Tag: Writing

Inspiration Engine 8 – Grunge and Writing

~ Sahara ~ Leave a comment

Inspiration Engine is a weekly post I do about blogs that have inspired something in my this week.

1. This post, “Good Music is Timeless” by Icepicks and Nukes. A thousand times yes.  It’s kids today reacting to Nirvana. It’s awesome and reminds me of how I felt when I was that age, when I first heard Smells Like Teen Spirit or, even more powerful, Black, by Pearl Jam.  One of the kids in the video said that rock has skewered into two waaay different directions right now, and not good ones.  I’d had that observation, but couldn’t tell if that was just me getting old or what. It was nice to be reinforced. 🙂

2. This post, “On Sherlocking,” by Drew Chial, focuses on an exercise to one might to to improve their writing and their character development. In my ever so humble opinion, good character development is right under there with “good writing” on the list of things that makes a piece good. I appreciate this suggestion to flex those muscles.

What do you think of these post?  Were there any that inspired you this week?

 

The Vegas Storytelling Difference

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Have you ever thought about the difference it makes on a story to put it in Vegas?

Dude! (Source)

Think about it.  When you hear a story begin with: “Dude… One time in Vegas…” you KNOW the story is going to be badass. Or maybe someone is talking to you and, while suddenly giggling uncontrollably, they say, “Okay, so we were in Vegas this one time…” you actually start giggling with them in anticipation! I’ve done that loads of times!

I’ve been wondering lately, though, does this really mean the story is better or more outrageous?

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Thank you… And you… And you…

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As a kid, thank you notes always brought up the angsty uncomfortable idea of making up bullshit, and I wasn’t too good at yet, and still have an aversion to it now. But as a bride (19 days to go), writing thank you notes is waaay up there in things to do, right up there with tanning.  Beloved family and friends from both sides are shoring us up in love and support, and beautiful new dishes! (Seriously, I am so excited for these dishes and I love them.)

So, while I don’t tan, I have been writing thank you notes regularly, and have come to appreciate the process more than I used to, even look forward to it!

I sit quietly with a pen and some cards, hopefully under a window, and write by reflecting on the gift, the person who gave it to me and what it means to me. I get to relive the event for which I’m thanking the gift-giver (in this case, bridal showers) and reflect on the jokes and dirty stories we shared. I’m usually scrambling for addresses (in the digital age, who has anyone’s address?!) and that’s frustrating, but I save that for the end.

Like writing a story with a word limit, brevity is the order of the day in a thank you note, and I think I’m going to try to get more creative and humorous with them.  Here are some examples of funny ones; perhaps they will inspire my future efforts.

“Thank you oatmeal, for looking like I eat you before I eat you.” (Jimmy Fallon)

“Dear McDOnalds, Thank you for not selling hot dogs. I don’t think I could order a McWiener with a straight face.” (I don’t know.)

“I would thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you, my heart has no bottom.” (Aww! And I don’t know who wrote this initially.)

What is the best thank you note you have ever gotten?

Inspiration Engine Vol. 1 – Healing and Creativity

~ Sahara ~ 3 Comments

A series or round up of the blog posts I find most inspiring this week!

1. My attempt at a fairytale-esque story, from Fairytale Corner. It seems like this is a relatively new blog, but I think it holds a lot of promise and I look forward to what it will come out with.  This post, according to the writer, is their first attempt at adapting a fairy tale, and I think it’s brilliant. Simple, well written and well paced, and inspiring to me as I think about writing fiction.

2.  Inspire Your Creativity, (almost made for this round-up, eh? 🙂 ) from MisBehaved Woman. In this particular post, the author posts a link from NPR’s Ira Glass about fostering your creativity and getting to it, that valuable stuff we’re looking to get to. Sometimes I fear it’s not there in me, so this kind of positive affirmation helps.

3. Healing Touch, from One Day at a Time: Thoughts on Getting Out of B.E.D. I am really struggling at work right now. “Fake it till you make it” is an old adage that has been working well for me in the last few years of my practice. I may not be as into something as I think I should be, but I can pretend I am and then I get there. Right now, it’s too much work to even pretend. I am mad that I have to pretend. I resent pretending, and I’m miserable right now. This blog post reminds me to not give my “feelings” too much power – they are only feelings, and those can be fleeting.  Feelings change, and I won’t be in this position forever.

What do you think of these picks?!  Are there any posts you’ve found this week that have inspired you? And check out the next installation next week!

Express yourself to respect yourself (TM Madonna)

~ Sahara ~ 9 Comments

Okay, so the response to this prompt about not being able to verbally express yourself is kind of a gimme.

After my car accident and the coma, I had word finding problems, which is common for head injury.  That didn’t make it more manageable at the time. It took me sooo long to get a sentence out, because I was trying to remember what I wanted to say!  I felt so awkward with my friends because I felt so damaged and inadequate.  My friend Darren from rehab was such a blessing for me during that time, ’cause we both spoke slowly, so I didn’t feel inadequate around him. I also remember the frustration I felt at not being able to communicate with others, and fearing that I wouldn’t get better; that I’d be trapped inside myself.

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What do prithee and probably have in common?

~ Sahara ~ 7 Comments

Language is a beautiful and living bridge back in time. As one who enjoys a Renaissance fair, I’ve studied Elizabethan speech in effort to get more into character.  I’m not very good at it, but I still love it. During the renaissance period, verbal communication was the main form of entertainment available to people.

“Prithee wait until I fetch it to you anon.” (Wait a sec.)

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