Writing Through the Senses Contest Winner!

This is it: the moment you've all been waiting for.  Using a super-secret, super-scientific method, we have a Writing Through the Senses contest winner!



And the winner is...





*drumroll*

*fumbles with envelope*

*drops envelope on the floor*

*more drumroll*

*clears throat*

And the winner is...

Sonia!

Thank you to everyone who participated and followed my Writing Through the Senses adventures.

Sonia, please email me your information so I can send you your prize!

A Few Random Thoughts

Hello!  I have so much to tell you all that I hardly know where to start.  You know when you have a bazillion ideas for blog posts and not enough days to write them so you try to cram it all into one post?  That's this post right here.

That said, I've decided not to fight the random today and share all my crazy thoughts with you all at once.

Random Thought #1:  I am sorry to say I will be leaving the blogosphere for a short vacation starting the second week in August because... I'm going to Ireland.  SQUEE!  For years I've had visions of frolicking in verdant fields, stocking up on tons of wool and maybe even hugging a sheep.  Still, it means fourteen days of limited internet.  I'm thinking of trying to sneak my laptop with me so I can get my internet fix, but I don't want my hubby to go all gregzilla on me.  So, the way I'll leave it is this: if I can post while I'm away, I'll post, but if I can't you'll know it's because I'm getting my knit on.

Random Thought #2: DIY MFA
As most of you already know, I've become intrigued (READ: obsessed) with this idea of a Do-It-Yourself MFA.  I've since come up with this crazy (READ: utterly insane) idea of doing a month-long blog extravaganza on this topic.  I'll be challenging myself to post an article on this topic every day for a month, with the idea that by the end of it, I should have touched on all facets of the DIY MFA.

September is the month when most people start back at at school so it seems fitting that iggi U should open it's (virtual doors) at that time.  The idea is to create a space where writers can find as much information on this topic as possible in one place so that they may put together a program of study that fits their own writing needs.  The plan: I'll be posting every day on some aspect of the DIY MFA through September, the idea being that by the end of the month, you should have all the info you need to put together your own personalized writing plan.

My question for you all is this: is this idea completely crazy?  Is this topic something you'd be interested in hearing more about?

Random Thought #3:  Last, but certainly not least, is a quick reminder.  The Writing Through the Senses challenge ends tonight at 11:59pm EST.  If you're doing the challenge, please check to make sure I've got you on my list so you'll be included in the contest.  And don't forget to read the Writing Through the Senses posts and give your comments.  Thank you to everyone who has participated!  I'll be posting the winner tomorrow.

Writing Through the Senses: Smell

Ah, the ever elusive sense of smell.  While this may be the most difficult of the senses for writers to incorporate in their work, it is no less important than the others.

Fun Fact: did you know that while receptors for all the other senses connect to the main part of the brain (the cortext), the olfactory receptors are different?  In fact, one part of the olfactory system connects via the amygdala, which is one of the parts of the brain that deals with memory.

My theory is that this is why smells hold such powerful, vivid memories for us.  Who can mistake the smell of birthday candles as they're being blown out.  Or what about that crisp smell the air gets right before a big snow?

Haven't you ever been somewhere and smelled something that transported you to a whole other time and place?  The other day I was walking down the street and something smelled dry and still, like airport air that has that musty travel smell to it.  In instantly got this pang of memory of a time when I was stranded in an airport in Brazil for an entire day, not knowing whether or not my flight would be allowed to leave.

The truth is, part of the reason why scents are so difficult for writers is that there are very few "smell words" in our vocabulary.  We have lots of words for sounds: loud, soft, brassy, whisper.  There are also plenty of words for touch (soft, smooth, rough) and taste (sweet, salty, bitter, sour).  And don't even get me started on sight; aside from a plethora of adjectives, we also have the vocabulary of colors at our disposal.

