Of Big Noses, Narrative Dreams and Write-a-thons

[mallorys_camera]

Ellen Datlow took this portrait of me at Lucius’s memorial. I look old, don’t I? Of course, I am old. And I was fighting back tears.

It’s rare that I get to view myself in profile. What an awfully big nose I have!


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I remain in this non-verbal stupor. The To-Do list has reached staggering proportions. I do whatever must be done, whatever has floated within range of the chronological woodchopper – If you don’t do this, you are fucked! – but ignore things even six inches down the conveyor belt. Every morning I think: Today you’re gonna be really productive! Every evening I stagger into bed having accomplished absolutely zilch.

I am writing the feasibility study, which is absolutely bor-ring, Zzzzzzzz-- thwank. Seraphina shocked me last Friday by announcing that she was thinking of creating a paid position based on my recommendations, so I guess I better start taking this shit seriously.

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Last night I dreamed I was conversing with the usual disembodied shimmering pillars of radiant light about the way the Universe works, and they were explaining the way brain circuits are organized so that narrative is the dominant force in human psychology. Not being up on brain anatomy, I promptly forgot this explanation when I woke up. What I do remember, though, is that they explained that people in Western cultures used to be obsessed with religious stories, but that since religion is playing an increasingly minor role in people’s lives, people have now become obsessed with television and movie franchise narratives. Television is now playing the same role in Western life that Christianity used to play, in other words.

They also noted that the reason why Islam is such a wildcard is that its prohibition of images (idolatry) is essentially a prohibition of narrative.

“But what about The Arabian Nights?” I asked.

Indian folklore, they told me. Couldn't be published now.

Huh.

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Also, I signed up for this year’s Clarion Write-a-thon, which is a fundraiser for the wonderful Clarion West Writers Workshop. In 1993, I won a scholarship to Clarion West – never would have been able to afford to go on my own! – and it literally changed my life. Most awesome introduction to the nuts and bolts of writing evah!

I’m writing up the horror story about antidepressants-destroying-the-karmic-balance-between-good-and-evil I told myself while wandering through Queens last week.

Apparently, there is no place to post what you’re actually writing on the Clarion Write-a-thon website itself – which is ridiculous, organizers! – so I will be posting that story as it evolves right here on LiveJournal.

If you want to donate to support this effort, please do. Small amounts are fine.

Comments

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

Well, it was a wake, so I figured it was a celebration, right? Red testifies!!! :-)

And just a note here to let you know, I am lovin' yr LJ.

[melissa-maples.livejournal.com]

And I yours! I think we make a great match.