Thursday, February 21, 2013


So writing is the method of using the word as bait: the word fishing for whatever is not word.  When this non-word--between the lines--takes the bait, something has been written.

from Água Viva by Clarice Lispector

33 comments:

  1. Must mull. I am hornswaggled.

    Will go chop vegetables for soup. Turning on radio. Join me?

    xo Jane

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    1. Okay, on the radio goes. Hope I'm not too late. The middle of a book review...mention of girls transforming into silkworms. Eek.

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  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. I've used a prop like that before. It works too.

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  4. Love this, the photo and the quote. They both say so much with so little :)

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  5. word anglers and wranglers, all!

    and, I must learn more about Clarice Lispector...

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    1. Some parts of this book I enjoyed, others not so much. I'm curious to see more of her work.

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  6. I had to sit here for several moments thinking about these words. And suddenly it made sense.

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    1. The excerpt is still a bit confusing to me, but I know I like the idea of the word as bait.

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  7. Beautiful. I haven't heard of Clarice Lispector, but her words there tell me she's quite the word-fisher. As are you :)

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  8. I want to grab hold of the is of this thing...and from its instants, extract the juice of its fruits.

    A Lispectorish response to your lovely post.

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  9. oh, i love this sentiment. the idea of the non-word that needs expressing. yes, yes. (hi to you. lisa solomon and i were just talking about our favorite blogs and we talked about you. just wanted spread the love. hi!)

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    1. Oh my gosh, what a fine compliment, Katrina. Thank you for spreading the love. It feels nice.

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  10. Lovely to think about this.

    Sunny greetings with melting snow!

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  11. What a good, good quote. It's almost like a read between the lines and then you've got something worthy.

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    1. It's funny how sometimes I return to this quote and it makes complete sense, other times I'm not as sure.

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  12. Beautiful. That quote will follow me today...

    Have a great day!

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    1. I'm sure it enjoyed following you through your day, Anne Marie.

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  13. I'm fishing today, and I like the bait. But sometimes, what I like more is the non-word before it's taken the bait. Good words, non-words.

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    1. I think I know what you mean, Pia. Sometimes the non-word (the emotion/memory/feeling floating out there) is better than the word itself.

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  14. this is a relly inspiring place
    i love your words an photosgraphs
    ___
    christine

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