Ah! YES! PUNCTUATION! Truly it is everything. One of the things I love best about poetry is that effective use of punctuation, or its absence, can effect the real essence of intent. I've read--and I believe it--that punctuation is emotion more than rules. There's a brilliant examination of punctuation in Eco's "Experiences in Translation." I'll try to find it and post it up. He cites a quotation using a double colon or semi-colon (I can't remember) and anything other than what the author used entirely deflated the connotation of the line.
I've seen this quip attributed to Mark Twain and F. Scott Fitzgerald. I'm sure there are others who have "said" it too: "Using an exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke!" I think that's brilliant. Until blogging I almost never used them; now I'm trying to find ways to communicate my voice and assist accurate interpretation of my "voice." It's a tricky thing! ... :) etc.
I've always heard the quote attributed to Mark Twain. He also said that every time you want to use the word, "very," in your writing, use, "damn," instead, so that the editor will cross it out. My problem with exclamation points is that I am too emotional and cannot avoid them. I've lived my entire life as if I have had too much caffeine. I think it's reflected in my writing. If I were to take the excitement out of it, I'd lose authenticity, and I think that would be a worse crime.
I imagine this is the kind of poem the laudible Shel Sylverstein would have come up with had he done a Bookmash. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteguess it makes sense then that my first bookmash would include a silverstein book (gift from my sister) and also be inspired by him.
ReplyDeletefor me, it's all about the punctuation. :-)
Ah! YES! PUNCTUATION! Truly it is everything. One of the things I love best about poetry is that effective use of punctuation, or its absence, can effect the real essence of intent. I've read--and I believe it--that punctuation is emotion more than rules. There's a brilliant examination of punctuation in Eco's "Experiences in Translation." I'll try to find it and post it up. He cites a quotation using a double colon or semi-colon (I can't remember) and anything other than what the author used entirely deflated the connotation of the line.
ReplyDeleteI've seen this quip attributed to Mark Twain and F. Scott Fitzgerald. I'm sure there are others who have "said" it too: "Using an exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke!" I think that's brilliant. Until blogging I almost never used them; now I'm trying to find ways to communicate my voice and assist accurate interpretation of my "voice." It's a tricky thing! ... :) etc.
ReplyDeleteI've always heard the quote attributed to Mark Twain. He also said that every time you want to use the word, "very," in your writing, use, "damn," instead, so that the editor will cross it out. My problem with exclamation points is that I am too emotional and cannot avoid them. I've lived my entire life as if I have had too much caffeine. I think it's reflected in my writing. If I were to take the excitement out of it, I'd lose authenticity, and I think that would be a worse crime.
ReplyDelete