Interview with Cole Vidrine [cajuncole]

How and why did you begin to be creative?

It just came naturally. As a child I was always able to put things together without instructions. I would put models together in less than an hour. I design my own jewelry and for others, write poems that are deep in less than an hour, rock songs in less than an hour. I wrote 7 childrens stories in one day-soon to be published I hope. At times, especially when trying to go to sleep my mind is an open faucet and it is hard to turn off. This is when I am very creative. When I plan things or think of something, I go into great detail and if I do things on the spur of the moment or against my better judgement, it usually turns out badly I see things differently than others and sometimes people get extremely upset with me for no reason. Me thinks they don't understand me, better said me knows they don't. I just finished a phonics program that a collegue of mine with a phd. in phonics and a professor with 38 years at university level, plus author of 28 published works, he could only say, "excellent." It consists of 46 short stories targeting the short vowel sound. The program is designed to teach intonation, pronunciation, and reading fluency, using audio visual dvds, cds, a color illustrated dictionary, and color illustrations depicting the stories. Thanks Dr. Seuss for your inspiration. phonicsvill.org

Your mind is your work tool. How do you take care of it?

By reading, thinking, observing, researching, but mostly thinking and imagining things.

How do you avoid repeating yourself, or falling into formula? How do you stay fresh?

I don't worry about that. All I have to do is focus on something else and valois.

Do you have a ritual like retiring to a lonely place from time to time to cleanse your mind?

Not a ritual, but sometimes I go places or imagine that I am somewhere I'd like to be, like a yacht on the Carribean, or an oceanside home on a bluff overlooking the sea, or a peaceful brook deep in the forest.

What cultural sources do you draw from the most?

When I was about 4 my mother bought the World Book Encyclopedia along with childrens volumes. I was amazed. My grandmother read all the stories in the childrens volumes to me. I could read at 4 or 5. As I got older I would take an encyclopedia to bed and read. I think I read them all. Should read them again. When I write poetry I draw from old English and that style, when I write rock I draw from feelings by different rock groups, when I write childrens books, Dr. Seuss.

Who have your teachers been?

God, the world, any and all whom I come into contact with, and of course myself.

When you accept a job, how much value do you place on each of the following? Money, creative liberty, visibility, and to work with the best.

Let's put them in order. WORK WITH THE BEST, VISIBILITY,CREATIVE LIBERTY, MONEY (GOOD OR BAD).

Have you ever had a job that was so stimulating that you could not get your mind off of it?

May be in the beginning but a job usually leaves me bored after a short while. After I get my work published I just want to write and realize the many things I have going on in my mind.

"To give birth to ideas." Is this only an expression, or are there really parallels between giving birth and creativity?

Both are sponteanious. Would tend to have to agree as I often see something and then have about 1000 plus thoughts rush through my mind and I am inspired to be creative. I.e. I was walikng one day and two large dogs ran over to the fence and began barking at me. I wrote a song that day entitled "Barking Dogs" about an ex-girlfriend of mine. We are soon to record this song.

Does spirituality contribute to your creativity?

At times, yes. For one not to acknowledge a higher being especially after looking into great detail of all that is around us, to me in my opinion is asinine. I analize things in great detail and for me to not belive in God would make me ignorant of the facts that surround me.

It is possible to fall in love with a bad idea simply because it is yours. How do you avoid this?

Yes it is. Now after past experiences I still haven't figured it out. Who can actually for see the out come of a thing?

Must someone be the leader or boss in order for a creative team to function well?

Declaration: With what person or business would you like to work?

Oxford University Press. They have the best second language products on the market bar none and my works are equal to the works of their authors. I have a lot to bring to the table and we would have a mutually benificial relationship. And have fun doing it. Dr. Seuss would be my second choice, but he is no longer with us. I can write exactly like him and write a story in an hour. Words just flow as I think.

What criteria do you use when selecting someone to be a part of your creative team?

If we can get along.

The armchair psychologist: Is creativity an act of rebellion for you?

NO IT IS NOT! Creativity is my freedom from all the stupidy that surrounds me daily.

What is the best advertisement you've seen recently?

My own, but it is in my mind and has not come to reality on a billboard, yet.

Do you work well under pressure?

Aboslutely. I have had far too many life threatening situations in my life for me to be worried about trivial things.

What city in the world currently attracts you due to its creative environment?

How is an idea sold?

By being very creative and believing in your idea. Well at least for me, if I believe in it I can sell it.

What do you feel when, after two or three years, you see an idea of yours again?

Pissed. How many times have my ideas been stolen and others-of a lesser IQ-have profited. Too, many to think about. But my phonics book is "le cream de la cream". I will be as well known, as is Dr. Seuss. My phonics book is movie material as well.

Ideas can come simultaneously to different people in different places with no connection to one another. How do you explain this phenomenon?

Well, there are a couple of us that are just that smart. With 6 billion plus people in the world and everyone basicly privy to the same information, the odds of this happening are higher and become more frequent than in the past.

You are as good as your last idea. Wouldn't you like to have a more secure type of work?

