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 |  Am I supposed to write? |
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** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Documenting the trials and tribulations of sharing my writing. I know it will be a grand adventure. I'm sure I'll get a sore butt from the bumps along the way, but they are just part of the ride. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
Before I could read, I was spending time in front of a Scrabble board. Yes, I’m that brilliant.  As soon I was at an age I understood “Don’t put the tiles in your mouth” my dad had me on his lap at the board. If you haven’t guessed, Scrabble is a big deal in my family. Actually, "big deal" is an understatement. Other families have reunions, we have Scrabble tournaments. We even have our own rulebook for the game. There are always little variations on the game depending how competitive the players are. Our rulebook makes it clear, what will be enforced anytime any members of the family play against each other. In case you aren’t familiar with the various competitive playing styles, I’ll outline them quickly. When one player has an obvious advantage over the other, the weaker player can invoke the “Sounds like, Ya know what I mean” rules. Pretty much anything goes. Not good for people who like to win or even keep score. I’d say the casual player, that person who plays once a week with a friend, while consuming a bottle or three of wine, plays by most of the standard rules. The majority of my friends don’t use the timer nor do they use the challenge system. Most of the time we don’t even have a dictionary nearby. The competitive player, plays by the official Parker Bros. Scrabble rules; no embellishments. If these people are going to play the game, they demand to play it correctly. You are best to have a dictionary at the table. Parker Bros. publishes an Official Scrabble Dictionary for these Type A personalities. And then there are our rules… Most importantly, we forbid the use of the Official Scrabble Dictionary. To be blunt, it blows. It permits too much slang and commonly used acronyms. We play by the Concise Oxford English Dictionary. We also play muggings. If you play cribbage, you might be familiar with the term. In a nutshell, if you miscount your points and don’t give yourself enough credit, your opposition can “mug” the points you didn’t want. If you count too many points and your opponent catches you, you deduct the difference between the incorrect and correct total and subtract them from your score. A tile laid is a tile played. Make sure you spell your word correctly and put your tiles on the appropriate square. There is no forgiveness for accidents. Pay attention to the game, damnit! We are evil and don’t always play well with others. We have enough difficulties playing amongst ourselves.  |
| I tackled the task of rewriting some old stories today. I’ve been procrastinating, under the guise of letting my work age and improve, like wine and cheese. The flaw with this plan is that the work doesn’t fix itself. Eventually I have to face my words. This is exactly what I did today. There is an upside to editing in bulk, I learn amazing things about my writing. Consistent errors and weaknesses begin to jump off the page. My strengths also become more recognizable. It is so much easier to find patterns when reading 10,000 words, than it is when reading through 1,500. It’s the law of large numbers. Today, I learned something new. If I want a high quality story of 1,000 words, I need to write 4,000. Observation tells me that the first 1,500 words I write is a warm-up to put me in the mood. These words are for me and are in no way relevant to the story. I also tend to write beyond the natural ending of a story. Chop another 1,000 words off the end. Out of the remaining words, there is a story to be told. It is with care and dedication that I must chipaway the excess and try to find the gem inside. |
| If you’ve looked at a calendar today, no doubt you noticed it is Thursday. Yes, folks, time to expose you to another freewriting experience. To those of you who dared to take a peek at last week’s endeavour, I thank-you. At the very least, it was an entertaining entry. Perhaps it gave someone else the confidence to try a freewrite, knowing they could do no worse than the trash posted. Everybody set your timer… READY, SET, TYPE! The most enjoyable thing about a freewrite is not worrying where to start. There is no wrong point. Perhaps if I wrote my name in the wrong order, ou could say it is wrong, but really, there is no wrong. I have so much to write about and nowhere specific starting point. The starting is always the hardest part of writing for me. I often sit down and write events first. Later, I slowly add words to straing the variouls words together. I pick certain moments of the story which I can clearly envision in my head. I write those scenes and move forward from there. The writing isn’t actually my problem. I’m trying to be very honest with myself. My problem is gaining the confidence to share my writing. I write often for a