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Tuesday, July 14, 2009
One Track Mind
(If you happen to read this, thanks for the topic. I owe you one. Or you're laughing at me and in that case, never mind.)
"One thing life has taught me: if you are interested, you never have to look for new interests. They come to you. When you are genuinely interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else." Eleanor Roosevelt
Honestly, my one track mind is not about sex. I promise.
For once.
Today feels a bit like open mic night. I think I might need to tap the mic and see if I'm live because I don't think many people are going to be around to see this.
Musical Influence this week: "I won't see you tonight (Part 1)" Avenged Sevenfold- Waking the Fallen
and "Requiem for a Dream" Nightwish
I've done many things in my life. And even though, one can't say I've always been on this path, it seems to suit me (Okay, some days it does and others it frustrates the hell out of me). I can say that I think of writing in many different forms: it can be the game, it can be the metaphorical life, the fantasy and a bit despairing and writing can be your everything, nothing and light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Usually, I'm pretty quick to come up with something to write about (it's in my natural to ramble); but this week, as I began to debate what to write about, I came up empty handed. So I asked someone to give me a topic and the topic at hand was turn racing into writing. I thought- what the hell. I like a challenge. So racing it is.
I know. You can't believe I'm about to go there.
Me either. I'm more of a put me in a jersey and tackle me type; but I know Terri would be so proud if she wasn't off gallivanting around at Nationals.
So, I give you my take on racing and the grand sport of writing. Because if nothing else, us writers know that writing is as much as a sport as it is a mental game. It wears us down. It tears us up and eventually we triumph after we wreck the hell out of everything standing in our way.
Writing and racing can be similiar. There's a start, there is a middle and always there is inevitably an ending, regardless how you wanted it to end or not. (Unless we make a wrong turn and wreck and have to quit midway through because we're so pissed off if we try to get back into the race something bad will happen because we'll make sure of it and self-destruct.) It might not always be pretty, it might not be clean, but at the end of the day the end result is all that really matters and once you've crossed that finish line everything can be fixed and made all shiny and pretty.
Race car drivers have to sacrifice a lot to get to the top of their sport. All the heartache and the blown engines and wrecks going into the turns and running over other drivers. Racing is a scary business. One wrong turn, a wrong calculation and you could wreck and hurt yourself and others. It's a game to be studied and analyzed and adjustments have to be made to the cars and mentally drivers have to prepare themselves for the task ahead. (Hellie, dearest, I'm feeling some Talladega Nights quotes coming on). I may not have grease under my fingernails after a long day of typing on my keyboard, but I can definitely say with all honesty that my keyboard no longer has the letters on it and are smoother than a baby's bottom as I run my fingertips over them. I stay up late and sacrifice my sanity, my sleep and my good nature to make sure I put my entire soul into every word just to maybe make one paragraph good enough. I might not entertain someone every time I open up my laptop, but my goal is to eventually entertain at least one other person than myself. Once I put myself into that spot, it's hard to get yourself away from it. It's hard to tear yourself away from the little things that keep you going- all the reviews and emails and the muses muttering to you and the self doubt and inadequacy issues. Just like with anything, there are period of absolute joy and sorrow. So when you crash and burn you just have to rebuild and start over.
So I've learned:
Drag racing would be the quick bursts of writing we have when an idea is just too good to pass up but the flame on that candle burns out quickly and we turn to something new fast. And track racing would be like being in for the long haul and writing out a full length manuscript. I guess a full racing season would be like writing a series. (I'm finding that to be a very daunting prospect.)
So today, let's have some fun. Liken writing to something you're familiar with or something you're not. Or we can just quote some Talladega Nights (brush off the quotes Hellion) and have a party for those of us that are left. I'm down with anything.
"One thing life has taught me: if you are interested, you never have to look for new interests. They come to you. When you are genuinely interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else." Eleanor Roosevelt
Honestly, my one track mind is not about sex. I promise.
For once.
Today feels a bit like open mic night. I think I might need to tap the mic and see if I'm live because I don't think many people are going to be around to see this.
Musical Influence this week: "I won't see you tonight (Part 1)" Avenged Sevenfold- Waking the Fallen
and "Requiem for a Dream" Nightwish
I've done many things in my life. And even though, one can't say I've always been on this path, it seems to suit me (Okay, some days it does and others it frustrates the hell out of me). I can say that I think of writing in many different forms: it can be the game, it can be the metaphorical life, the fantasy and a bit despairing and writing can be your everything, nothing and light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Usually, I'm pretty quick to come up with something to write about (it's in my natural to ramble); but this week, as I began to debate what to write about, I came up empty handed. So I asked someone to give me a topic and the topic at hand was turn racing into writing. I thought- what the hell. I like a challenge. So racing it is.