I have a job at a university and I am tired of depending on others. So, after I get published, I am going to write all that is in my head and try to get it all out, once and for all. As far as last ideas, I haven't gotten to the last one, yet. Also, with the many ones I haven't tried, I have more than ample amuntion to last my lifetime.

What did you first read? How did you begin to write? Who were the first to read what you wrote?

Three Billy Goats Gruff, well that is what I remeber. Wrote a poem to my first wife. Always wanted to write never did felt inadequate. First wife.

What is your favorite genre? Can you provide a link to a site where we can read some of your work or learn something about it?

Rock songs, blues, romantic poems, and childrens stories being my favorite. I just finished a phonics program directed at teaching reading fluency at all levels, native and non-natives speakers. Soon to have a page of my works. phonicsville.org

What is your creative process like? What happens before sitting down to write?

Some people play with cards, numbers or whatever. I play with words. Something pops into my head and I play with it for awhile maybe days. Then I put it to writing, if I feel I can achieve what I want. If not, I let it alone for awhile. When I am creative I can speak continuously with out stopping and it all makes sense. I can wrtie a poem, song or short story in an hour. I wrote 7 short stories for my phonics program in one day and wrote 40 in two months-1.5 pages average-all on the line of Dr. Suess. To write like him is a snap. To me it is nothing. I love Dr. Seuss' style, pure genius.

What type of reading inspires you to write?

Shakespear, Dr. Seuss, Areosmith, Korn.................Conan the Barbarian.

What do you think are the basic ingredients of a story?

Make it visual as the reader has a full view of what the writer is thinking.

What voice do you find most to your liking: first person or third person?

What well known writers do you admire most?

Poe, Shakespear, Dr. Seuss, Socrates, Aristotle, Jules Verne, Earnest Hemmingway, Pearl S. Buck-The Good Earth- and me, Cole Vidrine.

What is required for a character to be believable? How do you create yours?

The reader needs to become a part of what is being read. He needs to be the main caracter in the story, he needs to feel as if he is reading as if it is he that the writer is talking about. Style and questions.

Are you equally good at telling stories orally?

Few can compare. When telling a story I hold the audiance, by intonation, eye contact, jesture, body movement, humor and I can change a story as I go to fit the crowd or person. Thank you Captain Kangaroo, Buckskin Bill and Polycarp Pecos #2

Deep down inside, who do you write for?

Is writing a form of personal therapy? Are internal conflicts a creative force?

Does reader feed-back help you?

Do you participate in competitions? Have you received any awards?

Do you share rough drafts of your writings with someone whose opinion you trust?

Yes. Colleagues. They encourage me a lot and are amazed at what I write. My brother as well, he asked me "Hey little brother have you ever heard of Dr. Seuss? Your work is just like his". And of course I share it with Deneb Cygnus my close friend and bass player for the band.

Do you believe you have already found "your voice" or is that something one is always searching for?

I know what I want and it is comming.

What discipline do you impose on yourself regarding schedules, goals, etc.?

ZERO. But when need be I do what I got to do.

What do you surround yourself with in your work area in order to help your concentrate?

Do you write on a computer? Do you print frequently? Do you correct on paper? What is your process?

Head, and throw it around first, then paper to look at it then, computer and throw it around somemore.

What sites do you frequent on-line to share experiences or information?

Facebook and Twitter

What has been your experience with publishers?

Haven't had any yet. Meet the main guy for Oxford University Press in Colombia the other day and as soon as my work is critiqued and edited he wants a copy to read. They are quite the finicky bastards, so I self-published. phonicsville.org

What are you working on now?

Rock songs for the group.

What do you recommend I do with all those things I wrote years ago but have never been able to bring myself to show anyone?

When did you start cooking? Who got you started in this art?

I guess I was about 5 or 6 my cousin James and I boiled crawfish right there on Bayou Beouf, in front of the house. Man it was a cold day. I think in March. Me caught a bucket of crawfish, big red ones, fishing with bacon and string tied to a dried weed. Then he stole a pot, matches and seasoning from his mother and we threw some bricks together made a fire, filled the pot with water right from the bayou and placed it on the bricks. Got it to a boil and in went the crawdads. His sister Anna joined in and we gave some to our mon mon. My mer mer. I would help her make cakes. Hell, every good Cajun from Louisiana starts cooking as soon as you can stir a pot.

How would you define your style?

Whatever the taste buds call for.

What is your favorite spice to cook with and why?

Cayenne pepper. Hell, I am Cajun French.

What is your signature dish or your favorite recipe?

Catfish Court Bullion

What is your favorite cooking gadget?

If any chef in the world could prepare a meal for you, who would it be?

Don Prudhome or Emeril Lagasse.

Men versus women: do they cook differently?

Yea they do, and my old fat Mer Mer Leslie and my Taunt Ella cooked the meanest roast duck with rice dressing. My dad a good "goo corte bouillon". My brother great squirrel sauce piquant and I cook a hell of a turtle.

Who cooks in your home?

What would you say to a novice in the kitchen to help them get over their fear of cooking?

Ya can't go swimming with out getting your feet wet.

Ask me a question, make a comment, or request my opinion on something:

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