variety of newsletters. Most of tmy things are well received. But lets face it, in a newsletter, anything that isn’t raw basic facts or numbers is interesting. I’m resuctant to share with people. This is my problem. For some reason , having a random stranger read my work is okay. Having someone I know and respect read my work is something different. It’s much hardsr to show somebody close to me mywordk. I’m not sure it I am being afraid of being judege or if they’ll things its bad. I don’t know why I care so much. A friend hypothesizes I’m afraid of success. She doesn’t understand why I don’t do more with what I write and is probably my biggest fan. Behind my back, she has submitted some of my writingas as well as putting me on the hook to make a few luncheon speeches. She frequently tells me that if I ever choose to believe in myself, I’m going to be famous. Everybody needs a friend like her. I’m noticing few red lines in this evenings’ work. I’m typing much slower to try and error the multitutde of errors I made last week.. Perhaps next week I’ll try the other computer. I told myself I wan’t going to look at the red lines, but I couldn’t help myself. There they are, infront of me, taunting me. I have the right to bad mouth them, don’t it? Anywasy, back to sharing… In order for writing to be effective, the message must be shared. What good are words on paper if they are never seen. I’m hoping I will find motivation to share, in writing stories fr my niece. I have a vision of writing an entire collection of stories, all dedicated to Sylvie. I’m telling myself I don’tneed to rush becase she cant’ read for a few more years. Tat’s actually just another excuse to put it off. I think pre-teen might be easier to write thanchildren’s books. I believe the pictures in kids’ books are actually more important. The tone of the reader, reading the book is what the kids repond to and the bright colours. Have you noticed how children respond to your tone? My sister came home to fine me reading an article on motivation to my niece. I was having fun with my voice and Sylvie could have cared less. The words weren’ important. Therefore, why should I write a little kids’ book? I want to reader to enjoy the book. I want them to enjoy the time the spend with my work. I want them to read it over and over. I want people to pass it on. I would love to write a book like Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance, On the Road and The Catcher and the Rye. Why do you thing those books have stood the test of time? Hmmmm….. It is sort of funny that a hundred years from now people will be deciding what was actually the great literature of our time. Who knows the cretiea they will use? We do know there are some lousy books out there. The days I find those ooks, I feel very good about my writing. I know I’ve written something better and will so again. Even when I was in University, everybody wanted to be part of my group because they knew they could count on my to write a great paper. Yes, I ave been……. TIME! |
Yesterday, I particularly enjoyed a blog entry, by David McClain   , about the popularity of reality TV shows. He, like myself, can’t believe how far these people go in the name of ratings. Scarier than the shows themselves is the fact there is an audience for the crap. These unscripted embarrassments would not be on television if they didn’t make money.“Give the people what they want.” I’m not sure if this is a quotation or cliché. Either way it’s been around a long while. I’ve always thought the sentiment was incomplete. To make the statement truly reflect what it means in the real world, it should read “Give the people what they want and they’ll gladly give you their money.” I try hard NOT to believe that money is the driving force behind our society but I have little success. The burning desire to be rich drives an incredible number of people over the edge. But it’s our vices, which allow them to fulfill their dreams. If you’re willing to pay any price for your cravings, someone will cater to your whims. Drug dealers sell drugs because people want to buy them. Illegal immigrants move to the US because people are willing to give them jobs. Illegal copies of software, CDs and DVDs find their way into hundreds of thousands of homes. Millions of dollars worth of blood diamonds are mined every year. Who’s buying them? Corruption exists because it can. The thing about money is that it doesn’t lie. So few people will confess to watching porn yet it’s a multi-million dollar industry. When police confiscate illegal drugs they assign a street value to the dope. The street value is what the public at large is willing to pay. Are we supposed to assume it’s only a few extremely wealthy people committing all the sin? I confess these are extreme examples but I find extremes usually make the most impact when trying to make a point. Money talks. Unfortunately what our spending patterns say, is not very nice. |
