So good Penny! As a non-native writer I frequently feel I don't get my message through, or am lost for words. That makes me lose the rhythm for the text in the making. And then there is the actual substance, too. How to get deep enough when you're writing in a language that isn't your mother tongue? How to communicate your feelings when you've "felt them in Finnish"? Your writing inspired so many questions!
“I’m not sure I ever manage to get deep enough. And I think I could, if I was brave enough.” There’s so much doubt and self-knowledge wrapped up here, which is how writing often goes! Relatable post - and yes, keep writing the things you know!!
Absolutely. So much insight packed into so few words. She describes the the shackles we impose on ourselves when it comes to creativity, and life in general.
It’s when we see others creating and caring so little of others opinions, that we can both identify with their work, while knowing we have yet to burn those bridges, that we are holding back on what we have to say, even if it is fiction.
Thanks Kevin. That means a lot. What you say here is really what I feel actually, this bit about holding back on what we have to say, I definitely do that, at times. Thanks for the conversation here - appreciate it!
That’s a majestic name you have there, by the way! Perfectly suited to a writer.
We censor ourselves so much that it becomes a problem when it comes to getting what’s busting our gut to say actually written. And then putting it out for other’s consumption can be a bridge too far in our minds eye. Vulnerability is a super power.
I really enjoyed what you have to say on the matter. I’ll have to reread actually, as you hit on so many great points.
Thank you for sharing.
I look forward to reading more of your work, Penny.
Great opening question. I also write in a journalistic style....When the time arrives in the story, I introduce dialogue from the characters, which expresses their side of events. It's also a great way to feed the story, as you said; readers aren't stupid. In short we are writing to share emotions !
Timeless, inspiring, and so good i just have to go and listen to it now. Both of you raise great points. The courage to be vulnerable is what sets a person apart. It’s all in. If people dig it, great! If not, it’s no slight once the intention is true.
Very true, Penny. Even when you create an abstraction of sorts through poetry or third-person letters or a dream narrative, it's still either made clear or obscured to the point of...erm...pointlessness I guess! The reader either gets it, or has been deliberately abstracted to the point of impossibility. And I don't think readers have the patience for all of us writers to present The Waste Land to them every time we hit publish.
In an unexpected (abstract...?) aside, you've helped me think a bit more about AI image creation off the back of your piece. For me, the art and creativity is outside of an AI image. The image brings shape or flavour or extra context to everything around it (and it needn't be at the centre of proceedings either). A bit like a stock photo, offering something to work around the art surrounding it.
Truth can be difficult to convey, but as you say, you know when you've read it. Thank you for giving such food for thought. 🙏
So glad to have you and your thoughtful comments back around Martin.
Yes - ‘obscured to the point of pointlessness’ is about right! 😂
I just think we leave it all hanging out when we write, even if we’re trying not to.
I’m still pondering your thoughts on the AI image thingy…hmmmm…..I thought they were an extension of the art / creativity….but I have no idea as I don’t use them. BUT when (if) I select a stock photo I choose it cos it evokes a feeling for me and I hope it helps shape the feeling I want my readers to take away.
Is that different to the use of an AI image? I dunno….and I think we all have our own ways hey…
Absolutely, choosing something that brings some sort of context or feeling in order to shape or enhance what you want to communicate and what you'd like your readers to take from it. A sense of creative curation. You don't make the stock photo or the AI image yourself, but you've brought it into your creative fold. Your art is what happens around the curation—almost to the point in which I find link roundup posts to be an artistic form of curation.
You've genuinely helped me shape some of my developing insight in this direction. No matter the tangents, I think that harks back to what you were saying in your piece: You don't know what you're looking for, but your fingers are raw, and yet you never seem to reach the end of that depth.
Here's to raw fingers. Sometimes they properly cane, but the fruits of our labour are super worth it. And the (hopefully curious) digging continues!
And you’ve just helped me to formulate the thought that, of course, the constant digging is the point to what I’m doing. As in, I’ll never reach the end, or find the ‘one thing’ it is I’m trying to say so it’s just about keeping going and saying whatever it is that needs saying that day / week. Thank you
So good Penny! As a non-native writer I frequently feel I don't get my message through, or am lost for words. That makes me lose the rhythm for the text in the making. And then there is the actual substance, too. How to get deep enough when you're writing in a language that isn't your mother tongue? How to communicate your feelings when you've "felt them in Finnish"? Your writing inspired so many questions!
