12 May 2007

day 52 - why i skipped day 51 and what i don't like about my life right now. and what i like, too.

ok, so i didn't post yesterday. ok, so yesterday was a rebellion against myself. instead of writing i dusted. dusted! and, admittedly, watched tv. so i dusted and watched tv. read: broke my very own rules. in fact, i adhered to rule A, though: only frustrated people dust, if not for money. rule B: daytime tv is for dickheads, if not for money. which brings us right to the first point of my list of facts i don't like about my life right now:

1. i don't like that i haven't earned a penny yet with what i've written. it doesn't feel good to just use up resources without increasing the added value, so to say.

2. i don't like having to work at the mercy of my own inspiration. this, in fact, was the reason why i never tried to become an illustrator. at the moment i'd really rather draw, though. funnily enough, i experience a similar problem with writing as i used to when i drew more: what you have there once you're finished just doesn't resemble the idea you had in mind. not the least bit, actually. i'm guessing that's due to a lack of skill. so, in fact

3. i don't like my lack of skill. i don't like that i don't like what i've written. i don't like that i send in material for competition i'm not 100% content with. i don't like competition. but you know that already and i won't go down that road again.

so here's what i like about my life right now:

1. berlin. nice people, space, beautiful appartment, cheap everything.

2. that i'm on the bastard slam list and will get to slam there in june.

3. the prospect of producing some good texts again soon.

4. gurgling cats.

LIKE wins 4:3. ha.

10 May 2007

day 50

(picture taken from pictures of walls.)


yesterday night, when thinking about what to do about the novel problem, i had another idea for a prose manuscript. i drafted it roughly, named it's characters - a lot easier this time - and started writing. i'm at 421 words at the moment. style-wise, i like it much better than the last attempt already. in case i'll decide to stick with it, i'll defintiely put up a second word count, but for now i just want to see how it goes in the next couple of days. i have also made a couple of very minor changes to my new slam text. again, the text is far from funny (and thus not very likely to earn me any titles, either), but i'm looking forward to reading it on stage still. as to Die Resignation: i'm thinking about sending it in to that blauer something prose competition i told you about, in case i can't manage to come up with something newer and better until then, that is.

09 May 2007

still ignoring my novel problem, i spent my day writing a second slam text and organizing a next performance in june in berlin @ the bastard slam. the text i wrote was meant to become a prose text, which it still is - just a very rhythmic one. i'm considering using it for one of the upcoming 1-page-of-prose-only competitions, too. since rhymed texts appeal to me, i suppose i'll write more of them in the weeks to come. why not collect them, string them together and call them a manuscript?

here's a clip ken yamamoto sent to me yesterday night. he's performing Seekin' the Cause by Miguel Pinero. impressive as usual.

for all of you who weren't around in april when i posted a translation of his poem Notizen bei Tagesanbruch, Notes at Daybreak, please check my post of day 26.

day 49

i still wouldn't have a clue about how to overcome or solve my novel problem, so let me procrastinate a little and tell you about my day yesterday. in reverse order.

yesterday night i went to a translator's meeting organized by no man's land (see link list english, too). it was a meeting set up especially for people who translate from german into english. after all, of all berlin, nine people attended. i like how everyone has a forum here. just as expected i was the youngest attendee. but since there wasn't a set schedule for the meeting and how it should proceed, i became first to read a couple of my translations. i read So Many Words I Now Chow, my translation of mr. sartorius' poem So viele Wörter ich jetzt esse and an untitled poem by h.c. artmann. i got helpful comments, hints and ideas for both of them. for example, i wasn't quite aware of the extent of "colloquialness" of the word chow. they suggested the word devour instead, so i'll have to see what i can do about that. apart from myself, one poet read a beautiful translation she made of a prose text describing some mountain range. we all got really into it and discussed her choice of words for a long while. to everybody not involved this must sound terribly nerdy, but i enjoyed it a lot and will definitely go for the next couple of meetings held while i am here in berlin.

