tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post4765021362187067880..comments2024-01-24T11:41:28.022+00:00Comments on A Cuban In London: Of Literature and Other Abstract ThoughtsA Cuban In Londonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423293358605007539noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-33564264027152438632015-03-22T00:24:05.925+00:002015-03-22T00:24:05.925+00:00Now I am going to have to read Pullman... But I d...Now I am going to have to read Pullman... But I don't think I would agree with his abosulte position about writing and reading.sagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17499891950639742366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-83582593273809046812015-03-21T03:09:03.734+00:002015-03-21T03:09:03.734+00:00Pullman's essay about the nature of writing a...Pullman's essay about the nature of writing and the responsibilities of a writer is excellent. I agree with "the most important responsibility is to serve the story, to serve my imagination, and not expect the story or my imagination to serve me, or my principles, or my opinions." However, this may not be entirely applicable to, say, business or legal writing, which while sometimes using imagination, must necessarily bow to the specific objectives and principles. <br /><br />Regarding the relationship between the writer and reader, I have a nuanced distance between my views and Pullman's. While the writer's primary objective is to create the best-written story he can write, there still exists a relationship with the reader that can't be dismissed. In order to communicate effectively, the writer must endeavor to understand her audience. As a result, there is a sort of subliminal "dialogue" between writer and prospective reader taking place as the piece is being written. <br /><br />For another interesting take on the writer-reader relationship, I encourage you to read Sartre's essay Why Write? In it, he talks about the interaction between the writer and reader in the creation process, saying that “the [writer’s] creation can find its fulfillment only in reading, since the artist must entrust to another the job of carrying out what he has begun.” Of course, Pullman is more focused on the craft of writing, whereas Sartre is addressing what constitutes a final product in a dynamic philosophical sense. In any case, it's worth a read.<br />Judith Mercadohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13739476600999112092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-14952751819640582362015-03-21T00:18:28.183+00:002015-03-21T00:18:28.183+00:00I think, as in most things. there's going to b...I think, as in most things. there's going to be some overlap happening in your anarchy-democracy concept. As a writer, I want to write the kind of book I want to read, but I also want readers to like it, so the book, at best, can serve as a connection, a type of communication, between us. So while I strive to please myself, I also think of a book as a gift from writer to and for readers. <br /><br />Interesting post! I'm looking forward to reading your happiness post.:)Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-28765458155798506412015-03-20T22:07:03.727+00:002015-03-20T22:07:03.727+00:00Your points are very well made. I had not heard ...Your points are very well made. I had not heard of Philip Pullman, sad to say. Your post causes me to seek him out.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07366010389846904663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-77642922645955863192015-03-20T20:51:14.990+00:002015-03-20T20:51:14.990+00:00Agree with your second paragraph 100%. Let's a...Agree with your second paragraph 100%. Let's also not forget about the "success" factor, as in financial success. That definitely puts an extra degree of pressure on the writer.<br /><br />Greetings from London.A Cuban In Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16423293358605007539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-22909495487462718192015-03-20T20:50:00.780+00:002015-03-20T20:50:00.780+00:00The process is beautiful. From ideas to paper, bac...The process is beautiful. From ideas to paper, back to brain, back to paper and to relatives or friends, agent, back to brain, back to paper. It's a continuum, you're right.<br /><br />Greetings from London.A Cuban In Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16423293358605007539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-89137066582046138062015-03-20T20:48:20.170+00:002015-03-20T20:48:20.170+00:00You do come across as a very sensitive, perceptive...You do come across as a very sensitive, perceptive and humane writer in your poetry. I guess this is an example of a writer who is in tune with her inner reader. :-)<br /><br />Greetings from London.A Cuban In Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16423293358605007539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-37597212183991360652015-03-20T20:47:03.246+00:002015-03-20T20:47:03.246+00:00Keep at it, mate, maybe one day... :-)
Greetings ...Keep at it, mate, maybe one day... :-)<br /><br />Greetings from London.A Cuban In Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16423293358605007539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-40937380538664526162015-03-20T20:46:36.923+00:002015-03-20T20:46:36.923+00:00Totally agree. That's why I think writing is a...Totally agree. That's why I think writing is anarchic somewhat. It respects no rules nor boundaries. However, at the same time the author reins him/herself in. Whatever causes this control is worth exploring. Thanks.<br /><br />Greetings from London.A Cuban In Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16423293358605007539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-67530361650673751172015-03-20T15:28:35.425+00:002015-03-20T15:28:35.425+00:00I think it's a blend of both but I also believ...I think it's a blend of both but I also believe that writing is about communicating but not necessarily with just the reader. Writing can be communication with the author's self and the readers join in. Writing just for readers tends to be one-dimensional and not be as inspired by the creative force.Fly Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18191335990973494972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-75560354092404062652015-03-20T10:16:21.806+00:002015-03-20T10:16:21.806+00:00You can't be a good writer if you're not a...You can't be a good writer if you're not a reader I think. I haven't read his essay yet. I'd get to that. :)Lux G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00557863683608790087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-86237284847041065982015-03-20T04:38:03.492+00:002015-03-20T04:38:03.492+00:00Sounds like a great article. I only know Pullman t...Sounds like a great article. I only know Pullman the novelist... Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-78223762416246684332015-03-20T02:48:13.609+00:002015-03-20T02:48:13.609+00:00I have read almost all of pullman's novels -- ...I have read almost all of pullman's novels -- many numerous times. He is an extremeky good writer and there seems to me to be always a pull between the despotic and the democratic in his work-- with a very strange appeal given to the despotic yhoihj usually the cruelty is too muxh. I am sorry to be typing on an iPhone-- I'll look for his essay. Thanks. K. Outlawyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15698845661756444061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-15703109001588759902015-03-19T22:29:55.769+00:002015-03-19T22:29:55.769+00:00lol, I stick to my images and science :)lol, I stick to my images and science :)NatureFootstephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01340635075481959029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-82919698166737807292015-03-19T15:12:04.651+00:002015-03-19T15:12:04.651+00:00I write to get the ideas out of my head. But if I ...I write to get the ideas out of my head. But if I got rich, then i might write more for the reader lol fat chance of that thoughPat Hatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07745293224202430152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-48413285930165475882015-03-19T14:34:25.709+00:002015-03-19T14:34:25.709+00:00I had no knowledge of Philip Pullman before readin...I had no knowledge of Philip Pullman before reading your post today...and it has certainly given me much to ponder.<br />Exactly who does a writer write for?<br />Perhaps it varies from author to author. <br />Obviously, for a piece of written work to be a commercial success the writer must write for the reader...but as every reader is an individual, so most likely each will form a different picture of what is being read in his/her mind, that rather contradicts that theory...and what one person may really enthuse about, another may absolutely loathe.<br />So I guess I can only speak for myself. I write purely for pleasure...because I love to express myself (as best I know how!)...but then, I am not writing with the aim of targeting any particular market.:)Ygrainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00300519608303898969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-92149624852703745712015-03-19T10:02:39.987+00:002015-03-19T10:02:39.987+00:00I agree with Fram Actual's opening comment. A ...I agree with Fram Actual's opening comment. A writer shouldn't write for him/herself but for the reader, otherwise why write at all? Perhaps I should read more about Pullman.Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12099030819314552958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-54653186513544044792015-03-19T09:09:47.548+00:002015-03-19T09:09:47.548+00:00Without having read anything by or about Philip Pu...Without having read anything by or about Philip Pullman prior to today, I think the final word of any written piece always belongs to each reader individually and to the majority of readers collectively.<br /><br />But, writers do not all write for the same reasons and readers do not always read what writers write for the same reasons, so the point is moot from my viewpoint other than in terms of commercial success. <br /><br />Sorry, CiL, but being located in the colonies, I never have heard of "The New Humanist." Must be something Brit .... teasing ....<br />Fram Actualhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01540773153894050197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-40025372501296687682015-03-19T08:48:31.953+00:002015-03-19T08:48:31.953+00:00I think it's a continuum - when I tackle a fir...I think it's a continuum - when I tackle a first draft it is just me and the notebook and I can scribble whatever I like. Slowly, as the edits develop, I have to think about the reader - allow him or her into the arena, if you like. Not that I'm going to try write something just because someone wants me to, but to make sure my words say exactly what I want then to say. <br /><br />And then it's gone - into the lap of the reader - and becomes something else again. It grows into a different piece in each reader's head. As the writer - I have to let it go.JOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03127111575563904349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-55215185490695008122015-03-19T07:48:22.105+00:002015-03-19T07:48:22.105+00:00Definitely a mixture.
What I take from a piece of ...Definitely a mixture.<br />What I take from a piece of art (what-ever its form) is going to be different to what anyone else takes away. As a consumer, I am a kind of despot. A despot who hopes she will contine to grow.Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-43653972008213497382015-03-19T00:33:32.396+00:002015-03-19T00:33:32.396+00:00I actually heard Pullman make this controversial p...I actually heard Pullman make this controversial point in person when I was on my Oxford Sabbatical in 2007: http://blog.sarahlaurence.com/2007/11/philip-pullman-on-writing-myth-religion.html. I think he made a valid point that the author (mitigated by the publisher as you rightly add) has control until the reader takes over. Writing fiction has opened me to the idea that readers find stuff that I never planned and that is an exciting part of the process. It's like a blog with comments. Think how different the process would be if you couldn't hear our responses.Sarah Laurencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00423008641739156182noreply@blogger.com