I know. You can't believe I'm about to go there.
Me either. I'm more of a put me in a jersey and tackle me type; but I know Terri would be so proud if she wasn't off gallivanting around at Nationals.
So, I give you my take on racing and the grand sport of writing. Because if nothing else, us writers know that writing is as much as a sport as it is a mental game. It wears us down. It tears us up and eventually we triumph after we wreck the hell out of everything standing in our way.
Writing and racing can be similiar. There's a start, there is a middle and always there is inevitably an ending, regardless how you wanted it to end or not. (Unless we make a wrong turn and wreck and have to quit midway through because we're so pissed off if we try to get back into the race something bad will happen because we'll make sure of it and self-destruct.) It might not always be pretty, it might not be clean, but at the end of the day the end result is all that really matters and once you've crossed that finish line everything can be fixed and made all shiny and pretty.
Race car drivers have to sacrifice a lot to get to the top of their sport. All the heartache and the blown engines and wrecks going into the turns and running over other drivers. Racing is a scary business. One wrong turn, a wrong calculation and you could wreck and hurt yourself and others. It's a game to be studied and analyzed and adjustments have to be made to the cars and mentally drivers have to prepare themselves for the task ahead. (Hellie, dearest, I'm feeling some Talladega Nights quotes coming on). I may not have grease under my fingernails after a long day of typing on my keyboard, but I can definitely say with all honesty that my keyboard no longer has the letters on it and are smoother than a baby's bottom as I run my fingertips over them. I stay up late and sacrifice my sanity, my sleep and my good nature to make sure I put my entire soul into every word just to maybe make one paragraph good enough. I might not entertain someone every time I open up my laptop, but my goal is to eventually entertain at least one other person than myself. Once I put myself into that spot, it's hard to get yourself away from it. It's hard to tear yourself away from the little things that keep you going- all the reviews and emails and the muses muttering to you and the self doubt and inadequacy issues. Just like with anything, there are period of absolute joy and sorrow. So when you crash and burn you just have to rebuild and start over.
So I've learned:
Drag racing would be the quick bursts of writing we have when an idea is just too good to pass up but the flame on that candle burns out quickly and we turn to something new fast. And track racing would be like being in for the long haul and writing out a full length manuscript. I guess a full racing season would be like writing a series. (I'm finding that to be a very daunting prospect.)
So today, let's have some fun. Liken writing to something you're familiar with or something you're not. Or we can just quote some Talladega Nights (brush off the quotes Hellion) and have a party for those of us that are left. I'm down with anything.
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Quartermaster's Queries (Sin),
Sin
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74 comments:
What is writing like?
In one of my former lives, I made jewelry. Sometimes I built a piece in wax, made a mold and then cast it in silver. But more than not, I was a fabricator. Took sheets of metal, traced a pattern, cut them, filed them, pounded them, soldered something on...maybe a bezel for a stone, another bit of metal. Maybe I'd drill some holes, solder something else on... Add a pin back, or a jump ring or two.
Then I'd smooth, file, polish, polish, polish... I might put a dangle something from a hole...or not. And I'd count it done. Then try to sell it, or give it away. Or keep it.
Always started with an idea. A theme of sorts. Might design around a particular stone, or shape, or person...
Sounds a lot like writing to me. Very creative, subject to a market that prices you out of supplies...unless you're selling well. You have to love it. I loved it. I lost track of time, bent over my jewelers bench. My back would hurt, my fingers were stained by polishing compunds, my eyes would ache...
What a joy it was...
I wake up in the morning and I piss excellence.
Writing is like sex: if you're doing it right, it's hard, dirty, and leaves you exhausted but satisfied. Also, you don't have to go to sex school to be good at sex (though in a few cases, it could help), generally your enthusiasm and your uniqueness you bring to the bedroom is usually enough to get you repeats for your favors. While you don't need sex school--and parlor tricks--you do need to practice, practice, practice; and it never hurts to practice with someone who knows how, at least at first and you find your footing. Though be aware that person is probably going to imprint themselves on your writing in some way, and you might find yourself doing "standard practices" that your next lover might not be keen with.
Nothing like leaving for DC inspired by Hellion...
;)
Love the blog, Sin
Hellion, does this mean your one track mind IS all about sex? LOL
Di
Talladega nights, a guilty pleasure. Great blog.
