A Call to Conversation (11)--:devdreamsinstatic:

Apr 17, 201318 min read

Deviation Actions

Published: Apr 17, 2013

1.5K Views

Welcome to the eleventh article focusing on featuring and getting to know the deviants behind the work! This series will be posted every Wednesday. If you have a deviant you'd like to see included, please send betwixtthepages a note with the subject "Call to Conversation"--make sure to include the deviant's name as well as a reason you think they'd make a good interview subject! Also, feel free to send along a question or two you'd like to have answered by them!

This week's featured deviant is dreamsinstatic!

I started writing as a child, making little books about cartoon characters, including creating my own. I grew serious about writing in high school where I joined the literary magazine and won several awards. I continued to pursue my interest in college, though I have yet to finish. Life stood in the way but I am currently a Psychology major heading towards my degree.

I am always open to discussion or random conversation. I have been a member of deviantart for almost three years and love being a part of the vastly talented literature community. I hope in the future to take a bigger part in that community and to contribute and promote it in whatever ways I can.

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Is there any specific story behind your user name?

Way back around 1999 I began writing a short story dealing with false realities, coma and someone who experienced dual lives. The title of the story was going to be "Dreams in Static." I ended up writing it... several times over, but I've never shared it. It's one of my pet projects and until I feel that it is ready, it'll remain hidden, but that is where my user name came from. It was also my screen name on America Online from 1999 onward.

You're working toward a degree in Psychology--what career are you looking toward with this?

That's a difficult question to answer. I am drawn to several areas of psychology. I have an interest in pursuing criminal psychology or marketing psychology. I also have interest in experimental, although I question my ability to deal with seeing brains up close and personal. In a jar is one thing, but blood and guts can be difficult to adapt to. On the other hand, criminal psychology could be fascinating, but may not be rewarding. Marketing psychology interests me a lot, but again, I'm not sure I want to spend my life doing that. Ultimately, I've got a little time before I need to make this decision. There's also general therapy, which I am told I'd be good at, but I question how long it could be interesting to me.

You're also interested in criminology! What/who are some of your favorite crimes/people to learn about? Does this interest play into your writing?

Oh boy. I have somewhat of an obsessive personality so when I read about something that is unsolved or about which there are lingering questions I get sucked in and can't get out. Subjects of particular interest to me over the years are the massacre at Columbine High School, the Zodiac Killer, JFK assassination, RFK assassination. In terms of criminals themselves I think that The "Iceman" Richard Kuklinski is really fascinating, as well as guys like Ted Bundy, Richard Ramirez and Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Oddly, this doesn't play a huge role in my writing. Occasionally I'll hint at something, or draw a parallel, but I don't go into these things a lot. I know I've used JFK and RFK references before, though. I tend to direct my writing into different areas.

You Admin some wonderful groups--tell us a little about each?

I'm somewhat of an absentee admin these days, due to my work and school schedules being so hectic. Literary-Visions was the first group I started and was originally run by myself, plus a few admins, who would do weekly literature features. However, I slowly lost admins and couldn't replace them so I abandoned that idea and am currently using it simply as a platform to get literature out there. Poetry-Screams is based on my annual poetry contest of the same name and is for poetry only. Initially I had the intention of using weekly prompts, however, there seems to be so many prompts out there these days. I decided to back off of that premise, although I do have another one in mind which I'm hoping to enact in the future. I feel bad about it, but there just aren't enough hours in the day.

Every Friday, you post a journal article called Friday Night Features. Tell us about it?

Friday Night Features evolved out of a few different things. A long time ago I was a poetry admin for Daily Lit Deviations. Following my time with them, I began Literary-Visions. However, when I lost my team there, I decided that I would just do it myself. It began as a two part feature, part one being literature and part two being all visual art (photography as well as paintings, etc.) I have a large collection of literature, photography and artwork favorites and I am constantly shocked by how some of the most amazing things have so few views or favorites. It was my desire to construct a feature that would bring more eyes to these wonderful works. As time went on, I split it into three parts designating one for literature, photography and artwork. Also, initially, it was fifteen pieces of each being featured and has since grown to 18. This week I will be posting the 95th edition of the feature series.

