Elaborate Fictions

[gurdonark]

I've written before about what I call the "Missing Fact", which is the way I describe the process of recognizing untold backstory, and some cases supplying that backstory material by inference, as part of the listening process. When I read a LiveJournal, I'm always intrigued not only by what the journal tells me, but by the scads of questions I have, some of which I ask, but many of which I cannot in good courtesy burden the journalist with answering.

One thing I like about LiveJournals is their novel-like quality--that sense that the writer is mining his or her life's experiences to create a loose, informal elaborate set of fictions. I like reading an extremely diverse set of journals, which range from very day to day to very literary (and in one or two cases, almost frighteningly literary, in both senses of the word).

For me, the writing process involves a great deal of focus on both absolute truth and yet upon the literary fictions that can arise from truth. I am also intrigued, though, by what fictions and thoughts give rise to which comments from the kind people who weigh in on this modest journal.

I like the way that different posts give rise to different comments. If I write a post about a nature hike, then one set of my friends' list is much more apt to comment than another. If I write about my personal life, and teen and young adult romance (not that there was any great abundance of that in my little life), then I am apt to get a different set of commenters. My essays, which tend to be peoples' favorites and least favorites among my posts, draw the most comments. My slice of life posts, in which I describe what I actually do each day, are topped only by my poetry for the least comments. This rather confirms my notion that the world of ideas in which I play with purpose are far more interesting than the actual life in which I wander aimlessly. Among my poems, the ones that I like best often draw no comments, while the ones I find workmanlike sometimes draw the most. Of course, topical posts draw more comments, and esoteric, prolix "inner reflection" posts do not draw many at all. But now that I'm some 13 months into my journal, I must admit that I like the way that a journal, instead of a novel, allows one to literally keep a scrapbook of notions, bio, hopes and agonies. It's fun to jump from idea to idea, and it's fun to write a serious attempt at personal exploration in one post, and something airy light in the very next post. In my case, I even have the side journal, gurdondark, for posts which I consider too self-abnegating to bother with in the lighter main journal.

This LiveJournal habit is a curious drug to ingest, and a strange psychedelic to experience. But I like to be able to play with the colors in the kaleidoscope as I experience them, and the journal is wonderful for that.

Comments

[kenmora.livejournal.com]

Wow, a dark-side journal. I barely have time for 1 lj! But it's an interesting idea, maybe an artist's lj and one for the avatar of the mundane?

Hmmmm...

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I completely think that an artist's journal divided between finished works and process as well as your current journal would be fun. I find that having two journals does not double the burden, it just ends up splitting the number of posts in two directions.

I can't remember if you're a paid member; if not, and you need a code or two, please let me know.

What are y'all up to Wednesday night? I may be in town.

[platofish.livejournal.com]

Missing facts......yip....I think thats a big part of the 'human condition', not just in law, or in journals. In my work, I come into contact with some extremely smart, complex people. Part of the 'fun' is working out whats they omit. Their complexity, not their intelligence, make identification of the missing interesting.

Although, in saying that, sometimes, their 'smartness' makes motives, and underlying cause, smack-in-the-mouth obvious.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

Although divining facts is all well and good in law and in journals, I completely agree that it's a "universal" need. I'd argue that it's a more important skill in sales or engineering than in law or journals, because facts can be so much more crucial, in some ways, to divine. In law, at least,the stylized nature of the determination of matters permits facts to go ignored unless unearthed. In other words, if the fact remains omitted, at least the other side cannot use it against you at trial. But in a sales or academic or science forum? Quite the opposite.

I think that it is complexity that makes people so easy to ferret out sometimes, too. People are so darned clever, when sometimes a bit more thickheadedness would suffice.

bean no bean

[nancyjane.livejournal.com]

"People are so darned clever, when sometimes a bit more thickheadedness would suffice."

i couldn't agree more, but also, i get embarassed every time i realise just how thickheaded i really am :( :) ..

unafraid

[seraphimsigrist.livejournal.com]

Im not afraid(you mention some journals
as "frightningly literary") but I think your journal is
pretty literary! +S.

Re: unafraid

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

When I perceive my journal has "gone literary", then I do indeed get frightened :). Thanks, as always, for commenting.

paragraphs

[seraphimsigrist.livejournal.com]

well you know you have whole
paragraphs, and write in
a reflective way and so on...
If that is going literary it is not frightening
I think what one watches in onself, in ones
writing to the extent one is a writer, is for
anything that is 'inauthentic' that one is
saying which one does not have a right
to say, for insight or emotion unfelt or
unexperienced etc, not that would be
literary in a kind of bothersome way
although some people can not only
do it but prosper and get big checks
as lecutrers and animators at motel
weekends and I dont know what, the
I dont know what no doubt also includes
the envy of a poor man!
+Seraphim.

Re: paragraphs

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

Yes. I like the authentic and the inauthentic distinction you draw, although sometimes I am amused by people who write inauthentic work, label it as such, and set out to amuse!

Your journal is quite literary, and full of grace. I see you've written a book or two. With which should I begin from among your non-LJ work?

writing

[seraphimsigrist.livejournal.com]

well of the published in print ones
the 'theology of wonder' you can
get from amazon is the larger. It is
not long but it is not entirely simple
and has various kinds of discourse
and style...
the rainbow sermon must be from light
and life press...
thirdly is the translated japanese story
milky way railroad,
my book 'shimmering' is being shlepped
by my agent without much success but
it is not bad...
thats pretty much the lot, have a couple
of projects going...
forgive the self advertisement but you
asked :)
+Seraphim

[kelquestor.livejournal.com]

If you ever have any questions when you read my posts, please ask! "Asking a question is a good way to find out something you want to know" (That's Big Bird). Plus I am afraid I think I like writing about myself more than I like talking about myself!