| Over a late lunch today, I was subjected to the bickering of my two friends. Today’s topic? Carbs. I thought we were beyond the whole carb craze but I guess I thought wrong. For over half an hour they went back and forth. Both made good points and both shoveled some shit. I’m fairly patient with my friends but these two were getting on my last nerve. The same arguments over and over and over and over. Would you two hens stop cackling and agree to disagree?!? (pause for dramatic affect) Please? Like any good friends would, they decided to drag me into their petty argument. They agreed to be silent if I told them who I believed was right. God, I love my gals. Much to their disappointment, I sided with neither of them. I broke it to them gently, but they were both right. They got so caught up in the argument they forgot about one small but important thing. Everybody is different; what works for some won’t work for everybody. This shouldn’t be new news to anyone yet we seem to need a constant reminder of this fact. I myself would never be successful on a carbohydrate reduced diet. I love potatoes. I love pasta. I love rice and bread. However, it is a diet that has worked for thousands of people. No wrong, just different. Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi played the game of tennis incredibly different from each other. Both are champions and destined for the hall of fame. Each man built their game around their personal strengths and weaknesses. They were true to themselves. I guess they were smart as well as athletes. When is the lost time you honestly inventoried your unique talents? your strengths and weaknesses? I think when we can identify these things within ourselves, our choices in life become easier. When we turn a blind eye or battle against ourselves, everything is difficult. This applies to our writing lives as well. Write what you know. Write what you feel. Write what you love. To be great, you must also respect other’s rights to do the same. There are a million different paths leading to success and we each travel the one right for us. |
| I’ve mentioned my collection of books before. No, shelves have not been purchased. Yes, the books remain stacked on the floor. One advantage of this style of home décor is that I appear smarter than I really am. I don’t rush to correct people who assume I’ve read them all. I mean, I do intend to getting to each of them, eventually. I also find that when books are openly displayed, they are more likely to be borrowed by your friends and family. As long as everyone records what they take, I gladly do what I can in order to encourage others to read. When books are easily accessible, they are easily discussed. Few have managed to leave my home without participating in some sort of literary conversation. I’m pretty proud of this fact. Anyways… While a friend and I were having tea today, she was nosing through my books. She looked determined to find something but refused to let me help her. Ms. D. already had two fiction and one non-fiction set aside to take home when she finally found what she wanted, The Universe in a Single Atom… by the Dalai Lama. She examined the book, trying to figure out if it had already been read, and added it to her pile to take home. Ms. D. then gave me a truly incredible compliment, Outside the university, you have the most varied collection of crap I’ve ever seen. Maybe some of you would be offended by the use of the word crap but please trust me when I tell you that in the context used, it’s the finest compliment I’ll ever get from my friend. She’s partly responsible for my collection; gift cards at Christmas and old books from the school. It’s why I tolerate her frequent visits to my private library. Back on topic… Her compliment led to a magnificent conversation about not only what we read but how we promote reading to others. Both she and I are the annoying type of people who nag and nag and nag those people who don’t try to read a book. We share the belief that, if you claim you aren’t a reader, you haven’t found the right books to read. It took me twenty years but with some help from James Bond and Ian Fleming, I finally got my dad reading. We lamented the fact that reading, as a pastime, is waning in popularity. Ms D. believes part of the problem is that readers don’t promote reading. It took me a minute to wrap my brain around her idea but finally the light went on. And I agreed with her. When I’ve participated in book clubs and things involving reading, I’ve always been in the company of other readers. When we’ve expanded groups, we brought in more readers. How do we convert the non-believers among us? We could have talked this topic to death, but reality beckoned. Before she left, we agreed each of us would create a list of tens books which we feel would be fabulous choices for the not so avid reader. We’re tackling reading amongst the adults first, besides we’re more familiar with adult stuff than books for kids or teens. Do they still read Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume? I’m off to sort through my books and find those precious gems, which just may serve to convert another lost soul. If anyone has suggestions, my ears are wide open. |
