Thought 6: Amateur Writing and List 10: Worst Feelings
14 comments on yesterday's post! Woohoo! I'm catching up to Beasty!
Anyway, I've got two posts to combine today, Thought 6 and List 10.
Thought 6: Amateur Writing
We all do it. You write an email, write a note in a Christmas card, write an office document... you are putting your thoughts down. You are describing your viewpoint on a particular subject. But there are stages of writing: informal writing like an email, formal writing like at work, thought writing like a journal... and then there is amateur writing for the purpose of telling a story.
Amateur writing is for the purpose of someday, somehow deciding your own fate. You want to decide how YOU leave your mark on the world, not someone else. And I admit it, I'm one of those that tries my hand at amateur writing. I've got short stories, the beginnings of 2 novels (which should be finished sometime before 2050), and other quick notes, thoughts, ideas, and synopsis of other stories and tales.
But there is a catch. There are literally millions of us out there, each of us drudging through our normal lives hoping to become the next Dan Brown or JK Rowling. Is there hope? Yes, but only if we are all open to one important factor:
Criticism.
The best things that amateur writers can do numbers two: date everything you write, and then submit your writings to your family and friends with the point of having them NOT tell you that the story is good, but that it needs work in specific areas. And have your friends and family butcher the plot, the story, the characters with red ink and notes of what is wrong.
The only way to become a strong writer is to admit to ourselves that we are getting in on the bottom floor, we really are amateurs... and are working in the mailroom.
But with help we can get to the floors above.
List 10: Worst Sudden Feelings
You know what these are. They are the feelings you get when something immediately goes wrong with the plan... even if that plan is something as simple as sitting down, taking a walk, catching a flight. These feelings are the sudden tightness in the pit of your stomach when the realization strikes that the world really is against you. A quick note though, these are not the prolonged feelings that linger for days/weeks (unless something is added to the initial feeling). So you won't see any "breakups" or "accidents" or "natural disasters" or "family distress" feelings here.
So here they are, the worst feelings in the world!
Honorable mention: anything outside inbetween bare toes (slugs, thorns, nails, dog crap, etc...)
10. When you sit down on a standard office/movie theater seat... and it's still warm from the previous person. It's a very uncomfortable feeling, even though you know it shouldn't bother you... so common, that Douglas Adams defined the phenomenom in "The Meaning of Liff" as Shoeburyness: (abs. n.) = the vague uncomfortable feeling you get when sitting on a seat which is still warm from someone else's bottom.
9. You park your car and run into a store for a minute to pick up something in a hurry. You purchase your item, run back to your car, sit down, hear and feel the crunch... and realize that you had thrown your sunglasses onto the very same seat.
8. You rush around, get to the airport, catch your flight, settle into your seat... and realize that you left a perishable food item on the counter top.
7. You're in a hurry in the morning, so you take an extra quick shower, throw on some clothes, drive your car or catch the shuttle to work... and realize that your work pass is still at home.
6. Someone sends you a snide email. So you forward to your friends, rant about the person, click send... and realize that you had actually replied to that person as well.
5. You park your car and run into a store for a minute to pick up something in a hurry. You purchase your item, run back to your car, drive home... and realize you left your wallet on the store counter.
4. You're at an outdoor gathering. You put your food on your seat (lawn chair), grab another drink, go back to your seat and sit down... and realize that you didn't pick up your food first.
3. You're late for an evening do. You rush around and get ready, prepare to leave, flick the lock on the house door and close it... and realize your keys are on the stand inside the house, next to the door. Works for the car too.
2. You rush around, get to the airport, catch your flight, settle into your seat... and realize that you forgot to lock all of the doors/windows.
1. You rush around, catch the ride to the airport, get in line... and realize you forgot your passport at home.
So my question to the Natemare reading public: have you experienced any of these? I have - one quick story:
In 2000 I was late trying to catch a cross Atlantic flight from DC to London. It was late in the evening, and of course traffic was a disaster. And of course I was late as well, throwing clothes, documents, and other assorted requirments into my suitcase and briefcase. So I get a cab and ride it all the way to the airport. I get out of the cab, step into line at the ticket counter, and begin rummaging. E-ticket? Check. CD player? Check. Sunglasses? Check. Passport?...
...Passport?...
...Passport?...
...Feck. Had to get the flight rescheduled (out $150). Had to take a cab home (well, the Virgo's home at the time). And wasted an entire evening.
Anyway, I've got two posts to combine today, Thought 6 and List 10.
Thought 6: Amateur Writing
We all do it. You write an email, write a note in a Christmas card, write an office document... you are putting your thoughts down. You are describing your viewpoint on a particular subject. But there are stages of writing: informal writing like an email, formal writing like at work, thought writing like a journal... and then there is amateur writing for the purpose of telling a story.
Amateur writing is for the purpose of someday, somehow deciding your own fate. You want to decide how YOU leave your mark on the world, not someone else. And I admit it, I'm one of those that tries my hand at amateur writing. I've got short stories, the beginnings of 2 novels (which should be finished sometime before 2050), and other quick notes, thoughts, ideas, and synopsis of other stories and tales.
