Activist Frau Fiber

Clothing and textile activist speaks at Elon

The talk was held February 20, in Koury Business School’s LaRose Theatre to share Frau Fiber’s story of getting people more involved in the clothes they wear.

ELON – The publicist, collaborator and archivist of Frau Fiber, Carole Frances Lung, an associate professor of fashion fiber and materials at California State University Los Angeles, spoke to share her alter ego’s message about textile manufacturing as it relates to our consumption of clothing. Lung and Fiber’s goal is to get people spending their free time altering or mending clothes rather than spending it on unhealthy activities like Facebook or television.

Frau Fiber’s persona is an immigrant from East Germany who was laid off from her job at a textile mill when the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. Fiber is meant to embody the, “Lost Generation of workers, who failed to assimilate to the new united Germany and never had the economic success of the communist times.” Fiber presents herself as a stoic, cold German personality with the pure goals of fighting oppression and satisfaction through creation.

Fiber uses public appearances, service projects, art exhibits and other forms of exposure to give the public a hands on experience with sewing and the understanding of what it takes to create a garment. By giving the public experience with creating garments, Fiber wants to teach people the difference between poor and well crafted clothes. Through this understanding people can make better choices about what clothes are eco-friendly and long-lasting. Just one of several points from her activism focuses on the environmental problems from throwing out unimaginable amounts of clothing each year.

Another area of her activism focuses on trying to get people shopping in store that are free of products produced in overseas sweatshops. One project she underwent tasked her with creating an activity for children where she worked with around 150 kids each day. The idea was to teach children about sweatshops in other countries. Sections of the group were divided into different countries and paid an equivalent amount to children textile workers from that country. Fiber gave each country tasks and even created time cards. At the end of 45 minutes of work, some participants made less than 10 cents.

Most of Fiber’s public events are hands on and try to entice the public into interaction. Her demeanor is silent. Unlike other street personalities, she does not demand the public’s attention, but rather tries to peak their interest to produce more genuine interaction.

Often time participants have little to no experience sewing. Because the goal of many projects is the unity of a group in producing one overall product, these varying skill levels play into the overall quality of the finished product. Many times the products lack cohesion. In one project, Fiber created a ‘community quilt.’ Many people in different communities were invited to produce parts for the quilt and numerous hands went  into its production. The differing skill levels are apparent as every piece is stitched with the respective style of each participant.

Frau Fiber has an extensive list of projects, with more on the way. Learn more about her movement at her website: http://carolefranceslung.org/

Fiber wants people to think more about their consumption and make more informed purchases. Her motto in this area is “shop to last, not fast.” She says there are many companies that make good quality, eco-friendly, sweatshop free products. Learning to distinguish the difference between high quality and disposable clothing needs to be ingrained into our lifestyles. Knowing that our clothing is made ethically should not be an afterthought.

In the face of of a culture set in its ways, Lung says of Fiber, “Frau, though her work is futile, she perseveres.”

Getting it right – Dialogue

One of the hardest things for writers to do is create genuine, free flowing dialogue. It’s something our script writing counterparts have a much easier time developing. However in the middle of elegantly pacing a piece, while simultaneously layering the perfect word choice, dialogue has a way of almost ruining the narrative, and appearing bluntly out of thin air.

Some popular writers to look at for solid dialogue:

• John Steinbeck
• Ernest Hemingway – Specifically “Hills Like White Elephants”
• Stephan King
• Raymond Carver

It’s basically impossible to get to this level of notoriety and success without being adept at dialogue, as character interaction is what drives fiction forward. Steinbeck is a sort of Jesus when it comes to dialogue. He is known to have recorded his dialogue to look back at it later. “Hills Like White Elephants” is elegant in its way of leaving so much unsaid, but implied by the words actually spoken. King may be known for his thriller aspects, but the dialogue of his characters is what compels us to believe in the things that happen to them. And Carver has a mindful control of dialogue. Look at “Cathedral.” Similar to Hemingway’s HLWE, the power of interactions comes from what isn’t said between the characters. Sometimes less is more with dialogue.

