Sometimes I ask myself,
“Why don’t I want to write?”
And a little voice inside me says,
“Because I don’t want to.”
And then I make myself write.
Why do I do that?
-M. Taggart
Tag: On Writing
Poem
Write anything at all
that is unique
And the World will love it
That’s what I’ve learned
about writing
-M. Taggart
Dangling Man.
I was leafing through Goethe’s Poetry and Life and I came upon this phrase: “This loathing of life has both physical and moral causes…” I was sufficiently stirred by this to read on. “All comfort in life is based upon a regular occurrence of external phenomena. The changes of the day and night, of the seasons, of flowers and fruits, and all other recurring pleasures that come to us. that we may and should enjoy them- these are the mainsprings of our earthly life. The more open we are to these enjoyments, the happier we are; but if these changing phenomena unfold themselves and we take no interest in them, if we are insensible to such fair solicitations, then comes on the sorest evil, the heaviest disease- we regard life as a loathsome burden.”
-Saul Bellow’s, Dangling Man.
I find this to be soul searching literature. This is the philosophy by which I live my life. Hence, my love of a falling leaf. Although that alone doesn’t summarize the depths of that simple thought/phrase. That ‘one’ leaf changed my life. I can only hope we all find a leaf of such magnitude. The proof of all things.
Saul Bellow, along with using a bit of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s poetry, masterfully lays out a path for any individual to break down happiness and how to apply it, if so inclined. It’s not the things, certainly NOT the things, we buy and stuff into our already full garages to show to our ‘friends’ just how far we’ve made it; at a very young age I realized just how fake that was while watching adults parade their facades.
As an adult I’ve found that writing is not only my outlet, but a space for my soul to become tangible. Whether my writing is any good or not, well that’s not for me to decide, but I will write. And I will read literature that touches my heart and forces me to look from the page and dive into my thoughts while staring at a blank wall and processing what I’ve just learned.
I wish you all the best,
Matt
I’m thankful for the support so many of you have so unselfishly given me.
Poem
Writing is like anything.
It’s like breathing or smoking
and watching how the smoke
rises around your face
then looking at the make of your vehicle,
a GMC, and noticing the license plate
says vacation land. I don’t believe it’s
always meant to be hard.
Sometimes it’s meant to be what you see.
What you feel. What you remember.
I know, remembering what you felt can
bring on the terribly difficult and that
portion can certainly be hard.
But it’s all right there. Waiting.
It’s a matter of doing it.
All of it. Just like anything else.
-M. Taggart
Poem
It’s raining outside. A heavy rain.
And with it a feeling of release.
I just sat there feeling very little.
No pressure to do anything, but write.
Finally. I gave myself permission to write.
I’ve been telling myself to submit to publications,
but I haven’t. My cell vibrated and a half hour passed,
and while still on the phone, a text came in from
a childhood friend. He told me my step-mother
needed to hear my voice. She’s doing better, though.
I said goodbye, replied to the text, “I will call her,”
and my phone rang again. Same family member, needed
to say more. I found myself remembering that I needed to
go to the post office and just like that I was in my truck.
It’s a mess outside. The rain won’t let up. I decided to grab
some beer for when I got home to write. Inside the little
store it wasn’t busy and I was the only one at the post office.
Now I’m home. Looking out the window. It’s 11:57 AM.
Not sure who’s going to call next. I owe lots of people phone
calls and I’m not sure when I’ll get to it. But for now, I think
I’ll shut everything off, and again, give myself permission to write.
-M. Taggart
Poem
Those of us
who fall for writing,
fall hard. And at times,
recklessly. I hope to
never lose the reckless.
-M. Taggart
On writing
I need to love it again
pull the scab off
look at it
and know it’s me
-M. Taggart
Let’s be real.
I can’t write as hard as I want to. My society can handle it, but the agents controlling the pathways to the publishers cannot and the publishers cannot. Something needs to change. The best current writers are not the ones sitting on bookstore shelves.
That’s my opinion.
Matt
(I’m lucky and blessed to have been published by amazing publications. I’m referring to the large publishers that tend to publish the same old, same old. The best piece I’ve submitted to agents once triggered this response, “Yea, I can’t touch that.”)
I’m on the writing trail!
I’m 700 words into my new Horror Story, “The Stump Maker,” I can’t wait to submit this! I know how it’s going to end….it’s just a matter of letting the words flow and filling in the dots. …
I hope everyone is doing as good as possible and that your day is treating you well. And please, remember, it’s a beautiful life if we let it be, even when it rains.
Matt
Bodies in The Basement won Publication of the Year, non-poetic, on SpillWords Press, NYC. I invite you to read it..
Cut the negative out of your life, and thrive.
“I’ve read his writing. It’s not very good.”
This statement was made, concerning my writing, by a very toxic individual whom we’ve invited out of our lives as of last year. When told by a mutual friend that I have been published, again, and that I have a book signing at the end of the month, the above, was stated.
These are the kind of games narcissists play. They know the remark will be delivered.
However, I’m terrific at tearing narcissists apart. They fear me. The remark, an attempt to knock my achievements, is empty, hollow. As the saying goes, ‘Live well, and you’ll find success,’ I’ll certainly continue to do just that. I have a blessed life, with an unbreakable faith. I hope they find joy and feel no pain.
Here, was the ending of my post.
But in a serendipitous moment of time, it went on. With Karma leading the charge. Blaine’s comment literally came moments after I wrote the above.
“Thanks, Matt! I’ll have to take you up on that offer. 😃 You’ll have to pardon my sense of humor. You know how to word those situations in life where, something happens, then we’re looking around to see if anybody else just saw the same thing? Because, if I’m doing a double-take, then surely another eyewitness must be, too. 😉 I’m glad I found you and wordpress. Nice to find out a few others, did in fact, see what I saw. LOL” Blaine Thompson.
Blaine goes on-
“Your best friend said it best. It’s no wonder why your writing resonates with so many readers. I don’t know how many times I’ve read one of your entries and immediately a specific life experience appeared in my memory. And, there’s no way I could have found the words to paint the same picture myself. It’s awesome when the writing itself is superb, but it’s even better when it has some Socratic kind of punch behind it. Glad you share with all of us what comes from your pen.” Blaine Thompson
“I can’t wait to read what you have coming up. Whatever it is, we will all benefit. You’re doing a lot more than just sharing the aesthetics of words with all of us. You’re inspiring us all, too. I hope we can return the favor to you by reading and responding.” Blaine Thompson.
Please visit Blaine. His timing is real.
Matt
I don’t know how, Blaine, but you were tuned in. Cheers.
mtaggartwriter 