I like ekphrastic writing, it's nice to have a visual prompt. There are a couple of websites out there that offer regular ekphrastic prompts, which I've sometimes used.
Thanks for suggesting this, I’ll have to read around a bit on Ekphrasis. I like the idea of creating prose around an artwork. I’m just going with the flow at the moment vaguely thinking about trying to be less formal about reviewing and more about my own response. I think of it as more ‘bloggy’ 😂😂
Yes, Rita, 'bloggy' is a good way to go. Art is sometimes difficult for people to relate to, so if we can use words to make it more accessible then we've done a good thing I think.
Ekphrasis is such a fascinating concept, and this is such a good description of it Yasmin. It's great to see you distill it down into an effective writing technique too. When we were deciding way back when on what we would and would not include in Hinterland, we decided that rather than conventional reviews we would instead publish pieces that were inspired by or in conversation with other works of art - in future when authors ask what Ekphrasis is I'll point them here!
I am excited to have found you, Yasmin. As my husband and I set out as permanent middle-aged nomads, we are looking forward to a slower, gentler pace of life, observing closely, letting things sink into our souls, and communicating what we experience.
One of my favourite poems read last year was Landscape with the Fall of Icarus by William Carlos Williams - i loved that i could look at the Breugal painting while reading the poem. So its interesting to learn this name ekphrasis
That's so good to know, Kate. I agree, it makes reading a poem a different and deeper experience if you have the subject, or the image of it, in front of you. Thank you for reading my post.
I'm in a poetry group and there is one person who often writing Ekphrasis poems and I love to hear/read the poem and imagine the art before they share the image. I wonder, is there is a word for poems written in response to novels or films?
Your poetry group sounds interesting, Jill. From what I learned at the seminar I understand the word ekphrasis is applicable to writing responses to ALL forms of art including novels and films (also to natural objects). So the process of ekphrasis can be more wide-ranging; it's not restricted to linking poetry and 'traditional' art. Interesting, I think!
@Yasmin Chopin ... thank you for this post. I'm planning my first trip to Paris and plan to incorporate this into my travel process. I'm struck by your title and wonder how you define "place writing" as opposed to "travel writing." It seems significant, but I'm not sure I can articulate the difference.
Essentially, if I had to boil it down to a few words, I would say that place writing is about one defined area, exploring it from a variety of subjects (geography, history, archaeology, society, culture, art, economy, literary, etc etc) whereas travel writing is more likely to be an impression of place written by someone who is not of that place and is, perhaps, passing through. Professional travel writing, though literary and well researched, is more likely to be aimed at an audience interested in going to the place, or places, mentioned. Whereas place writing does not in any way encourage people to visit the area in question... in fact the focus may be on quite mundane places, perhaps even 'unattractive' in the eyes of a tourist.
I hope, by encouraging conversation here on this Substack, we may all get a better handle on what Place Writing is, and how it serves us as writers. Thanks so much for your question. 😊
I like ekphrastic writing, it's nice to have a visual prompt. There are a couple of websites out there that offer regular ekphrastic prompts, which I've sometimes used.
Thanks, Juliet. Ekphrasis provides interesting challenges.
A synchronicity for me. I've been hearing about this form elsewhere. Thank you!
Excellent, Robin!
Thanks for suggesting this, I’ll have to read around a bit on Ekphrasis. I like the idea of creating prose around an artwork. I’m just going with the flow at the moment vaguely thinking about trying to be less formal about reviewing and more about my own response. I think of it as more ‘bloggy’ 😂😂
Yes, Rita, 'bloggy' is a good way to go. Art is sometimes difficult for people to relate to, so if we can use words to make it more accessible then we've done a good thing I think.
Ekphrasis is such a fascinating concept, and this is such a good description of it Yasmin. It's great to see you distill it down into an effective writing technique too. When we were deciding way back when on what we would and would not include in Hinterland, we decided that rather than conventional reviews we would instead publish pieces that were inspired by or in conversation with other works of art - in future when authors ask what Ekphrasis is I'll point them here!
That's so kind of you to say, and I'm glad I caught the meaning for you. Ekphrasis is certainly a practice that gives writers room to experiment.
I am excited to have found you, Yasmin. As my husband and I set out as permanent middle-aged nomads, we are looking forward to a slower, gentler pace of life, observing closely, letting things sink into our souls, and communicating what we experience.
Hi Sherry, great to have you join this community as a subscriber. I look forward to hearing more about your travels in due course.
One of my favourite poems read last year was Landscape with the Fall of Icarus by William Carlos Williams - i loved that i could look at the Breugal painting while reading the poem. So its interesting to learn this name ekphrasis
That's so good to know, Kate. I agree, it makes reading a poem a different and deeper experience if you have the subject, or the image of it, in front of you. Thank you for reading my post.
I'm in a poetry group and there is one person who often writing Ekphrasis poems and I love to hear/read the poem and imagine the art before they share the image. I wonder, is there is a word for poems written in response to novels or films?
Your poetry group sounds interesting, Jill. From what I learned at the seminar I understand the word ekphrasis is applicable to writing responses to ALL forms of art including novels and films (also to natural objects). So the process of ekphrasis can be more wide-ranging; it's not restricted to linking poetry and 'traditional' art. Interesting, I think!
@Yasmin Chopin ... thank you for this post. I'm planning my first trip to Paris and plan to incorporate this into my travel process. I'm struck by your title and wonder how you define "place writing" as opposed to "travel writing." It seems significant, but I'm not sure I can articulate the difference.
Hi Joyce, thanks so much for commenting, liking, and re-stacking. Your trip to Paris sounds very exciting. How long will you be there?
Your question about the difference between 'place writing' and 'travel writing' is one that I also grapple with. I do think they're different. I give a brief outline of what this substack is about here: https://yasminchopin.substack.com/p/what-is-place-writing and then I talk a little more about travel writing here: https://yasminchopin.substack.com/p/5-travel-writing.
Essentially, if I had to boil it down to a few words, I would say that place writing is about one defined area, exploring it from a variety of subjects (geography, history, archaeology, society, culture, art, economy, literary, etc etc) whereas travel writing is more likely to be an impression of place written by someone who is not of that place and is, perhaps, passing through. Professional travel writing, though literary and well researched, is more likely to be aimed at an audience interested in going to the place, or places, mentioned. Whereas place writing does not in any way encourage people to visit the area in question... in fact the focus may be on quite mundane places, perhaps even 'unattractive' in the eyes of a tourist.
I hope, by encouraging conversation here on this Substack, we may all get a better handle on what Place Writing is, and how it serves us as writers. Thanks so much for your question. 😊