To iron out the basics of writing dialogue see this: Common dialogue mistakes of beginning writers

Try to work these habits into your dialogue writing:

• Let it flow – don’t try and force characters to be a certain way
• Read dialogue out loud
• Work in silences – this will allow for narrative and subtleties of interaction
• Let the characters speak. Your thoughts should not be the ones readers hear
• Don’t be too realistic, but do allow for each character to have their own personal speech pattern

For more advanced dialogue tips read: Writing and editing expert

For me, the most important of these tips is to let your characters speak for themselves. As writers, we can be guilty of going into a story or situation with an agenda. I would argue that you shouldn’t plan anything. Have a premise, and simply note the thoughts your character thinks and words they speak. Once you are really into a scene, the dialogue will flow more naturally than if you  went in thinking, “oh they would do this, or that.”

Aside from that, remember that less is more. We don’t always say what we are thinking in real conversation. Sometimes people’s specific efforts to avoid speaking about something, actually tell the truth about their mindset. The writing expert’s tip about becoming a student of conversation is important. Listen to everyone, note how they speak and what they are actually saying. Using real world interactions is the best way to produce the most realistic humans for your fiction.

Character

The characters you bring to life, are perhaps the most influential part of a creative work. Their thoughts, actions, and words are what give readers connection to a narrative. Along with that, a connection to the undertone and subtlety woven beneath lines you are writing. Everything a reader learns is through character’s perspective. A clever meshing of personalities can sometimes give your writing a mind of its own, going places you never imagined at the start. Characters are what make or break a story. Here is a basic list of information for starting characterization. Keep in mind these are things you should determine before you begin writing. That way you can reveal the character’s personality/features however best fits your narrative.

Here are some activities coupled with information to help with creating character: Character Development Activities

1. Appearance – Begin with the basics. Male, female, hair color, tall, short. Their name. For me personally, a character’s name is the most important piece of basic information. Certain names can go well with certain personalities. A firefighter named Dudley doesn’t feel as real as a firefighter named Tom (Though I guarantee somewhere, there is a firefighter named Dudley). The basic gist of basic information is to allow the reader to picture your character within the text.
2. Personality – This is a fairly general way of saying, the way a character thinks. At the most basic level, this means speech patterns. The way your character talks says everything about their conscious thoughts and how they view the world. There should also be moments of less obvious behavior. A momentary hesitation or blind confidence will reveal deeper layers of the character’s psyche.
3. Background – You should know your character inside and out before you begin writing. You need to know about that time they were bullied on the playground for having a raincoat, or about how their wife left them to join the circus. These types of events won’t always be the kind of thing you mention in a story, but they will be events that shape the way your character views the world. Get invested in this step. It will breath that life into a character that makes readers weep at the conclusion.
4. Relationships – Often this is tied in with Personality and Background. Interactions with other characters can create interesting back and forth. Dialogue and plot is derived from these instances. Unless you’re writing a story about the last man on earth, the main character will have interactions with other characters. In a sense, relationships help us get to know the characters the same way we would get to know people in real life. You can’t entirely trust the thoughts they give us privately without seeing the way they use those thoughts in action

Check out some additional points to think about while creating character: Character Information

Personally, I began wanting to create stunning imagery and powerful scenarios. While those are great tools that help in developing a story, most of the best works are known for the way a character evolves throughout a story. Using film as an example, look at Jules Winnfield (Played by Samuel L. Jackson) from Pulp Fiction. Though the plot is broken up in a non concurrent manner, the final scene is a culmination of redemption. Everything Jules experienced throughout the movie (and most likely before; alluding to a shady past) leads up to a moment of clarity, where he evolves into a forgiving, less violent person. Strive to find your inner Tarantino and make a character that ends up in a drastically different place from where they began. This will really carry your story and cause the audience to emotionally identify with whatever verdict you render upon the main character.

The Creative Process of Writing

I’d like to devote some time to the process of writing, or getting in the mood to write. For me, as a beginner, the most difficult thing is actually sitting down to put my ideas onto paper (or computer…). Throughout the day I get struck with a small idea here and there, but when I actually sit down to write it can feel impossible to put everything together. Sometimes you get an idea for a single scene but don’t then know how to create the rest of a story. In terms of inspiration, I think the smallest idea is all you need to spiral off into a vibrant short story or novel. What makes you more productive as a writer, is the way you approach the time you spend writing.

