2008 Woodie Awards
Last days, last words
Portmanteau Texto
Anna Nguyen
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: Life & Style
Fyodor Dostoevsky once brilliantly said, "I have written too many very, very bad things in a hurry to beat a deadline."
Wong Kar-wai, who is notoriously known for his last-minute film editing, said, "The reason it takes me so long to make a film, the reason it gets so difficult...so it can be the best it can possibly be…the way you feel about a film changes as you make it, and that means I'm often changing during the shooting."
Words of wisdom to live by. Although I try to carefully construct my writing, I don't have the creative aptitude of Wong. I aspire to have his talent - the man's a genius - but do recognize that fantasy is a rather lofty goal to achieve. I am, perhaps, guilty of being associated with Dostoevsky's lament.
Time has been problematic for me, especially regarding the writings that make up my columns. I've a bit of a problem coming up with a topic, as I've a bit too much freedom. The articles I've written for this current column are not at all unified, I've realized. I've written random bits that entertain me. Although I do form topics in advance, I do not fully articulate my thoughts in written prose until the last minute, meaning that I do not actually start transcribing my notes onto a Word document until Thursday afternoon, much to the chagrin of Brian.
Perhaps that is the Wong philosophy about time and deadlines that I've been practicing upon. Or perhaps I'm too lethargic to eloquently write complete sentences from the random notes I write.
Like Dostoevsky, I've written many pieces that are a bit wobbly which I've turned in simply because I had to submit something. There are a couple of pieces I'm quite fond of, such as the articles about smoking, the one about space reservations experienced in France and the Galignani library. Many others are, unfortunately, a bit dreadful, and I've regretted not spending proper time and attention for some pieces.
I'm a rather fickle person, and I've realized I have to write in the moment as my ideas change. Time, indeed, plays a big role in my slow writing process.
Wong Kar-wai, who is notoriously known for his last-minute film editing, said, "The reason it takes me so long to make a film, the reason it gets so difficult...so it can be the best it can possibly be…the way you feel about a film changes as you make it, and that means I'm often changing during the shooting."
Words of wisdom to live by. Although I try to carefully construct my writing, I don't have the creative aptitude of Wong. I aspire to have his talent - the man's a genius - but do recognize that fantasy is a rather lofty goal to achieve. I am, perhaps, guilty of being associated with Dostoevsky's lament.
Time has been problematic for me, especially regarding the writings that make up my columns. I've a bit of a problem coming up with a topic, as I've a bit too much freedom. The articles I've written for this current column are not at all unified, I've realized. I've written random bits that entertain me. Although I do form topics in advance, I do not fully articulate my thoughts in written prose until the last minute, meaning that I do not actually start transcribing my notes onto a Word document until Thursday afternoon, much to the chagrin of Brian.
Perhaps that is the Wong philosophy about time and deadlines that I've been practicing upon. Or perhaps I'm too lethargic to eloquently write complete sentences from the random notes I write.
Like Dostoevsky, I've written many pieces that are a bit wobbly which I've turned in simply because I had to submit something. There are a couple of pieces I'm quite fond of, such as the articles about smoking, the one about space reservations experienced in France and the Galignani library. Many others are, unfortunately, a bit dreadful, and I've regretted not spending proper time and attention for some pieces.
I'm a rather fickle person, and I've realized I have to write in the moment as my ideas change. Time, indeed, plays a big role in my slow writing process.
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