But for smell there's hardly any.  Instead, we'll use similes and metaphors to say "that smells like movie theater popcorn" or "that smell is suffocating."  The only smell word I can think of is "pungent" and even then, it can refer to taste as well as smell.  In fact, most words we use for smells have been appropriated from one of the other senses (like saying something smells sweet or sharp).

Because smells are linked so strongly to objects or places, it is no surprise that smell should be so closely tied to memory as well.  That's where this week's exercise comes in.

Writing Exercise: Scent of a Memory
Follow each of the steps and don't proceed to the next one until you have finished the current step.

1. Think of a scent you love.  Write it down (3 words or fewer).
2. Describe this scent.
3. Is there a place you associate with this scent?  What is the significance of this place?
4. Is there a person associated with this scent?  What is this person's relationship to you?
5. Why does this scent remind you of this person or place?
6. Write down a memory of this person/place.
7. Last question: what color is this scent?

Now write a short poem or prose piece about this scent and the memory it evokes.



Here ends our foray into Writing Through the Senses.  It's not to late too late to join the challenge so sign up by clicking on the above link and read all the Writing Through the Senses posts.  I'll be drawing the winner and announcing the results next week!

Writing Through the Senses Challenge: Reminder

Tomorrow is the last day of Writing Through the Senses.  I can't believe how quickly the last five weeks have gone.  Before I start waxing nostalgic I'd better get on with the purpose of this post and that is to remind you all of the Writing Through the Senses Challenge.

Here's a reminder of the challenge rules:

1. Post a comment to this post so I know you're participating.  (If you're on the list below, I already know you're doing the challenge so you can skip this step.)
2. Post a link on your blog, if you have one (optional, but you'll get an extra contest entry).  Please leave a link so I know you posted.  Contestants who've already posted links will have a + next to their name.
3. Read the Writing Through the Senses posts and post an on-topic comment.  For your convenience, I've included a link to all the posts below.

Prize:  One bright, shiny and new Moleskine notebook and a few surprise goodies.

Right now I have the following people as challenge contestants, but it's not too late to join! 

• Ghenet +
• Michelle Davidson Argyle
• salarsen +
• Julie Musil
• sonia

 If I'm missing anyone or didn't give you credit for posting on your blog, please let me know and I'll correct it!  Thankees!

Writing Through the Senses Posts

Sound
Sight
Touch
Taste Part 1 and Taste Part 2
Smell

Please note: Since there are two parts to the Taste post, you don't need to comment on both.

The Challenge is open until 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, July 27.
On Wednesday, July 28 I'll pick the lucky winner and announce it here.

*Updated to add "Smell" link.

Writing Through the Senses: Taste (Part 2)

...and we're back.  Today we're still talking about taste but instead of using eating as a metaphor, we'll be focusing on having fun with words.

Taste Part 2: Playing With Our Food... I mean, Words

One of my favorite genres is parody.  I find it so much fun to read and a great challenge to write.  I'm sure you all know what parody is, but here's a quick definition.

parody: n.  An imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect.  Parody mercilessly exposes the tricks of manner and thought of its victim and therefore cannot be written without a thorough appreciation of the work it ridicules.

An example of a poetic parody is Lewis Carroll's The Crocodile, which is a parody of Isaac Watts' How Doth the Little Busy Bee.  The Carroll poem appears in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, when Alice tries to recite the Watts poem but "The Crocodile" comes out instead.

Jack & Jill Writing Exercise:  Today the writing exercise involves "playing with our food" by writing parody.  Write a short scene or collection of scenes in which you recount the events of the nursery rhyme Jack & Jill in the style of a famous author.  After you've written your piece, you can check out a piece I wrote with this exercise by going here.

Writing Through the Senses: Taste (Part 1)

Hello everyone!  Today's topic is taste and we'll be adding some playfulness to our writing.  Because this is such a fun topic, I've decided to split it into two parts.  I'll post Part 1 now and Part 2 on Friday (because I have something else planned for tomorrow).

