I feel like writing, but I don't have a topic

[Tobin S.]

I just got done watching a 4 hour documentary about Bob Dylan. Dylan is my fiancee's favorite musician. It seemed to focus on Dylan's transition from folk music to the time he plugged in and went to an electric, rock-n-roll, pop kind of sound. All through the movie there were interviews with Dylan, past and present. He seems to be a private kind of guy for a big time rock star. He never seemed to like to reveal too much when a question was put to him. He might even turn the question around and ask it of the interviewer. I come away from the film thinking that Dylan thinks the music should speak for itself. There is no need for extrapolation or interpretation. I've heard musicians say that they don't want to speak of what the songs mean to them. There are so many people out there who have their own meanings for songs in relating to them. They don't want to spoil them.

Personally, I'm a straight-forward kind of guy. There's usually no question about what I mean, be it in writing here or when talking to someone. There's no mystery. But then again, I'm no rock star. :)

I went to church today for the first time in 22 years. I was raised going to a southern baptist church in Moraine, Ohio. I think it was called Moraine Baptist Temple. Anyway, Brother Crawford, there's a little plug for you. Maybe you'll get a few more converts. I stopped going there in part because I was rebelling against my father at age 16 and in part because I was becoming socially conscious and I understood how oppressive the atmosphere was in that church, especially toward women. Since then I've switched back and forth between being an atheist and being an agnostic a couple of times. I'm back to being an agnostic now. I don't know for how long. I do have to get married in Jen's church and go through a series of interviews with the priest before-hand. It's an Episcopalian thing. I hope he's okay with me not exactly being faithful to the cause. The Episcopalians are pretty laid back so I don't think there will be a problem.

That's a beautiful church, by the way. It's the oldest church in Richmond, Indiana still surviving. I think it was built in the mid 1800s. There are several very large stained glass windows in the church dating back to its inception, and when the sun lights them up it is a sight to behold. It is beautiful and they have a fine priest. I enjoyed his sermon today and I met many of the devoted faithful. Everyone was friendly. I was not pressured or made to feel sinful in any way.

To my surprise there were only about 30 or 40 people in the congregation. Jen says it's like that all the time. Such a beautiful church and a fine priest, how could this be? Oh yeah, we're in Indiana and the priest is openly gay.

Palm Sunday.

I got a call from a friend today. I've known him since we were 15. He's always talking about old times and how we had so much fun back then. He told me that ever since he hit 30 life just went to shit. I told him that there are still good times to be had, all through life. You just have to make it happen. Yeah, you don't bounce back from a hangover so well now days and your peers are starting to show their age...so what? It seems like when a lot of people get to a certain age something inside them just dies and all they are left to do is reminisce and sing about the glory days. They are stuck on the same music and the same style and the same circle of friends just trying to preserve the good ol' days. Nothing new ever happens to them and on the off chance that it does they are mistrustful of it like it's an outsider that has invaded their circle. Break free, goddammit!

One of the things that impressed me about the Dylan documentary was that all of the people from back in the sixties that they were interviewing in the present seemed so alive and so vibrant. Youthful, even, but maybe tempered a little with experience. You don't have to be a rock star to lead an interesting life. You just have to stay open to new experiences. In Jesus' name we pray. AMEN.

[kimi]

1. Personally,

I think that's a good topic, or three or four.

Peace to ya, Tobin. I'm glad you and Jen are happy! :)

[MiddleFingerMom]

2. I was always uncomfortable... even resentful... when someone would ask what one of my poems "meant".

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Part of it was, "I've done MY job... now it's your turn to do YOURS."
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And a BIG part of it was that, virtually EVERY time I'd ask them what
it meant to THEM, they would come up with something OTHER than
what I had been thinking of when I wrote it -- but what it meant to
them was just as valid.
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I LOVED hearing their interpretations... and almost always learned
something from them -- sometimes about previously unseen thoughts,
feelings, and motivations that had been guiding me when I originally
wrote those poems.
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Yep. That's me.
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Mom Dylan.
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And I ALWAYS enjoy your writing... whether you "have a topic" or not.
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[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear Tobin!

I think you did damn well for not having a topic!

You had several, and you laid them out really well...

I'd love to see some pics of those wonderful stained glass windows. You remember mine? I'm a sucker for those!

Your priest sounds great too.

Of all the people I know, you are among the top number who remain open to new experiences.

Good on ya!

My love to you and Jen!

:hug:

[hibbing]

4. hmm...what documentary was that?

Hi,
Was that No Direction Home? You know by know how much I enjoy your stories, so any topic from your days are always enjoyed by me, or are you thinking some fiction?

Book gift suggestion for your fiance: Bob Dylan in America

It is a book about some of the people that have influenced him throughout his life.

Take care, and as always, peace

[jme0318]

5. It was No Direction Home n/t

[Chan790]

6. Congratulations.

You have writer's block. All you need now is someone to pay you to write and you'll have confronted all the challenges of being a professional writer and earned all the merit badges. :party:

Glad to hear everything else is hunky-dory.

If the writer's block sticks, I recommend two books:

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. It's a book about how to address creative block and what causes it. Pressfield is a vocal evangelical Christian but that thread throughout the book is easily ignored as the basis of his argument is psychological and confrontation of self-defeating behavior, including fear of failure. Feel free to ignore his insistence that creativity is divinely inspired.

Now Write!: Fiction Writing Exercises from Today's Best Writers and Teachers by Sherry Ellis. It's a collection of writing exercises meant to spark or pull you through various common sticking points for writers; there are a lot of such books like this one on the market but I think this one is the best. The exercises will also help a narrative non-fic author like you, Tobin.

[jme0318]

7. We watched Pete Seeger - The Power of Song lastnight

I'm introducing Toby to the music and artists that I like...

[RedCloud]

8. How about writing some wrongs?