Return of the Writing Ramble: Nano, meaningful symbols

It's the time of year when everyone declares their NanoWrimo intentions, so I'm talking this moment to declare: Don't wanna; ain't gonna.

I think Nano is awesome. But, Nano's strengths are not my weaknesses. The learning opportunties presented by Nano aren't the ones I most open to absorbing right now. Not that they conflict or anything. Writing is writing is writing and that always good for a writer. I have other goals besides large wordcount and I think they would be better served by other writing activites.

I might dedicate November to some other writing effort, though. Haven't hit upon what would be both fun and effective for me yet. (Tick tock, Opera 4 days)

So now that I got Nano off my chest (Good luck, btw, to anyone participating), I'm going to yammer some more about the "Constellation of Images" idea from the writing class I took a couple of weeks back.

The idea is that there are objects, ideas, situations etc. that constantly show up in our writing-- intentional or not. I love that notion. Constellation implies pattern, a sum greater than its part (omg, cliche!). But it's not always an obvious pattern. Sorta like the Big Dipper is obvious, but Orion doesn't really look like a dude in armour until it's pointed out. (your stargazing may vary)

As much of a crush as I have on the idea, and as I've said before, I think it's important to distinguish which objects are meaningful and which are go-to. Meaning, do you always describe a beach by its sand because sand is somehow meaningful to you (and your story) or because it's the first description that comes ashore. Or because it's something that's "always" worked in the past (see also, cliche)

Of course, the first step to making that distinction is also the hardest: noticing your constellation. When I went through my old stuff, I saw a lot of my usual suspects (sibling rivalry, unfairness, doing the right thing, hotels, cars, fast food, skin temperature), but I noticed others: running and movement, in particular. Does Matt ever sit still in The Prince? He's running from the moment he enters the story, he's running in the last scene. Two of my earliest stories are set in moving vehicles. My stories feature stairs and elevators and hallways and characters moving up, down, through, across. Characters wander in and out. Now, while part of that was me not knowing that not every step of a character needs dramatizing, but I'm thinking part of it is just me. I run, so my characters do. I travel and wander around town so my characters do.

Another thing that struck me was how many objects in my daily life that extremely important to me never ever show up in my writing (at least I think they don't). I collect antiques-- not priceless, historic, outrageously expensive ones. I just like housewares and knick knacks with life behind them. Other than mentions of Taker's "treasure-hoarding" and his half-a-notion to remodel an old house in The Prince series, I've never really added that to my fanfic. I guess because I feel the characters wouldn't care. Even though I know Batista collects metal lunch boxes (so do I omg, I have a Miss America one that is Glam-ou-rous)and their travels through America give them plenty of opportunity and that if they know how to shill their goods on Ebay, then they know how to buy stuff on it too.

And then there's the lake. I circle around a lake each morning on the way to work. It's been cold (mid-30s F)lately, and it's interesting to watch the steam rise from Phalen's surface. In the summer, I watched the ducks. In the spring, I like checking the ice breaking up. In the winter, I like watching the ice take over. It's a whole circle of the seasons, weather-hinting, little affirmation of I'm so glad I live where I do. So why do I never write about that? Especially overtly?

I mean, generally cities that I protrayed as bad: Fargo, Kansas City, Denver are "dry" places, and the cities where good things happen, Eau Claire, are "wet". Eau Claire not only has water in its name, but it was raining in the story. But it's always been window dressing at best. I wonder why I haven't been so artlessly balls out about it as is typical of my writing? I wonder why some notions just show up why others never appear at all?

Anyway, this whole Constellation of Images idea has been working overtime for me. Even in early drafts, when I'm struggling to form a story out of Imagination Ooze. It's taught me to look for objects in emotional scenes. Instead of picturing Jericho struggling not to break down; I see an unmade bed. Instead of seeing a bored Jeff, I see him fiddling distractedly with a beer bottle. And while those objects don't necessary stand for or explain the emotion, they give a starting point. Something to work from. It's so much easier to hang the unique POV or telling adjective off a noun than an abstraction.

Smackdown

The episode where M. Hardy tried to kick his own eye out, and Rey helped!