For me, writing is like selling real estate. For eight years, I was the antique and vintage properties manager at a large Connecticut real estate company. First off---there's no salary. You work on commission, making money only if you sell a book/property. Second, you can show a couple 100 houses (I actually did) or write 100 books and come nowhere near close to anything but frustration. There might be wet basements or sagging middles in your listings/books. You endure home inspections/critiques/contest results, wishing everybody wasn't so damn picky. You live on hope and watch the sales in the local papers/Publishers Marketplace, feeling a twinge of jealousy that someone else made it and you didn't.
And then you sell that adorable young Coast Guard couple their very first home/your fourth book. There is nothing sweeter except babies and happy endings. :)
Good morning!
MM, have a good time in DC!
And that was a wonderful description to start off the comments today. I don't know if I ever loved something as much as writing. I love music, but I don't make music. Well, I used to sing but I got out of that practice and I used to play sports but I sort of fell out of that as well. I hope that doesn't mean I'm going to fall out of writing.
Do you not make the jewelry anymore?
Morning girlies!
Sin, Great Blog! :)
I always liken writing a book to being in a relationship.
The first blissful meet, when you have that idea and it's all you can think about, all you want to think about, and being away from your computer just isn't possible. You just want to be with that idea, that new story.
Then you start to write, that first quarter/third, and everything is shiny and new. You're happy to be committed to this idea and you can't imagine any other story that is as great as the one you're working on.
Then the middle. Past the newlywed bliss, past the everything is coming so easy to me point. Here's where I always start to really get at the gritty, dirty stuff. It becomes more like work. Still satisfying, but work none the less. Things are revealed about the story's real character and I start to put that up against what I formerly knew about that same story. Sometimes it jives, sometimes, not. So there's all that figuring it out that happens here.
That black moment (not in the actually story but in the writing of the story). There seems to be that moment, about 3/4 of the way through, where I just lose faith. Nothing about this story is any good any more. If I never see it again, it'll be too soon. I don't know what I saw in it in the first place. Now there's just that glimmer of it's former self, that little piece that I have to grab onto if I want the whole relationship to work out.
The end. After all that work, all that effort, when you manage to strangle, er... mold that story into what you want, something you can live with.
"Hey driver, drive these!"
"Please be eighteen."
I do love that quote Hellie. But you have to add in the finishing touches to that quote. "Well, I'm not gonna lie- I wake up in the morning and I piss excellence."
"I'm gonna come at you like a spider monkey."
We could write a whole weeks worth of blogs about how sex and writing are alike. But I would hate to go to sex school. That might mean people would be naked.
You all know I'm just getitng started, so right now writing to me is very much like the itinerary idea we talked about a few weeks ago. Most of my work has been on outlining the plot and characters - and this is very much taking shape the same way as I plan a vacation.
First, deciding where to travel to(finding inspiration for a story idea ).
Researching the top things to do and see (researching/reading samples of best work in that genre and deciding what elements I need in the story).
Researching the people who live there - how they dress, manners, likes/dislikes, history, etc to understand the culture/history when we get there (creating my characters)
Creating a list of all the things I've decided I want to see (a rough outline of plot points and twists).
Booking the trip (story boards, outlines, etc)
Enjoying the trip/taking photos (writing the story- building the scenes through written imagery)
At least right now that's how it fits for me. It's my first time (WOW I'm a VIRGIN again!!) so this might change as I move forward.
Thanks Di!
Of course Hellie's one track mind is all about sex. I sometimes worry about her.
But I love how you described it. Perfect.
Maggie!
Thanks! I love Talladega Nights! It's the only movie I can stand to watch over and over and still laugh at as much as the first time.
I would've never thought to think of writing as real estate. Great description!
The first story, Sabrina, always makes the best memories of writing.
You only want to strangle the story, Marn? LOL. I want to take it outside and kick it a few times, set it afire and walk away.
Di, I'm afraid so. My mind is very much ran by my inner 15-year-old boy. Probably why I'm so fascinated with my own boobs.
Did you get the urban word of the day today, Hellie?
Actually I didn't. *googles website* Would it be the word that rhymes with chick magnet, but be the opposite?
And underneath, it has a picture of you. How did Urban Dictionary get a picture of you, you sneaky ninja tart?
Your way is definitely more violent than my way. But less mess with mine. LOL!
Actually, Marn, you'll find if you set something on fire and it burns to ash--you won't have to hide the dead strangled body that would only swell up in the heat and stink up the neighborhood... YOUR way is actually more messy.
