oh alvaro: per virginia wolf's thoughts on rhythm in writing, it occurred that the rhythm you (and she) describe reminds me of my own song-smithing, when it comes to lyrics. i strive to have the lyric feel comfortable (what seems to a listener, perfectly right) rolling out of a singer's mouth as the song unfolds and is interpreted. sometimes, i even give up "rhyming" in a lyric if i sense the (sung) words don't have an easy delivery, as such. sometimes, complicated wordy lyrics feel right, but for me, that is a tough order. i like the words to come out easily and mesh, blend with the accompanying music that supports the lyric. when i hear a song that really works for me, it's as if those lyrics are the only possible lyrics (in the universe!) that work and they are so right for the song. alvaro, we luv your work. keep going! ur fan, j.
It's always a pleasure to read your comments. In the end, this same thing you say is what I do when I read my own Substack texts and what Virginia was reflecting on, the 3 of us are talking about the same thing.
When I read my texts, I always read them out loud, listening to the rhythms, how the sentence sounds and whether or not it becomes difficult to read until the next pause. I like it to have a nice rhythm, both content and form are important in writing and in music.
Thank you, Alvaro, this was awesome. I especially related to the last bit about reading whatever you want instead of what someone else recommends. So very true. It's the best way to cultivate your voice other than actually writing; you read genres and styles that appeal to you, learning their rhythm. Then you move on to writing your own stories/poems, not copying theirs, but learning from the authors.
Lately, I've been learning a lot from substackers who write haiku and flash fiction: 50 and 100 word stories. Excellent exercise is tight writing. It's fun and unintimidating and magical. Also, strangely, writing blurbs on Facebook about the events of our lives is similar to what Virginia suggests. Writing about those little moments in our days is good training too.
Those ‘moments of being’ she was talking about have also been key for me. When someone asks me how they can start writing or be a writer, I always recommend starting a journal because of this very idea. Journaling is the perfect excuse to write something every day. Something from your day to day, precisely. It trains you to write and also to be more observant, to notice the details and to reflect on the effects of the everyday, just what Virginia was thinking.
That's why I consider the diary the essential practice to start writing. Virginia's very powerful idea.
thank you, alvaro.
I hope it inspires you! :)
oh alvaro: per virginia wolf's thoughts on rhythm in writing, it occurred that the rhythm you (and she) describe reminds me of my own song-smithing, when it comes to lyrics. i strive to have the lyric feel comfortable (what seems to a listener, perfectly right) rolling out of a singer's mouth as the song unfolds and is interpreted. sometimes, i even give up "rhyming" in a lyric if i sense the (sung) words don't have an easy delivery, as such. sometimes, complicated wordy lyrics feel right, but for me, that is a tough order. i like the words to come out easily and mesh, blend with the accompanying music that supports the lyric. when i hear a song that really works for me, it's as if those lyrics are the only possible lyrics (in the universe!) that work and they are so right for the song. alvaro, we luv your work. keep going! ur fan, j.
Hi JaCee! :)
It's always a pleasure to read your comments. In the end, this same thing you say is what I do when I read my own Substack texts and what Virginia was reflecting on, the 3 of us are talking about the same thing.
When I read my texts, I always read them out loud, listening to the rhythms, how the sentence sounds and whether or not it becomes difficult to read until the next pause. I like it to have a nice rhythm, both content and form are important in writing and in music.
Nice insight.
Thank you, Alvaro, this was awesome. I especially related to the last bit about reading whatever you want instead of what someone else recommends. So very true. It's the best way to cultivate your voice other than actually writing; you read genres and styles that appeal to you, learning their rhythm. Then you move on to writing your own stories/poems, not copying theirs, but learning from the authors.
Lately, I've been learning a lot from substackers who write haiku and flash fiction: 50 and 100 word stories. Excellent exercise is tight writing. It's fun and unintimidating and magical. Also, strangely, writing blurbs on Facebook about the events of our lives is similar to what Virginia suggests. Writing about those little moments in our days is good training too.
Hi Sue! :)
Those ‘moments of being’ she was talking about have also been key for me. When someone asks me how they can start writing or be a writer, I always recommend starting a journal because of this very idea. Journaling is the perfect excuse to write something every day. Something from your day to day, precisely. It trains you to write and also to be more observant, to notice the details and to reflect on the effects of the everyday, just what Virginia was thinking.
That's why I consider the diary the essential practice to start writing. Virginia's very powerful idea.
She was a gifted writer. Her suicide letter is so well written. It is a shame she could not overcome her demons.
I haven't read that letter and I'd rather not...