Chapter 2: Voice
The Warm-Up on the first page has a drawing by Saul Steinberg similar to the one above (I couldn't find the exact image in the book, but I got close!). So, based on either the image above and the image in the book on page 36, you should complete the Warm-Up as follows (reply with your creative response in a comment):
Write a few sentences that might be coming out of the mouth of [at least three] of these characters. What is each likely to be talking about? What do the drawing styles suggest about the voice, vocabulary, sentence structure, and tone of each?
(See this and more drawings by Saul Steinberg here: http://www.saulsteinbergfoundation.org/index.html
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6 comments:
Aaaaaaauuuuhhhg. Technical difficulties. I hope I don't have to type this a fourth time...
Now then, the impressions I got from the picture in the book include that of a haughty professor (Mr. Blocky), a self-important church grandma who passive aggressively pressures everyone to attend every day ever (Old Fancy), and a hostile shrewish wife (Firewoman). I can easily see my own words being curly, like ivy, with periodic breaks and sharp corners. Everybody has a different way of speaking. Some will fly in, slow and careful, landing gear out and their parachute already on. Many are more like smart bombs. If there's a point, they're hitting it. Then there are those who remind me of String Theory. What are you saying? And why to me? I don't know you. Go bother someone else.
I bet this is easier to respond to after class on Tuesday . . . :P Corey, you rock for being the ONE who took a stab (even in the midst of all of your technical difficulties). I heart your character names: Mr. Blocky, Old Fancy, and Firewoman . . . they need a short story together . . . maybe a short story of sex and murder . . . ;)
The question is - Can we give them words? Their own monologue? Maybe sit them on a bar stool and under a spot light? I will extend the due date for this one. Get it up by next week! I'll get one up too!
So, Mr. Blocky walked into a bar. Firewoman is already there arguing with Old Fancy over something. Intrigued, he approaches and orders a martini.
"I don't want to be a part of your happy little fuckin' cult." Firewoman was saying.
"We're just trying to bring back the light in your life, to show you the one way shown to us by Jesus, our Lord and Savior." Old Fancy continued proselytizing. "Why would you shut us out so rudely when we're only trying to help you?" She looked absolutely distraught.
"Because a church is shit-full of pointless. I hate wasting time, and you're wasting my time." Appearing soulless as ever, Firewoman downed another shot of liquor.
"I'm so sorry. I really am only looking out for what's best for you..."
Before the argument could continue, Mr. Blocky stepped in with practiced efficiency. "Ladies, ladies, cease your hostilities, for I have conjured up an elucidation to you quandary. It's an elementary matter of fabricating profit from said metaphysical endeavor. My own clarification is to chaperon some beneficial enterprise within this happening." He pushed up his glasses, grinning already from the praise that was surely forthcoming. Both females simply stared.
"What the flying fuck?" asked Firewoman eloquently. She quickly moved to another section of bar, yelling incomprehensibly about peace and quiet. Old Fancy looked at him a little bit longer than that. "I don't have the money for whatever you're selling, Mr., but I hope sincerely your own Church is a good one." She, too, left.
Another problem solved through the application of intelligence.
Amen. Wonderful. :D I can't even try to top this. I might have to pick another character all together ... Maybe Mr. Tangent of the Angles and Mrs. Flip de Fleur are trying to have a romance . . . ;)
On another note . . . Another example of "voice" (by a friend of mine published in StoryGlossia) - Barry Graham's "Whatsoever a Man Soweth (Bloody Mary)" - new, hot stuff (Barry likes to be offensive - so prepare yourself): http://www.storyglossia.com/38/bg_bloodymary.html
I would've already found Mr. Tangent's voice, but I am in the process of grading 50 narrative essays. :( sigh. Hopefully, this will be what I do for a break in a couple of hours ...
The man, I will call him Mr. Serious.The woman on the left in the picture is his sister, I will call her Lovely Lucy an artist and socialite, the total opposite of Mr Serious. Mr. Serious is a very hard worker and is stressing about a project at work when his sister comes to visit him. His sister is very laid back and easy going compared to him, and that is just a little irritating to him in many ways.Lovely Lucy suggests to her brother Mr. serious," to just relax and focus on nothing, and that may help you to let the ideas flow must easier." She leaves and he ponders her simple idea of relaxation and it makes him think that maybe she could be right, but as stubborn as he is he just ignores her advice. His wife on the other hand(the one on the right in the picture) "Agree with your sister and thinks it would be a good idea for you to release some stress". His wife is a good woman and always thinks with her heart, which is not always good for her but it works. I will call her heart full Helen, She says to him" Its a marvelous idea to go to a relaxing spa or something I will go with you if you would like? We will have a wonderful time relaxing together and it might do us some good too." Mr Serious thinks long and hard about it. He says to his wife," whatever you want dear make the arrangements we will go this weekend." She replies with excitement "Oh goody!" Heart full Helen says." I know you will love it!"Even thought Mr Serious needs it, he is very spectacle, but trying to please his wife he goes and hopes for the best.
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