Hear ye! Hear ye! From this day forward, let it be known the words average, regular and normal are considered taboo and are not to be used in mixed company or outside academic institutions. Any infraction will be punishable by death by beheading. If this had been a royal declaration hundreds of years ago, when some idiot first used these terms outside the laboratory, I believe we’d be an emotionally stronger society today. Normal must be one of the most used and abused words around. It has no consistent meaning, outside of a controlled environment and is more of a concept than an actual state. If you refer to a dictionary and then ignore the mathematical and scientific definitions of normal, you are left with not abnormal or irregular . Duh!?! Not helpful information. Regular and average are no better. We’ve butchered English to a point where using these mathematical terms incorrectly is acceptable. Our offensive words can only be used to describe measurements. Should I repeat this? Regular, normal and average can only be used to describe measurements. Fight with me all you want, you will not change my mind. Factoid: there is no such thing as a normal, regular or average person. Not to mention, I’d be insulted if you called me any of those things. I find it odd so many, work so hard, to measure up to a standard, which does not exist. Then there are the math problems, created when you apply averages to things you just shouldn’t. I know everybody has laughed at the idea of 1.8 kids. We’ve all accused a sibling or friend of being that .8 of a person. .8 of a person is a mathematical illusion created when science erroneously escapes from the lab. I can hear all you Type A, right sided brain people calling me names. I know these words have their place. I’ll even admit to each of them having some importance, in their proper place and used correctly. It is the mistreatment of these words to which I object, not the words themselves. She’s average looking. He’s a regular guy. They’re a normal family. You’ve uttered at least one, haven’t you? I know you have. What does any of it mean? These three statements tell me a whole lotta nothing. Average, regular and normal need to be knocked down a notch. They aren’t compliments nor are they standards. They are, mathematical calculations, which lack a definition without a four page disclaimer. And a good writer NEVER uses words they cannot define. |
| ”If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know you have arrived?” - Unknown I don’t fully understand why some people connect with certain words or phrases, more than others. I love the above quotation. It certainly sums up the lives of many people I know. They know what they don’t like but have no idea what they do want. They wander with no direction, hoping what they seek will one day jump out in front of them. What they don’t know is they have already had happiness cross their path several times. They were too close-minded to recognize it. I believe in affirmations, positive reinforcement can never hurt. I also argue that repetition is the success to affirmations. You must repeat them to yourself, everyday. When you’re driving, waiting in a waiting room, sitting on the crapper and preparing dinner. You’ve got to believe in yourself before anybody else will. ** Don’t get off topic. Focus! ** I have a general idea of what I’m working towards. Retirement. I believe that’s what we are all looking forward to. It is a time in our life when our money works for us and we live a life of leisure. At least that’s how I have it pictured in my mind. I’ll be living in a lakefront house. It’s modeled after the cottage my family visited when I was young. My favourite feature is the cedar porch running all the way around the house. It’s exceptionally deep as I wanted people to be able to sit comfortably and not have to stand when others want to pass by. This grand old porch is where I plan to spend my retirement years. I’ll be living off the royalties from my first novel and submitting weekly columns to Macleans while I work on my second novel. One of the joys of modern technology is I’ll be able to work out of my home and submit my work by e-mail. I don’t need to deal with idiots unless I choose to. Not that I’ll be a hermit, I’ll visit town regularly and probably the closest University library; my home will always be open to my friends. It’s the morons of the world I want to avoid. I focus on my retirement home often. I write about the house itself, the flora and fauna on the property, the sound the water makes when it hits shore. Over the years, my description has become rather detailed. I know what it is I am striving for. What about you? No, I did not forget about my plans to establish an artist’s commune in Hawaii. That’s first on the “When I win $10 million.” list.  Anybody like crosswords? I tried my hand at creating one for WDC. Solve at your own risk:
