Sequential if not linear thoughts, comments, and insights.
Very short fiction.
Email This Post
Call it Blink Fic, or as I perfer call it a “Smudge”, but I am becoming very interested in very short fiction. This is 50 words including the title.
We Could Have Been In Mexico.
That would seem right. And there were these two sided matchboxes painted red. Open one side, a Saint, open the other, the Devil. But I know I would bought have some and there aren’t any here now, so maybe I am just making it up.
by- Doug Mathewson
Filed Under Running CommentaryDouble Decker Book Review
Email This Post
The Honk and Holler Opening Soon by Billie Letts
The Circus In Winter by Cathy Day.
Cold and flu season soon will be upon us. Everyone treasures “snow-days” to
stay warm and cozy, catching up with a great book. But what of “sick-days”? Seemingly
near death days of jumbled thoughts, muddled actions, and CVS generic tonics. Days
you are too sick to even follow day-time TV. What do you read then? A fortunate few who may still have their Archie and Veronica comics, but for everyone else may I suggest the following two short novels. Read them in simultaneously or individually, it matters not. The flat characters are so lacking in dimension the reader can shuffle them like two pinochle decks. A slipstream merger of these two tales might well produce a more intricate, and interesting story.
The Honk and Holler Opening Soon (Guilford Library Book Sale $3.00) is without question the better of the two books. Plot and style are both enjoyable. Our story centers around a small diner owned by a disabled Vietnam Veteran. Life is quiet till a mysterious woman in a short skirt, carrying a three legged dog, emerges from the night.
The characters are predictable and cartoonish as they pass from front cover to last page, but, I liked them. The reader should not hang big expectations on these good folks, the humorous parts are entertaining and that is enough.
The Circus In Winter (Broad Street Books, Middletown, Final Clearance Table $1.98)
outlines the history of the Great Porter Circus. A lesser know big-tent show that toured smaller mid-western towns in the late nineteenth century. The snapped chalk-line of a linear plot does not allow the reader to stray far as they get increasingly bored. How can a circus book be dull? The images of life behind the scenes were very interesting. Details of a post Civil War circus touring America are revealed through biographies of the performers and their families. This information redeemed the book for me. I found the side-show people much more interesting than the star performers. My favorite chapter follows a young man hired to portray a ”Pin-Head.” He marries a delightful woman who performs as both the circus Fat Lady, and “The Zulu Queen.” They and their children to follow establish a “Lost-Tribe,” (discovered apparently by the shows promoter), and toured for three generations.
During long winters, when the show would not tour, the performers who appeared so exotic are shown to be everyday people, just with unusual employment. Each short chapter follows a different performer, making finding your place easy after dozing off in a Day-Quil haze.
Those among us who love books regard an unread stack as “money in the bank.”
These two books are more akin to extra boxes of kleenex, great to have on hand when needed, but only pick them up when on sale.
reviewed by-Doug Mathewson
Filed Under Running CommentaryA Day In The Life
Email This Post
This piece was written for the Creative Soup Project instalation “A Day in The Life” which I was very happy to participate in. The rest of this project may be viewed at: www.creativesoup.org
Every fall at some point I re-stick all the stickie notes on my fridge. I had a little time before work and wanted to get it out-of-the-way-as-they-say. Some notes could go, even ones I’d had up for years. “Fix eight-track player in VW bus” no longer carried the urgency or relevance it once did. Same goes for “Arturo, cat feed.” Do I know an Arturo?, or is Arturo the cat? I can’t seem to bring either one to mind. Other notes will stay as they have for many years, Duct tape, even the new clear duct tape, looks forlorn and haphazard in the kitchen so I don’t use that. I thought of fiber-glassing over my oldest notes, but what if I needed a new refrigerator? The doors would surely not interchange. 3-M dry-mount adhesive spray from the art-supply store works well on these tattered missives. I may need my many notes with their cryptic amendments. “Write great book! (one that makes sense this time) and get rich! (explore more on how to…), those two had to stay. I needed room for something new.
One of the daily papers ran a photo of President Elect Obama hugging a young Iraq Veteran in a leaf strewn Park. She would have been on tip-toes to meet his embrace as he bent to meet hers. But she had no toes, or legs. Two carbon-fiber replacements were clearly visible between her warn flat shoes and her thrift store coat. Barack’s expression showed such a depth of compassion. His eyes, the set of his jaw spoke of his understanding, and of his intense resolve.