Smackdown kicks off with a multi-mega interview scene. It's the VIP lounge, and loungin' are MVP. M. Hardy, Rey Mysterio, and Finlay. Too bad no one gets along. Well, Rey and Matt sorta because faces always like faces. But MVP and Finlay aren't about get just because they got heelin' in common. In between the bickerin' and fussin' about who dislike who the mostest, details about Cyber Sunday emerge.

Highlights
No matter the vote, M. Hardy will be fully clothed.
No oil, for anyone
Rey's pants are as awful as M. Hardy's.
Rey's belt is much worse than Matt's.
Later, Rey and Finlay will team up to battle Matt and MVP in an Everyone Else Has Quit The Company or Got Caught With 'Roids match.

Backstage, some broad with a microphone wants to know that since the last three chicks, Rebecca especially, who held her job all spent their evenings boinking Batista, and since she herself has been boinking Batista as recently as last night, who topped afterwards, last week when JBL interviewed Batista?

Wrestling-wise, the show finally gets around to a Kane vs. Mark Henry match. Michael Cole laments the fact that Undertaker "literally stole Mark Henry's soul." Literally. He has it in a jar. Cole's seen it. Taker used to carry it around with him, but with stricter regulations it's a bitch getting in through airport security.

Mark busts out a bear hug, and for the life of me, I can't figure out why Kane doesn't just knee Henry in his gelantious junk. After a while though, Kane has enough of that shit and it's a chokeslame finish.

JBL 4 REF. He's campaigning like a mofo. He made Cole put on a JBL button. Mmm. Forced attire/psuedo-branding. Buttons: *pushed* Indy wrestlers trot out to toss t-shirts to the crowd. They're not trusted with t-shirt gun. That's only for Diva Search winners.

Speaking of the Diva Search. I still have no idea what's doing on, but this week there was roleplaying and a handcuffed Todd, and Todd being threatened both verbally and with a nightstick and bossed around and spanked and told to strip and HOT DAMN.

Meanwhile, Cole is standing atop the ramp. Holy cannoli, Cole got fat. ZOMG Tazz feeder fetish. Bread Pudding Piggie! Oink, oink bitch. Yeah piggie, gobble it down! Then for some reason JBL says "Nostra-freakin'-damus".

Matt and Rey bring their bad-panted selves down for a match against each other but with their partners who they don't like as much as they like each other even though there is some tension because of the whole Cruiserweight fiasco a few years ago and also because they're men and they don't express their feelings very well.

And the match, though not *****, dramatizes everything I love about wrestling. 2/3rd of the way through, Matt either injures himself or "injures" himself. A botched DDT hurricarana resulted in either a boot to the eye of Matt or the quick but overzealous blade job. Matt bleeds at 60 mph. The ring and his hair are sopped within seconds. Co-wrestlers are speckled with the stuff. The match keeps going, and this is where in the kudos come in. If it's an "injury", kudos to Matt for blading that quick, while upside down and powering through as obvious mistake. If it's a legit injury, kudos for that match coming off the way it did. There was a spot where Matt was supposed to take the 619, and he's in the position, but thorugh some fanangling and tripping MVP ends up 619-ready as well, and takes the brunt of the move. Rey gets to play conflicted face; Finlay gets to look like the blood-smelling shark. Brill!

I'm guessing that the 619 spot could have planned that way in advance and that maybe Rey just ad-libbed the OH NOES part, but you know what, I DON"T CARE. It was compelling, it was fun, I had a blast putting aside "it's scripted" and just flat out enjoying the story being told in the ring. That's why I love wrestling.

Backstage, Jamie Noble hints that he and Vickie should have a "bedroom pillow match." Dude, Eddie will haunt your days! Vickie suggests a Jamie Noble vs. Batista match instead. Jamie's all "Oh hell no, that senior citizen is all orney and shit ever since his blood pressure meds screwed up his ability to get hard-ons. And have you seen the ears on that feller, they could swipe a body right out of the ring, like an evil Dumbo or something. Hell no, no fighting Batista!"

But there is. Sorta. Jobbing actually. Then Batista hits the announce table while Cole heads to the concession stand and JBL talks about the weather. Then JBL talks at Undertaker, and at some points there's a chokeslame or other finisher and the show ends.