Inspiring
Filed under Just Me
One of the celebrities in this sphere who inspires me is John Scalzi. Miles and miles away from Malaysia, this Science Fiction author's blog, Whatever, is remarkably humbling, and is the core from which I draw my ideas and writing values.
YOu see, as a writer, I am surrounded by mighty towers of concrete walls, walls that disallow the free rein of my ideas to be let loose.
Now I need to clarify that in my career, having to write under controlled circumstances isn't necessarily a bad thing… Personally I do not believe in total free rein, and the logic that 'You know what I'm going to whatever I want regardless…' doesn't click with me all the time. I trust in the necessity of barricades, and I believe creativity is best honed with some sort of shackles. The key is finding the differing routes to run around these barricades. That's where you get to play MacGuyver.
I've grown up in recent years. As a younger person I was very angsty and appalled at many things, and very often I would argue for the sake of argueing. As a school kid, I grew up with horrendous results in Mathematics (I only passed my Add Maths twice in both Form 4 and Form 5, and how I got the C3 for the SPM is still, beyond my comprehension). But fortunately, and thank God for this, my teachers thought that I seem to have a talent for language.
Perhaps it is by virtue of this that I chose to transfer from a pure science degree offered by a local university, to enrol myself in a language course. This isn't easy in a country where Arts degrees are scoffed upon as courses for the 'less intelligent'. Well, honey, not everyone is so lucky to be good in everything. A good part of my varsity life was spent rebutting questions by friends and boggled relatives who questioned, 'Why do you study English? Next time going to work as what?'
Truth be known, I hadn't any inkling what I was about to do. I knew however, one day in the future, I would be writing, or at least, dealing with books for a living. And so I answered candidly,'Too lazy to study, go study English easier. I'm not very intelligent with figures and equations you see.'
Today I'm being paid to write for a living. Not that I'm John Scalzi yet, and not that the salary is something to shout about. Writers are poor people, and we sell our intellectual property to ruthless vendors with no heart for pure creativity. Well, that said, those of you who work in the creative industry can probably vouch that we're poorly paid, and grossly misunderstood as 'playful people'.
What is wrong in being playful? I see nothing wrong in that. The sad truth is, at the workplace I am bound by rules and regulations, I cannot say half the things I want to say, and yet I truly believe this is a good thing. Fortunately I learnt about websites, and a few years ago, a friend suggested I start a blog. That story is overtold, and is obviously boring but oh, this is a personal post please bear with me on this will ya?
But I have digressed. The point is, I want you, Malaysians, Singaporeans to read Scalzi. If you keep a blog, and you have your ideals of what blogging is all about (i.e. I can blog whatever I want), even more so… Reading Scalzi will help you understand why this (blogging) is such a phenomenal catharsis in the scheme of Internet evolution. Like a growing community, it came up with businesses, conversations, noise… and then suddenly, an outburst much like a huge nuclear explosion resulting in the mushrooming of all sorts.
In the midst of this, remains the very personal, very lifestyle based thing call a personal site. Where were you again? Spending hours mulling over 'what to blog today?'
Back to basics, for people like me, that question doesn't bother us oh that much. Because to us this is a channelling of robust energy, the dilemma is more often than not, 'Shit where is my laptop and the Internet when I need it?' And Scalzi inspires all.
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Sep17
September 17, 2005 at 1:48 pm
i love scalzi, i wanna rip off his innards and make a pot luck, then maybe i’d be able to at least gain 1% of his insides.. err insight
thanks for recommending him to me ages ago.
September 17, 2005 at 2:01 pm
Hmm, imho Scalzi’s a good role model for writers, can really learn something from him. Look ma, no F-word!
My favourite quotes from skimming his blog (MS, ok to quote hor?):
“I still do write about whatever the hell it is I want to write about.”
“It’s better to write something banal, say, ‘my cat’s breath smells like cat food,’ than to write nothing at all.”
“(Quoted)If you’re not reading the comments, you’re missing out on half the fun.”
“I am indeed a petty tyrant” … “Usually the least-mannered person in a comment thread is me.”
September 17, 2005 at 5:35 pm
“I trust in the necessity of barricades, and I believe creativity is best honed with some sort of shackles. The key is finding the differing routes to run around these barricades. That’s where you get to play MacGuyver.”
Deliciously well said!
And yeah I read Scalzi. He’s on my bloglines.
September 17, 2005 at 6:02 pm
please invite me for the potluck too suan!
September 17, 2005 at 10:27 pm
Yeah…writers are poorly paid. Money killed my dreams of journalism.