The picture is now eye level on my fridge. It’s like a book-mark, a kind of place holder. It reminds me where I left off yesterday in my revived commitment to be a empathetic and compassionate person. That’s more important, I think, than all the rest. Including the problematic Arturo, who might or, might not, be a cat.
by-Doug Mathewson
Filed Under Running CommentaryWord Count Madness
Email This Post
Tuesday Shorts is a delightful place to spend time, even if it’s not a Tuesday.
The shorts being under 100 words, and publication occurring every other Tuesday.
Recently Editors Kristen Tsetsi and Shelley Rae Rich requested shorter pieces.
Specifically 20 word Tongs and 6 word G-Strings. These were my submissions.
The girls are all cell phones and tongs.
The boys gush Hot Wheels action.
It’s so great teaching Middle School.
What’s that music you ask? Well, I’d say it’s
either Philip Glass or, a test of the
Emergency Broadcast network.
“You Wouldn’t dare shoot’” – Bang! Bang!
Filed Under Running Commentary
Two For A Penny
Email This Post
Here are two very different versions of a story. Different enough to me to be viewed and treated as two different pieces. Cezzane’s Carrot out of Santa Fe was kind enough to publish “Eyes” which is the earlier work. I read “Eyes” at several book store open mic events and people had problems with talking seals.Or at least seals that our central character could understand. While I am not concerned with catering to the “Reader’s Digest Large Pint Edition” crowd, I wanted to maintain a sense of “magic-realism” so communication became all visual and limited for the most part to human people.
All people are people, but not all people are human people is something I believe. Some audience members thought he would become a deer, some thought she would become human. The two central characters are neither man nor deer. They are two halves of something much bigger and far beyond even the concept of the individual.
There is a strong element of redemption in both versions. Oddly I have written several stories of late that involve redemption of one kind or another. In addition, two of these are, “Safe Harbor” which appears in The Boston Literary Magazine, and “Ekphrastic Riff” which may be found at riverbabble.
Peace – Doug Mathewson
Keyboard Call
Email This Post
National poetry month was a real eye-opener. Poets great and small threw wide their doors and invited us in. I had the opportunity to hear many people with whom I was not familiar read their work. Two that stand out are Yvonne Murphy with her insightful, scholarly examination of language and Laurelyn Whitt who writes of languages lost in her exploration of interstitial space. I also enjoyed the works of several
other people, but did not catch their names. An older man recalled the wildflowers that were his childhood companions, and a chance meeting in the town library with a young reader who explained whales. Another poet wrote passionately about the loss of a loved one, stolen from him by AIDs.
Among the anti-war poems was written by a Korean Veteran. The horror as fresh today was it was in 1953. The memories still so vivid he could only to sing his poem in faltering monotone to keep his tears at bay. I was impressed by these fine writers and by the community they share. I only wish those of us who write prose could have such a community as well. There seem to be any number of ongoing “slams” and “open mic poetry” events to be found. Theirs is not on-line social-network, just real people reading aloud to each other on a regular basis. In part it is envy I feel. That and impatience with my self for gaining three pounds over the month (dam you with your home-made cookies and imported cheeses). There were eighty seven listings of upcoming events for this month on the state wide poetry calender when I checked. “Google-stalk” as I might, I could not find one prose reading.
I offer a call to action to writers of prose, flash fiction authors especially, since our work lends itself so well to being read aloud, to promote a local reading series. Use any means available to get out the word. Flash Mob Flash Fiction? Ask your local book store or cafe which evening of the week is totally dead and If you were to bring in at least five friends who might, just might buy something could you have ninety minutes for a monthly short fiction extravaganza? Make it a contest, tell people lies, include yodeling or look-alike contests if that helps. Younger crowds seem to love break-up stories, worst boyfriend/girlfriend stories. Just do not make it sound like school. For an older crowd try memories, reminiscences,- finding god while walking on the beach is always popular – (did he wash up?). Make it themed! Let’s post our posters and fly our flyers. Local direct action is what we need to do.
There are a couple of poets in my area who write pretty good short fiction, they just have the punctuation all wrong and think it is poetry. Maybe we can rope them into it as well.
