Interesting article in the local newspaper today. The article is about how floods and droughts affected southern Colorado in the 1930’s. It all made me think of the Abuelito and his stories about growing up in Huerfano County and seeing the dust storms over head. I was skeptical of these stories–mostly because the Abuelito wasContinue reading “Dust Bowl in Southern Colorado”
Author Archives: john paul jaramillo
Stegner’s Sense of Place
This morning I’m thinking about the essay “Finding the Place: a Migrant Childhood” by Wallace Stegner. I’ve gone on about how much I admire Stegner’s writing style focusing on nature and also his use of long, complex sentences–these remind me of Richard Hugo–and this essay was from a book of essays I bought in Colorado Springs lastContinue reading “Stegner’s Sense of Place”
Voices
This morning as I was driving out to school the following lines slipped into my head: The Jefita had her own clippers and sometimes she dragged the boys into the bathroom for hairuts. They protested and squirmed out of her grip but she was firm. Damn it, boys, the Jefita said. Do you want toContinue reading “Voices”
a Multitude of Stories Part 2
This morning–right before leaving for work–I found a story I wrote quite a while ago for Jenny Cornell’s Representation of Science in LIterature class. The story is called House of Two Bears and it is an exaggerated story based on something my Grandfather used to tell me. The old man was a great story teller.Continue reading “a Multitude of Stories Part 2”
a Multitude of Stories
Lately, I’ve had only two books on my coffee table around me while I write: Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros and the Collected Stories of Wallace Stegner. I’ve also been listening to Los Lobos and Bob Dylan today as I think of the world of the Little Lolo Stories. And I can say these texts haveContinue reading “a Multitude of Stories”
Voices
This last week has been tough. Work and then a Saturday event. The semester has torn me down but today the voices still come after me. As I do laundry I hear the Jefita: You don’t want a family. You want slaves to work for you.
Novel Writing
This afternoon I printed out the 164 pages of the Little Lolo Stories and sat and read through again, noting the places that need tweaking. I’ve been printing out and re-reading and re-envisioning so much of the book I can’t keep up with my thoughts for revision. Anyway, I couldn’t help of thinking about thisContinue reading “Novel Writing”
The Grandfather and My Prose
I speak anecdotally in the classroom so often some of my students begin to speak of my Grandfather as if they know him–as if they know his influence upon me. And because as a fiction writer I don’t begin to think that the Jefe in the writing or the Grandfather from those anecdotal lessons fromContinue reading “The Grandfather and My Prose”
Hornsby on Rushdie
I have been following Nick Hornsby’s blog pretty closely–I like the way he brings pop culture and the literary together. He reads and watches everything. Here is an excerpt about failure: Salman Rushdie, writing in the Guardian about film adaptations, tells us that “the failures are so much more frequent than the successes”. Well, yes.Continue reading “Hornsby on Rushdie”
Thoughts on Process
I had so much interest in responding to Kim’s weblog and her thoughts on voice I thought I would post the response: I have relaxed so much on voice and even stealing. I have been reading Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz and Singing from the Well by Arenas and I am stealing. I am notContinue reading “Thoughts on Process”
A Small Thought on Process
Writing is coming pretty furiously lately. I have so many notes right now I feel as if I am writing to keep up with the trajectory of the work. I have notes for at least another 4 or 5 chapters of the Little Lolo project. And they seem so clear to me–scary because I hateContinue reading “A Small Thought on Process”
Kerouac’s Aesthetic
I could go on all day about my love for Kerouac–the first time I found his books but you get the idea. Anyway I’ve been reading his Belief and Technique for Modern Prose as well as his collected notebooks Penguin published last year and I am continually amazed at his obsessions. Hugo says that’s whatContinue reading “Kerouac’s Aesthetic”
Self Publishing and the Question of Literary Quality and Audience
An old student of mine from last term was in the office and we were discussing the possibility of a student writing club and publication and he asked me an interesting question. He asked: What does every writer want for their work? He answered before I could–publication. I think of this idea more and moreContinue reading “Self Publishing and the Question of Literary Quality and Audience”
Naked Lunch and the Addiction of Writing
Yesterday I obsessively watched David Cronenberg’s Naked Lunch and found the film not to be about the bookas much as entirely about Burroughs and all of his writing–it seems as if scenes were taken from every short story and novel–Naked Lunch and Queer. I was particularly interested in the scenes witht he writing machines as bugsContinue reading “Naked Lunch and the Addiction of Writing”
Early Morning Imaginary Voices
After another early morning session–5am really works for my writing somehow–and looks like I have some directions to think about–more imaginary voices to answer to and follow. Romes is trying to tell me that men and woman both treat people badly and not to judge all men or all women. Also Manito has a choice thisContinue reading “Early Morning Imaginary Voices”