Read And Run

          Something that is always odd is how the intelligentsia drum up critical reading. Often times, to instruct younger minds on what specific subtext means they will use classic literary works from authors such as Salinger. If Salinger knew about this he would strangle every last one of them. A while ago he wrote a letter of praise to "anybody who reads and runs." He like so many other creators holds the belief that art is entirely subjective. The artist will create a work out of a particular expression or reflection, but the audience will see what speaks to them.
          Teaching children how to read subtext is the same as to teach them what to think. If a writer wants you to think on something specific, it is overtly present. An example is Salinger's Catcher in The Rye. The work has been examined, dissected, and molested in English classes throughout the nation, but only two main points were highlighted for discussion. Firstly, the theme of the book, the confusion, self-realization, and insecurity that comes with growing up slowly overpowering the innocence of childhood. Second, but perhaps most important, the popular people, intelligentsia, and vox populi are more often than not phony. This includes teachers of universal thematic extraction. - Cheers, and if I ever want you to discuss a theme in a work, it's in bold.

The Pain of Dyed Hair In Florida

          This one isn't going to be related to writing, but rather a journal of a personal struggle. I am one of those individuals who keeps my hair new and exciting colors. Right now, my hair is gradient of blue, so that's fun. This does come with a multitude of complications. For about the next week, until all the excess rinses out, the tub of my shower will look as if I had been committing ritual sacrifice of Smurfs.
          Another problem comes from my place of residence itself, Florida. Which is always hot, and is most accurately described as sweaty. I do not have my beloved Ford with me so I walk, or ride my skateboard to get around. This process leads to voluminous amounts of sweat. This little beads of despair like to carry dye that still sits on my scalp and transport them all over the freaking place. By the time i get to where I am going I have runoff in my ears, nose, eyes, and covering my face. I look like I was at the center of a blueberry themed frat house hazing, in that teal vomit is commonplace and it gets everywhere. Don't ask.

A Time For Writing

Not everyone has the luxury of being paid to write full time, or the ability to attend an art school with a writing program. That does not mean that are not writers. Everyone is a writer, even your grandmother's racially insensitive Facebook posts are written works. One might think that in order to write their passion project novel they would need a vast amount of open hours over several months. Well, yes, and that is a large commitment. I would instead suggest short, or flash fiction. Take an hour, or a day off and write a story under a thousand words. If you have an open weekend, write something around five-thousand words. Write stories and throw them at the internet. Self-publishing has never been easier, and you never know what might just catch on. Cheers.

Regarding Your Creative Writing Habit

          In recent weeks, I have noticed quite a few people say that they are not writers. I find this to be a most grievous fallacy. What they probably meant to say is that they are not a professional writer, or are not classically trained in writing. It is true that their work might not be on a professional level, or as well written as one who is classically trained, but they can still write habitually. I would state that all humans tend to be habitual writers. Even if their works are music, debates with friends over text, or just witty microblogs on Twitter, they are still working the same mental muscles. There are many explanatory works that describe the health benefits of writing, one such article is here: http://apt.rcpsych.org/content/11/5/338
           The issue I find most common in these writers-in-denial is that they have yet to find a muse that gives them that creative spark. In quite a few of my more recent posts, I stated that a lot of my creativity comes from listening to music. Most writers require a similar sort of muse. Something that they can focus on and infer their own creative story, without knowing the exact story behind the subject. Some people find that they develop off shooting stories from film, or existing books, or by looking at nature, or historical monuments. My personal creativity comes from music, and people's faces. If I find someones face particularly attractive or interesting, I will awkwardly stare at it for a moment, trying to think up what their story is, or what story their face fits in. You can imagine how that goes if the subject is keenly aware of their surroundings. Some of my inspiration also comes from personal trauma, which I explored in my last bit of short fiction, published last week.
          By now, you have probably noticed that the title of these post was aimed at YOU, but the rest of this discussion used plural pronouns pointed at the ubiquitous 'them'. That is due to the more argumentative nature of the first two paragraphs. This one here, is my personal advice for anyone looking to become more creative with their writing. Take time to explore different possible muses. Listen to albums, in their entirety, marathon several films, go on a nature walk, or even just explore your own city playing that dumb Ingress game, and notice the history around you (Personally, I'm waiting on Pokemon Go). If anything impacts you in such a way that you cannot help but feel some sort of emotion, take time to write. Just a simple paragraph that explores your emotions at this time, or, perhaps, it's a treatise for a story, or a poem, or song. Just create. Do this as often as possible. This will train your mind to view things in a creative light, and let your imagination roam more freely than those people we call 'adults'. Of course, we know they are just repressed writers.