A few months ago, my friend (and now roommate) Petey told me I should start a blog called "Tales of Hofmann." You're welcome, Petey!
For those who don't know, Tales of Hoffmann is an opera based on the stories of German writer E.T.A. Hoffmann. I was one of those who didn't know until my LDS mission to Scotland. Apparently the Scots are big fans of this opera--it probably happened at least a dozen times that someone would see my name on my badge and make a reference to the Tales.
I still have not seen the opera, but hope to have an opportunity soon. I read the synopsis on the above link, and it sounds fascinating. It's basically the story of Hoffmann being unlucky in love, with each attempt being sabotaged by a Muse who wishes him to devote his full attention to writing.
The first woman he falls in love with turns out to be a robot. Not only is this an awesome plot idea--especially considering this is a 19th-century work--but it also reminds me of this epic late 1990s Aerosmith video.
After his third failed love, according to Wikipedia, "the Muse...reclaims Hoffmann: 'Be reborn a poet! I love you, Hoffmann! Be mine!' The magic of poetry reaches Hoffmann as he sings...'Muse whom I love, I am yours!'" This seems apt for me, as I am recommitting myself to writing more regularly. But I plan to reserve some love and devotion for real human women, too.
Again, this sounds like a great opera, and it's certainly a perfectly descriptive title for my blog. I'll basically be telling tales: tales about me, tales about other people, tales that I make up. And you can all be the students in the virtual tavern, sitting around and enjoying the stories. (If you do enjoy them, go ahead and make it official by clicking that Follow button!)
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Keeping my pencil sharp
Earlier this week, I joined my friends Allan, Andrew and Drew and put on an improv show at Springville High's all-night graduation party. It was the first show I had done in almost three years, and it was a lot of fun--but I was really, really rusty.
I want to avoid having that happen to my writing skills, and that's why I'm starting this blog. My old blog, created primarily to chronicle my adventures inNew York , had basically fulfilled its purpose, as evidenced by the lack of a single 2011 post, and the overall dearth of substantial content since I moved back to Utah
In the last several months, I've done some writing--I blogged for the Utah Jazz during the 2010-11 season (I would link to some of the gems I submitted, but the site seems to be down or defunct). I also sent a weekly email to my church congregation in which I creatively encouraged the members to read the assigned chapters for the upcoming Sunday School lesson. My personal favorite was an imaginary conversation in heaven between Joseph (of Dreamcoat fame) and Daniel (the lions' den guy), as the two great interpreters of dreams engaged in a little one-upsmanship. I may have to reprint some of them here, for posterity's sake.
Both of those gigs wound down in April, however, which is why this blog has become necessary. So what shape will it take? I don't really know yet. I plan to put basically anything I write up here. I assume it will mostly be about stuff I experience. Which means there will probably be a lot of posts about food and television. And links to videos and articles that I enjoyed. But if I write a song parody, or a sermon, or some Parks and Recreation fan fiction, I'll probably throw it up on the blog as well. My roommates and I plan to start up a podcast soon, and this might be a good home for it. I do know that, as with my last blog, very little attention will be given to page layout, and I probably won't post many pictures. My ultimate goal is to be funny and entertaining.
I'm hoping to write regularly, but it might take me a little while to get back in the habit. If I get a lot of comments or followers--if I know that I have an audience--that will certainly help. So feel free to click that “Follow” button over on the right. Hopefully, you’ll be glad you did.
I want to avoid having that happen to my writing skills, and that's why I'm starting this blog. My old blog, created primarily to chronicle my adventures in
In the last several months, I've done some writing--I blogged for the Utah Jazz during the 2010-11 season (I would link to some of the gems I submitted, but the site seems to be down or defunct). I also sent a weekly email to my church congregation in which I creatively encouraged the members to read the assigned chapters for the upcoming Sunday School lesson. My personal favorite was an imaginary conversation in heaven between Joseph (of Dreamcoat fame) and Daniel (the lions' den guy), as the two great interpreters of dreams engaged in a little one-upsmanship. I may have to reprint some of them here, for posterity's sake.
Both of those gigs wound down in April, however, which is why this blog has become necessary. So what shape will it take? I don't really know yet. I plan to put basically anything I write up here. I assume it will mostly be about stuff I experience. Which means there will probably be a lot of posts about food and television. And links to videos and articles that I enjoyed. But if I write a song parody, or a sermon, or some Parks and Recreation fan fiction, I'll probably throw it up on the blog as well. My roommates and I plan to start up a podcast soon, and this might be a good home for it. I do know that, as with my last blog, very little attention will be given to page layout, and I probably won't post many pictures. My ultimate goal is to be funny and entertaining.
I'm hoping to write regularly, but it might take me a little while to get back in the habit. If I get a lot of comments or followers--if I know that I have an audience--that will certainly help. So feel free to click that “Follow” button over on the right. Hopefully, you’ll be glad you did.
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