Haiku Writing

So the method of writing a haiku was actually very interesting and a bit more difficult than I expected. The form, goal, and execution of such was very interesting, intricate, and it gave me more to apply to my other writing as far as the discipline goes.

It was all more or less what we learned in our class, but so refined and with a few extra goodies thrown in. I'm not sure I would spend the majority of my life trying to perfect and master the art, but it was fun and very interesting. The overall process was just refreshing and simplistic.

Haiku Talent

I observed something that made me laugh. The reason I find this particular happening funny is most likely just due to my lack of understanding of the whole process of writing a haiku, symbolism therein, etc.

Whenever you mention "moon", "tortoise", "spring/summer breeze", you're automatically seasoned. You have mastered the art of talking about common Japanese icons in that culture. In the very least, you've managed to squeeze it in there somehow.

Does it make sense? Not to me. It simply sounded ridiculous, and recalling the way it was read still makes me want to start laughing!

Brain mush

After a certain hour, it's nearly impossible even to keep up with great, flowing ideas. Why is it that such great inspiration always comes when it's the most difficult to articulate? Of course, there are instances where inspiration comes ideally in the middle of a writing session.

The difficulty lies in having other occupations; other things that take up our time and brain power. By the end of the day, sometimes it's just too difficult or too inconvenient to pick up the pen or open the text document. Even if you get that far, it's a matter of how long you can keep your eyes open and how much sense you can make out of your sleepy jibberish or even keep track of what's going down on the page. It's hard to progress if you can't understand your own writing! I say this from personal experience.

Special time must be made, and managing ourselves the best ways we know how will lead to a successful, disciplined lifestyle. Let the brainpower flow!

To love and lost...

We have several experiences in life dealing with love (some more than others). Some cases have serious commitment and attachment to them, with a willingness to sacrifice anything and everything. Other cases are simply blown up fantasies fueled by infatuation. Regardless, the "emotion of love" is largely used in the artistic realm. Music, writing, painting, etc. I suppose the only fear is this: will your art express the elation of love achieved or the absolute anguish of love lost?

I wonder how many people truly grasp what love really is. I wonder how different art and the world as a whole would be if they did.

Heartbreak is inevitable. How you deal with it is the key. Just as easily as people's writing is rejected, some people just aren't suited for certain others. That doesn't mean there should be a bitterness there, but rather encouragement that there's still someone that will fit, even better than before. I'm preachin' this just as much to myself as anyone else who cares to read it.

Complacency

I'm getting the urge more and more to move forward and get on with my life. In the process, though, I've realized that all that does is keep my future in the future and the present slipping beneath my feet. I want to write a great story, but unless I do something about it, it won't happen. I'm used to getting by, so that's just what I do.

I'm just gaining my passion back. Seeing my vision on paper and getting some sort of response out of people again from my writing... this is great! I have something to strive for now! I have something to fuel my creativity and drive me past my limitations.

I know this passion needs to be everywhere in my life, though. Everywhere I'm at now is something that needs to be overcome and dealt with before my future can come at me. The more passion I focus on the mundane, the quicker and more efficiently I reach my goal and fulfill my potential. I just need to wake up.

The Perfect Story

I'm not accomplished in writing... not yet. Saying that, I also recognize the fact that I don't know what it would be like finally getting a few books out there and then coming to a stop. I don't know if I would be satisfied, or be in anguish if I wasn't able to proceed. I heard one writer say that she was scared that she had peaked and would never be able to top her last work. I don't believe that is possible.

I have purpose in writing. I want to reach people. Even if some of my books are simply to entertain, if I entertain some people, then who cares if those books hit the best sellers list? It would nice, for sure! But as long as purpose is attached, I don't think you could ever stop topping yourself. Value is more than the sales number, and the amount of fan mail you receive.

Did you reach your goal? Did you make a difference somewhere? Is the world a somewhat better place than when you started? God has me here for a reason. If I can't answer those simple questions with a smile on my face at the end of my life, then I'll be afraid. But I know that's not an option and I know I'm not the kind of guy to give up, even when the mountains to climb get too high to see over, and visible from a mile away.

I guess the point is this: we're not perfect, so how could we possibly create something perfect? That being said, without perfection, there's still a higher standard; you can top imperfection. The fear is simply in whether or not you want to give up before you get the chance to best your "masterpiece".

Standards

I touched on this before, and I believe it is deserving of a bit more of a delving into. There are so many expectations and so called "requirements" to be a "real writer" is or should meet in order to be acknowledged as such. Dedication to writing every day for instance. Beneficial? Yes. Necessary? No. So many contradictory statements like this are made, not that those who speak them say otherwise as different times, per se, but that lifestyle eventually will, if it is any sort of balanced lifestyle at all.

There is a "one thing" in everyone's life that should be focused on and adhered to, according to priority. But that doesn't make it the only priority. Other things take precedent in a person's life than that one thing, though it does demand the most attention than most. I, for instance, love writing, but my focus at this point is motion graphics and animation. Do I get to do it every day? No. Why? Because of school, work, home chores, leisure time, etc. Does it make me any less of a motion graphic designer? No. Does it hinder the quality of what my work could be if I devoted my entire waking existence towards it? Of course, but that doesn't mean that I'm not worthy of the title or am incapable of a good job.

"You're just making excuses for yourself." No, I'm giving an explanation with a common scenario in my life right now. I have a solid defense, and I believe that people stuck in their own thinking are, in a sense, full of themselves and pompous. I watch tutorials online to learn new things. The ones I watch may have read a book. Just because our methods are different, it doesn't make us any worse than the other aside from existing skill, talent, and experience. Many people now believe "one way" is the "right way" to achieve good writing, and in the creative process... that's just plainly stupid. I have the fruit of achievement in my own life by my own methods, and I'm happy to hear if someone else has produced any in their own experiences by their own means.