Taste Part 1: Food as Metaphor

First we'll start with a feast of words:
How to Eat a Poem by Eve Merriam
Eating Poetry by Mark Strand.

I love reading these poems back-to-back because while they are dramatically different, they both use eating as a metaphor for reading poetry.  The Merriam poem is very visual and almost literal in its description of eating poetry, while the Strand poem is a bit more abstract, but fascinating nonetheless.  In the latter, we see the contrast between the visceral relationship the speaker has with the poems and the librarian's reaction as she tries to maintain order.  I read this poem almost as a manifesto for enjoyment of poetry and not letting conventions and rules get in the way.

What do you think about these poems?  Did one of them speak to you more than the other?

Writing Exercise: Write a short piece (prose or poetry, either is fine) using one of the following titles:

1. How to Eat a _______________
2. Eating ____________________
3. Recipe for _________________

You can fill in the blank with anything you wish, though I encourage you to try using something that is not normally edible.  Have fun with this!

Writing Through the Senses: Touch

Hello again.  I hope you all had a good week.  Today we'll be talking about touch and how ordinary objects can become extraordinary when described through this sense.


First a poem by Wallace Stevens:  Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

Isn't it lovely how such simple images can take an ordinary thing like a blackbird and make it into something so beautiful?  Which is your favorite of the thirteen?  Mine is:

XI

He rode over Connecticut
In a glass coach.
Once, a fear pierced him,
In that he mistook
The shadow of his equipage
For blackbirds.

Ordinary Objects Exercise:  Take an ordinary object from your desk (a pencil or pen, paper clip, eraser, etc.) and close your eyes.  Study it with your eyes closed, trying not to focus on what you know the object is, but on how the object feels.

After memorizing the object for a few minutes, set it aside and write a short paragraph or two describing the object but using only the things you memorized through your sense of touch.  You can use metaphors and similes but try not to use any of the other senses.  Note how the sense of touch transforms the object into something new and different.

Writing Through the Senses: Sight

 Welcome back everyone!  I hope you enjoyed last week's exercises.  Today we'll be talking about sight and how colors, shapes and everyday objects help spark a story.  Let's dive in, shall we?

Faces Exercise:   Below you'll see four objects that look like faces.  Choose one of the faces and create a human character that fits the personality of the picture.  Answer the following questions about your character.  (Remember, your character isn't the inanimate object in the picture; your character is a human who's personality is inspired by the image you selected below.)

Let's start with the basics...

• Is your character male or female?
• How old is your character?
• Where does your character live?
• What is your character's occupation?
• Who's in your character's family?
• Does your character have a pet?
• What's your character's favorite color?

 Next let's dig a little deeper...

• What's your character's greatest fear?
• Does your character have a secret?
• Who is your character's nemesis?
• What does your character want most in the world?  Why?

Finally, give your character a name.

Now that we have a character, let's put him/her in a situation.  Pick a number between 1 and 5.  Don't click on the number just yet.

The situation is as follows: your character is stuck in a place.  He/she isn't helplessly stuck (i.e. the character can leave if he/she so chooses) but something is keeping the character there.  What that something might be is completely up to you.

Remember that number you selected?  Click it now.  This is your place.

1
2
3
4
5

Write the scene that unfolds.  Use cues and details in the picture to bring the situation to life.  And don't forget to have fun!

Writing Through the Senses: Sound

Hello all and welcome to Writing Through the Senses!

We'll be talking about sound today and how it can inspire a story.  Let's start off with a short listening exercise. 

Listening Exercise:   Below you'll find a series of links to music.  Listen to the first 1-2 minutes of each piece (but don't watch the accompanying videos; let the music speak for itself.)  While you listen to each piece, note the imagery that comes to mind.  What mood does the music establish?  Which specific sounds inspire each given image?  If you like, post your thoughts in the comments (but don't read other people's posts until you've had a chance to listen to the music for yourself).

