is style so elemental?

Style is an increment in writing. When we speak of Fitzgerald's style, we don't mean his command of the relative pronoun, we mean the sound his words make on paper. All writers, by the way they use the language, reveal something of their spirits, their habits, their capacities, and their biases. This is inevitable as well as enjoyable. All writing is communication; creative writing is communication through revelation–it is the Self escaping into the open. No writer long remains incognito.

Elements of Style (Illustrated Edition), p. 98

my first test in my Worship & Preaching 1 Course is over The Elements of Style, by Strunk and White. does anyone remember having to read this in High School Composition? with the age of the interweb, I'm sure most of us have thrown out so many of Strunk and White's rules that we deserve failing grades for our writing habits. I have to admit that I split infinitives, place punctuation improperly, and use words like "very," "mostly," and "really" too many times.

but does this mean that I don't have my own sense of style in writing? I believe that things like email and blogging have actually allowed me to develop my own voice out of the shear volume of writing that I have to do. I mean, how do you really show a tone of voice in an email? or express sarcasm?

as I get to the point that I have things to say that are more than mere regurgitation for papers and exams, I feel that the way that I write is just as important in regards to what I write. writing however you feel is no excuse for poor grammar, especially if you want more people than just your friends to read what you write.

having to read this again was a fun yet frightening trip down memory lane. does anyone cringe the way that I still do at the substitution of "their" for "they're" or possibly "there"?

(the above image may seem strange. it is an illustration from the Elements of Style's rule #20. which is better? "He noticed a large stain in the rug that was right in the center" or "He noticed a large stain right in the center of the rug.")

one more day

fall gets down to business.

corduroy rubs the right way.

wait for leaves to turn.

concert recovery

Butterfly
Originally uploaded by saltnlight333.

winged strummer pauses mid-song.

voices and bells echo to the firmament.

ears wish return. eyes require rest.

sufjan (soof-yon) stevens (stee-vens)

it's amazing to find that in an entire year of being mesmerized by someone's music, I have failed to even bring up his name once. so here goes:

sufjan stevens

(check title for pronunciation).

last year about this time, I got his (at the time) most recent album, Come on Feel the Illinoise, and everything changed. perhaps that's why I haven't blogged about it. I haven't really been able to settle my thoughts about this music. many times art is that way. you see or hear something, and you can't describe it because you realize that your own words are inadequate to point at something more profound than you can express.

perhaps I got a little gun-shy once the album started ending up on everyone's "Best of 2005" lists, not wanting to jump on bandwagons.

you're saying to yourself: "why then do you feel the need to write about him now? why has the proverbial cat released your tongue... er, fingers?"

good question.

I am here to say that I am going to see him live this Wednesday in Atlanta at the Fox Theater! hopefully I will be able to post a review of the show. I'll try to expedite the writing of my post so that I am able to remember it clearly. and perhaps my words won't get in the way.

so shocked am I that I haven't mentioned his music yet, I'm going to even post a picture.though this is a rather silly picture.

photo update

sorry about not updating this thing for over a month! but this isn't really an update either...

I just posted a bunch of photos from the last month on our flickr page. go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/lukeandsarah to see more.

there you will find photos from: Kristie Perkins' wedding; our road trip to NY, PA, & DC; our house improvements; and our Nashville trip over Labor Day.

enjoy for now, and I hope to write something of note in the next week.