But there is a catch. There are literally millions of us out there, each of us drudging through our normal lives hoping to become the next Dan Brown or JK Rowling. Is there hope? Yes, but only if we are all open to one important factor:
Criticism.
The best things that amateur writers can do numbers two: date everything you write, and then submit your writings to your family and friends with the point of having them NOT tell you that the story is good, but that it needs work in specific areas. And have your friends and family butcher the plot, the story, the characters with red ink and notes of what is wrong.
The only way to become a strong writer is to admit to ourselves that we are getting in on the bottom floor, we really are amateurs... and are working in the mailroom.
But with help we can get to the floors above.
List 10: Worst Sudden Feelings
You know what these are. They are the feelings you get when something immediately goes wrong with the plan... even if that plan is something as simple as sitting down, taking a walk, catching a flight. These feelings are the sudden tightness in the pit of your stomach when the realization strikes that the world really is against you. A quick note though, these are not the prolonged feelings that linger for days/weeks (unless something is added to the initial feeling). So you won't see any "breakups" or "accidents" or "natural disasters" or "family distress" feelings here.
So here they are, the worst feelings in the world!
Honorable mention: anything outside inbetween bare toes (slugs, thorns, nails, dog crap, etc...)
10. When you sit down on a standard office/movie theater seat... and it's still warm from the previous person. It's a very uncomfortable feeling, even though you know it shouldn't bother you... so common, that Douglas Adams defined the phenomenom in "The Meaning of Liff" as Shoeburyness: (abs. n.) = the vague uncomfortable feeling you get when sitting on a seat which is still warm from someone else's bottom.
9. You park your car and run into a store for a minute to pick up something in a hurry. You purchase your item, run back to your car, sit down, hear and feel the crunch... and realize that you had thrown your sunglasses onto the very same seat.
8. You rush around, get to the airport, catch your flight, settle into your seat... and realize that you left a perishable food item on the counter top.
7. You're in a hurry in the morning, so you take an extra quick shower, throw on some clothes, drive your car or catch the shuttle to work... and realize that your work pass is still at home.
6. Someone sends you a snide email. So you forward to your friends, rant about the person, click send... and realize that you had actually replied to that person as well.
5. You park your car and run into a store for a minute to pick up something in a hurry. You purchase your item, run back to your car, drive home... and realize you left your wallet on the store counter.
4. You're at an outdoor gathering. You put your food on your seat (lawn chair), grab another drink, go back to your seat and sit down... and realize that you didn't pick up your food first.
3. You're late for an evening do. You rush around and get ready, prepare to leave, flick the lock on the house door and close it... and realize your keys are on the stand inside the house, next to the door. Works for the car too.
2. You rush around, get to the airport, catch your flight, settle into your seat... and realize that you forgot to lock all of the doors/windows.
1. You rush around, catch the ride to the airport, get in line... and realize you forgot your passport at home.
So my question to the Natemare reading public: have you experienced any of these? I have - one quick story:
In 2000 I was late trying to catch a cross Atlantic flight from DC to London. It was late in the evening, and of course traffic was a disaster. And of course I was late as well, throwing clothes, documents, and other assorted requirments into my suitcase and briefcase. So I get a cab and ride it all the way to the airport. I get out of the cab, step into line at the ticket counter, and begin rummaging. E-ticket? Check. CD player? Check. Sunglasses? Check. Passport?...
...Passport?...
...Passport?...
...Feck. Had to get the flight rescheduled (out $150). Had to take a cab home (well, the Virgo's home at the time). And wasted an entire evening.
posted by NATEMARE at 12:57 PM
7 Comments:
Done just about all of these except the passport , I have one to add , you bad mouth person a to person b , without realising person b is person a's brother/mother/boyfriend/girlfriend.You realise they are looking slightly uncomfortable as you rant , and then they reveal the connection.
But now you have a virgo in da house , you will never suffer any of these again , as a simple trip to the shops requires more pre planning than the d-day invasions (the lists, the lists)
Yep, forgot about that feeling... that one's REALLY bad (I've been on both sides).
I've done all of the rest, including the sunglasses one at least 3 times.
Yeah, the Virgo doesn't let me slip up MUCH anymore, but there really is only so much she can do when it comes to my clumsiness :-)
She's here!!! And yes, I confirmed...
'ello Virgo :-)
Ah yes - the writing thing. I do it too.
Scarily managed to get a couple of short stories published and got paid for them. Probably says more about the publishing industry than my ability!
There is a really excellent critique service called "Real Writers" worth a look .
Hi Virgo! Us anal retentives need to stick together.
got married and was going on honeymoon couple of days later the cases had been packed a week in advance just last minute clothes that would crease to go in on the morning of the flight
got to our destination Gran Canaria fabulous hotel booked in went to our room flowers and champagne yipeeeeee
right time to unpack get changed head for the pool
bluddy hell where are my bikinis????
rummaged in both cases but could i hell find them??
doh!!!! i had left them at home in the drawer sooooo i had to go shopping haa haaa
Thanks Lippy, I'll give it a look over.
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