I was inducted to the “Forties Club” for my entry “The Reunion” (posted here) into the Clarity of Night “Ascension” contest. That just means that the judge gave me a possible of at least 40 points out of 45 for pacing, entertainment value, technical skill, storytelling, and voice. I’m absolutely delighted that I wrote something that someone finds even slightly good in any of those categories.
But here’s my problem: I want to know why. Why was it good? And what could I do to make it better? Any ideas? What do you think makes pacing, entertainment value, storytelling, and voice interesting?
I saw his head first. His right arm rested on the railing, calm, waiting. No pressure, no anxiety.
I exhaled.
One foot before the other and he was before me. I tried to focus on his eyes, his face. I searched for words to speak.
“Hi.” His body leaned toward mine and I felt his kiss on my forehead. His arm grasped my shoulder and then he released me.
“Hi.”
The child was chattering. And bouncing around us. His free arm rested on her shoulder. We walked. People bumped me as they passed.
I heard him speak. First to our girl. Then to a man near us as we reached for the suitcase.
We walked again. I stopped and zipped the girl’s coat, despite her protests. And then he was driving and she was babbling about princesses. I sat beside him.
A right turn. A stop sign. The highway. We were moving. He grasped my hand. He wouldn’t let go.
“I …” I couldn’t speak; I was dry. I had done my crying alone when I realized the baby was lost.
He glanced at me, and I saw his eyes were wet. He spoke, the corners of his mouth turned in a half-smile.
“I love you.”
The flood overwhelmed me as it had two nights before. But this time I was hopeful, for we could still go on.
I’m quite intrigued by this Wall Street Journal article about the legacy of presidential writing. In it, Jonathon Raban compares Obama’s writing skills to Lincoln’s, and the power that good writing can give to a presidency.
I have not read Obama’s memoirs, nor have I studied Abraham Lincoln’s speeches, both of which I’d like to read and study. But I certainly appreciated this particular author’s insights into leaders and their writing.
I really enjoyed studying Churchill’s speeches last year.
What governmental leaders have impressed you with their writing?
In the past few months, I’ve been focusing on my reading. That is why I’ve been absent from “Writing Practices.”
In the New Year, I want to visit “Writing Practices” at least twice a month. I will share inspiring quotes, write my thoughts about writing, and maybe revisiting some of the memes that I really would like to participate in.
I’ve been thinking about why I want to write. In some respects, I feel like I’m really meant to be a reader. I am so impressed with the power that others have behind their words. The more I read, the more I want to keep reading, and the more I feel I will never be able to command language as do others.
In The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, one task for the budding artist/writer was to go a week without reading: that way, you are open to your own creativity. But I don’t want to do that. Not yet. I am so in love with reading at this point in my life that I don’t want to let go of it. Reading – both fiction and nonfiction – inspires me and helps me expand my mind.
I know writing would do the same for me: I just must do it in order to experience that creativity.
I want to be more balanced in my life overall, by reading, by writing, by cooking, and by working on my photography. I’d love for you to follow along with my progress, although don’t be surprised if my reading blog remains the most active 2009.
My arms stretch, from the little finger muscles and the forearm to the muscles of the shoulder – muscles reaching in ways they haven’t moved in months. Or years. Fingers together. Arms in unison. The ultimate stretch: form a key hole, push back, and over.
My head bobs up and down in a rhythm, fighting the resistance the water provides, and yet floating without a care. I pry my head up and gasp for air every second stroke.
My torso moves, my chest stretching thin and my derrière tensing.
My legs propel me forward, my toes splashing the old ladies dancing nearby, my feet twisting together through the water, my thighs sending me far.
My lungs strain by the end of two laps: a proud I-just-swam-BUTTERFLY feeling.
Maybe I’ll do three laps tomorrow. Until then, I’ll stick with FREESTYLE.
BUTTERFLY is part of Phase Two of the Not-So-Frumpy Campaign: Exercise. I can lap swim for only $55 a year at my township pool. Babysitting is another $3 an hour: It is worth it.
(Phase One of the Not-So-Frumpy Campaign was purchasing a new hair dryer, because drying and doing my hair makes me feel 200 times better about myself; surely that was worth $50 once?)
I didn’t watch Michael Phelps in August; I was on vacation in New Zealand. But here he is anyway. Doesn’t this look like fun (in German too)?
Everyone liked our opposing points review. You’ll notice one person commented,
Both of the reviews were so well written, I don’t know which one I want to believe more!
I also recently was invited by Hachette Books USA to giveaway some boxes full of Halloween books! Click over here and enter before Friday at midnight, CDT. I’m giving away one box of books for every ten people who enter the contest, and there are only 15 entered thus far. That’s pretty good odds, if you ask me!
You know, Rebecca Reads got its start on this site. I posted the first reviews here from January to May, and then I realized that, because there is a whole world of people whole really care about books, I’d start my own blog just about books. That way, I don’t have to bore you “Mommy blog” readers with my book stuff and I wouldn’t bore my book-cyber-friends with my “Mommy blog” stuff.
I started two other blogs at the same time; the other two have fizzled out, but my book blog is going strong. I love it, and I find myself reading more and thinking about what I read more. It’s my new favorite thing. If you ever care, come on over and join the books discussion!
Remember, your artist is a child. Find and protect that child. Learning to let yourself create is like learning to walk. The artist child must begin by crawling. … Give yourself permission to be a beginner. By being willing to be a bad artist, you have a chance to be an artist, and perhaps, over time, a very good one.
The artist’s language is a sensual one, a language of felt experience. When we work at our art, we dip into the well of our experience and scoop out images.
Stop waiting until you make enough money to do something you’d really love.
Stop telling yourself, “It’s just my ego” whenever you yearn for a more creative life.
Stop telling yourself that dreams don’t matter, that they are only dreams and that you should be more sensible.
Stop fearing that your family and friends would think you crazy.
Stop telling yourself that creativity is a luxury and that you should be grateful for what you’ve got.
Julia Cameron, in The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, page 7
I’ve been moving, among other things, for the few of you who check this page and have been wondering. In the coming weeks, I’m going to be reading Julia Cameron’s book. I’m going to try to let go of my fears in the process. I don’t intend to post my responses to her writing prompts on this site, but we’ll see!
