Friday, July 25, 2008
Writings and Weddings
I was bopping around on the internet and finally discovered a link to Diana's blog on her Facebook page. Going there, I read it with interest. She links thought provoking things. One video she had was something by Ira Glass (This American Life) on the essentials of radio or tv storytelling.
Ira contends that there are two components to this type of successful storytelling -- one is the anecdotal portion - a narrative of sequential events, and the second essential part he proposes is the 'reflective' comments about your narrative. One part without the other is boring. I think he is right and it works just as well for the written story as the audible or visual story.
Ira thinks that any storyteller who is struggling with a story is having a problem with either one or the other of these essentials.
I read Wil Wheaton's blog and he is working on writing on a more full time basis and finds as a beginner when he is working on a story he will suddenly realize that he has just rewritten a favorite story or a favorite tv episode. He is 're-telling' the same plots and narratives. At first, he wadded his work up and discarded his stories. Then a more experienced writer advised him -- 'there are only so many plots', keep writing your version.
Second thing he was told was write. Write all the time, write everyday. So he exercises on a website called Ficlet (http://ficlets.com/).
I tried writing these little (1,024 char max) stories and watched to see my stories be picked up with prequels and sequels several times. This means that I peaked someone else's interest enough to play the writing game with me.
So here I am, writing because I should. What's my topic, you ask?
Weddings
A couple of weeks ago here in Atlanta, my daughter Janel Adair Tenery originally from Dublin, California wed Russell Bradley Copeland originally from New Orleans, Louisiana.
My three children were gathered under the same roof for several hours and I savored and basked in the pride of motherhood.
Michael and Christine were there with Tania (visiting from Seattle) and with Nathan and Joshua. Diana and Larry were there with their amusing adventurous pirate dolly. And naturally, Janel and Russell were there with Jillian and Philip (the twins due to be born in November). Russell's family came up from New Orleans and it was a pleasure to meet them all. Also, a few of Janel's and Russell's friends came, too.
There was a sort of witnessing of instantaneous 'hand fasting' with the usual exchange of vows.
I recalled my entry-level anthropology class of years ago and the basic definition of marriage used there was an 'event to bring two moieties (clans) together to recognize a new level of kinship and so they won't subsequently kill each other or have sex with each other'.
No problem. It is a done deal. I don't think the Tenerys and the Copelands will kill each other, or have sex with each other, for that matter.
In our western culture today, the definition of marriage is being discussed and legalized in broader terms now than it ever has before. However, my experience with it in America in the mid-20th century was personal and enlightening.
At eighteen in 1963, to me civil marriage first meant a sort of escape and liberation. I was no longer a legal minor subject to the whim of my mother. I could make some limited number of legal decisions -- open a bank account, pay my own (and my spouse's) debts, decide where I lived. I no longer had to iron my mother's clothes or eat the food she chose.
A whole world of choices opened up for me. My choices were only limited by economics and my ability to cajole my spouse.
Over time, we all learn that choices have consequences, and maturity and wisdom set in.
So my first experience was civil marriage and the legal, financial and social ramifications of new kinship relationships.
My second experience was sacramental marriage and the emotional and spiritual desire for commitment from a partner.
I gave both of these aspects of personal union a good 25+ year try. I was both betrayed, and was a betrayer, in the financial, legal, social, emotional and the spiritual parts of it all.
However, that does not stop me from yearning for success and contentment for my children as they swing round this merry-go-round reaching for their own golden rings of partnership.
My tale today has not much anecdote but much reflection, but it is how it is. I write because I ought to.
Ira contends that there are two components to this type of successful storytelling -- one is the anecdotal portion - a narrative of sequential events, and the second essential part he proposes is the 'reflective' comments about your narrative. One part without the other is boring. I think he is right and it works just as well for the written story as the audible or visual story.
Ira thinks that any storyteller who is struggling with a story is having a problem with either one or the other of these essentials.
I read Wil Wheaton's blog and he is working on writing on a more full time basis and finds as a beginner when he is working on a story he will suddenly realize that he has just rewritten a favorite story or a favorite tv episode. He is 're-telling' the same plots and narratives. At first, he wadded his work up and discarded his stories. Then a more experienced writer advised him -- 'there are only so many plots', keep writing your version.
Second thing he was told was write. Write all the time, write everyday. So he exercises on a website called Ficlet (http://ficlets.com/).
I tried writing these little (1,024 char max) stories and watched to see my stories be picked up with prequels and sequels several times. This means that I peaked someone else's interest enough to play the writing game with me.
So here I am, writing because I should. What's my topic, you ask?
Weddings
A couple of weeks ago here in Atlanta, my daughter Janel Adair Tenery originally from Dublin, California wed Russell Bradley Copeland originally from New Orleans, Louisiana.
My three children were gathered under the same roof for several hours and I savored and basked in the pride of motherhood.
Michael and Christine were there with Tania (visiting from Seattle) and with Nathan and Joshua. Diana and Larry were there with their amusing adventurous pirate dolly. And naturally, Janel and Russell were there with Jillian and Philip (the twins due to be born in November). Russell's family came up from New Orleans and it was a pleasure to meet them all. Also, a few of Janel's and Russell's friends came, too.
There was a sort of witnessing of instantaneous 'hand fasting' with the usual exchange of vows.
I recalled my entry-level anthropology class of years ago and the basic definition of marriage used there was an 'event to bring two moieties (clans) together to recognize a new level of kinship and so they won't subsequently kill each other or have sex with each other'.
No problem. It is a done deal. I don't think the Tenerys and the Copelands will kill each other, or have sex with each other, for that matter.
In our western culture today, the definition of marriage is being discussed and legalized in broader terms now than it ever has before. However, my experience with it in America in the mid-20th century was personal and enlightening.
At eighteen in 1963, to me civil marriage first meant a sort of escape and liberation. I was no longer a legal minor subject to the whim of my mother. I could make some limited number of legal decisions -- open a bank account, pay my own (and my spouse's) debts, decide where I lived. I no longer had to iron my mother's clothes or eat the food she chose.
A whole world of choices opened up for me. My choices were only limited by economics and my ability to cajole my spouse.
Over time, we all learn that choices have consequences, and maturity and wisdom set in.
So my first experience was civil marriage and the legal, financial and social ramifications of new kinship relationships.
My second experience was sacramental marriage and the emotional and spiritual desire for commitment from a partner.
I gave both of these aspects of personal union a good 25+ year try. I was both betrayed, and was a betrayer, in the financial, legal, social, emotional and the spiritual parts of it all.
However, that does not stop me from yearning for success and contentment for my children as they swing round this merry-go-round reaching for their own golden rings of partnership.
My tale today has not much anecdote but much reflection, but it is how it is. I write because I ought to.
# posted by Dornar @ 1:22 PM 
