Encouragement

From: Woman, Wondy
Sent: 04 July 2006 15:12
To: 'Wondy Bro'
Subject: RE: Introduction

Believe it or not I was reading about Bukowski this morning - he features in the Top Drunks gallery:

http://www.beertarot.com/drunksark/drunksark.htm

Very interesting man. He wrote Barfly, which was fantastic and all his stuff is based on gritty, sometimes disgusting reality, not fantasy which you have got to admire, because most people are so quick to turn away.

Also along the lines of the quote you sent, according to Bukowski's wife, his epitaph translates to: "If you spend all your time trying, then all you're doing is trying. So don't try. Just do."

Which is too damn true. I'm going to check him out.


From: Wondy Bro
Sent: 04 July 2006 15:01
To: Woman, Wondy
Subject: RE: Introduction

Should be dedicated to mum, she's put up with a lot of sh*t from us and she's done it alone.

Watched a movie called Factotum yesterday, if you haven't already seen it then I suggest you do, may act as inspiration. Its a movie based on the novel of the same name written by Charles Bukowski.

Last lines of the film

"If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives, jobs. And maybe your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery, isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance. Of how much you really want to do it. And you'll do it, despite rejection in the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you're going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods. And the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It's the only good fight there is."

You should read some Bukowski. The quintessential flawed genius


From: Woman, Wondy
Sent: 04 July 2006 14:51
To: Wondy Bro
Subject: RE: Introduction

Thank you so much and cheesy is good if it's honest, so don't worry about that. I think you can easily read between the lines and see what style I am getting at, you've named two huge influences as well and I agree with what you say about the mundane, most people do deny that part of themselves, whereas I think I have come to realise that life if richer if you can embrace it.

I really enjoyed the script for About Schmidt, did you see that? That is about a very seemingly ordinary man in an ordinary existence but as the story unravels Jack's character shows himself to be as eccentric as the next person, everyone has their own eccentricity, they might just not know it yet.

Thanks for the encouragement, I can honestly say of everyone you are the only person I would bother to show my writing to, no one else gets it or they'd sugar coat the truth. So I really do thank you for taking the time.

Hey, If I am ever published - the first novel is dedicated to you!


From: Wondy Bro
Sent: 04 July 2006 14:34
To: Woman, Wondy
Subject: RE: Introduction

I really like the white wedding fantasies line; it flows with an artistic integrity.

May I suggest you keep at it, by the opening gambit it seems like it may be leaning towards the anti hero 'confederacy of dunces' type. I like the first person narrative, think people can relate more concisely with the concept of personal thought and the everyday relationship with ones imagination.

Think American Splendour and the ability to tune into the zeitgeist, in a way that most people will deny exists in them but are comforted by the knowledge that mundane rituals and idiosyncrasies exist in all of us.

The key is honesty. And don't be concerned about structure yet, just diarise your thoughts and order them at a later date.

I now run the risk of being deemed cheesy but I really believe you can do this, and well, just take your stubborn single mindedness into an artistic place and have some fun.


From: Woman, Wondy
Sent: 04 July 2006 14:11
To: Wondy Bro
Subject: Introduction

What do you think of this - it's just a few lines and I thought good for the introduction of a book, it's very rough though but be honest - The book's title will be 'Groupie for the Underdog'. First chapter: Memoirs of a Super heroine.

I don't know where it's going but I'm having fun anyway!

Here we go:

Life for me has never been conventional. Where other little girl’s were playing with dolls and acting out their white wedding fantasies, I was imagining my future as Wonder Woman, saviour of the world, stopping flying bullets with my giant gold bracelets: stylish and cool.

My imagination was always my greatest friend and even now I feel it’s served me loyally all these years, wanting nothing much in return, just encouragement. The least I can do is try to do it justice by using it more.

Herein lies the tale of A Groupie for the Underdog.