Topic 95: "Found" Language

[Brandi_R]

Sometimes our imaginations can stretch in different and unexpected directions when we work with raw material that comes from outside ourselves. Here’s an exercise that incorporates “found” language.

First, set the parameters of where you will “find” the language to work with. You might:

• Choose a lively location that is filled with spoken and written language, such as a baseball game or the food court of a mall.

• Browse a handful of books on the subject of botany.

• Listen to the conversations taking place around you on the bus.

You get the idea. As you listen—or page through books, or whatever you choose—jot down words or phrases that intrigue you. Make a list. Do this as long as you wish, at least until you have a decent collection.

Then, write a poem or passage of fiction using these words. Your creation should have a different subject or setting than that of the source of your “found” language. For instance, if you gathered language on the bus, you might set your scene in the library. If you looked at books on botany, your poem might be about a tiger’s stripes. Use as much of the language you wrote down as you can. I dare you to use all of it! (For a real challenge, use only the language you “found.” This can be a particularly intriguing way to write a poem.)

Post what you come up with and tell us what the experience was like for you!

[Zack_Kullis]

Hello Brandi!!

Okay, this is going to be a challenging topic!!     (I love a challenge)

I haven't had the time to write yet, but I was able to get a list of words to use.  That is the reason I am posting this, I just thought I would check and see if how I came up with my list is kosher or not. 

I found a random word generator online that will give you a random word based on the kind of word you are looking for.  I asked for a couple nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, interjections and prepositions. 

You can even ask it to generate words that are common, average, uncommon, and obscure!  (pretty cool huh?)

Will that work?  If so, wish me luck!!!

[marilynpsychic]

Hi Brandi!

I'll do this exercise tomorrow, when I have more time.  But I just got a "Failure" notice for my reply to your post, asking for suggestions for new exercises.  So I'll try and repeat what I had written:

1)  You've already done the first and last sentence of a passage.  Why not do an exercise with a middle sentence, and let us construct a story around it, adding the beginning and end?

2)  We all seem to struggle with paragraphs that really "zing!", or paragraphs that have momentum, further the plot, add a dash of mystery or surprise, and so on.  Maybe you could write out a dozen elements of an imaginary paragraph, and let us try to rearrange them into how we'd place them into a paragraph that "zings!".

3) A variation of this, could be if you give us seven or so bare-bones, but related sentences.  And let us craft a paragraph around those sentences.

4)  Give us a noun and ask for a paragraph of just description.  This is a slam-dunk for Zack!  But the rest of us get tangled up in sorting out relevant and colorful description, from getting bogged down in unnecessary detail that stops the momentum cold.

Just ideas!

[Zack_Kullis]

Okay, here we go.  Here is the list of random "found" language, with the little chunk of a story below it.

outlived

southerly

amen

midst

analeptic

headhunt

concertize

diesel

clothespin

contemptible

conformal

The rhythm of the diesel engine chugged tiredly within the bowels of the old boat. Dimitri gazed out over the port bow, keeping a practiced eye on the dark clouds being pushed in by the southerly wind. They were only minutes away from the island, but a fast moving storm could ruin everything.

It was a forbidden island, cast in the midst of dangerous waters and inhabited by a cold people who lived to headhunt. Dimitri walked back to the cabin of the gently rocking boat and looked at his map. He had copied the ancient map on the back of a post card as he sat in the museum, pretending to be taking notes. He was an expert at conformal mapping, which is how he had outlived the others. Now, standing at the helm of an old ship, with a post card held in place by an old clothespin, he was going to an ancient place shrouded in mystery.

“We approach, sir.” Dimitri always thought the boat's skipper was a little creepy. He had been all too eager to go to the contemptible island. It was as if the old codger had a death wish. “We will be up the delta within the hour, amen to the high tide.” croaked the skipper. He had fished out his bottle of medicine, a strong analeptic that Dimitri imagined kept the old man's cancerous heart beating, although it was most likely for his lungs.

Despite his oddities, the skipper guided the old boat up through the mouth of the delta like a conductor able to concertize in his sleep. “Spasibo, captain. Thank you.” Dimitri checked his pistol, put his makeshift map in his pocket, and went below deck to get his things. That was the last time he was to see the old skipper alive.

[Brandi_R]

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Zack_Kullis wrote:

Hello Brandi!!

. . .I found a random word generator online . . .

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I see I didn’t reply to this, but I thought I did. Sorry about that. That’s a great source for the words for this exercise. Can you share the website? Sounds fun!

[Brandi_R]

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marilynpsychic wrote:

Hi Brandi!

I'll do this exercise tomorrow, when I have more time.  But I just got a "Failure" notice for my reply to your post, asking for suggestions for new exercises.  So I'll try and repeat what I had written . . .

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Excellent suggestions! Thanks. I’ll certainly get these in rotation in upcoming weeks.

[Zack_Kullis]

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Brandi_R wrote:

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I see I didn’t reply to this, but I thought I did. Sorry about that. That’s a great source for the words for this exercise. Can you share the website? Sounds fun!

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Hello Brandi!!

Hey, no worries about replying!!  It ended up being a much more useful resource than I

thought it would be.  The website is http://watchout4snakes.com/creativitytools/RandomWord/RandomWordPlus.aspx

[Flowering]

This looks fun, I'm gonna try!

[btaub]

Fan of watching people’s lives fall apart via status updates

Struggling to see the point of it all. Maybe its time for some more religious exploration

dont feel bad, ive been there too!

about an hour ago

Get out and do some work. Idle hands are the devil's workshop.

Don't give me promises that you will never achieve, I am sick and tired of being fooled around. Don't ever give me hope and then put me down.

Giovanni Bernardone says......"He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist". Hard, but worth it.

(This came from Facebook. I didn't really make a poem because I enjoyed the way the lines fell together)