By Short Flights co-editor Alex Stein
Short Flights: 32 Modern Writers
Share Aphorisms of Insight, Inspiration and Wit is the first anthology of
modern writers of aphorism. The seed of Short
Flights was planted in the 1970s when, growing up in Seattle, I would read
Ashleigh Brilliant’s syndicated Pot-Shots in the comics section of The Seattle Times. Alongside The Peanuts,
Beetle Bailey, and Hagar the Horrible, Brilliant’s illustrated epigrams (as
short, witty aphorisms are sometimes called) stood out: “My life has a superb cast but I can’t figure
out the plot,” I would read, or: “My opinions may have changed but not the fact
that I am right.”
When, a few short decades later, I determined to create this anthology with
co-editor James Lough, Ashleigh Brilliant was one of the first writers I
contacted. Would he be interested in contributing?
He wrote:
Ashleigh Brilliant is my real name. But, although I am
in fact a Life Member of MENSA, there is only one truly brilliant achievement
to which I lay claim. I always wanted to be a writer, but early in life I
became aware that the field was overcrowded. “To be sure of winning” (as one of
my lines says) “invent your own game, and never tell any other player the rules.” So I invented my own writing game. I did however take the risk of
proclaiming the rules—as I am about to do once again on this page. But, after a
career of more than 40 years, I still seem to be the only person playing this
particular game. Here, then, are the most important rules for composing
the epigrams which I call Pot-Shots or Brilliant Thoughts.
The length limit is 17 words.
That is a maximum. There is no minimum.
· They must be easy to translate into other
languages and easily understood in other times and places—hence no rhyme,
rhythm, idioms, puns, or other kinds of word-play, also, no topical or cultural
references.
- Each epigram must be as different as possible from anything known to have ever been uttered before by anyone, including myself.
- Whatever is expressed must be really worth saying and said as well as possible.
- Although illustrations may be supplied, none is required for the meaning to be appreciated.
Brilliant has ultimately produced more than 10,000 of these Pot-Shots,
which have been published as books and in newspapers, as well as post-cards,
tee-shirts, and coffee mugs. He is one of the most quoted living writers
(“Appreciate me now, and avoid the rush.”) and one of the highest paid—per
word.
Other contributors to Short
Flights include Charles Simic, James Richardson, Sharon Dolin, Stephen
Dobyns, and Holly Woodward.
"Editors Lough and Stein prove that good things come in small
packages with this collection of modern aphorisms—short but sweet nuggets of
wisdom, humor, insight, and clever turn of phrase . . . something for everyone
in this proverbial box of chocolates." —Publishers Weekly
Alex Stein teaches at the University of Colorado–Boulder.
He is the author of two books of interviews, The Artist as Mystic:
Conversations with Yahia Lababidi and Made-Up Interview with Imaginary
Artists, as well as a book of aphorisms, Weird Emptiness.
James Lough is a professor and graduate coordinator at the
Savannah College of Art and Design. He is the author of This Ain’t No
Holiday Inn: Down and Out at the Chelsea Hotel, 1980–1995. He has published
more than 70 articles, short stories, and book reviews, and has served as an
editor with several literary journals, including Bastard Review, Denver
Quarterly, and Divide.
His collection of essays, Sites of Insight won the Publications Prize
from the Colorado Endowment of the Humanities, and his stories have won the
2011 America’s Got Stories Award and the Frank Waters Southwestern Writing
Award for short fiction.
To purchase Short
Flights, visit http://www.amazon.com/Short-Flights-Thirty-Two-Aphorisms-Inspiration/dp/1936182882
2 comments:
I always wondered whether Lough ever noticed me loitering in the lobby of the Chelsea Hotel when he was a resident there, in the fall of 89? I was semi-short (or of average height), celtic-looking or almost fey, dark hared, dark eyed, with a sharp look - almost frightening - & often looks a bit dull, glasses, SLR in tow, along with a friend of mine, Indian, tubby, average hight, longish hair - looks a bit like a trendy hippy - bum bag, sneakers (laces untied)? Of course, it was only for a few minutes to check the place out, but, you know, Lough might have been hanging around the lobby too, looking for some action & perusing the passing crowd.
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