Do you feel at liberty to divulge which 'one or two' LJs are 'almost frighteningly literary, in both senses of the word'? I'd like to take a look at what comes so close to scaring you. : )

I am also intrigued by your reference to journals as loose fiction. You've indicated before that you don't consider journals 'fact' (I'm still having a problem with that word!), but in the case of yours, isn't it selective truth rather than lies? In my own LJ, I try to be as honest as I can but truth, as I am wont to say, is a greased pig. And there's some things neither of us mention a whole lot.

Thanks to your post for giving me my nick for the week too : )

questions, answers, truth, fiction

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

"I like writing about myself more than I like talking about myself". This would be a nice counterpoint to Fred Rogers in your user bio.

I try to be scrupulously accurate in my posts, although I find sometimes that I need to revise something as my memory improves. I vaguely disapprove of "intentionally" fictionalizing a journal, although why I should have a prudishness on how others run their journals is altogether beyond me, and probably ignoble to admit.

But the novel quality is in the editing, I think. I'm sure my journal paints a picture of me, both good and bad, that is the result of editing. Not so much intentional, but not deniable, either.

Is that Mike with Emily Beth in the new userpic? Cool! Handsome fellow!

Oh, and as for literary journals, I think that the most literary one I read is muse, who is a just lovely writer, but also a writer who uses a great deal of allusion and "literary device". I think she's just a charming person, from the evidence of her journal, and I like that sense that she is densely packing her entries as a sort of living writing exercise.

Another one who writes a very literary journal is seraphimsigrist, whose posts would also be of interest to you. He discusses issues of grace and meaning in a way that shows, well, grace and meaning. I know he is also an author of books, and I'm very tempted to read one.

Oh, but you're a puzzle, aren't you? I like your posts very much, but I don't imagine I've ciphered you out at all! I'll have to think of pertinent questions, as time goes on. Perhaps you'll post some poetry--that can be revelatory.

What does "giving me my nick" mean? I am usually pretty good with Australianisms, but this one gave me my nick,f if my guess as to meaning is right.

Re: questions, answers, truth, fiction

[kelquestor.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I just typed a response, and lost it. I still don't remember to press Copy before pressing Submit every time. So, let's start again.

The novel quality is more about focus than detour from truth then? The thematic pattern woven into the fabric?

Yes, that's Emi B and her Dad, at one of my favourite local beaches, last summer, just over a year ago. You must have a better monitor than I to be able to ascertain Mike's looks - or are you being gallant? - as now it's userpic size, I can't see much detail at all in that photo, and was thinking perhaps I would not use it much beyond here...

Thanks for the info on muse and seraphimsigrist: I will subject them to closer scrutiny.
Reading you about the poetry - stay tuned.

Now, just to make sure I didn't miscommunicate in more than that final sentence about my nick: I don't want you to feel obliged to wrack your brains for questions to ask me! I just want you to feel free, if you are curious about anything, to ask. Likewise, I will tell you if I don't wish to answer. ; )

Now, about that 'nick'. I meant 'nick' as in 'nickname', that tag which appears below username on most people's LJ User Details page (few reveal their true lawful label there). Is there an equivalent American term? I don't think 'pet name' is quite the same. Sorry about the confusion.

I did like your interpretation though. : )

Nickname!

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

Mystery solved. We use nickname in the same way that you do, but we don't use "nick" the same way, at least I don't. I thought you meant "nickle's worth", which sounded like one of those odd abbreviations which reverberates through Aussie Slang, but instead it was just a fanciful inference of mine, bearing no relation to truth.

I think what impresses me about that userpic is that it's just such a family scene. That's very good, isn't it? When things look like a family scene. Now, see, that's a question I'd never ask, but never know---whether M. predates or postdates EB. I know M. was an old flame, but I did not know for sure he was her father. There was always the possible Mr. X on the scene, now departed, with M. picking up the pieces. I had a secretary who had just that happen once, although in her case it was a would-be rock star husband, who, upon being told of an unplanned pregnancy, managed to lose his meal ticket by laconically asking "you'd better get them to give you more time off, as you'll be doing all the child-rearing". As I recall, she moved from Hollywood to Oklahoma with a rodeo star soon after she decamped Mr. Never Will be a Rock Star. It's so hard to be a Would be Rock Star, you know, that it excuses you from common courtesy and resonsibility :).

Of course, I would never want to put poetry pressure upon you! You know that my view of poetry is that it is fun, or worthwhile to oneself, or it is not worth doing.

I do like Psychekelic, and now I get the joke. I'm slow on the uptake today. As for your personal novel, why not tell us about your childhood and teen years? I have the notion that you've a story in there, somewhere.

Misplaced words

[kelquestor.livejournal.com]

Ah, look what I found. I thought I had hit you with a poem once before, and I had perhaps assumed by your lack of response that it wasn't something that had interested you (breaking - for far from the first time - Kel's Rule 7a: Assume Nothing) - or possibly that you'd just never noticed it there at the tail end of all those great comments.

Anyway, now I've committed the same transgression twice.