November 5, 2009
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A Garden of Forking Paths
About a year and a half ago, I took a course in college. Creative Writing. Since this was a technical college, this type of degree isn’t offered there. This class was offered only once every other semester, not including the summer semesters. I happened to catch it. The class was full at the beginning, but as always, there was people that ended up dropping or doing whatever that constituted them not being there.
We had 2 books that were required for the class. One was a book strictly on creative writing, the other was an anthology were we read most of the stories for the assignments. It was called: An Anthology for Writers: A Garden of Forking Paths. It’s full of short stories of different kinds of writing; there’s also a section of poetry. My favorite was the experimental writing.
I recently found this book while unpacking my things. Just seeing it makes me crave writing. I’m going to start by reading any story in this book that interests me. I’ll read a little bit of the story, and if I’m not feeling it, I’ll move on. Hopefully by the end it will have jump started my muse.
I’ll let you know if I come across anything exceptional that moved me.
Comments (5)
I hope you find that which you seek, even if it is not exactly what you thought you sought
That’s a great idea! I think I used that anthology in one of my college classes as well.
Reading is a great source in writing inspiration.
Reading is the most useful habit ones must have.
Dear Crystal,
From what I read over here the other day, I hardly think you need a book. (And I say this with sincerity. I might have spent 15 years in retail management and another 20 in electrical engineering but I’ve been a writer all my life, and majored in English Lit at USC back in the 70s with an intention to teach. Long story why I didn’t. Death of parents mainly. I’ve gone into it on my blog many times.) Point is that by writing here on your blog, you will naturally grow as a writer if you have the wish to do so. And from what I’ve read the past couple of months over here, you have a great start.
I hardly read novels or actual books anymore. I read a great many good writers right here on Xanga. When I read something excellent, it sparks my creativity even more. So hopefully you will get what you need from the book, and from life itself. (Which of course you already have.)
Michael F. Nyiri, poet, philosopher, fool