Many red devils ran from my heart
XLVI, The Black Riders and Other Lines by Stephen Crane
And out upon the page,
They were so tiny
The pen could mash them.
And many struggled in the ink.
It was strange
To write in this red muck
Of things from my heart.
First of all, I want to say a huge thanks to friends, family, and strangers who have looked at my site. It does me a lot of good to have a dialogue about what I write or, at the very least, to have my writing in the open. For twenty years teachers have asked “who is your audience?” I’ve always replied that it was just them! Finally, my audience is something more than that and can strike the fear of God into me. I can’t become a better writer by sitting in my cave, talking to myself, and spilling beer over the next draft. No, talking with you and the newfound accountability an audience carries has breathed some life into me.
Speaking of which, I have had no life for criticism on reading and films in a couple months. To start, I have only conquered a couple new books and films this year. Crime and Punishment, Barry Lyndon, Lolita, and Eyes Wide Shut are all works of art that live in my heart now. What better way to discover what I have learned than to let the red devils run from my heart onto the page? It’s strange indeed.
So there is that and my university experience was probably 95% in literary criticism. As a result, I have found that style of work beyond university to be a bit exhausting and creative writing all the more exciting. And that brings me to the next section of this check-in.
Being a rookie to creative writing, letters have been a relatively quick and painless process to try my hand at creative writing and see a finished product. In homage to Seneca’s letters to Lucilius, I intend for each to read as an essay from an older man to a younger man. In this sense, they are familiar to me. I’ve written hundreds of essays yet, this time, it has to be my own philosophies and I have to learn how to characterize. They are like training wheels for creative writing.
Nonetheless, I believe I will rekindle my passion for criticism soon (maybe return to a half-finished copy of Hard Times and The Temple of the Golden Pavilion too) and I hope to continue my letters series and eventually move into more ambitious creative projects like short stories. That being said, let me know what you want to read! I owe it to you for your kindness.
In closing, thanks again and I hope you’ll stick around.
Regards,
Liber
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