Breaking apart from the normal structure of reading and recreating short fiction stories and/or poems, this week involved quite a bit of self-guided research. For my literary journal presentation, I chose the online journal, "Strange Horizon." I read all the poetry and short-fiction for the most current issue and was intrigued by how many fundamental components, or aesthetics, I saw in place. Every piece of work I read used an off-the-wall representation to illustrate conflict resolution. For example, David C. Kopaski-Merkel's poem depicted his passing year and struggles of providing for his family, thru a representation of the life of a crow, who is experiencing vertigo and wisteria.
Another aesthetic that I noticed in every piece of work found in the "Strange Horizon," was every author's use of concrete, specific words to elicit vivid imagery. I really enjoyed this aspect of the journal and found it to be very creative. For example, author G.O. Clark depicted life's end (death) as the deathly fly that calls to you in a tiny, pleading voice while hovering all the while. I really like the imagery left in my mind; not only in this poem, but in every piece of work I read.
In addition to the literary journal presentation, this week involved our first workshop. I found workshop to be extremely helpful. As difficult as it was to not defend myself during the discussion on my poem, it proved to be extremely useful, as others showed me what abstractions were in my work. Having written it and spent time on my poem, I knew what I was trying to accomplish with each line. Acquiring others' perspective on my poem helped me to see what modifications needed to be made in order for unbiased reading to follow with my imagery. I look forward to more workshop days, in hopes that the result will be 5 complete pieces of poetry/flash fiction.
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