iUniverse author John C. Woodcock’s insights on writing: Part 7

In iUniverse’s John C. Woodcock’s latest blog post, he uses the illustrious sci-fi author Philip K. Dick to demonstrate and further explain his form of writing.

“There are many such instances of art forms now that are “speaking” this way and seem to be engaging the contemporary artistic mind. One book is the compelling example of The Exegesis of Philip K. Dick, which is a partial collection of the “mad” writings of science-fiction writer, Phillip K. Dick, (Blade Runner, The Minority Report). ^[1] This book gives us a glimpse of his eight year-long immersion into the background of consciousness as long-held categories break down.

In 1974, Dick had a revelation which ignited a superhuman feat of writing constantly over a long series of nights, running to eight thousand pages, a “sudden, discorporating slippage into vast and total knowledge that he would spend the rest of his life explicating, or exegeting.” The posthumous publication of some of these texts highlights Dick’s long and arduous attempt to understand what exactly was happening to him, in a similar manner to C. G. Jung’s efforts, as recorded in his Red Book. I can choose any page at random to get a feel for sheer movement taking place, on-rushing fervor, a furor, gathering rapids, as punctuation breaks down, or ceases really to matter, as an onrushing life begins to prevail. It’s like navigating a maelstrom at times, with little islands emerging only to be swept away again. The structure of that book is described as “a freewheeling voice that ranges through personal confession, esoteric scholarship, dream accounts, and fictional figures… one of the most improbable and mind-altering manuscripts ever brought to light.”

iUniverse John C. Woodcock and Philip K. Dick

When I compared this description of Dick’s writing with that of my own (see above), I knew that we had some common ground. For starters, I also underwent a prolonged “meltdown” in which the very categories that support our present-day consciousness dissolved. I was also forced to write my way out of it and then I learned the way out is via the way in. I had to participate more deeply in the material that was presenting itself to me, as Dick had to, as well.”

More “mad writing” in the next installment of this fascinating series of posts from iUniverse author, John C. Woodcock.  To learn more about John, his books and his thinking, visit his website. To see all of his books visit the iUniverse Bookstore.