My name is Lily Frain. I wish I could explain to you "how" to write, but to write the unspoken rules of literature would in fact be destroying one of writing's fundamental secrets. Perhaps less of a secret, in fact, than an underground network of those who can access the infatuating liberties of understanding the depth of words. The most I could reveal to you is a personal anecdote or a piece of advice to help you on your path. When writing, one must understand every possible word that fits in the sentence you're trying to create. The connection between words is the connection between you and your reader. There are always multiple ways to write every sentence, and a writer is the person who can distinguish the most powerful way to convey the words. For example, "Yesterday I was swimming when the sun set over the dock," is one way to say it. However, this sentence doesn't really resonate. A writer would know there are thousands of possibilities to explain the moment. One could be, "Tendrils of sunlight peeking through oak leaves grazed my body as I dipped beneath the surface of water." This is, in my mind, the most important rule of writing. To SHOW the reader what is happening, to project an image or situation through detailed description and profound examination.
I believe my work "3DSP Final Draft" or "Alice in Underland" illustrates this quality. Because it is a short poem and has a rhyme scheme, detailed illustration is difficult. However, this is why it takes effort to show and not tell. The poem begins "Alice in a blue dress" seems very bland. This line, if you read between the lines, this is a reference to the story Alice in Wonderland. Alice always wore a baby blue dress, illustrating her innocence. The poem goes on to follow Alice's brief life, describing Alice's short childhood, commitment to an asylum, and death. In the form of a child-like jingle the poem warns people of a haunting figure, Alice.
My second favorite piece is "Renee Stout Ekphrastic". This poem is an ekphrastic piece based on an artwork by Renee Stout. The art piece was a caged heart, outlined into a human torso by silver pieces of metal. My Ekphrastic piece shows its story, all told frmo the perspective of the art. It talks about being jealous of the soul filled humans who can walk and talk and live for real. I would love to go further with this poem, maybe have it fall in love with a human or something.
My third favorite piece is "Short Story Draft One". I have a full story written and uploaded under "Max and Addie". This story is about the life of two young children who are best friends, but very lost. They have a secret world in their treehouse. Both are beginning to age, and hitting the naive early stages of puberty as Max begins to feel for Addie. This is a story of rebellion, youth, hope, bad parenting, and all together the view of the world from a twelve year old's eyes.
My name is Lily Frain. I wish I could explain to you "how" to write, but to write the unspoken rules of literature would in fact be destroying one of writing's fundamental secrets. Perhaps less of a secret, in fact, than an underground network of those who can access the infatuating liberties of understanding the depth of words. The most I could reveal to you is a personal anecdote or a piece of advice to help you on your path. When writing, one must understand every possible word that fits in the sentence you're trying to create. The connection between words is the connection between you and your reader. There are always multiple ways to write every sentence, and a writer is the person who can distinguish the most powerful way to convey the words. For example, "Yesterday I was swimming when the sun set over the dock," is one way to say it. However, this sentence doesn't really resonate. A writer would know there are thousands of possibilities to explain the moment. One could be, "Tendrils of sunlight peeking through oak leaves grazed my body as I dipped beneath the surface of water." This is, in my mind, the most important rule of writing. To SHOW the reader what is happening, to project an image or situation through detailed description and profound examination.
I believe my work "3DSP Final Draft" or "Alice in Underland" illustrates this quality. Because it is a short poem and has a rhyme scheme, detailed illustration is difficult. However, this is why it takes effort to show and not tell. The poem begins "Alice in a blue dress" seems very bland. This line, if you read between the lines, this is a reference to the story Alice in Wonderland. Alice always wore a baby blue dress, illustrating her innocence. The poem goes on to follow Alice's brief life, describing Alice's short childhood, commitment to an asylum, and death. In the form of a child-like jingle the poem warns people of a haunting figure, Alice.
My second favorite piece is "Renee Stout Ekphrastic". This poem is an ekphrastic piece based on an artwork by Renee Stout. The art piece was a caged heart, outlined into a human torso by silver pieces of metal. My Ekphrastic piece shows its story, all told frmo the perspective of the art. It talks about being jealous of the soul filled humans who can walk and talk and live for real. I would love to go further with this poem, maybe have it fall in love with a human or something.
My third favorite piece is "Short Story Draft One". I have a full story written and uploaded under "Max and Addie". This story is about the life of two young children who are best friends, but very lost. They have a secret world in their treehouse. Both are beginning to age, and hitting the naive early stages of puberty as Max begins to feel for Addie. This is a story of rebellion, youth, hope, bad parenting, and all together the view of the world from a twelve year old's eyes.
Highlighted Works
1. 3DSP Final Draft2. Renee Stout Ekphrastic
3. Short Story Draft One
4. Open Poem
5. Final Six Word Memoir
6.Feature Journal Entry 1
7. Feature Journal Entry 2
8. Ten Commandments of Writing