/lit/ - Literature

>>13717771
Many a reader has questioned how seriously we are to take the tales of Odysseus’s wanderings—of men turned to pigs and one-eyed giants—when in fact much of the rest of the poem (though hardly all) is fairly realistic. Wilson solves this problem for the reader by introducing the tale of his wanderings in the following way: “wily Odysseus, the lord of lies, answered.” “Lord of lies” is Wilson’s insertion, not reflected in the text, though presumably she is arguing that it is implied in the word polumetis, the most commonly used epithet for Odysseus, whose meaning “wily” or “of many devices” is already in her translation of the line. And while lying is well within the reach of a wily person, there still are some shades of nuance between “wiles” and “lies.”

>had epiphany that you don't always have to force and flay your ideas to fit a traditional novel format, and that you can be experimental with narrative styles, or with formats altogether
>been taking inspiration from a small set of authors who are doing the same kinds of thing I want to do, in various ways, and across various styles and formats
>still trying to find some means of expression that doesn't feel like I'm 10% getting my idea out, 90% accommodating the quirks of a style that doesn't fit me
>also trying to remind myself that some accommodation is still necessary
>still all I have are huge sets of notes I'm scared to look at after having first written them, because while they seemed like flashes of inspiration in the moment, I'm worried they will just make me cringe now