*googling UB*
LOL. 'Cause I'm slick like that.
It was just funny because I read your comment about you being fascinated with your boobs and right underneath that was a message from UB about the word of the day. Which I find hilarious. That would be Manda. She's the ultimate magnet.
Manda's picture is definitely there too. *LOL*
Marn, I will teach you the ways of sneakiness.
If you burn something to ask and take a fire hose to it, it completely disintegrates.
*wg* Don't ask me how I know that.
We went shopping for mattresses together last night....
LOL, the poor salesman.
I went mattress shopping with Holly once. Do you know how she introduced me to all the salesmen?
"...and this is Fran, she's the mattress expert."
You should have seen the eyebrows. I actually had one guy look at me and go, "Are you really?"
LOL I can so see Holly saying that.
Manda told the sales guy last night that if I actually would've paid attention in Math class I'd know what six inches actually measures out to, instead I let guys teach me as I've gotten older and it's skewed my judgment.
I don't think I've ever seen someone blush like that before. And I wasn't talking about me. I'm used to Manda's mouth.
Oh, I know who was blushing. *LOL* I'm trying to imagine the sales guy. That's HILARIOUS!
It's just like that time in high school when she told this guy that I totally had a crush on and he wouldn't give me the light of day that... well, I can't say exactly what she told him, but gah... I could've murdered her.
Last night though, I just laughed. LOL The comment has something to do with this whole fiasco about measuring ribbon and not cutting it long enough and I said, "Six inches is plenty long enough" and in fact, it needed twice that length. LOL
I'm telling you, I've never laughed so much while spending a hellacious amount of money.
So now it's a running joke when I'm mentioned in conversations.
I didn't think about the strangled body. Hmmm....
Renee would never forgive me if I didn't post this TN quotation:
"It's because it's what you love, Ricky. It is who you were born to be. And here you sit, thinking. Well, Ricky Bobby is not a thinker. Ricky Bobby is a driver. He is a doer. And that's what you need to do. You don't need to think. You need to drive. You need speed. You need to go out there, and you need to rev your engine. You need to fire it up. You need to grab a hold of that line between speed and chaos, and you need to wrestle it to the ground like a demon cobra! And then, when the fear rises up in your belly, you use it. And you know that fear is powerful, because it has been there for billions of years. And it is good. And you use it. And you ride it; you ride it like a skeleton horse through the gates of hell, and then you win, Ricky. You WIN! And you don't win for anybody else. You win for you, you know why? Because a man takes what he wants. He takes it all. And you're a man, aren't you? Aren't you?"
It's hard to drag a strangled body anywhere without lots of exertion.
PLUS it always looks suspicious if you're seen dragging a dead body around to hide it. Yeah, it's best to try to take care of it all in one location. If you're able to pick and choose your location.
I love this one too:
Ricky Bobby: Losing is never fun, but here's a little something to keep your spirits up.
[extending middle finger]
Ricky Bobby: It's real nice, I got it at Target. It was on sale.
I knew that quote was coming out today. Which means I have to get mine out:
Ricky Bobby: Dear Lord Baby Jesus, I want to thank you for this wonderful meal, my two beautiful son's, Walker and Texas Ranger, and my Red-Hot Smokin' Wife, Carley
Carley Bobby: [raises hands] Woo!
Cal Naughton, Jr.: Mhmm!
Walker: [along with Texas Ranger] Ow.
I like to picture Jesus as a figure skater. He wears like a white outfit, and He does interpretive ice dances of my life's journey.
LMFAO- imagining Jesus as an interpretive dancer. LMFAO
I like to think of Jesus like with giant eagles wings, and singin' lead vocals for Lynyrd Skynyrd with like an angel band and I'm in the front row and I'm hammered drunk!
Another favorite (this could be an all day affair):
Ricky Bobby: [television commercial] This is Ricky Bobby.
Cal Naughton, Jr.: And I'm Cal Naughton Junior.
Ricky Bobby: Urging you not to go to Tijuana.
Remember that time in tenth grade when we got kicked out of class for playing with Matchbox cars? Who's the retard now?
I like to think of Jesus as a mischievous badger.
LOL. I love that part. Can you imagine how upset Terri would be to see all the quotes? *laughing manically*
I like to think of Jesus like with giant eagles wings, and singin' lead vocals for Lynyrd Skynyrd with like an angel band and I'm in the front row and I'm hammered drunk!
