SOME BRIEF THOUGHTS ON STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS WRITING

There are varying theories when it comes to stream of consciousness writing as far as what constitutes stream of consciousness, what works, what doesn’t.   As I have recently witnessed in a writers group I administer, this topic could cause quite a stir and a heated debate.  In fact one could say that this topic is significantly close to politics, if you will.  Simply imagine a room full of leftist, right wingers, and liberals; each with their own opinions, arguments, and firm beliefs.  

How did we get into deep discussion of the topic of stream of consciousness writing?  Well, I began a contest of all things.  Yes, I tackled my first Eye On Writing contest open only to the members of this writers group.  However instead of going about this contest as though it were a normal contest presented by strangers, I went about presenting this contest as though to a classroom of students that had not yet been introduced fully to the subject matter.  I thought it would be nice to ease them into things.  See if they could discover for themselves based on comments, critiques, and writings, just what stream of consciousness writing was to them. 

Stream of consciousness writing, as we know it today (considered experimental at the time), came mainly from two esteemed authors: James Joyce, and Virginia Woolf.  Incidentally, Joyce and Woolf both lived from 1882 to 1941.  If one pays attention to history, one tends to notice that patterns ebb and flow like the tides, throughout the years; so it comes as no surprise that these two great writers who shaped the modern novel so cleverly, were also closely related in years, however different their writing and heritage may be considered.  Yet I find it most interesting that while Joyce was deployed as an example and great asset to the definition of stream of consciousness, Woolf was no where to be found (well, almost nowhere).

Personally, I find Virginia Woolf’s work to be more mindfully invigorating and thoughtful, especially when it comes to her works that are credited stream of consciousness pieces, whereas James Joyce puts me to sleep somewhere between now and a minute gone by. 

Virginia Woolf

Jan. 25, 1882 - Mar. 28, 1941

English writer

medicated smoker

feminist

James Joyce

Feb. 2, 1882 - Jan. 13, 1941

Irish writer

inebriated guitarist

non-feminist

Stream of consciousness in the ordinary world, has, as of late, been taken to a bit of an extreme, and has, perhaps and in my opinion, been dichotomized and liquefied for no specific character/plot/theme enhancing purpose.  Go, for example, onto YouTube and look up “stream of consciousness”.  Chances are you’re not likely to come across either James Joyce or Virginia Woolf right off.  What you will find is: boredom, “brain farts”, and young adults speaking off the top of their heads and responding to others who are doing the same.   And whether you agree with it or not, technically, it is stream of consciousness.  Best of all, it’s theirs.

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by Michelle PG Richardson, Eye on Life Magazine

Copyright © 2010