story time

[phantom_mom]

been working on the book -- not writing new stuff but taking out some of the fox -- if the entire class felt it went on too long, then maybe it did -- anyway, the unconscious is a wonder -- i saw something i had done totally unconsciously

Comments

Talking Animals

[kytty]

Today I had a fantasy that my animal companions could talk to me. It was lovely :)

As a folktale fan, I really like stories where elements of nature, including animals, are portrayed as actors rather than only passive and acted upon. Your story sounds very interesting :)

Re: Talking Animals

[phantom_mom]

i especially love russian folktales, because the animals are usually more sensible than the humans.

thanks for writing.

Re: Talking Animals

[kytty]

My favorite Russian Folktale is Wassilissa The Beautiful where the little girl carries the doll given to her by her mother in her pocket and consults it when she needs advice. To me, it is about listening to ones intuition :)

Other favorites are those where kindnesses to animals are repaid at a later time.

Thanks for responding :)

Re: Talking Animals

[phantom_mom]

i also love that story -- have you read or listened to women who run with the wolves? (clarissa pinkola estes) she gives a fascinating interpretation of it -- very different.

[bram]

Have you been sharing with your class the sections about the composer? Do they give more encouraging feedback about that than the talking animals sections?

Perhaps nowadays we city people (suburban people) have so little interaction with animals--except as pets--that the stories don't resonate as much as they should?

You also have humans in your fabulous stories--the prince, for example--how does that go over?

In college, I tried writing fiction based on Russian folk-tales turned into music (Leuitenant Kije and Stravinsky's l'Historie du Soldat, pardon my French). I enjoy those folk-tales as they've come down to me through music.

[phantom_mom]

i never knew that about you -- that you had tried to write fiction based on music -- in effect, i am trying to do that -- i want the fox section to have the flavor of prokofiev -- lyrical, absurd, a little edgy --

[bram]

Do you remember something I wrote called "Captain Whozee"? That was based on Leiutenant Kije.

hi

[wiltinwickwitch]

hello Mom,
I'm an lj mother too.
can I add you to my friends list?
Zena
x

Re: hi

[phantom_mom]

good to hear from you -- but the truth is that i really don't use this journal much -- too busy -- but good luck with your journal and your kids --

the phantom mom

writer's journey

[wiltinwickwitch]

have you read 'the Writer's Journey', by Christopher Vogler?
that's been a great help to me; I recommend it to people, now- not just a 'how-to' book; life changing as well as writing changing
love andbright blessings
Zena
xx

Re: writer's journey

[wiltinwickwitch]

i also love that book. when i was working on my first (also unpublished) novel, i telephoned him and asked if he would critique it. but he said he is too busy these days and gave me four referrals. i called every one on the list -- three men and a woman -- and found that the woman and i had similar views about fiction -- and that she also loves magic and myths. so for a fee -- naturally -- she read the book and gave me some very fine suggestions.

and yes, the book is a guide to other kinds of journey. a very fine guide.

thanks for writing.

the phantom mom