during the day, out of sheer desperation, i decided to partake in another competition, a poetry competition this time. i have known about it for a long time and have let it's first deadline pass because i didn't really feel the topic at the time: Erst gestern, Only Yesterday. after it came to my attention, however, that the IGdA has extended the deadline up to may 15, i decided to give it a shot nevertheless. apparently they weren't happy with the replies they got the first time around, so i figured i might as well try and wrote a trilogy that chronicles a girl's thoughts on her love life. the middle one has a very poetry slam tone to it, so i might prolongue it in one way or the other and use it some time soon. we'll see. the most urgent problem at the moment, for sure, is how to best come to my novel's rescue.

yesterday morning i walked to the alexanderplatz ("alex") and bought a new charger for my phone. on my way there i took a wrong turn that led me through the better part of prenzlauer berg. what should have taken me 20 minutes took me one hour plus. well, at least i have a better feeling for berlin distances now.

08 May 2007

day 48

in order to get back into my story, i started re-reading what i had written of the "novel" previously. i only got down one paragraph. it's crap. real crap. now that's a problem. i'm thinking of starting over. something new. not sure yet. fuck.

07 May 2007

berlin

this is just a quick evening post to let you know i have arrived safely in berlin. the bus trip from the airport to where i get to stay was impressive already: besides the many berlin sights i got to see through the windshield, i met my first "berliner"in. a girl circa my age - suppose that makes her a woman, then - from munich who organizes concerts and events for a living. just like everybody else here, it seems. it turned out she and i know a couple of same places and people, or at least thought so. awesome, now i know three people here.

day 47

this week's translation is of a poem called Liebestöter that was written by ralf rothmann (*1953). i called it Passion Killer, although i considered Passion Slayer, too. it's one of these poems that may seem to be easily translatable. i didn't think so. please find the audio version of the english version here.

next week, i'll try and go for a female poet. sexual equality and all, you know.


Passion Killer

I saw your flashing look in the reek, your
hips like thunder - they fired me up

and i dropped at your feet

in a fancy of gin.

Now your irony smile chokes my throat
the pile of your letters
and that you drop by every night
tack your golden battleship "love" back to mine.

The gin is finished.

E
xcuse the impossibleness
of a life under your blonde sun
that i don't heat up in your arm.
Excuse my chatting you up at the time
thinking just about you know what

everything else in disregard.



Liebestöter

Ich sah deinen blitzenden Blick im Rauch, deine
Hüften wie Donner - das peitschte mich auf
und ich fiel Dir zu Füßen
in einer Laune aus Gin.
Jetzt hab ich dein eisernes Lächeln am Hals
die Flut deiner Briefe
und daß du hier aufkreuzt jeden Abend
im goldenen Schlachtschiff "Liebe".
Jetzt ist die Ginflasche leer.
Verzeih das ich nicht leben kann
unter deiner blonden Sonne
daß mir nicht mehr warm wird in deiner Umarmung.
Verzeih daß ich dich ansprach damals
nur das eine im Kopf
das andere werweißwo.

06 May 2007

and some english nonsense, too

out there / a terrier barks / flame-red sparks of fur hair / it barks at tarts / in skin tight shorts / of which kate moss owns a pair. / we're talking boulevards here / bully yards / packed central parks / fashion whores / terrier carriers / bodily spare parts stores.

yeah, right, whatever... was i drunk?!

some of last year's confusion (unedited)

sie sitzt in ihrem braunen sperrmüllsessel, beine überkreuz, mit dem gefälligen blick, und hübscht ihre lahmen geschichten mit eigenlob auf. in der hand eine tasse mit drei tage altem prosecco. sie bläst den zigarettenrauch mit rollenden augen über sich aus, legt den kopf teif in den nacken, schließt ihre augen. sie muss denken, ich falle auf ihre einstudierten anekdoten herein. sie schenkt mir ein halbes glas ein, ein dreckiges, und reicht es herüber. um meine sinne zu trüben, wie ich vermute. damit ich ihr glaube. ich danke.

