Comments on: Toni Morrison And The Art of Visual Writing

By: Lunar Euphoria

Lunar Euphoria — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:46:14 +0000

What motivates you to write?

Food, people, places, my writing group, my job, questions, answers, pictures, going to sleep, waking up, breathing, driving, sitting, etc.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:49:21 +0000

I love visual writing. Like Renee above, books that made me visualize places and people made me love reading books. I’ve tried it, but am not successful at it. The piece you used showing Toni Morrison’s writing (I haven’t read Beloved) is beautiful and I think it’s the simplicity of that visual writing that makes it work. She clearly works hard at her writing.

By: Lancelot Celebrates Small Victories (part deux) « The Gig

Lancelot Celebrates Small Victories (part deux) « The Gig — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:42:15 +0000

[...] heart Toni Morrison 37.087687 -94.476409 GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", [...]

By: lanceschaubert

lanceschaubert — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:23:22 +0000

I love when old people talk about whatever they’re friggin’ awesome at and we just sit back in raptured attention, soaking in every word – friggin’ literary photosynthesis.

By: bethany

bethany — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:16:23 +0000

I’ve been re-reading The Time Traveler’s Wife (not that I’ve ever mentioned this book before in my comments on your blog… haha) but this time around I was struck by Niffenegger’s descriptions of Clare, an artist, as she makes her sculptures. The passages are so descriptive, intuitive, and moving. It makes me sad that those pieces that Clare created don’t actually exist. There could be a whole museum full of her work, and I have a feeling that I know exactly what they would look like.

By: kmesa

kmesa — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:45:28 +0000

Yes, I absolutely respond to visual writing. But, it must be simple, visual writing. Morrison is a great example of the beauty of simplicity…simple writing that creates an incredible portrait in your mind’s eye. What motivates me to write? Everything…I write because I must; it helps me make sense of the world around me. Thank you for this post…a reminder of the beauty of writing.

By: homec

homec — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:28:49 +0000

I like visual writing in that the author can take you to a place or time and you can feel like you are there. It can be over done, however. Under those circumstances you are so overwhelmed with descriptions the story seems to take a back seat. Definately NOT the case with Beloved.

By: The Cooking Bride

The Cooking Bride — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:17:33 +0000

Yes! I love visual writing. One of my favorite books is “White Oleander” by Janet Fitch for just that reason. The more I read your posts about “Beloved,” the more I want to read it.

I’m motivated to write because every person and every thing has a story. I recently met the first African American police officer for the Jackson, MS, police department. He started back in 1968 when Civil Rights down here was in it’s prime. I wish now I had gotten up the nerve to ask him for an interview because I bet he has an amazing story. But I see it in objects too – an antique chair or a toy that looks loved -and wonder where it has been.

By: Renee

Renee — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:46:09 +0000

Yes, I respond to visual writing and probably the main reason I fell in love with reading at a young age. Who does not like to lose themself while reading a book and feel transported into the story/plot. I am a photographer as well as a writer, so I get inspired and/or motivated to write based on my photographs, so very visual indeed!

By: mysocalledjewishlife

mysocalledjewishlife — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:17:02 +0000

Yeah, it does have a real mystical quality to it. I don’t want to presume that it’s slanted to a female audience, but, her writing generally is. She is also such a poised, elegant woman, so, it really makes sense that she demands attention both in writing and when she’s speaking (she was the Poet Laureate under Clinton, I think, or something like that.)

I’m still reading Mrs. Dalloway. I’m curious to know if it was her writing style (best described as very “clipped”) or the subject matter.

To answer your question about visual writing: As long as there isn’t even a HINT of a cliche, absolutely. I am inspired to write when I observe something that triggers something in me, whether it strikes me as funny or deeply moving.

The blog I’m using on wordpress is not necessarily reflects this. If you’d like, check out some stuff on mylifeinthemiddleages.blogspot.com and go to the categories that are more serious.