ARTIST'S STATEMENT
Perry Beamer
ABOUTÂ THE ARTIST
I am Perry Beamer, Sophomore double major in Mathematics and Philosophy at the University of Maryland. I have always been highly interested in creative writing, which has led me to become a member of the Arts Scholars program and the Jimenez-Porter Writer's House on campus. Recently, my piece Do You Remember How We Used to Look at the Moon? was nominated as a finalist for the Jimenez-Porter Literary Prize in the prose category, the annual on-campus literary contest. In my free time, I am an avid reader and fan of professional basketball. Feel to free to reach out to me at perry.beamer@gmail.com if you have any questions, concerns, or feedback about my work!
Objectives
This project began as a way to begin working on a short novel I have been thinking about writing for a long time, as a way to practice longer form prose writing and to establish a daily writing habit. The novel tells the story of an immortal man, who witnesses the cycle of human civilization in parallel to his own personal development. First and foremost, however, was my goal to practice craft and to stick to a daily writing regimen. To that end, I have spent this semester finishing the first part of my novel. In addition, I have composed several shorter stories of varying lengths, which complement my work in long-form prose with a sharp focus on shorter, condensed action. I used four of these stories for the Art Scholars' Creative Writing workshop; the others were composed alone.
History and Distinction
My novel is heavily inspired by the work of magical realists in its focus on mythical archetypes and storytelling techniques. Particularly influential in this vein is 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia-Marquez, whose ambitious scope has inspired my own work's vast subject matter. My work also draws stylistically from the introspective, stream of consciousness techniques of modernist works like Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time and Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse. In contrast, my short stories are exercises in conciseness and technique. My aim here was to practice specific elements of craft to create a highly controlled effect with as few words as possible. They most closely resemble the stylistically tight prose of Ernest Hemingway's short stories. I hope I have successfully synthesized the inspiration I have drawn from these authors, incorporating my own outlook and experiences to create a unique and impactful voice. For further information on and citations for works which have influenced me, the button below links the Inspirations tab on the main menu.
Approach
My approach has generally been quite simple. To the best of my ability, I have maintained a 1-3 hour writing/reading schedule each weekday, leaving weekends for rest. My time writing has been spent variously pursuing both my novel and shorter projects. I tried to retain the flexibility to decide what to write on any given day based on my inclinations in the moment. Inspiration can't always be drummed up at will; sometimes the most efficient way forward is the path of least resistance. I also spent a portion of this daily allotment to read, a practice which I found helpful in gathering my ideas before I began my work. Furthermore, observing the craft of skilled authors improves my own writing. Reading materials included both the works listed in the History and Distinction section above, as well as other novels, short stories, works of philosophy and nonfiction. Again, for a wider examination of the materials I drew from, the button below links to the Inspirations page.
Audience/Impact
I hope that anyone can enjoy my writing, given that the material I have produced here covers such a wide variety of moods and topics, but fans of the authors mentioned in History and Distinctions and other classics may especially enjoy my work, though it pales in comparison to that of these literary giants. I will be glad if I can inspire my readers to think deeply about our shared experience as human beings, but should I fail in this endeavor, I know I have still made considerable progress on my primary objective: to improve my writing on the way to one day succeeding.