Message
In a writing workshop I once took, the
literary novelist Ethan Canin told us that reading is "about connecting with a
sensibility." This resonated with me as
a writer because I know that when something I read compels me, it's because I
feel like I'm connecting to a certain world view in a piece of writing, a
specific take on a timeless theme, a fresh, original voice. A teacher I had in college used to like to
say "there are no new plots, just new characters" - and I'd like to take that
one step further. New
sensibilities. Lucky for all of us
writers - each of our sensibilities is truly individual. No one else in the wide world sees the way we
see - through our unique experience, through our distinctive eyes.
And that's the heart of point of view.
Not just who's telling the story or how
it's being told but the entire world view that an author translates through a
piece of writing to a reader.
Different readers connect to different
point of views, to different sensibilities. It's why I can read something and think "Wow, this engages me. I'm
hooked." And the guy sitting next to me
in the café can tell me he couldn't get through it. It's two sensibilities connecting - or
not.
So that's why I think Point of View is
essential as a writer and a reader.
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 Every
Soul a Star
by Wendy Mass
Every Soul a Star is a lovely little
tween novel
(that taught me a lot about astronomy actually) where three unlikely
friends
bond over common circumstances - they are all at a campground to see a
solar
eclipse. In its own Breakfast Club-like
way, it explores the nature of friendship and differences in a sweet,
straight
forward way. But I think what I loved
most about this book was its setting - such a great little random
campground
and the natural phenomenon that gathers everyone there. Most
importantly, it made me want to look up
into the sky - and everyone should be reminded to look at the sky.
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 Writing Exercise
Look up.
What do you
see?
Write a
poem, a story, an essay - anything. Have
it start from what you see up there in the sky - stars, clouds, sun,
sky, dark
trees against evening sunset. What. Do. You. See. ?
Remember: Point of View. It's what this newsletter's all about. And your POV is
unique. This means make sure to write whatever is
coming to your mind. Accept. Don't block.
Accepting
vs. Blocking: When I was a drama
teacher, I used to talk with my student actors a lot about accepting vs.
blocking in an improv. This means
basically that you say "yes" to what your scene partner brings to the
moment,
rather than blocking their ideas. Sometimes saying "yes" to the first
impulse
is what creates a truly original idea. I
urge you to say yes to whatever comes to mind when you look at the sky. The other night, I looked up at the sky and
swore I saw a purple dragon drifting there. I'm pretty sure his name was
Jasper and he was looking for the
market. Had a late night purple dragon
craving of some sort. So, write about
what comes to mind - even if it happens to be a purple dragon with the
munchies.
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 Outside Reading School Project
After
reading the novel, write a 1-2 page response to the following question: What part of the sky are you? Are you a constellation? Are you a
single star? A cloud? Are you a meteor? Explain. Now, choose one of the characters in the
book. What are they? How are they similar or different from
you? Explain.
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 Songs for a Teenage Nomad
by Kim Culbertson
Sourcebooks Fire (September 1, 2010)
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