Jeannine, reading about your writing process feels like alchemy to me. I’m in awe of your spirit and willingness to go to the places you need. It’s inspiring. I seem to do well with constraints too: I entered a 100 word fiction competition last year where I was given a genre and two words that had to be included and only 24 hours to write it, and I got an honourable mention. It was thrilling! As for joy, I’m a big believer in seeking it out but it didn’t occur to me until reading your essay that joy could coexist in a piece of writing about darkness. I’ve been writing either joy, or darkness, but never in the same piece. Thank you for the valuable insight.
This week, I wrote and shared a piece in which I let myself describe each decade of my life only in sweeping positive generalizations. I think the traumas are there still, but in the background. It felt really different to "write it slant" in this way and--yes--there was joy in it. It felt more true, because there was joy in the living, too.
I'm wondering if I naturally write with constraints as a humorist. I've been playing with memoir and having fun even though the subject matter is dark.
This was a wonderful explanation.
Substack's Terry Freedman is starting an Oulipo workshop.
When I was a high school English teacher, I used mentor text to get them to explore different kind of writing. The beauty we are able to create when we are able to use someone else’s work as an apprentice.
I absolutely loved reading this. I'm a visual artist, and a lot of my work has revolved around play lately. I had to work with an art therapist to get to a point where I embraced play as apart of my process. Now that I'm on substack and working in a new medium of writing, I've found myself struggling to express darker sides of my personal story. Thank you for sharing, I hope I can inject this energy into my posts as well!
I have never come across this idea of writing with constraints and it is fascinating. I liked especially Nick Flynn's "three scraps" formed into a daily collage approach. It was so interesting to learn how the constraints actually allowed you to be MORE playful. I always appreciate the references you bring into every essay. Much to think about from this piece!
This resonates so much with my Jeannine!! I am currently writing about the breakdown of a marriage and abuse, and still, somehow, having fun writing it! And no, it is not a comedy… :) I sent a short excerpt to my friend with the message “it feels so good to be writing!” And he replied, worried, “are you ok??” I was / am ok. But I was being playful and creative, putting past pain into something that I hope will turn out to be beautiful. 🤞And yes for constraints!! In my poetry class we were asked to “imitate” a poem. I chose A E Stallings’ “First Love: A Quiz” (highly recommend reading!) and ended up writing the most vulnerable, authentic version of my story…
I think I will re-read this post a few times to remind myself to be silly (loved the definition) Thank you!!!
I'm an old(ish) man, retired and busy collecting together in one place my writings of the past 50 years. It's a deep pleasure. And so, when I read the following in your lovely essay, I'm find myself wondering if I'm telling the deeper story in what I've written:
"... if I tell exactly the story I’ve set out to tell, I’ve failed. The truer story exists somewhere outside the margins of consciousness. … we’re wired to see and say (and write) the same versions of our various stories over and over, even if those versions are not essentially true—or interesting. Meanwhile, the big truths about our own lives march by unrecognized."
No conclusions yet. Something (important) to think about as I continue my project. Thankyou Jeannine.
The playful discipline you set in motion with each exercise, combined with expectations for small word counts, and the practice of observing and recording those things with no embellishment has changed the way I write and edit. Since there are no such constraints here, I will compare it to the spring winds we had here that blew away the dry leaves stuck in dead corners. The leaves will serve a purpose somewhere else, but the way forward is uncluttered now. And so very thrilling.
Your lines: “The truer story exists somewhere outside the margins of consciousness. Writing constraints help us discover the truth rather than recite it.”
A lot of my childhood memories are blocked. And I find it frustrating when I try to write from them. It hasn’t occurred to me that it may just be an example of confirmation bias. The way you explore this has me lit up now. And to peel that back playfully - feels risky. Which I’m liking!
Hello. Loved this post. I will try out the constraints you mention. Carissa @cksteefel mentioned it to me and then I discovered I'd already saved it to read later! I discovered the Oulipo a few years ago, and like to present Readers with something written according to a constraint and asking them to work out the constraint. There's one in my post coming out later today in fact. I've also been written same story in different styles, inspired by Queneau's Exercises in Style. The workshop Carissa mentioned is in London on 8th June, but I've been thinking of doing an online version
I am fascinated by the idea of writing with constraints and that doing so may free some ties that bind. I have never taken a writing class, or tried to write with constraints, so am very excited to participate in the upcoming intensive.
I love this - I find constraints useful for breaking out of well-worn narratives too and use them often use in my writing workshops. There is so often laughter in a 2-hour session :)
I am influenced by Paul Matthews too as I live in Forest Row!!
Thank you - love the wise suggestions you are passing on here - and particularly appreciate how discovering joy in the process of writing helped with difficult content.
Looking forward to trying out some constraints soon.