Peace – Doug Mathewson
Filed Under Running CommentaryBalance
Email This Post
Attending poetry readings, book store events and various art functions over the past few months has given me the opportunity to share the thoughts and opinions of many creative intelligent people. It will take me at least another month to sort through the untidy treasure trove that issued daily from my pockets and now overflows an old fashioned wicker laundry basket with notes, programs, business cards, gallery literature, poetry books, and crazy drawings that were my pocket’s daily issue. During the same period of time what I have been reading has been very thoughtful in nature. More serious writing, more introspective works than what I might usually consume
One observation, one conclusion, that should have been long apparent has finally now emerged. Depression, withdrawal, isolation and endless self inflicted emotional trauma are of less than no value. This mindset, this pattern of behavior is one of immaturity and self indulgence. Often enough we hear that an individual is responsible for their own happiness. I conclude the same goes for unhappiness. We are each responsible for that as well. This is not the same as failing in ones search for happiness
and satisfaction in life. Imagine taking in an injured stray cat or dog. You may not have created the situation, but the responsibility for what happens next falls to you.
Grief, pain, heart-break, and suffering are very real but accept them at their face value only and nothing more. Joy and sorrow, the love and hurt we dispense and receive should be not be weighed on the inflexible scales of blind Lady Justice. Our familiar neighborhood butcher would be better suited for the job. We find comfort in his greeting and easy smile. We have an awareness of his ever present thumb, always at the ready to influence the scale so a proper balance for us all may be achieved.
The personal touch, a thumbs worth at a time. We each have our own internal scales, no two alike, by which we judge our lives.
Live, love, prosper, steady others when they seem about to fall, and keep one hand free, your going to need your thumb.
Peace – Doug Mathewson
Filed Under Running CommentaryComing Attractions
Email This Post
I was going to call this entry Smooch – Smooch Kiss-y-face, probably because of the moive title “Faster Pussy Cat, Kill – Kill”. But on consideration, I did not want to detract from what should be said. March 2008 will see my work appearing in The Boston Literary Magazine, Door Knobs and Body Paint, eMuse-zine, and Six Sentences. I wish to thank these editors as well as editors who have published me over the last few months. I especially am very grateful to people who are kind enough to find the time to give insightful, specific, well considered advice and criticism whether they publish me or not. Thank you to the following people and publications.
Robin: The Boston Literary Magazine.
Jen: Creative Soup.
Leila: Door Knobs & Body Paint.
Llewellyn: eMuse-zine.
Elizabeth
and C.M.: Pen Pricks Microfiction.
Rob: Six Sentences.
Kristen
and Shelly Rae: Tuesday Shorts. And most of all,
Gemma: The Museum of Rain
Sincerely, Doug Mathewson
Filed Under Running CommentaryPerceptions of Receptions
Email This Post
Often news stories describing art gallery openings or artists receptions are about the venue and the attendees. Who wore what, who was escorted by whom, the band, the cheese and crackers, the gallery owners, but rarely it seems about the artists or their work. Most sound like “red carpet” interviews. The author never seems to actually go inside. Look at what passes for entertainment news. Which film grossed highest over the weekend. That is business news. Read the Los Angles Times for a closer look at the production and promotion side of movie industry.
Reading artistic mission statements is always fun. They make great poems. Make one up and read it aloud. But surely there is a journalistic balance that would be interesting and informative. Personally to see the art and the artist together helps me to understand them both so much better.
At a recent i-park Open Studio program I met two exceptional artists. Art and the whole creative process continues to fascinate me.
Claudia Borgna is an international art gypsy (gypsy in the romantic American sense, not the sometimes derogatory European sense) who travels the world making art with her recycled plastic bags. This is far more exciting than it sounds. The impact her outdoor installations is really impressive. She keeps expanding farther and farther on natural themes with unnatural (man made) materials creating hyper-natural environments.
Dhanur Goyal www.penandinkcreations.com is a relaxed soft spoken man until the topic becomes art. Both he and his pen and ink drawings are as fierce as the bengal tigers of his homeland. Work from his show “Lost in a Lost World” is incredible. To me there are elements of Sgt. Peppers and Salvador Dali in Dhanur’s powerful images. He depicts human nature so strongly. He showed an image of two people sharing a single face. He explained that two people become one person when they argue. The more I stare at his work, the more intrigued I become.
by – Doug Mathewson
Filed Under Recommendations, Running CommentaryCreative Soup
Email This Post
Welcome to our friends at Creative Soup. Please visit them often via provided link or go there now www.creativesoup.org They are a creative and imaginative group of local artists who always seem to have something going on. There is much to explore here. Creative writing is most in evidence. Contributors offer their own work as well as participate in group projects. Join their mailing list to be included in what may be described “art missions”. Their upcoming writing project sounds fascinating and should be of interest to anyone who likes very short fiction. The conspiratorial aspect of these projects has tremendous appeal. Also I have had the pleasure of watching Martha Link Walsh as she creates her art and it is amazing.
Doug Mathewson
Filed Under Recommendations, Running Commentary