…I found A SHORT HISTORY OF MYTH by Karen Armstrong on my bookshelf. I’ve already devoured it, of course, complete with all my notes and scribbles in the margins. But I haven’t touched the book since 2005 when it first came out. It’s the first in a series of international myth retellings by international authors, which is a huge and wonderous undertaking. I believe there are over 35 publishers collaborating what was started by Canongate.
Because I moved from one country to another, I let these little ships slip from my radar. I have read the first two fiction titles in the series: WEIGHT by Jeanette Winterson (retelling of Atlas) and THE PENELOPEID (retelling of Aeneid from Penelope’s pov) by Margaret Atwood.
I LOVE these stories with every wisp in my soul.
Sometimes things are so obviously in front of me.
I’ve been questioning my writing lately. Do I want to attempt world-building when others are so much better? How do I suspend disbelief when ‘fake it till you make it’ doesn’t apply? Why am I so drawn to legends, myths, folklore, kung-fu? ;)
Here’s the thing: ”There is never a single, orthodox version of a myth. As our circumstances change, we need to tell our stories differently…”
“…mythology will not succeed if it concentrates on the supernatural; it will only remain vital if it is primarly concerned with humanity.”
Okay. I’m convinced. It may seem like a lofty goal–the retelling of myths–but I like having somewhere to aim. Just going to keep at it! What about you? What are you reading that is inspiring? What are you working on that is getting under your skin?
I’ve not heard of that series. I’m mighty intrigued. I shall dash off to Amazon momentarily.
As for the questioning of your writing, dude, after reading a masterpiece, something brilliant and unique and lovely (I know you’ve recently read Daughter of Smoke and Bone, for example), we ALL go through a moment of Why Should I Even Bother. But, here’s the thing. We ALL have our uniqueness about us, our own stories to tell that ONLY we can tell. The trick is to keep expanding our creative journey, to continue to grow, to practice, to dig deeper, reach higher, follow the colorful trail of our imagination further…and further still. Most of all, follow your heart.
I’m so glad you are convinced to go after your lofty goals/heart.
Love,
Lola
Lola Sharp, what would I do without you?
Seriously, you absolutely perceived the thing. Daughter of Smoke and Bone just filled me to brimming…and I’m trying not to let it all back out. A lot of my inspiration is reactive, but I don’t always want to write that way. Still, I am going to plough through, thank you for the encouragement and the smiles. xx
Oh, I love what Lola said! So true. Those moments of “Why should I even bother?” are so hard to get through but I think they’re necessary in order for us to see how strong we are, to see how strong our gumption, our desire, is to create no matter what.
Thank you for saying that, Madeline. “to create no matter what.” love this so much.
Putting the series on my list of reading material. Questioning your own work means you care about what you are writing. That’s really all I can add to what Lola and Madeline have already said.
I’ve ordered a bunch too, trying to catch up. The first three are spectacular. Joelle, I love what you’ve added because it helps me want to stay focused. Thanks, mate!!
I haven’t read the books you mention, well to be exact, not even heard of them, you know by now how illiterate I am, but trying hard to learn something. And as “there is never a single, orthodox version of a myth” neither is of a melody. Melodies derive all like ones from the others, like coming all from the same “mythical” song, or something like that. I wouldn’t have used the word myth myself but it came like handy
but I do play the piano and that.
Well, then, I’d just started hearing the beautiful Kathryn Williams song, beautiful, I knew I had heard the melody, the basic melody of the song (then it gets a bit mixed up) but comes back a couple of times still. I had to think hard like 2 minutes, and I knew. Even I had posted it in my little PencilandBox, talking of my little beautiful Mediterranean island. I have now heard both songs a couple of times and it is not the same thing, the same rhythm, but I’m sure you’ll understand what I say. It is like when you know you have meet someone or something sometime before, maybe in another time or life of whatsoever. Well, and I am the one who doesn’t give a d… for this things. But I thought you might like sharing these things.
http://pencilandbox.blogspot.com/2011/07/spot-formentera.html
About inspiring reading I’ve just finished “Fear and Loathing: on the campaign trail ’72″ by Hunter S. Thompson. Again, I hadn’t even heard of him. I bought the book together with some others on a sale rack at Borders I think, nearly on price only, and then it got lost somewhere, and god it’s the best thing I had read since the Catcher in the Rye. I am certainly under its spell right now,. I’m sure it can be felt even in my writing. What does all the trick? I don’t think is what you are writing about or nothing like that, it is that you really believe in what you are telling, in the absolute need to tell it.
I should write about these things, and not my stupid travel postcards (my secret, I do it for my children, in case some day they read it, may be when I’m dead, and remember how hard I tried to make them happy). God, this is more than what I write in my blog in a month!
One more thing, so you know, your blog is inspiring, now and then, nobody is perfect
yes, good ear! They have the same tone of voice, which, actually I have never heard a comparison to (until now, thanks!!). Kathryn Williams is British musician with a steady (perhaps small) following–she often plays in little villages in the south…Frome, etc. A friend introduced me to her music about ten years ago and I go through these obsessive periods where I listen to her albums over and over.
…best since Catcher in the Rye? that’s excellent! I love how little treasures have a way of being handed around or fallen upon in seemingly coincidental circumstances.
Thank you also for the encouragement to “absolutely need to tell.” That’s a good test for any project!!
I like your “stupid” travel postcards. You actually say a lot with very little, like a true poet. And, yes, your children will appreciate it.
Thank goodness I already had a confessional with you about the state of my reading/writing yesterday, or else I might be tempted to ramble in the comments here…
Smile. Have fun. Write.
Ooh, I’ll have to borrow that book from you.
I’ve seen your worldbuilding and I love it. I know it can be intimidating, but you definitely have what it takes.
“I love these stories with every wisp of my soul.” Love that.
Hey Sarah, what’s up? I haven’t seen much from you lately and I just now read the nice editorial Pet at Pencil and Box did last fall. (Gotta love a guy who plays the piano.)That’s the problem with blogger, too much of interest slips through the cracks while to much filler plugs it up. Black River is under my skin and Cutting for Stone is at my elbow. You have to read and write that which you love with every wisp of your soul!