(picture taken from pictures of walls.)

nocturnals

it's the sleeping again. i can't sleep. i've tried reading the book i mentioned, which was very interesting yet indeed tiring, too, but still didn't make me sleep. i've been re-thinking my exposing myself to competition of late, and would like to clarify that i have never liked competition. i remember 3rd form sprints when my then best friend and i crossed the finishing line first at the same time, holding hands so that our teacher couldn't tell who really came in first. i have never liked putting any of my work, no matter what kind, at the mercy of people. it never mattered what anybody else did or said. this isn't to say that i don't appreciate praise or that i don't enjoy winning. not at all. the point i want to make is it bothers me that the only way to get your work out there is by competing. quite possibly even by battling people who don't enjoy any of this themselves. were there not times when you could share your ideas rather than keep them to yourself, without having to be afraid that somebody would steal them and outdo you with your very own vision at the first opportunity? am i being a paranoid insomniac? come on, let's share texts, guys.

this here is an observation of a woman who sat opposite me on a train to st. gallen about a month ago. it's the first time i've typewritten [typewrited? not really, is it?] this and believe me, i wouldn't normally do so. it's just because i'm so tired and i thought you might want to read of my general, latent confusion. i haven't edited it or anything, this is the original version:

wieder im zug, dieses mal auf dem weg nach st. gallen. mir gegenüber sitzt eine große frau, die die zeitschrift "kanu" liest. ich wußte gar nicht, daß ein solches magazin existiert. ich sehe mir ihre oberarme an. die sehen nicht aus, wie ich mir die oberarme einer kanufahrerin vorstelle. der leitartikel trägt den titel "der see ruft". ich bin mir nicht sicher. / auf den balkonen, an denen wir vorbeifahren, sitzen menschen in der sonne. möglich, daß einer von denen darüber nachdenkt, worüber die bahnreisenden nachdenken. alles dreht sich im kreis. das leben selbst nicht, aber alles darin. die erkenntnis ist lange vor dem fehler in unserem leben. / die kanufrau lernt jetzt arabisch. auf ihrem koffer steht "academy for infection management". / eine frau ist auf einen einkaufswagen geklettert und wühlt im altglascontainer. / heute stehen viele alte leute unentschlossen an den gleisen. / zwei mädchen auf dem fußballfeld. die eine schwingt ihre hüften und hüpft, als der zug vorbeifährt. man sieht ihren bauchnabel. ihre freundin, in weinrot, steht daneben und lacht. / es gibt einen ort, der "mooshausen" heißt. / es steht: "selbstmontage". ich lese: "selbstmordanlage". ich denke, wo befindet sich der schlüssel zu diesem metalltor? / die kanufrau streckt mir ihren hintern entgegen. sie hat einen knackigen arsch und trägt keinen bh. / in letzter zeit bin ich aufgeregt und schlafe schlecht. manchmal machen mich lieder nervös. in lindau ein dicker mann in jogginghose. / die kanufrau kehrt ihre krümel unter die sitzbank. ich denke, sie macht der putzfrau das leben noch schwerer. / die leute wählen ihre sitznachbarn erst, nachdem sie dreimal im waggon auf- und abgegangen sind. / die kanufrau und ich binden uns gleichzeitig einen neuen pferdeschwanz. sie [ohne brille an] sieht zu mir herüber, aber ich weiß, wie dick ihre brillengläser sind, und daß sie also gar nichts sehen kann. / der zug wird voller in lindau. ich schreibe nicht über jeden. / wir haben die österreichische grenze überfahren. das ist mir entgangen. noch vierzig minuten bis st. gallen. die schweizer grenzwächter sind hübsch. / in lustenau kommt ein bärtiger aus einem schuppen. er sieht aus, als hätte er onaniert. / manchmal ertrage ich nur lieder ohne text.

the clock says 2:24 am.

