The History of the Word Jam, My Perspective - by doreen peri

[Doreen Peri]

There was a time when I would hang out on the computer talking to friends using instant messenger applications. Many of my online friends were poets and we would end up writing spontaneous poetry back and forth. I would get my inspiration from their words and reply with poetry.

This is how I met LR. We first met at LitKicks ( http://litkicks.com ) when they hosted their discussion and writing boards. We recognized something we enjoyed in each others posts and began using AIM to have conversations, many of which included spontaneous verse traded back and forth.

Almost immediately, he asked me to be the archivist. For some reason, he thought our traded verses had some literary value and that later, perhaps we could assemble them and compose a book about internet romance. I'm not sure how many people would be interested in reading such a book, but I have lines upon lines upon lines of our exchanged verses saved and archived. Many of these verses, I copied from the conversations and saved as separate poems.

Later, we began writing what we termed "Poetic Conversations" on a variety of topics ranging from the philosophy of love and death, to fluff and humor and our daily work. The topics we covered are vast. I have saved all of those conversations, too. These poetic conversations were like dates and also performances to us. By this time, he had moved from Texas to Virginia and lived with me. We had only one computer then and would trade keyboards to perform and enjoy our evenings. He would type his piece about a certain topic while I played the piano. Then, we'd trade places and I would type my answer while he played the piano or flute. It was romantic. And inspiring.

We posted these pieces spontaneously online at LitKicks (for the most part, as well as other forums we went to.) Sometimes we would post them live as we typed them. Other times, we would wait until we were finished with the "conversation" and post it as a whole work... a collaboration.

We created several series, as well. For instance, the "Imaginary Letters between FScott & Zelda Fitzgerald" which got some negative and positive press from those who reacted to it online. Some apparently thought we weren't playing the characters at all and didn't enjoy the sensuality of the romance in the pieces. I don't know why. You never know how an audience will react. Others gave accolades and enjoyed this series and others which we were creating. We created a series called "Adam & Eve" and used some of it on our "Oral Sets" CD. We also created a series called "Mr. & Mrs. Claus" during our first Christmas together. And "Bonnie & Clyde" which we used portions of for one of our Cabaradio shows and also perform at other spoken word events.

Spontaneous interactive writing enthralls me! I love the dynamic of it!

During this time period when we were creating our "Poetic Conversations," LitKicks had the Action Poetry forum going on and decided to do an event called the "24-Hour Poetry Party." They took the words of many of the participants and cut them up to make a big poem which they included in the "Action Poetry" book they have published. I was proud to be a participant of that event! I wasn't too hip on having all of our words blended together, though, into a work without recognition of who wrote which words, but I thought it was a cool collaborative idea!

Time has a way of moving forward and it occurs to me that everything I've ever done in my life culminates in something new.

When we opened these forums, we created the GO! forum for spontaneous writing. There, we could continue to write spontaneously, bouncing off the inspiration of the words of others.

I must admit that I miss the online "Poetic Conversations" LR and I used to create but we will create more one day, I'm sure. I also miss the online chat programs, writing verses spontaneously like that. But maybe one day, we'll do that again.

This is my history of experience with Word Jamming with others. I thought I'd post this history because I'm feeling a little soft spot in my heart for the Word Jam and I wanted to let people know how much I love the Jams.

Today, I use the Jams as my own personal writing workshop and attempt to create cohesive pieces in many parts which can be read or performed as a whole. Plus, we are now collaborating with another website, The Scroll ( http://scroll.org ) which uses the Open Thread software like we used to use at LitKicks. I feel these Word Jam collaborations give different people different experiences and all are getting something valuable from them. I'm so pleased to see two websites working together for a collaborative effort like this! Some people enjoy stopping by and reading. Others enjoy stopping by and posting a few. Some have fun with it, like a Word Party. Others, like me, use it like a workshop.

From my travels on the internet, I've found that people from several different forums have commented on spontaneous writing in a positive way. Many have told me that they, too, have participated in this type of writing using e-mail and chat programs.

I'm delighted that we have an opportunity to host the Word Jams and I'm thrilled that so many have said they enjoy them.

This is not really an ad for the next one, but it's a week from today on Friday, March 18th, here at Studio Eight. I wanted to mention this, yes, but I really mostly wanted to type out my own history of writing spontaneously with friends and how much it inspires me.

Would you like to share your history of enjoying spontaneous writing? I'd love to hear it if you would.

[judih]

from the moment i entered the net - chat programs (icq), online phone programs (whatever that ancient first one was), forums (ADD at the old miningco.com; ADD for addults at delphi.com; and all the other forums run by friends, i've been doing word jams.

