Discovering

So earlier today I had an English Class, not a creative one, just a class on structure and format for nonfiction works. The class while teaching the structures of MLA and other crucial necessities wound down and I ended up leaving thirty minutes early. As I left I met with an old friend of mine and we wondered around campus before he was forced off to class in some subterranean floor: bizarre. Though as we walked we talked of the things friends do- girlfriends, life, bullshit, and then we both agreed on the unease we were feeling of the mundane yet uncertain world we live in. We talked of ourselves and the world of curiosity and apathy and pretty much what we intended to do with our young lives.

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I’ve noticed when I stray from creativity I grow cold and uncertain. The world I’m faced with everyday is a lot grimmer and coarse without a daily outlet to diffuse and abuse daily activities. For two months I’ve wondered down a shallow path- my fingers became unknown to the cramps and wear of plastic keyboard keys, my guitar grew dust-clad and bored, and my mind fell dormant (well a little bit). This past week I’ve delved deeper into my own work and have begun a campaign of writing, music, and reader to further stimulate my mind. Why does this matter? Well I think creativity is something far more necessary to the state of mind of humans than we give it credit. To escape the dreading day and tiring hours of the night we can utilize our minds to create something from nothing. Never in this world is something created from nothing except when we use our mind and forge ideas and thoughts from abstraction to concrete to reality.

What is writing? But an attempt to discover ourselves wound deep between white spaces in seas of daunting texts and hoping someone recognizes the similarities to draw a parallel. See, I have written since I can recall, because it has been my calling, but now I find it a necessity to express free thought and resume daily life.

 

I live for creativity, do you?

Writing for the Commercial Cause

Being back on the wagon (writing wagon that is) is as fun and exciting as ever seeing as I’m working on some non-fiction work for a collection I’ve been working on read more here and have been plucking away at various poetry and even a bit of fiction. This new surge of creativity is helping me keep sane with the onslaught of college work and mundane Jersey life that comes with winter time, but I have taken a step towards a new journey. I consider myself a creative writer, but right now this creativity is not paying the bills (yet!!), but I have discovered something that with loads of effort and luck might just do that:  FREELANCE WRITING!

Yes I know, some of you may scoff at this idea, much like eighty percent of people look down at the premise of writing as a career, but there are quite a few people who make a modest living from writing. Of course I want to be a novelist, but while I work on this lengthy projects I might as well keep my eyes peeled for some writing jobs, perhaps grant myself a platform and some income.

I’ve been granted the first opportunity today for a small token payment, but money is money, and in this dwindling economy everything counts.

Has anyone else attempted to enter the freelance writing field? Any success? Would love to hear from some people about this.

 

And as an aside, I will be attending the AWP Conference in Chicago on February 29th is anyone else showing up?

 

Damian

Life After the Web

The twenty-first century is a web of interconnections between hosts and consumers- a never ending flood of information painted across LCD screens. The internet has eloped with beautiful technology to provide a near essential outlet to the communication highway. Everyday we stroll around with our smart-phones in our pockets and laptops in our bags. Computers live within every house hold, sometimes several in a room. Multiple monitor displays. desk tops, net books. tablets, and even video game systems linger in a space that has consumed our culture. The internet has provided an endless  outlet to anyone who wishes to express themselves and find others like them.

The last several months I’ve lived away from this network. My laptop’s power supply destroyed, my home computer occupied by greedy hands, and my phone company attempting to strangle me to fill their coffers. But it’s hard to say that I actually miss it. Well, let me rephrase that- it is a commodity I would love to have, but it doesn’t kill me the way I had imagined. Sure, I love browsing the web and spending countless hours watching youtube videos or blogging, but the outside world always brings its own bag of goodies.

Outside of glossy monitor displays and away from the click-clack of keyboard keys the world still lingers outside full of life. A world of community, love, inspiration, creativity, and work, and school and blah blah blah and other bullshit. But I have discovered that a month or maybe two away from the succubus-like- social landscapes of the internet really isn’t as evil or heartbreaking as it may seem. Since the semester has started I’ve been writing my ideas down on paper! I know the very idea in the 21st century is so hard to swallow- the idea that paper may still be used for practical meanings rather than recycling.
I’m typing this post on the family computer during the morning hours as to grasp the only peace and tranquility of the day. Someday soon I’ll be able to purchase another computer and fix my laptop, but until then I’ll be just fine walking around and scribbling down ideas and daunting words on busted notebooks and paper pages.

 

Could you last a day without the web?