Direct or indirect writing

Posted on by Michael Raven

This is my seventh or so attempted post that isn’t poetry or frivolous stuff.

I’m trying to figure out what it is, exactly, that I’m trying to share, but it all seems terribly phony as I get towards the end and I think what I’m trying to say is that phony is starting to grate on my nerves a bit. I’m trying to make plainspeak part of my nature, but poetry tends to be the opposite of plainspeak — with the value we put on allusion, allegory, and indirect imagery as poets, how can it be anything else? And I don’t know that there are allowances for certain people to write more direct poetry in this day and age, depending on the topic involved.

For instance, it is okay to suggest or imply physical self-harm as long as it is masqued by big, floral, or abstract words, but everyone wants to lock you up if you write: “Tonight, I held/the razor to my wrists/unable to decide/to make lateral/or longitudinal cuts”. I’m impressed and gladdened to see women writing descriptive erotic poetry and prose — but now it seems (or is it just prudish me?) that when a man writes something without the aforementioned romantic tropes, it becomes labelled “crude” instead of hot an sensual. How would people react to me talking about stroking my penis thinking about some fantasy woman, I wonder? I also sometimes hesitate to write about my experiences outside of Caucasian perspectives because I might be accused of appropriation — even though these are my stories and experiences that I share. I have grown up in a non-white neighborhood as a white man; I have hung out with various native tribes; i had to learn pidgin Hmong to be a backup supervisor for a cleaning crew so I could give direction to non-English speakers. Those are my stories as well. This isn’t me doing a “why can they, but not me” whine. It is a real decision that needs to be considered each time I write. Who is most likely to be offended and do I need to offend anyone to write something close enough.

Sensitivity drives what I allow myself to write. Do you know how many times I wrote and rewrite variations of last night’s poem containing the word “whore”, concerned that its use would be more off-putting than if I wrote “fuck” fifty times in a row for no obvious artistic reason? “Whore” is the appropriate word.

I had a teacher once ask a student about a part of a story. Essentially, the student ended up waffling and said something to the effect of: “…then he went to the bushes and, erm, defecated in the bushes.” The teacher was livid. “He didn’t go into the bushes to defecate,” he told the student. “He went to the bushes and took a SHIT.” It was there, right in the story, the teacher read it aloud (I forget what the story was, sorry). Defecate wasn’t the right word, and so the author didn’t use it. Shit was the right word. Vulgarities are just words too; words that somewhere, someplace decided were somehow naughty. As a writer, however, I feel you should be sensitive to the sensibilities of the reader, and I had to weigh if the word “whore” was going to be too offensive to maintain my follower counts. Or if I was willing to risk the loss or any backlash. Ultimately, I chose to accept the risk.

Which is why I’ve enjoyed the microfiction I’ve tossed out lately. It satisfies my desire minimalist writing, but I can cut out the obfuscating words that poetry seems to demand most of the time. I can, using the above example for suicidal tendencies: “He bounced the razor blade on his wrist, making cuts that often were not deep enough to bleed, but occasionally one did, in fact, bleed. He considered doing more, but couldn’t decide if he wanted to end up in ER or the morgue tonight. Maybe a few more shots would help him decide.”

Nothing hidden. Nothing masked. No shadowplay.

So, I don’t know — maybe I need to change the subject matter of the poetry. Or move to more microfiction. But something is bothering me about things (hell, it could be the state of our nation that is bugging me), and I wish I could figure it out. But I know it has something to do with indirect speaking.

22 thoughts on “Direct or indirect writing”

  1. Freedom. Of. Expression. It is still a thing. Write your soul. But I feel you on many points you make. Personally, I think men and women and everyone in between should write as much erotic, even crude, poetry and prose as pleases them. If people don’t like it, they don’t have to read it.

    The writing from another race or sex’s perspective is problematic right now… but still… you can write whatever you want… just expect banning or cancelation lol. Ever read William Styron’s The Confessions of Nat Turner? Just a matter of time before that one is banned from universities if it hasn’t been already. Crazy times, man, crazy times….

    I am staunchly against censorship… if that isn’t obvious. Lol

    That’s my two and half cents… 🙃

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Oh, I completely agree. But it goes back to the decision of alienating folks or not. I don’t know… Sometimes I wonder if I care too much about offending folks and I’d be a better writer if I just said fuck it.

      As for censorship, if they tell me I can’t have it, I go right out and buy it if I want to. Fuck censors.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Personally, I say write what you want. I’ve read some pretty “racy” authors in my time. I love reading men authors, especially those who write sensually. Or sexually. Or just plain kinky. Totally into all that. The thing is, if someone doesn’t like it, they don’t have to read it. If they do, they’ll keep reading. (And PS for the record, I absolutely adore reading about a man stroking his cock… we need more of that.)

    Liked by 3 people

        1. Hardly. I do it, but when people hear it, they back slowly away, thinking I might have finally cracked — so I try to save it for when I’m alone.

          Though, thinking about that, maybe they wonder just what, exactly, I’m doing behind closed doors… 🤣

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Hahaha!! 🤣 I honestly couldn’t say how many times I’ve responded out loud while reading, whether a laugh or giggle, or a gasp or sigh, or a “mmmmmm” 💦

            I’m a bit vocal, clearly.

            I recall clearly reading Jurassic Park in the 90’s and literally *jumping* in a particularly unexpected scene. I get very wrapped up in my reading. I’m looking forward to reading more from you.

            Liked by 1 person

  4. You know what I think?

    You think too much.

    I always just write what I want. Feel. Need to. With the words that match. For me.
    Sure – I DO struggle with the ‘Publish’ button sometimes. Should I, should I not?

    But that decision never changes my words.

    I like what you write. With profanities and all. And the more real it gets – the better it reads.

    Just don’t think so much, I’d say

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Yeah. You’ve probably hit it squarely on my problem. I think too much. It’s gotten my into trouble with folks who don’t like to think quite so much about life, actually…

      Like

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