Thank you! Glad it sort of makes sense. Your English writing is perfect to me by the way. 👌🏼
“I’m not sure I ever manage to get deep enough. And I think I could, if I was brave enough.” There’s so much doubt and self-knowledge wrapped up here, which is how writing often goes! Relatable post - and yes, keep writing the things you know!!
That’s a great line, and a great observation.
Penny really captures this dichotomy here so well!
Absolutely. So much insight packed into so few words. She describes the the shackles we impose on ourselves when it comes to creativity, and life in general.
It’s when we see others creating and caring so little of others opinions, that we can both identify with their work, while knowing we have yet to burn those bridges, that we are holding back on what we have to say, even if it is fiction.
Penny absolutely nailed it.
Thanks Kevin. That means a lot. What you say here is really what I feel actually, this bit about holding back on what we have to say, I definitely do that, at times. Thanks for the conversation here - appreciate it!
My pleasure, Penny.
That’s a majestic name you have there, by the way! Perfectly suited to a writer.
We censor ourselves so much that it becomes a problem when it comes to getting what’s busting our gut to say actually written. And then putting it out for other’s consumption can be a bridge too far in our minds eye. Vulnerability is a super power.
I really enjoyed what you have to say on the matter. I’ll have to reread actually, as you hit on so many great points.
Thank you for sharing.
I look forward to reading more of your work, Penny.
Have a fantastic Friday.
Penny: When we write, what are we doing?
Great opening question. I also write in a journalistic style....When the time arrives in the story, I introduce dialogue from the characters, which expresses their side of events. It's also a great way to feed the story, as you said; readers aren't stupid. In short we are writing to share emotions !
Spot on Karl. We write to share emotions and I want to be as truthful as possible in order to connect on that emotional level.
Thanks Penny, - Ray Charles - Do I Ever Cross Your Mind -
The most beautiful musical wording even written, Ray Charles; his wording and voice is poetry to my ears...He is a true inspiration to write.....
Timeless, inspiring, and so good i just have to go and listen to it now. Both of you raise great points. The courage to be vulnerable is what sets a person apart. It’s all in. If people dig it, great! If not, it’s no slight once the intention is true.
Yes, maybe intention is a big part too Kevin, you’re right.
Thanks Penny. Insightful and honest as usual.
Very true, Penny. Even when you create an abstraction of sorts through poetry or third-person letters or a dream narrative, it's still either made clear or obscured to the point of...erm...pointlessness I guess! The reader either gets it, or has been deliberately abstracted to the point of impossibility. And I don't think readers have the patience for all of us writers to present The Waste Land to them every time we hit publish.
In an unexpected (abstract...?) aside, you've helped me think a bit more about AI image creation off the back of your piece. For me, the art and creativity is outside of an AI image. The image brings shape or flavour or extra context to everything around it (and it needn't be at the centre of proceedings either). A bit like a stock photo, offering something to work around the art surrounding it.
Truth can be difficult to convey, but as you say, you know when you've read it. Thank you for giving such food for thought. 🙏
So glad to have you and your thoughtful comments back around Martin.
Yes - ‘obscured to the point of pointlessness’ is about right! 😂
I just think we leave it all hanging out when we write, even if we’re trying not to.
I’m still pondering your thoughts on the AI image thingy…hmmmm…..I thought they were an extension of the art / creativity….but I have no idea as I don’t use them. BUT when (if) I select a stock photo I choose it cos it evokes a feeling for me and I hope it helps shape the feeling I want my readers to take away.
Is that different to the use of an AI image? I dunno….and I think we all have our own ways hey…
The truth is out there 😂
Absolutely, choosing something that brings some sort of context or feeling in order to shape or enhance what you want to communicate and what you'd like your readers to take from it. A sense of creative curation. You don't make the stock photo or the AI image yourself, but you've brought it into your creative fold. Your art is what happens around the curation—almost to the point in which I find link roundup posts to be an artistic form of curation.
You've genuinely helped me shape some of my developing insight in this direction. No matter the tangents, I think that harks back to what you were saying in your piece: You don't know what you're looking for, but your fingers are raw, and yet you never seem to reach the end of that depth.
Here's to raw fingers. Sometimes they properly cane, but the fruits of our labour are super worth it. And the (hopefully curious) digging continues!
And you’ve just helped me to formulate the thought that, of course, the constant digging is the point to what I’m doing. As in, I’ll never reach the end, or find the ‘one thing’ it is I’m trying to say so it’s just about keeping going and saying whatever it is that needs saying that day / week. Thank you