Jeannine, reading about your writing process feels like alchemy to me. I’m in awe of your spirit and willingness to go to the places you need. It’s inspiring. I seem to do well with constraints too: I entered a 100 word fiction competition last year where I was given a genre and two words that had to be included and only 24 hours to write it, and I got an honourable mention. It was thrilling! As for joy, I’m a big believer in seeking it out but it didn’t occur to me until reading your essay that joy could coexist in a piece of writing about darkness. I’ve been writing either joy, or darkness, but never in the same piece. Thank you for the valuable insight.
This week, I wrote and shared a piece in which I let myself describe each decade of my life only in sweeping positive generalizations. I think the traumas are there still, but in the background. It felt really different to "write it slant" in this way and--yes--there was joy in it. It felt more true, because there was joy in the living, too.
I'm wondering if I naturally write with constraints as a humorist. I've been playing with memoir and having fun even though the subject matter is dark.
This was a wonderful explanation.
Substack's Terry Freedman is starting an Oulipo workshop.
When I was a high school English teacher, I used mentor text to get them to explore different kind of writing. The beauty we are able to create when we are able to use someone else’s work as an apprentice.
I absolutely loved reading this. I'm a visual artist, and a lot of my work has revolved around play lately. I had to work with an art therapist to get to a point where I embraced play as apart of my process. Now that I'm on substack and working in a new medium of writing, I've found myself struggling to express darker sides of my personal story. Thank you for sharing, I hope I can inject this energy into my posts as well!
I have never come across this idea of writing with constraints and it is fascinating. I liked especially Nick Flynn's "three scraps" formed into a daily collage approach. It was so interesting to learn how the constraints actually allowed you to be MORE playful. I always appreciate the references you bring into every essay. Much to think about from this piece!
This resonates so much with my Jeannine!! I am currently writing about the breakdown of a marriage and abuse, and still, somehow, having fun writing it! And no, it is not a comedy… :) I sent a short excerpt to my friend with the message “it feels so good to be writing!” And he replied, worried, “are you ok??” I was / am ok. But I was being playful and creative, putting past pain into something that I hope will turn out to be beautiful. 🤞And yes for constraints!! In my poetry class we were asked to “imitate” a poem. I chose A E Stallings’ “First Love: A Quiz” (highly recommend reading!) and ended up writing the most vulnerable, authentic version of my story…
I think I will re-read this post a few times to remind myself to be silly (loved the definition) Thank you!!!
You were brave. I have never been brave enough to write my story
I'm an old(ish) man, retired and busy collecting together in one place my writings of the past 50 years. It's a deep pleasure. And so, when I read the following in your lovely essay, I'm find myself wondering if I'm telling the deeper story in what I've written:
"... if I tell exactly the story I’ve set out to tell, I’ve failed. The truer story exists somewhere outside the margins of consciousness. … we’re wired to see and say (and write) the same versions of our various stories over and over, even if those versions are not essentially true—or interesting. Meanwhile, the big truths about our own lives march by unrecognized."
No conclusions yet. Something (important) to think about as I continue my project. Thankyou Jeannine.
Grateful for this reminder about joy! 🙏🏽💖✨
The playful discipline you set in motion with each exercise, combined with expectations for small word counts, and the practice of observing and recording those things with no embellishment has changed the way I write and edit. Since there are no such constraints here, I will compare it to the spring winds we had here that blew away the dry leaves stuck in dead corners. The leaves will serve a purpose somewhere else, but the way forward is uncluttered now. And so very thrilling.
Your lines: “The truer story exists somewhere outside the margins of consciousness. Writing constraints help us discover the truth rather than recite it.”
A lot of my childhood memories are blocked. And I find it frustrating when I try to write from them. It hasn’t occurred to me that it may just be an example of confirmation bias. The way you explore this has me lit up now. And to peel that back playfully - feels risky. Which I’m liking!
Thanks, Jeannine!
Hello. Loved this post. I will try out the constraints you mention. Carissa @cksteefel mentioned it to me and then I discovered I'd already saved it to read later! I discovered the Oulipo a few years ago, and like to present Readers with something written according to a constraint and asking them to work out the constraint. There's one in my post coming out later today in fact. I've also been written same story in different styles, inspired by Queneau's Exercises in Style. The workshop Carissa mentioned is in London on 8th June, but I've been thinking of doing an online version
I am fascinated by the idea of writing with constraints and that doing so may free some ties that bind. I have never taken a writing class, or tried to write with constraints, so am very excited to participate in the upcoming intensive.
I love this - I find constraints useful for breaking out of well-worn narratives too and use them often use in my writing workshops. There is so often laughter in a 2-hour session :)
I am influenced by Paul Matthews too as I live in Forest Row!!
Thank you - love the wise suggestions you are passing on here - and particularly appreciate how discovering joy in the process of writing helped with difficult content.
Looking forward to trying out some constraints soon.