Dan Poorman

I'm a junior in high school and a budding humor/satire writer. I never used to be a "funny writer" until recently in the past year or so when I took a stab at it. Ever since then, almost everything I ever write either has a strong undertone of witty, straight humor, or occasionally I'll play around with allegories and actual satires poking fun at controversial topics.

After years of failed experimentation (the whole "artist is the toughest critic" scenario), I've come clean through the ashes of short stories, mindless poetry, and songs. My current focus is on the biggest, longest lasting, proudest project of my life so far: a novel called "The Grocery Plot." Not only was this one of the pioneering drafts I had started as an experimental humorist, but it is also most likely the best representation of me finally finding my identity in the world of creative writing, which I've always had a knack for. Once I finish this novel, I will immediately be formatting it as a stage play (a farce) which I will also direct and star in as I stage it in June 2009 to benefit my high school's drama program, which I've always been a part of. When that is over, I hope to promote the novel version and hopefully (cross your fingers) find a publisher (or at least enter it in a contest for some money)!

A few things you should know about my writing style:
- I am very wordy, which sometimes gets the best of me.
- My syntax can get complicated and can sometimes only be clear to those intelligent enough to not lose interest.
- Dialogue, to me, is oftentimes more important than, say, sensory detail and description; this is due to the fact that I believe the matter in which a character speaks truly defines them as a person to the reader.
- I write controversially at times; for example, I may crack jokes at minorities or untouchable social ideas, or I may make light and/or get graphic about disturbing topics. My rebuttal:
1. In no way am I a bigot; it is more so my characters speaking than me; I always tell my readers I act when I write.
2. Disturbing content and human flaw really intrigues me; as a person who has a great life, I've always wanted to tap into what a dysfunctional one would be like. Also, if I make light of it, don't complain! It's called black comedy, people.
- I may drag on, or go on tangents sometimes. I am working on that and always have been; much to my amusement I'm gradually improving.
- I've been told I have a talent for making up character names. As a very imaginative guy, my brain usually just whips up interesting names that can totally fit the character I'm writing.
- I have issues with settings, as a non-traveler and of the somewhat geographically misinformed.
- I usually never write about my personal hobbies/interests; strange, right? I've been yelled at by past English teachers before, believe me. However, I do this because I want to take the time to research new things for the purpose of including it in my work.
- The more expansive vocabulary, the better.
- Sometimes I feel when writing in prose that my "story" is starting to take on the feel of a movie too much; maybe one day I should take up screenwriting.

One day I'd hope to be a professional writer, however, I understand the logistics of everything; it being such a "starving artist" situation and everything. With heavy college planning right around the corner, I am currently thinking of double-majoring in English education and creative writing.

My other interests include music, film, and theater. Shockingly, I'm not that big of a reader.