Your teacher wants you to go slow, and she's wrong because it's the fastest who get paid and it's the fastest who get laid.
Help me Jesus! Help me Jewish God! Help me Allah! AAAAAHHH! Help me Tom Cruise! Tom Cruise, use your witchcraft on me to get the fire off me!
Tijuana...hell, was that the one with the flocks of something that attack people--and they started cracking up in the middle of the commercial?
Texas Ranger: The teacher asked me what was the capital of North Carolina. I said Washington, D.C.
Cal Naughton, Jr.: Bingo.
Ricky Bobby: Nice.
Texas Ranger: She said "No, you're wrong." I said "You got a lumpy butt." She got mad at me and yelled at me and I pissed in my pants and I never did change my pee-pants all day. I'm still sittin' in my dirty pee-pants.
Cal Naughton, Jr.: I wet my bed until I was nineteen. There's no shame in that.
And the obvious:
Shake and Bake
LMAO. I love the extras with all the commercials.
"If you don't chew Big Red, then f**k you."
That is a classic line.
I nearly died in the theater watching this part, especially when the oldest kid pipes in:
Cal Naughton, Jr.: I tell you what, Ricky, you are truly blessed. These two are two in a million, just like Carley's ta-tas. You won't find another rack like that, I guarantee it.
Carley Bobby: Thank you, Cal.
Walker: That's real sweet of you, Cal.
Ricky Bobby: Cal, that's a real nice sentiment. That's about one of the nicest things you ever said.
Cal Naughton, Jr.: Well, I mean it.
Carley Bobby: Stop it, gonna make me cry.
Cal Naughton, Jr.: Comes from the heart.
We go together like cocaine and waffles.
Ricky: Hi, I'm Ricky Bobby.
Cal: And I'm Cal Naughton, Jr.
Ricky: We're here to tell you about snow blindness in cats. It's affecting more and more cats each year, and it scares the livin' shit out of us.
Isn't that about the truth.
LMFAO I don't remember that one
It's the one about the cats where you can tell Will is about to lose it.
And we've lost everyone else today. It's just me and you and you're getting ready to leave.
I can see why. I laugh every time I read it.
That's because everyone is off watching Harry Potter. WoohooO!!!!!
I'm sure it's the TN quotes. *LOL* We're so deranged, but I love us anyway.
I know. I love us the way we are.
I just read a review about the HP movie. I hope it's good for yours and Manda's sake. She wants to go next week and take me and I don't wanna go... Don't make me go.
I would not make you go to HP. You know how much I take it personally that you would not be into the movie--and it would "ruin the experience" for me. Manda is clearly made of hardier stuff and is bound and determined to make you a convert.
I, knowing you only as long as I've known you, realize you're a stubborn ass and the likelihood of you converting to HP fandom is as likely as me becoming a schoolteacher and marrying some guy with 10 kids--and being a Sunday School teacher on the side. I'm rather just scoff at you and question your taste than make you sit through it.
Now that is true love. LOL
Seriously, eventually, I might get into the books, but not right now. I have to be slightly interested in something before I just jump into it. And if I'd know about what kind of craziness that surrounds Twilight before I got into those books, I might have saved myself the headache, but I am a sucker and now I'm hooked. Only one addiction at a time please, I'm not a kid anymore.
What do you mean "you MIGHT get into the books eventually?"--No. Because if you read these books and get all excited about how great they are, I will beat you with a billy club myself. I was trying to pick the most opposite thing i would EVER EVER EVER do--and if you end up jinxing my ass into becoming a schoolteacher, marrying some fool with 10 kids, and Sunday School teaching on the side, I will never forgive you.
I should have picked something that had nothing to do with me. Like "Perez Hilton goes straight" or something.
LMAO- not likely.
and you would forgive me because you'd want me to watch your 10 kids.
Please. You think I'd let you and Matty watch my 10 Kids. They'd be quoting Talladega Nights in Sunday School. "Anarchy! Anarchy!"
They would make the prison shank.
Hi Sin and Hellie - I'm still lurking - just enjoying hte quotes. Saw the movie but couldn't quote it - I do remember that cat scene - hilarious.
I think everyone will be lurking the rest of the day. Hellie is off to watch her movie. I'm off to lunch.
The comments of this are ridiculous. Where else can you find a writing blog where the entire comments is TN quotes? :)
Dude, only here. LOL
I'm back! Movie was completely kick ass. Only one point where I went, "WTFH are they doing?" and I'm going to have to skim the area where the scene should have taken place to find out what actually happened.
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