February Was Quicksand

My January was so productive. But this month is sludge. A ton of essays have sloshed upon my desk, and I've focused on work instead of creativity. I let this happen despite my resolution to balance my teaching/grading with my books/plays. 

So now it's time to urge myself back into some sort of artistic routine. I was telling my Creative Writing students about how writing on a daily basis is a lot like exercising on a daily basis. If you stop exercising for a week -- or a month -- starting back up again can feel excruciating. For me, it is the same with writing. 

So, I'm going to start again by working on some smaller projects first. I'm talking picture books and chapter books. i do want to finish my time travel middle grade novel. However, because my energy levels will probably be depleted from grading these essays, I might not return to the book until after spring break.

I hope your artistic world is more industrious than mine right now. And if it's not, then let's cheer each other on as we try to drag ourselves out of this quicksand known as February. 

Henrik Ibsen: Master of Muttonchops

You have to admire a man who tries out a wild hairstyle in his youth...

And then full-on commits to it throughout old-age.

Bless you, Henrik Ibsen. Bless you and your magnificent muttonchops!

I Guess It's That Time of Year

Yes, it's essay grading season, once again. All weekend long I have been keeping my nose to the proverbial grindstone, grading as many papers as my little brain can handle. But deep down, what i really want to do is this...

My Favorite Russian: Anton Chekhov

What I love most about the work of Anton Chekhov is that two people can read the same Chekhov story, and one reader may burst into tears while the other giggles uncontrollably. He mixes playfulness and sorrow so well, it's hard to tell how to interpret his plays and stories, and that's part of the fun.

Born in 1860, Anton Chekhov grew up in the Russian town of Taganrog. He spent much of his childhood quietly sitting in his father's fledgling grocery store. He watched the customers and listened to their gossip, their hopes, and their complaints. Early on, he learned to observe the everyday lives of humans. His ability to listen would become one of his most valuable skills as a storyteller.

 

(He was the third child out of six...) 

Despite economic hardship, Chekhov was a talented student. In 1879, he left Taganrog to attend medical school in Moscow. At this time, he felt the pressure of being the head of the household. His father was no longer earning a living. Chekhov needed a way to make money without abandoning school. Writing stories provided a solution.

Chekhov the Playwright: 

In 1896 The Seagull received a disastrous response on opening night. The audience actually booed during the first act. Fortunately, innovative directors Konstantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danechenko believed in Chekhov's work.

Their new approach to drama invigorated audiences. The Moscow Art Theatre restaged The Seagull and created a triumphant crowd-pleaser. Soon after, the Moscow Art Theatre, led by Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danechenko, produced the rest of Chekhov's masterpieces: Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard.


Happy Valentine's Day -- Love, Anton!

The Russian storyteller played with themes of romance and marriage, but throughout most of his life he did not take love seriously.

He had occasional affairs, but he did not fall in love until he met Olga Knipper, an up-and-coming Russian actress. They were very discreetly married in 1901.

Olga not only starred in Chekhov's plays, she also deeply understood them. More than anyone in Chekhov's circle, she interpreted the subtle meanings within the plays. For example, Stanislavski thought The Cherry Orchard was a "tragedy of Russian life." Olga instead knew that Chekhov intended it to be a "gay comedy," one that almost touched upon farce.

Leo & Fyodor

Most portraits you see of Leo Tolstoy portray his "old man" phase...

But check him out when he was in his early twenties!!!

This is perhaps the most famous painting of Fyodor Dostoyevsky...

 

Here's a sketch depicting his younger days... 

 

What is a Protagonist?

A World Building Exercise

The world is exactly the same except... (insert your own difference and run with it...)


Here are some examples:


The world is exactly the same except 4th place and lower in the Olympics results in death.


The world is exactly the same except everyone is blind.


The world is exactly the same except Thomas the Tank engine is real and he's angry!


The world is exactly the same except the entire planet is a golf course.



The world is exactly the same except no clocks or calendars (or recorded time).


The world is exactly the same except every U.S. citizen must serve two years as a postal employee.


The world is exactly the same except fish can talk and they are as intelligent as human 4 year olds.


The world is exactly the same except aliens have arrived and they are obsessed with soccer.


The world is exactly the same except the older you get the less you can hear/understand music.


The world is exactly the same except single-celled organism will obey you if asked politely.


The world is exactly the same except nobody ever touches the ground.


The world is exactly the same except colleges accept students based upon physical appearance.


The world is exactly the same except your ghost inhabits the object nearest your corpse.


The world is exactly the same except humans are terribly afraid of flowers.


The world is exactly the same except mosquito bites give you temporary amnesia.


The world is exactly the same except you can only visit one place outside of your hometown -- once in your life on a two week free vacation.