Copland
Ponchielli
Saint-Saens 1
Saint-Saens 2
Holst 1
Mussorgsky


Writing Exercise:  Now that we've warmed up our ears, choose one of the three pieces below and listen to it all the way through (approx. 8-10 min)  As you listen, make notes again about the mood of the piece and think about what sort of story might go with this music.  If this music were a soundtrack to a story, what would the story be?

Once you've listened all the way through, take 10-15minutes and write a scene or story inspired by the music.  If you need to listen to the piece again, feel free to do so but don't feel like you have to parallel the music exactly.  The music is only here to inspire the story and give you a starting point.

Beethoven
Holst 2
Dukas


Take-Home Message:  While some writers find it challenging to write and listen to music at the same time, music can be a great writing tool.

Suggestions for Future Listening:  These pieces of music all tell a story or convey a specific mood.  If you don't have them in your listening library, I highly recommend.

• Beethoven - 6th (pastoral) Symphony
• Saint-Saens - Carnival of the Animals
• Holst - The Planets
• Vivaldi - 4 Seasons

Sneak Preview

It occurred to me that perhaps some readers out there may be wondering what this Writing Through the Senses thing is all about.  In light of this, I decided to give you all a taste of what this course will be like.

Over the next five weeks, we'll be talking about the five senses and using them as a jumping off point to spark creativity and kick-start some writing projects.  Each week will focus on one of the five senses, using it to enrich our writing and deepen our understanding of craft.

Week 1: Sound--Achieving a Sense of Focus
We start the series of classes using music to set the mood for story-telling.  We will discuss the musicality of language and how it can affect tone.  We will experiment with sound-based language tools to achieve a desired effect in our writing.


Week 2: Sight--Gaining a Sense of Curiosity

This week will be all about imagery.  By using colors and visual images to inspire our writing, we will develop a better understanding of metaphor.  We will also study how key details can both further the story and build character.


Week 3: Touch--Developing a Sense of Intuition

This week will focus on how we can make the ordinary become extraordinary through writing.  Touch--perhaps the most immediate of the senses--is all about intuition and the focus will be on artfully channeling that instinct.


Week 4: Taste--Creating a Sense of Playfulness

Food is fun; it has a sense of humor.  This week is all about "finding the funny" in our writing.  We'll examine the mechanics of parody and discuss literature that is just plain silly.  The point of this week is to make writing fun.


Week 5: Smell--Reclaiming a Sense of Nostalgia

Ah, smell... the most elusive of the senses.  And yet, of all the senses it is the one most closely tied to memory.  That is what this week will be all about: getting to the core of our memories and capturing them on the page.


Intrigued?  Want to be part of the challenge?  Just go to Writing Through the Senses and follow the instructions in that post to join.

Writing Through the Senses

As promised, here is the third project.  I mentioned in a previous post that I was teaching a creative writing class in NYC, starting next Tuesday.  Then I thought, why limit the class only to people in NYC or people whose schedules fit class time?  That's when I came up with this plan. 

*Drumroll*

Welcome to Writing Through the Senses Wednesdays!

Starting next week and going for five weeks, I'll be posting a condensed/modified version of my class on this blog.  We'll have all sorts of goodies like links to readings and fun exercises to get the creative juices flowing.  I'm also hoping to get some discussion going on the weekly topics, which is where you come in.

If want to qualify for the Writing Through the Senses Challenge, just follow these simple steps:

1. Post a comment below so I know you're participating in the challenge.
2. Post a link on your blog, if you have one (optional, but you'll get an extra contest entry)
3. Read the Writing Through the Senses posts (5 Wednesdays, starting next week) and post an on-topic comment.

That's it!  Easy, right?

Prize:  One bright, shiny and new Moleskine notebook and a few surprise goodies.

One week after the challenge is over, I'll announce a winner (most likely selected by using the ultra-scientific method of picking a name from a hat).

Think this sounds like fun?  Then join the challenge.