September 17, 2005 at 11:57 pm
Minishorts, you are indeed fortunate to have found your calling and be able to work at it for a living, especially with regards to the arts.
(Being an arts graduate myself and currently directionless really sucks)
(Sorry for the rant); recommending two other interesting and ‘poetic’ sites for you and other readers.
http://yasminthestoryteller.blogspot.com/
http://readerseye.blogspot.com/
dreamer idiot: I have a no link policy but i’ll let it go this time… cos they’re worth reading. next time, don’t try this stunt yah….
September 18, 2005 at 12:49 am
No need to think la, it’s just a bloody blog.
what the hell, totoro commented before me again?
September 18, 2005 at 2:14 am
Hey there,
Where do I sign up to be another satisfied minnion of this Scalzi person? Please point this lost soul in the right direction.
I live by the mantra I blog about who and what I want. The rest of the people who find what I blog about offensive can just sod off.
Keep up the good work!
September 18, 2005 at 4:36 am
To wonder what to blog about is not blogging anymore, IMHO.
Most entries in any average blog are inspired by inpromptu flashes or mental recollection, or even triggered by instantaneous ideas which we feel ought to be noted. Hence, pick up the pen…excuse me, fingers ready and keyboard armed…fire away…
To study English instead of something else more conventional is not something to be ashamed of, but rather I will commend people such as yourself for taking up that challenge. Plus, language is the international bridging tool, plus you seem to be doing well now minishorts…;)
Keep up the good work! Cheerz!
September 18, 2005 at 3:35 pm
Imran: whaaa? you telling me keep up the goodwork or telling scalzi? urm… links are peppered all over the post thank you.
let me try this btw, since i’m at it:
Imran (and Baga), I must say I’m very honoured to have you grace my site. Ya cikgu, I will try my best to keep up the good work.
Suanie: did i offend the Gods or something? help.
September 18, 2005 at 4:26 pm
John Scalzi is a good example… I don’t deny that.
It’s true that most people tend to roll their eyes when they hear someone taking an Arts degree. But the thing that they don’t really understand is, not everyone is lucky and we are not perfect either. Duh man.
And moreover not everyone can write well.. If you don’t have the egde in it.. Then that’s it.
But you write really well. Honestly. Cheers!
September 18, 2005 at 6:07 pm
I’m praising you la. Don’t kembang ok. I have yet to visit Scalzi’s site. Will do soon.
By the way, who on earth is Cikgu?
September 19, 2005 at 2:56 am
Haha…like Imran, am praising ya too…;)
Well, will check out Scalzi’s soon and see what all the hype’s about.
anyways, blog on alrite! how i wish i were paid to write too! =P
take care! will be back soon…;)
September 19, 2005 at 9:49 am
kyels: you must really like drinking. yamseng.
September 19, 2005 at 12:06 pm
This will be a long quote, but it is in support of your ‘Restrictions’ idea. This is from the book, ‘Composing Music. A new approach’, by William Russo with Jeffrey Ainis and David Stevenson.
‘General Rules for Exercises …
11. Control and restrictions lead to creativity and expansion.
From time to time I come across a student who resists the restrictions of this book-especially the General Rules (to which not all of the given examples conform, it should be noted). Such resistance is understandable and you may be feeling it. But let me emphasize the reasons behind these restrictions.
Some restrictions give focus, focus on the procedures at hand – they keep you from having so many choices that you are unable to get in touch with your feelings and ideas…
Other restrictions are designed to keep you out of trouble…
I want you to be challenged, to feel pleasure and to achieve excellence.
Finally, these restrictions are a way of not having to pay attention to anything except what is deep inside of you-follow the rules and write the music.’
Both music and writing, being artistic have a lot in common. Restrictions in both lead to creativity, and don’t actually hinder it.
I think your MacGuyver reference is pretty apt. Working within boundaries (whether externally or internall impossed), is a great way to focus in on what you ahve to work with, and to use it to think outside the box.
We have a similar problem in Ausralia with people considering Arts as being a cop-out sort fo subject (which is why I started at University in Science Degree’s, as my parents and teachers didn’t want me spending time doing ‘art’). My father alwys used to refer to a BA (Bachelor of Arts) degree as a ‘Bugger All’ degree.
Chasing Science Degrees only lead to my unhappiness. I am so glad you were able to do arts at University. (And one day, I will go back to my Arts degree and finish it too!)
September 19, 2005 at 12:53 pm
Walao… Haha.
Anyways yamseng back to you!
September 19, 2005 at 6:38 pm
Thanks for the recommendation! I read that blog with great interest.