Craft Over Catharsis
stream-of-consciousness
Okayyy, craft over catharsis, craft over catharsis....
What do they mean by that? Why don't I get it? Is it a language thing... is that why I have such a hard time understanding this challenge? Or am I just stupid? A fraudster? A swindler? What word am I looking for?
Remember The Tinder Swindler? That was insane! But that’s not the word. A word that means someone who has no business writing because they don’t even understand the task. That’s what I am.
Okay, no. Stop it. No negative thoughts.
Craft over catharsis, craft over catharsis...
So they want me to write a piece that focuses on masterful craft first and foremost. Without worrying about the emotional part of the story so much. Something that is perfect structurally, technically... but not really. But again, in reality it should be both? Or not?
I wonder what’s the Estonian word for catharsis....
'katarsis' okay, like that helps me...
'hingepuhastuselamus' sure-sure...
Craft over catharsis, craft over catharsis….think now!
Specifically, what do I focus on? What is the craft, the form, the structure that I want to use as my object of focus. Let’s put down what’s actually necces...nesec.. neces.... how the fuck do I write this word!!?? I swear to god, the C’s and the S’s jump around every time I try to write it.
NECESSARY!
Jesus, woman! You speak C1 English, but you can’t write fucking 'necessary.' Shame on you!
Okay, where was I...
I have to pick a style, genre? And….? master that in the next three days, before the deadline. Easy! And the catharsis—not important. Apparently. Okay, so I have to do research on... how to master a craft? How to... write? How to....
ja nüüd sa siis piiksud seal??? NOW you’re done?? I hate it when the washing machine tells me the cycle ends in one minute and then I stand there like an idiot for eight minutes. Waiting. And I bet it’s laughing at me. Haha. Gotcha! And when I finally give up and go sitt....
Haha. You wrote ‘sitt’, that's ‘shit’ in Estonian. You know that right? You said shit...
Oh get over it!
Yes, I’m 31. Yes, I still laugh at poop jokes. Sue me!
Aaanyway. Just when I’ve sat down and try to figure out a challenge that I’ve been postponing, the machine decides that it has now been enough minutes and starts beeping like crazy. I swear it always sounds louder and more impatient when I’m further away from it and trying to focus on something.
Enough with the beeping! I’m coming!!!
...
Okay. Craft over catharsis....
I feel like Alan Harper in that episode where he tried to write a book—blablabla SUDDENLY A FLASH OF LIGHT APPEARS IN THE SKY!
I bet I can find that clip!
Yes, cute. But that’s enough, you need to get on with it.
Oorrr...oorrr! And hear me out here—you should watch “Two and a half men” again! It was a good show.
Pfftt, “oorrr...oorrr” wasn’t even from that show! That’s classic Barney Stinson from “How I Met Your Mother.” Oooh, that was good too. You should watch both!
Okay, no girl, we’re not watching anything right now. Not before we write something. Doesn’t even have to be good. At least acceptable. Just write something!
But also remember the rules and the prompt and that the structure and the body and the mechanics of it is more important than what’s inside. Think of those two girls from high school. They were 'craft over catharsis' girls. All about the perfect form, but emotionally... eeh not giving.
Yeah, that doesn’t help me.
Okay, craftcraftcraft.…
SUDDENLY A FLASH OF LIGHT….. NO Enough!
Focus!
Let’s think of things you can masterfully do. But not skiing, definitely not skiing, you cannot ski and should definitely not be thinking about skiing right now.
Thank you. Telling me what not to think about is the best way to get me not to think about that thing. You’re just brilliant! Huh, but I wonder if I can ski... is it something one can do by just looking at and... feeling like it?
Okay. Just stop.
I should just put my head out the window into the -27 degree weather, I bet I couldn’t think of nonsense then. At what temperature does the brain freeze?
Hey! Where did that colour catcher sheet thingy go? I put it into the machine earlier, but it didn’t come out any more... Probably went where all the socks go. And my mango!
Stop it! And sit up straight!
Craft over catharsis! Craft over catharsis...
SUDDENLY A FLASH OF LIGHT APPEARS IN THE SKY!
I have to pee….
About the Creator
Cristal S.
I've noticed that when I follow the path I enjoy most, I often end up swimming upstream. So here I am, right in the middle of it – writing about it all and more. ♡
Keep reading
More stories from Cristal S. and writers in Fiction and other communities.
Seven O'Clock
Finally! Fucking finally! He'd been waiting for the day. The day he could finally leave. And now that the time had come, he planned to do just that. For the past four years, it had been the only thing on his mind. He'd been preparing. He'd been imagining...
By Cristal S.7 days ago in Fiction
Trouble at the Tea Leafing Café
The rain had started right around the time that Annie was buttering her second thick slice of homemade toast for breakfast, and hadn’t paused since. Not that anyone could tell. The windows of the café were fogged over, and with every seat filled with happy customers munching on fresh baked pastries or steaming bowls of the delicious soup of the day, it was hardly surprising. Annie looked around the room, finally taking a moment to breathe after the lunch time rush. Her old life already felt like a bad memory, a part of her history, always, but just that. History.
By Hannah Moore5 days ago in Fiction
Bridges
In preparation, my shadow crossed that bridge. A mission, a reconnaissance in a way. It was just a moment in time I could never forget; I mean who could and soon it will be in the distance. I mean it is life changing, life is always changing. Of all the things we have weaved and engineered in life as humans you would think we would have found a way to control the weather, disease, and each other by now. The snow piling up and the wind was strong blowing off the frozen fields. Across the street I watched from my bed the tombstones bracing the wind for days as the snow drifted in front of them, as if the bodies were under all that snow still waiting on the grounds first thaw. That gap between breath and silence briefly on hold, waiting peacefully for the storm to pass. I am sure the dead have somewhere to be, but what is the hurry now?
By Gerry Thibeault4 days ago in Fiction
Comments (4)
I'm 42 and poop jokes are still funny! I'm glad I'm not the only one who was puzzled by this challenge. This was hilarious! Thanks for making me feel like I wasn't the only one confused by it all!
Gurl, I'm 36 and I still laugh at poop jokes 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 For what it's worth, I don't understand this challenge either. But this was so freaking hilarious hahahahahahahha
I miss the old challenges that said, “write a story including a tree.” The whole batch feels very extremely “abstract.” Misuse of quotations in purpose. Enjoyed this very much!
This was a hard challenege for me. It was like reading another language. I didn't get it lol... and then when I thought I did, I doubted everything -_- Also, that damn washing machine timer is a liar.