and there is so much of it.
Thank you for asking and allowing me the chance to remember one of the most excellent times of my life. THe memory is as good as a glass of wine.
Awesome place!
Lilla
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
"So many beautiful memories, they flood in and overwhelm my current reality, whenever I open that mental album."
I know your comment was not for me but as I said, I envy you your adult memories of India and had to respond.
Hindu Kush...just saying it...so lyrical, mystical magical...
I'd love to read your memoirs.
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
I love your take on cyberSpeak. It is a unique language, isn't it. NO body language - which is about - what 85% of our communication, up close and personal. Just have to take things at 'keyboard value.' I think I mentioned somewhere else [perhaps spain02] how we were evolving from ape to machine....
Punjab and Rhajastan - such a vast contrast - two of the finest states I travelled through on my way up to the Mountains. Such wonders I could talk about all night. You must make it a point to go there one day, especially if you have relatives there. Stay with them and unwind from the western paradigm for a while.
Dusk Devi, I haven't got around to chronologging my travels and time spent there yet, it is a huge task and the adventures and experiences are a cornucopia. If you are really interested in my travels, I can create some spot stories on my An Ordinary Life site as that seems more apt than envirowarrior - although propbably should take the credit (or some of it) for it.
Talk again soon, DuskDevi,
Lilla.
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Will subscribe to your site so that I'll know when you've posted.
"from ape to machine" - Charles Darwin-dows XP Theory!!!!
Bye for now.
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
I'm rolling around on the floor over here, but it does have a ring to it, doesn't it.
Talk again soon ...
L.
Comment by JoshZ
A Simple Christian
And hey, nothing wrong with being a journo. Chesterton, Pratchett and Gemmel all did time as journos, and they turned out more than fine.
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Comment by JoshZ
A Simple Christian
Any chick that is prepared to dress up like a twi'lek is okay by me.
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
You call her nuts.
Joke JZ. The compliment is accepted in the grace it's given.
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Just to para, paraphase your own brilliance
from ape to machine" - Charles Darwin-dows XP Theory!!!!
I think that's called pure talent.
Can I use it elsewhere?
I'm off now to read your rather excellent new post on how it's all put together ...
L.
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Thank you. I'm all smiles right now.
I say go forth and spread the word...
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
To write is to live.....sadly to pay the bills is to be a journo....I too exist in the ether where my creative writing is rewarding but financially handicapped.
Where i have had to slash my self asteem and provide critiques of others work instead of providing art for others to dissect.
Fuelled by my own inability to adapt or conform to social rituals and beliefs, strength comes from my angst riddled soul that must continue to try and change the world, one word at a time.
Comment by KarenC
Genghis Gal
But to answer the original post: Angst isn't necessary. Just look at The Devil Wears Prada.
Oh hang on, you were talking about great writers. Maybe angst is necessary to be a great writer. But who truly appreciates the greats these days? When Dan Brown can top the bestsellers list for months on end, the world of truly great writing withers.
Do you want to be great or a bestseller?
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
To get back to the question at hand, (I imagine I know who you were referring to with this post.) I do not think one has to have angst to be a good writer. I think they have to have an extreme sensitivity for life to be a good writer.
We all run around 100 miles per hour on the road of life, looking for the next turn, the next lane change, ranting and screaming obscenities if we miss our turns...good writers are standing there in the median, stalk still, watching. They observe with an acute precision the happenings around them. At times, its more than they can handle, the injustice, the beauty, the pain and the truth that is so grand on the scale of things that there aren't adequate words to describe them...enter angst and the decent into insanity...
Voices~
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
You have my utmost respect for visiting a Rugby Union site!
Although one could say, I got you here under false pretences...twas the Post that pulled you in, not the blog....
AND I do believe...and let me just check this..yes...I did make a positive comment on Aerial Ping Pong...
"...BUT boy can they kick."
'The Devil Wears Prada'...have not read the book, nor seen the movie but I do think this is angst inspired.
We must not underestimate the pain and suffering fashion types endure.
10cm pointy heels is surely a test of faith. Especially if you have to walk...hell, stand...in them.
Only the True will get to Valhalla. And a chair.
Good point. Great question.
"Do you want to be great or a best seller?"
Why does it have to be a choice?
It's so not (I just stamped my foot) fair.
Can others answer KarenC's question please?
PS. I heard the roar of the Vox Populi and read 'The Da Vinci Code'. Hastily written, cliched characters, improbable scenarios but..damn, damn, damn...I couldn't put it down.
In fact, I enjoyed it.
Let's just say...I prefer French champagne but also like Australian methode champenoise.
Thanks KarenC.
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
One of the ones I am "humbled and awestruck" by.
And yes, I think you do know who inspired this post... but let's just keep that between us.
DuskDevi
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
Of course we will...*wink*
Thank you for the compliments. I am honored...
Voices~
Comment by KarenC
Genghis Gal
I have a very open relationship with my great love, AFL. He lets me experiment with other sporting codes on a regular basis, as long as I end up with him at the end of the day.
And I don't think that being great and a best seller are always mutually exclusive - I happen to have great respect for JK Rowling and the Harry Potter series. I own these and could read them again and again. I love anything by Michael Connolly and John Grisham - they're all well written, entertaining books with real characters and, in the case of John Grisham, raise some really interesting social questions.
Then we have DB, who I've already mentioned. Now I don't think he can write to save his life, but he's reached millions of people and raised some interesting questions about the Christian religion (although he wasn't the first to raise this particular question, by any means). So just because his characters and prose are less than inspiring, is he great merely by having the idea for and writing the book that has fascinated millions?