05 May 2007

looking forward to going to berlin

now that i've sent my story to fm4, i'm really looking forward to going to berlin. i hope there's no internet i can log into in the apartment i get to use. i'll really need to focus on the novel in the next couple of months and can't really use distraction. i know only a couple of people in berlin, who'll of course have to work during the days, so that's good.

pants about the fm4 competition is that the texts will be pre-selected by the editorial staff; the actual jury will only assess the twenty texts chosen by the editors. given that they anticipate 1000 stories, pre-selecting only twenty seems a little harsh.... bugga!

the next competition i want to partake in has been announced by blauer salon. they're looking for short prose, which suits me just fine. there was one more contest judged by a rather famous jury of which i've forgotten the details at the moment.

day 45 - finished the flood story

8 pages, 254 lines, 2'998 words, 18'634 characters with spaces. two more revisions later, a .pdf file is made, a copy is printed. i know it's a rather short story, but as i was assured by SJ last night, a text has it's natural length. this sounds totally plausible. if i'm not mistaken, with 2'998 words i'm pretty close the story's first edit's length.

need a break, will get back to you later.

04 May 2007

day 44

i'm still only on page 4 with my fourth revision, so i retreated to tricking myself into finishing the story off: i bought myself a book i mustn't read until i've completed my work. if the book interests me enough, this usually works. this time it's a suhrkamp insel edition that compiles personal statements of various german authors regarding their first novels. how much time it took for them to write it, their working procedures, how they feel about it today and so forth.

another interesting read i found in my mailbox today is Destination King's, the welcome guide for international students at king's college. suppose i'll better get revising.

03 May 2007

day 43

i have been working so incredibly slowly in the last couple of days, i feel like i've been putting my brain to sleep. bringing out the best of that text exhausts me. to the right is a picture of my fourth revision. as you can see, i still make zillions of changes and yet nothing ever sounds right. finding a balance between what is better left unsaid and what needs to be inclosed is tricky, to say the least. also, the whole text has to sound like it was written in one go - as natural as a vespiary. all this, of course, when you shouldn't raise your hopes. let me tell you, guys, it is impossible to not bring your hopes up: the damn things bring up themselves. after all no one works on a project for weeks on end looking forward to all his effort going unnoticed. unlike with poetry slams, i partake in this competition for the sole reason of recognition. everything else is hypocrisy.

02 May 2007

a tribute to sylvia plath and ted hughes, parts I (above) & II (below)

quite obviously, it's difficult to make a movie on poetry. there are no hot chicks in bikinis or cars exploding in these films. just gifted people and a couple of female suicides.



day 42

alright: 3rd revision is finished. due to some necessary shortening/ altering in the latter parts of the story, i'm at 3'083 words or 19'066 characters including spaces at the moment. i guess that's ok. now: food.

01 May 2007

day 41

i'm still at the third revision of my flood story. brought the word count up from 3016 to 3154. including spaces, the story consists of 19'521 characters with spaces at the moment. i've just finished revising page 5 of 8 and concentration is fading. not sure why exactly, perhaps i just need a break. the plan is to complete the third revision tomorrow, so that i can print it out and revise it for a fourth and last time the day after. once done, i'll send it in by email. as a title is not required, i'll probably leave the story untitled. somehow i just don't enjoy giving titles. i never read them, either. chances are, this is why, so far, i wasn't aware that the fm4 competition is held in cooperation with the austrian newspaper der standard.

my institutionals by patricia ferrell

white rooms exist for bargains with the self.
entirely possible to let you go,
with a staff to care for me.
invalid becomes synonymous with celebrity
outside spring reveals the mystery of me.
pulse, i hear your music deep in the foliage.
spiral ladders taking me back to where danger
was what i asked for most.
the accident mere formality
to get down to the business of recovery.
a thousand notebook pages filled with convalescent dreams.
i'm here to report it's all impossibly beautiful.
there are women in white apparitions,
who come and wipe my eyes.
when they fill to fall and landscape blurs,
who insure the prescriptive steadiness of being me
i needn't lift a hand.
soon i'll be strong enough to love myself again.
free to be free, i have no industry.

[punctuation was inserted by me somewhat randomly. also, i wouldn't have a clue where patricia made her linebreaks. still i find this transcript is better than no transcript. listen to patricia ferrell reading my institutionals here.]