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 |    My random thoughts and reactions to my everyday life. The voices like a forum. |
| I do not know quite what happened or when , but my hubby and I now qualify for seniors' discounts at some venues. This creates a quandary; in order to save money, but not face, we have to admit to our age. HMMMM..... We definitely do not consider ourselves to be old. In this day and age ,when people as a whole are living longer and healthier lives why are 'young seniors', those in their fifties, like moi, considered 'old'?? It's so true that age is just a perception! "Maturity" is very objective/subjective, and I object! Whew, a few years have skittered by since I composed this biography block. Those "fifties" are in the rear view mirror and they are distant, fond memories. Oh, I do not plan to stop writing any time soon. |
| PROMPT September 3rd Describe a time when your work was criticized. How did you react? Ack, criticism! It does exist. Everyone has an opinion and too many are only too happy to share it. There are experts on any subject who walk amongst us. Some actually make the air quotes with their hooked fingers and claim it's "helpful criticism." How often do we hear, "it's for your own good." Some try to soften their critique with a shrug and "it's only my opinion, but." At times, my word choices are questioned. "Did you mean to use that word?" "Why can't you just say said?" Or my personal favourite, "this is too wordy." "I can't pin you down. You write with American words, but then you throw in British words and I'm confused." I brush it off. I only reply to specific points. Yes, I intended to use that particular word and I am well aware of its meaning(s). Why simply use 'said' when there are so many choices other than that tired word. Others have stronger connotations and can describe a character, their motivations, their mood, and more. Yes, I admit wordy can be an issue, but with a short story and its word limit I am well aware of my limitations. Each word has to count in more ways than one. I often think of speech patterns when I write and not everything is included as dialogue. Not every speaker gets straight to the point, or minimizes their expressions. Why does it matter what my nationality may be? I recognize different spellings and usages when I read. I accept them. Americans have decided that the letter 'u' is redundant in a few words and that is their issue. All this being explained, I don't receive much criticism. I take what I do get with a grain of salt. Not everyone intends to be critical or mean. Perhaps they find it difficult to pin point what they do not like. Maybe they lack the ability to explain themselves. Some are writing and reading in English and that is a second, or third language for them. Ah, the nuances of tricky English! Most of us limit our reviews and critiques. If we wish for them to be noticed, our message cannot be too lengthy. One comment, and is it a subtle jab, a true criticism, that I've puzzled about is this. "That's funny. Did you intend to be funny?" Is this sarcasm? Am I missing something? Yes, 'most' of my humour is intentional and I am grateful that it did tickle a funny bone. I worry more about the humour impaired, but, yep, I realize funny is not everyone's cup of tea. Nothing about writing is static. Words can be rearranged. Grammar can be manipulated. Anything I commit to my writing can be altered over and over. At some point, I simply let it go. If I do not than nothing is achieved. Other ideas rumble about demanding to be acknowledged. |
| PROMPT September 2nd Be inspired by this quote: "Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning." - Mahatma Gandhi Sigh. This amazing quote deserves something profound from me. I should write far more than I believe it, or that it sends the same message as the story about the little train learning to chug-chug "I think I can, I think I can." Who spouted "all things are possible"? This is where I stopped and consulted the all-knowing Google. This is a great excusetime to regather my thoughts and think. Okay... According to the all-powerful and wise search engine, the above phrase is popular and requoted, or rephrased if you will over and over. Some choose to begin with "anything is possible." Okay, semantics. A Constance Zimmer had this to say. "That's why I think life is so incredible, right? Anything is possible. You can be one way one day, and then you can have one experience that could be tiny-itty-bitty or big, and it can shift your whole focus and your whole life." Isn't this why writers write? We attempt to rearrange words into meaningful stories. One random day we may experience a Eureka moment. We never give up. We can and do alter settings, characters or what have you to create a vessel for our messages. Sometimes, employing a different verb or its alternate tense changes things. Using the perfect adjectives/descriptors to paint a scene or set a mood is key, but all of them can be discarded in an instant. No matter what we create it can always be better. We are willing to strive and edit. We are always vigilant, listening and watching the world around us. We believe we can wield words and the more we manipulate them the more that certainty grows. I believe many of us, that is to say adults, have lost our natural instinct to attempt things over and over without question. Yes, life can be harsh and demanding. Yes, we try and fail. Yes, we can be momentarily weak and doubtful. We experience our good days and our bad. Often we learn to choose our battles and let extraneous 'things' slide. Basically, we struggle to maintain some sense of balance. Remember what it was like to be an infant, or a toddler? Everything was new to us, but we rolled with it. We had this strong need to be mobile and move about under our own steam and whims. We struggled to pull ourselves up into a standing position. We fell. We repeated the process, over and over. Eventually, we ventured forth on our virgin feet. We wobbled, we swerved, we swayed, but we never gave up. Sure, we stumbled and lost our footing. Too many times we tumbled and landed, hard, on the ground. We picked ourselves up. We never considered defeat. We were not quitters. We pushed ourselves to succeed. We continued one step at a time. Today, I am by no means an expert walker. I still struggle with it, but at least I am somewhat mobile. I believe in the tried and true method of practice makes perfect. If I think I can, the legs will too. They may bawk and grumble, but they are included in every sortie. I am not an expert writer or a magician with words, but I dabble. Each time I string a few of them together, I am attempting to create a cohesiveness, a clarity. Have I acquired the capacity? Perhaps, but I intend to continue. |
| PROMPT September 1st Happy 20th Birthday, WDC! *Shock2* I know this is cheesy, but I have to do it... In your entry today, write about what you love about Writing.Com. How have you grown as a writer? How are you (as a writer) different from how you were when you first joined this site? Thank the members who helped you get where you are today. Happy Birthday WDC!  Wow, twenty years old? You've left those awkward teenagetears years in your rear view mirror. When I turned twenty, I'd been married for a year, but I digress. Other 'things' clambered for my attention back then and so I did not write...anything. Well, that's not entirely accurate. I wrote and endorsed the odd cheque from a joint back account. Who even uses that form of payment any more? On occasion, I mailed out a letter, or snail mail as we now know it. Okay, okay, to be more specific I did not compose poems or stories at that time in my life. To be twenty is to burst with possibilities. Not yet jaded or weary. Not yet sagging and lagging. Enthusiasm and energy abound. WDC has this in spades. This site oozes acceptance and encouragement. A plethora of activities and contests promote writing. Pressure to join in does not exist. Any pace is acknowledged. Fellow scribblers, peers, are free to read and critique whatever they wish. Many giving members host a variety of venues that showcase specific styles of writing. In my six years wandering this site, I have visited and enjoyed several creative outlets. Making that first tentative step into blogging has fueled my creativity. Responding to daily prompts delays procrastination. I make an appearance and I participate. It's not as cutthroat as sink or swim, but I do discover words and thoughts to buoy me and keep me afloat. I recently tagged along with a group of intrepid bloggers in a virtual ,whirlwind , thirty-day tour of the world. It is fun to pretend to be exploring and experiencing different cultures and landscapes. I lived the life of a travel writer, a tourist, a thrill seeker, a back packer, a camper, and a no-expenses spared jet setter. As if I'd actually been present, I now have many memories to draw on and use to inspire future creative tales. Thank you for your incredible organization skills and your wonderful spirit Lyn's a sly fox  . I love the lack of jet lag. Here's to at least twenty more years of sharing and inclusivity WDC. |
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