This article has some thoughts from famous writers like Ernest Hemingway and E.B. White on how they regimented their writing time: Famous Writer’s Advice on Writing

Unfortunately, the best response to the question of “How should I structure my writing time?” is: find what works best for you! It feels strange to structure a blog post around something so subjective, but it’s important to see the options. The above link will be helpful, as those are some of the best writers in history. What struck me most was the approach by Haruki Murakami. He wakes up at 4 a.m., writes for five hours and then runs 10 kilometers or swims. He does this during times when he is writing a work. Murakami sees this as a way of conditioning the body; he says it’s like survival training.

As you search for methods of productive writing, don’t be afraid to do something outside your comfort zone. Personally I have always been the type of writer who spontaneously writes for spurts from time to time. Only once I’ve finally started being productive, I feel like I’ve achieved my goal and finish for the day. I stop before I get to my best writing! Though I see myself as a spontaneous human, for me to produce a work of my highest ability, I really need to sit down and focus. Really engulf myself in the work so it takes hold of everything conscious and peripheral. But that is what I need. Maybe other people need some space from their works. Perhaps different times call for different approaches. I guess my parting thought is, don’t be afraid to be diligent and stern in your writing practices. Some of the best writers are saying they treat writing very seriously. That said….here are some more unorthodox methods for getting the juices flowing: Irregular Methods. I would say number nine is the most effective. Truthfully, though they seem odd, these were methods that worked for certain people. If you feel like beating your head against a wall, go for it. If you want to rip up a stack of papers and throw them at your dog, maybe do it as long as your dog isn’t too angry at you. The only way to know if something will work is if you try it. Embrace your brain and find your own creative process.

Journaling – Key to Unlocking Creative Potential

Robert on Flickr
IMG_6512 via Creative Commons

Journaling might sound like something reserved for the emotionally distraught preteen stage, but there is much to be gained from carrying this activity into adulthood. Along with a plethora of health benefits (Physical miracles), keeping a journal has the ability to unlock a writer’s mind to their inner potential.

If you don’t currently keep a journal, start slowly but diligently. Write for 10 minutes a day. Make sure to keep at it. Journaling can feel odd at first because it’s just you spending time alone with your thoughts. Sometimes the roadblock occurs: What is there to write about? The truth is, it doesn’t matter what you write about. Focus on taking your most honest thoughts about anything, and putting them onto a page. Over time you will naturally seek out new words and play thoughtfully with different ways of saying things.

Finding inspiration to write and create is one of the toughest aspects of the craft. Once you get started, things seem easier as the words start to flow. Journaling is something that should help with that initial road block. Here are a few strategies to get over that initial roadblock: Tips to start journaling.

Personally, I have just begun keeping a journal. So far it appears to help my creative efforts. Though I’m only a couple of days in, it feels productive to use words for no particular purpose or goal. Leaving my mind free to maneuver leads the “inner discussion” to several unexpected places. It feel like something is growing in my mind, though still in this infant stage of Journaling. It feels like further practice can lead increased mental agility and vocabulary.

Flicker – Image Catalogue “MacBook Air Still Life” Via Creative Commons

Flicker – Afsaneh Tajvidi “Travel journal” Via Creative Commons

Just a reminder, a large amount of what’s written in my journal is far from polished writing. Several examples would provide cringe-worthy moments for any English professor. For me its all about keeping the words moving, even if it means saying something like “oh well, I don’t really know what to say anymore, I guess I enjoy the color green,” and going from there. Your journal is whatever you want it to be: formal, polished, bullet-list, illustration, messy, unintelligible. Whatever method produces your best ideas is the method you need to use.

One of the most important benefits this activity will have on your writing is that it gives you a voice. Too often as students we can get caught up being academic and bland in our writing because that’s what we’re used to. No one can read your journal but you. By writing for yourself, you lose the urge to write for an audience. It goes along with popular thoughts about mental growth: In order to be loved you must first love yourself. You won’t fully develop something that other people want to read without exploring your motivations to write in the first place. Your Journal will help you find that inner balance and (at the risk of sounding like a yoga instructor) create an inner harmony that helps you identify more with the words you put onto paper.