What do you look for in a piece of literature? Any specific elements or devices?

It's so hard to say, because I have such varied tastes. Diction is really important to me, word choice is such a key element to a piece of literature. I'm a big fan of alliteration. A good opening line will draw me in, but the piece has to have strength to keep me interested. I like to see things out of the ordinary, new ways of expressing old emotions or experiences. Emotion is also important, I need to feel it, I need to feel something. I want to read literature that has meaning and purpose rather than being just pretty words signifying nothing.

What about the artwork you showcase?

For literature, the aforementioned elements are certainly as important to the feature. In terms of photography and artwork.. quality, scope and attention to detail are important. I want the images featured to be ones that I wish I could memorize or have a calendar of, things I could look at every day and be glad to see them. It's so challenging though, because there are so many fantastic photographers and artists on dA.

Do you prefer poetry or prose? Why?

I prefer poetry, for reasons it is difficult to explain. I preferred prose and wrote mostly prose for most of my life, it wasn't until six or so years ago when I began to focus much more on poetry. I think part of it is that poetry speaks to me in a way that prose does not, it leaves more open to my imagination, it challenges me and gives me a glimpse, but not a clear look at everything. I like having to fill in the gaps and I enjoy the way that poetry is like a dance with language. Prose is more of a guide while poetry is a come hither gesture where I can determine what path I'd like to take.

Are there any poetic devices you favor? How about ones you dislike?

I love alliteration, and I employ it frequently. Personification is also a favorite of mine. In reality, though, I never really aim to use a device, it just happens on its own most of the time. I mean, sometimes I'll go out of my way to get a desired affect, but most of the time I just let it flow. There aren't any I dislike, per se, as much as there is a style I dislike. I find it difficult to read something that sounds beautiful, but in reality, is more about putting the words together in a unique way so that the line looks good, but in the end doesn't add to the poem itself. It's a solid package, and sure pieces of it can stand out, but when a single line is all that matters and the rest of the poem is just background, I find that frustrating. Maybe it has something to do with attention span or disinterest, or maybe that is the way poetry is going.

If you could give advice to someone just starting to explore the literary world, what would you tell them?

Read, read and read and when you've read enough, keep reading. I don't think people often get it, at first, how important reading is to writing. Reading opens so many doors. It challenges you and it makes you become a better writer. I can't tell you how many times I've read something and been inspired, or have seen a certain line and thought it'd be fun to play with the concept it addresses. You don't just have to read the classics either. I spend a lot of time on deviantART reading. It doesn't have to be Poe or Dickinson, although I love them both. Almost anything can be inspiring, and you'd be amazed where you can discover something new. The other valuable piece of advice would be to keep writing, regardless of what you perceive as your ability and what others label you. Don't let someone talk you out of writing and don't let negative people box you into being labeled. We all struggle, we all have to get better, and the only way to do that is to keep writing. The more you write, the more you will learn. Writing is yours, it is your tool and it comes from within. Don't ever let anyone divest you of who you are and what you can create.

What are your favorite things about dA? Least favorite?

I love the community, most of the time. The support, the contests, the features. We all stand together and do what we can to make the best of it. Like anything else there are some bad influences, but for the most part I haven't really had too many issues with them. I have met some amazing people through deviantART and I am grateful for that. My absolute least favorite thing on deviantART is the sometimes present, always frustrating "popularity contest" influence. Some people don't care about being anything other than popular, and they'll go to whatever ends necessary to ensure all of their work gets a thousand favorites and a hundred comments. That is all well and good, if that is what you need, but I've never seen the value in that. Favorites are nice, but what does it mean when everything basically gets the same response? I'd rather get no favorites, at least then I know I was missing the mark with that last attempt. People obsess with page views I don't know why. Have you seen these people that sell page views for points and etc? I've never been able to wrap my head around that, but again, whatever works for you.

Are there any deviants you find yourself seeking out for artwork/literature over and over again?