Instant acceptance of the possibilities coupled with eager friends made online collaborative writing a joy.

Along came the litkicks boards and sal paradise (markk) and back and forthing took on a new professionalism. Finally there was a chance not just to 'do' it, but to do it and get better. It wasn't just speed associative poetics, but rather, a chance to combine rhythm, word, intuition and skill in a jam conversation with a person walking a similar mindset.

Those jam moments came along frequently with numerous and multiple partners (ahhhh)

The combinations were stimulating, to say the least.

Some people inspired certain facets of my personality to bloom -
examples: Barry Fitton - sex
jota - absurd innocence
markk - way out americana scenes taken to israel and mid-atlantic and back
craig moore - rocky road psychedelia
anemone - soft natural treks - mid air
zen and four degrees - undefinable somethings

and so on
sometimes there'd be a jam with a person i'd never met before and we'd spontaneously create a wonder.

So! When Word Jam opportunities here at the Studio and at the Scroll are available, i jump.

The more the better.
The faucet needs cleaning out occasionally so that the water tastes pure.

judih

[Doreen Peri]

I love it! Great reply, judih! Exactly!

22.

We are the word – an engaged
creation of visible thought.
Dust becomes human with
a breath or yes into mud.
We arose from water, fins
no longer necessary.
We speak since we must.
We Are,
due to language.
We are the word, absorbed,
occupied, meshed.

[stilltrucking]

I think everything is a jam for me. I got no poetics no rythm and no professionalism, I am just trying to mine my own mind for bits and pieces that might help my family, a last will and testament for my baby sister and her husband and son. When jamming I constantly become more aware more conscious more open hearted from the words of you all. I think of The Question Of Lay Analysis with a zennist twist. I hear myself to have a hearing heart. I been working on my timing. Until my sister can mourn her mother she will be out of synch with her life. I suppose that is why I am so obessed with sylvia plath, that medusa's daughter syndrome.

_____________________________________________________

speaking of rambles I watched Legends Of The Fall again last night and thought of clary, the scene at the end where what's his face if fighting the bear, reminds of clay everytme I see it, maybe it is the hair, but I think it is his heart.

[iblieve]

I guess my first experience with word jamming was flirting on IM with dandylion. I would love to throw poetic lines out to flatter and please her. The written word was all we had since she was in Oregon and I was in Arkansas. Our poetry make our love blossom and I traveled 2,500 miles to met her. Together we have made writing a big part of our lives. I love the Jams, they give me a chance to interact with different poets and I love the written word. I would love to have DARC participate in these events from now on and I am sure our members would love it too.
iblieve

[Doreen Peri]

Hi iblieve!

That's a great story.... sounds so familiar! LR and I were about 2,000 miles away from each other before we met in person.

I love love stories!

That's great that you would like to have regularly scheduled Word Jams at your DARC forum! This will be excellent!

I think we should do it this way...

There are 4 weekends in a month. Let's do one Jam here, one Jam at the Scroll, one Jam at your site, and use the 4th weekend to either take a break or do a special event like an Image-ination Jam or an Improv play. (We created an Image Jam forum here.... we had one Image-ination Jam and it was excellent! It's posting images then people get inspired by the image to write words.)

Does that kind of schedule sound good to you?

How about everybody else? What do you all think? Is it too much Jammin' to do it once a week?

Here's a link to iblieve's DARC forum.... check it out! Cool place!
http://akashanetweb.com/darc/index.php

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If anybody wants to join in, iblieve has a Word Jam thread going on right now!

Here's a link

http://akashanetweb.com/darc/viewtopic.php?t=1770

[judih]

yeah- been there

being in the darc adds a whole new flavour.
Come on people - friendly voices make the shadows simmer down for awhile. Click on over.

judih

[hester_prynne]

I really love this thread you so eloquently started Doreen, and have been irritated that i've been so busy these past few days, I havent' had the time to sit down and respond to it until now.

Along came litkicks for me too Judih, my first chat/writing online experience ever. The sense of community I experienced kept me coming back, despite the many unwise, self gratifying decisions litkicks made, and i'm so grateful that studio eight forged on and has taken us tenfold further in what I feel is a more authentic artistic direction.

I remember reading some of DiPrima's thoughts on the internet, and how she thought that communities created online could be very important voices in our world, because we can all come together here. I agree with her on that very strongly.

The way we are able to chat and also share our endeavors, artistic and mundane, with one another keeps me feeling very much like I want to be connected here. I think wanting to be connected to something is what keeps me thriving!

I know i've gone places online I never dreamed of going to. The fact that we can pick a day and an array of writers and artists from all over the world will show up and play together is fantastic, and amazing and precious.

In solidarity-
H