what is your name?
My name is Gregory Paul Dancer
how would you describe what you do?
I would describe it as dabbling. Poetry, Music and Art split my focus 3 ways.
what are you currently working on?
Endless loose-ends. The main project is trying to put together an album of music. Although I did start to write an anthology of my poems, but that’s currently in limbo. (Due mainly to my short attention span)
what has had the greatest influence on your work?
Observations I make on a day to basis. When it comes to the influence on the style of my writing, the main influence is Spike Milligan. I’ve never really been a big reader of poetry. So in that respect I’m almost self-influencing!
what is the greatest misconception about you or your work?
That it’s an unstructured Flow of consciousness style of writing, whereas in fact it’s much more about motifs. The motif is the subject, which the words dance around. And the choice of words is not made on grammatical or syntactical grounds, but simply on what sounds good to me. Which, regardless of the subject matter, is the part which will makes something an enjoyable read. (for me at least.)
what do you see as the main strengths and weaknesses of the medium you work in?
The main strength is the depth and detail with which an idea can be explored. And like all artistic processes it not only the organisation of information, but The organisation of it into a MEANINGFULL form. Something, that in my experience, the world has always seemed to avoid, the concern is almost always focused far too much on meaningless accumulation. A corruption of the basic drives and needs. At one point sex was used to sell products, though now it’s almost As if products sell sex! Something I think people are already sold on! The main weakness I would say is that the medium requires more thought than some would be willing to put in, that and everyone can write! So it’s not got that mystic quality that some forms of art or music may have. People are more impressed by what they CAN’T do! Well, waffled on a bit on that one. Next question!
how has technology impacted upon the work you do?
Made it much easier! I have always found it much easier to write on a computer than a piece of paper, I find writing the words distract me and I end up trying to write in more elaborate hand writing. Either that or I rush and end up with something illegible. Plus, spelling and error correction are much simpler.
Plus the internet is great for information, ideas, promotion.. etc…
what’s the greatest piece of advice you would like to pass on?
Do what YOU think works! In any form of art there are countless numbers of people engaged in creating. What I look for is personality In someone’s writing. You have to invest a part of who you are, not just in subject matter, but also in form. Learn to understand things in the way which makes most sense to YOU. There is no normal or standard pattern of thought so don’t allow yourself to succumb to what people may think. The Artist is arbiter of taste when it comes to his/her work Anyone else is just a voice lost in the wind!
where can we find you online?
http://www.myspace.com/astrocrat
http://wp-cia.ning.com/profile/GregoryDancer
Most of my writing is on editred. My music’s on my space. Also, if any publishers want to get in contact(hint, hint!) my E-mail address is: Fizzybub2002@yahoo.co.uk
what are you reading at the moment?
Well, not been reading much, been dipping in and out of Groucho Marx’s book,“ Memoirs of a mangy lover.” Which is a brief and very entertaining read. Also reading some Edger Allen Poe stories.
My attention span is not great enough for a full novel at the moment.
what are you listening to at the moment?
Allan Holdsworth’s insane jazz fusion playing. A bit of Beatles and Beach boys. And as normal lots and lots of Frank Zappa!
anything else we should know?
My shoe size is a 10. My hairs emigrated from my head to my body and look both ways before crossing the road!
So, what’s my score?:D