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| Yes, the internet is amazing. I know the numerous things it makes possible. I know how it has revolutionized various industries. I get that the internet is probably an overall good for the world. Believing this does not mean I think the net is without its problems. I know many of you share this opinion and we could dissect the pros and cons of the internet and the changes in society that have come with it. We could, but let’s not. Instead, let’s just bitch about one negative aspect of the internet. Today’s pet peeve is the false sense of intelligence the internet has created. I say it more than once a day, because you read it on the internet doesn’t make it so. Sheesh, I’m getting tired of saying this. Isn’t anybody getting tired of hearing it? Information pulled from the internet is only as reliable as the organization that posted the data. Anyone can post almost anything on a website. Protection exists for copyright infringement and libel laws provide some minimal protection for individuals but there is no protection against misinformation. If I looked hard enough, I'm pretty sure I could find information that would support any silly position I want to take on a subject. It wouldn't mean I am right. It would simply mean I have too much time on my hands. Please, I beg all of you... Before citing an expert or a "source" which supports your opinion, consider the source. A million people can be wrong. |
| While I might procrastinate, I rarely give up. I am not a quitter and I’ll be damned if I’m blowing my blue streak because Thursday is my busiest day of the week. I’m determined to blog tonight. Here’s how… I’m explaining my insanity to you now, while I take a breather between meetings. This evening, when I finally get home, I’m going to share the freewriting experience with you once again. Tonight, I’ll be too tired to think so, composing an entire thought-out blog is out of the question. I would be able to crank out the endless drivel required of the freewriting experience. You will get the raw product, typos and all. I’m going to try my hardest not to hit the backspace button or correct any mistakes. Typing a freewrite is a new experience for me, I usually share these special moments with a pen and paper. It might get pretty ugly but I am not afraid. Of course, you could always join me… I set my timer for 17 minutes. Ready, set, WRITE! Seventeen minutes. I wonder how many people wondered about the 17 minutes. I have an ersion to evben numbers. I loke things that are dd, perhaps because I can relate. I’m mor than a bit odd. My lists, have three, five or seven . Everything I do di is odd. A member known to may of you, The Literary Penguin had a contes a while back where he encouraged people to write obut a dinner party. The number of dinne guests could be 10 or 11. Automatically, I chose 10. You’re thinking you’e got me, it’s even. WRONG, I’malso at the dinner party s I’m number 11.Even numbers jcan be split down the middle. One can render an impartial decision, split things evenly. You can’t do that with odd numbers. One side is going to have to win. It’s inevitable. ** teehee** I’m laughing because I’ve just noticd the amazing numberof red underlines indicating all my mistakes. And yes, I hae the automatic spellcheck turned on. Oh wow, I hope I do’t read this before I actually post it. I don’t think I’d ever be able to post something ths shameful. It’s rather isgusting but should be entertaining to many f you. May I please my case for a sticky keyboard. MY laptop is going on three years old. I love it though. I’m vey attached it. It has all my data. Yes, I know there is suck a think as flash drives and backing up. Yes, I actually have other three other computers. I love my laptop. It’s become anothersappendange. I just got everything how I love it and that waas a task after installing the iPod software. Boy oh boy. I tried to move m music library after setting up the iPod but I couldn’t figure out how to get the ipond softrare to find the music a second time. It wasa true learning experience. The bottom line is I lover Herberet. That’s Herbert to those who couldn’t figure out that finger fart. Herbert was a greatfriend I had in junior high school. You knew back then he was going to be the dork that had all the hot girlfriends. He was a fabulours man. As geeky as he was, I know he is successful where ever he is today. My homage to a good, reliable friend is naming my laptop after him. I could always count on him and that is how I feel about my laptop. Ido understand he may be getting tired and worn out so I can’t be surprised the keyboard s not as receptive as it used to be. Wow, one paragaph with no red. Oops, I see it now. Damn space bar. All right, I’vegot to be getting close. I try not to look at the timer but I can hear it ticking away. It seems to get louder, t closer we ge to the magical seventeen minute mark. It taunts me. Daring m to find more words, more mstakes. But Iwill not be beaten down. A blu month is on the line. I cado this. Okayu…. Are your cheeks hurtingrom laughing yet? Are you wndering how I dould possible post this in my prt. Am I in my writemind? That would have been a brilliant pun had I hit the space bar. Damn space bar. It wecked a perfectly good pun. The ticking gets louder an faster. I know that soon the timer will make the nd of relief. I’m sure PENS DOWN!! |
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