I'm not exactly why this line made me laugh so much when I read it this afternoon, nor why I'm still laughing at it this evening. I can't even exactly remember writing it -- although I do have a vague recollection of someone (Julie...??), ten minutes or so after I wrote the line, reading it aloud with a mix of annoyance and disbelief.
And then, of course, all fingers immediately pointing at me.
One of my recent reoccuring lines about my job is that for the first time in my 'career' my opinion is sought out, listened to and acted upon. While this is a wonderful thing, I've also learned that the other edge of this particular sword is that I can't sit in the back of the class and make smart-a$$ remarks the way I've done for most of my life. The people I work with aren't used to me yet and I don't want to damage the high regard they have for me. Just yet, at any rate.
As for the novel, the first chapter is well set out. I'm well aware of the notion that the first chapter is often just a 'starting point' or a practice run at things. I've mapped out this first chapter so many times, though, and know exactly how and why it's supposed to proceed that I'm well set with it. Happily well set with it, in fact. Now I just have to write/edit the danged thing to a point where I'm happy with it.
There is a huge difference between the writing I'm doing here and the writing I need to do with the novel. This is all about me ranting and raving, telling old stories and new ones, but not needing to go into a whole lot of explaination on certain things. The novel, however, is entirely dependent up on me to set the scenes, give sufficient setting descriptions and character motivation and development. I have to make things happen and that's dangedably more difficult than I thought it was going to be.
There's an old '70s book called "The Inner Game of Tennis" that I reference a lot. The book teaches the idea that once you learn how to perform all of the strokes in tennis -- the forehand, the backhand, the serve and the overhead -- and then learn the basic strategy of the court, you know how to play the game. All that's left is to be very zen about it, get your mind out of the way and just allow yourself to play the game. Mistakes come when you start thinking about things too much.
I know this is part of my problem with writing -- and it's something that does not happen here.
And, actually, Neil Armstrong's famous phrase was written for him before he ever left the planet -- and he managed to flub the line. :-)
Thanks for the link to the magazines. They're great!
And, a long, long time ago I wrote up my favorite Mrs. Nemecek story as a part of my "Overly Long Annotated Autobiography." I did a longer treatment of it in a letter to a friend. I'm thinking, now that I think I've found her online (I had the spelling of her name ever-so-slightly wrong) that I should re-write it and post it, then anonymously email her the link. Know which one I'm talking about?
Thanks for the insights and support. I really appreciate it.
Re: "Yum, yum, pass the ketchup."
And then, of course, all fingers immediately pointing at me.
One of my recent reoccuring lines about my job is that for the first time in my 'career' my opinion is sought out, listened to and acted upon. While this is a wonderful thing, I've also learned that the other edge of this particular sword is that I can't sit in the back of the class and make smart-a$$ remarks the way I've done for most of my life. The people I work with aren't used to me yet and I don't want to damage the high regard they have for me. Just yet, at any rate.
Oh, and want a laugh? Check out the last bullet point and the names cited in the last example on this page: http://journalism.okstate.edu/courses/jb1143/bibliography.html
As for the novel, the first chapter is well set out. I'm well aware of the notion that the first chapter is often just a 'starting point' or a practice run at things. I've mapped out this first chapter so many times, though, and know exactly how and why it's supposed to proceed that I'm well set with it. Happily well set with it, in fact. Now I just have to write/edit the danged thing to a point where I'm happy with it.
There is a huge difference between the writing I'm doing here and the writing I need to do with the novel. This is all about me ranting and raving, telling old stories and new ones, but not needing to go into a whole lot of explaination on certain things. The novel, however, is entirely dependent up on me to set the scenes, give sufficient setting descriptions and character motivation and development. I have to make things happen and that's dangedably more difficult than I thought it was going to be.
There's an old '70s book called "The Inner Game of Tennis" that I reference a lot. The book teaches the idea that once you learn how to perform all of the strokes in tennis -- the forehand, the backhand, the serve and the overhead -- and then learn the basic strategy of the court, you know how to play the game. All that's left is to be very zen about it, get your mind out of the way and just allow yourself to play the game. Mistakes come when you start thinking about things too much.
I know this is part of my problem with writing -- and it's something that does not happen here.
And, actually, Neil Armstrong's famous phrase was written for him before he ever left the planet -- and he managed to flub the line. :-)
Thanks for the link to the magazines. They're great!
And, a long, long time ago I wrote up my favorite Mrs. Nemecek story as a part of my "Overly Long Annotated Autobiography." I did a longer treatment of it in a letter to a friend. I'm thinking, now that I think I've found her online (I had the spelling of her name ever-so-slightly wrong) that I should re-write it and post it, then anonymously email her the link. Know which one I'm talking about?
Thanks for the insights and support. I really appreciate it.
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