I've been reading the other entries to Nickerblog's Mystery Hotel Meme, and I'm struck by how self-conscious so many of the bloggers are about their pieces, myself included. If a post is acknowledged fiction, it becomes open to criticism of one's creativity.
For the most part, it seems the critic lives within. I wrote and posted mine before reading the others, so my fear was that it would suck in comparison to what was out there. Several people made comments like that, or tried to lower expectations before their story, or seemed somewhat apologetic for their attempts.
As bloggers, we write and post often, but mostly it falls into the realm of creative non-fiction. It's easier to defend writing when all you have to say is that's how it happened. I think the immediacy of feedback coupled with writing outside my sort of established genre makes me self-conscious about posting fiction. However, I really enjoyed the exercise, so maybe you'll be seeing more.
tags: fiction+writing, self+consciousness, creative+writing
06 April 2006
05 April 2006
Nickerblog's Mystery Hotel
Shane's Mystery Hotel photo has inspired a creative writing meme. Here's my stab at it.
******************************************** "Earl, pull your sleeves down, wouldja?"
Earl scowled at Sandy and said, "It's too hot in here."
"Well, you look like a damn fool," Sandy explained while focusing the lens of the camera.
"You shoulda taken this picture in January then," Earl argued.
"Why? You weren't a damn fool back then?" Sandy retorted. He had always had a knack for setting off his older brother. Earl fumed and strode across the room; Sandy retreated behind the camera for protection.
Pops pulled his pipe out of his mouth, looked at his sons, and interrupted Earl's angry mutterings, "Enough! They'll be comin' in any time now." Earl stopped and turned back. "Just take the damn picture, Sandy," Pops ordered.
"I've almost got it, Pops," Sandy assured. He lowered a tripod leg to make the camera level.
"I don't see why we have to take this picture now anyway," Earl grumbled, "I've got work to do."
Sandy looked at him patiently and said, "If we don't do it now, we won't have another chance to record things the way they are."
"It's not how they'll be tomorrow, so there's no point in hanging onto it," Earl countered.
Pops mused, "Just 'cuz we're closing don't mean this place ain't a part of our history. That's worth hanging onto." Sandy looked at his father and nodded appreciatively. Pops resumed, addressing Sandy, "Earl ain't wrong though. You've got to get the rest of those chairs downstairs before the movers come, so let's get this done."
Pops put his pipe back in his mouth, and the room was quiet except for the wood floor creaking beneath Sandy's feet as he got into position and the crackle of the flash.
tags: Mystery+Hotel+Meme, creative+writing
Earl scowled at Sandy and said, "It's too hot in here."
"Well, you look like a damn fool," Sandy explained while focusing the lens of the camera.
"You shoulda taken this picture in January then," Earl argued.
"Why? You weren't a damn fool back then?" Sandy retorted. He had always had a knack for setting off his older brother. Earl fumed and strode across the room; Sandy retreated behind the camera for protection.
Pops pulled his pipe out of his mouth, looked at his sons, and interrupted Earl's angry mutterings, "Enough! They'll be comin' in any time now." Earl stopped and turned back. "Just take the damn picture, Sandy," Pops ordered.
"I've almost got it, Pops," Sandy assured. He lowered a tripod leg to make the camera level.
"I don't see why we have to take this picture now anyway," Earl grumbled, "I've got work to do."
Sandy looked at him patiently and said, "If we don't do it now, we won't have another chance to record things the way they are."
"It's not how they'll be tomorrow, so there's no point in hanging onto it," Earl countered.
Pops mused, "Just 'cuz we're closing don't mean this place ain't a part of our history. That's worth hanging onto." Sandy looked at his father and nodded appreciatively. Pops resumed, addressing Sandy, "Earl ain't wrong though. You've got to get the rest of those chairs downstairs before the movers come, so let's get this done."
Pops put his pipe back in his mouth, and the room was quiet except for the wood floor creaking beneath Sandy's feet as he got into position and the crackle of the flash.
tags: Mystery+Hotel+Meme, creative+writing
04 April 2006
Friends in high places
A couple of months ago, an old friend called to tell me my favorite mystery author had a new book coming out. She left the message with my dad. He scrawled the title on a scrap but then couldn't read his own hand writing. Neither could I. Something like "The Golden Finger" he thought.
Today I got word that Tomb of the Golden Bird is out, and my library connection is going to hook me up with it tomorrow a little *ahem* ahead of everyone else.
Actually it's possible that my mom just ordered a copy for me and I'm in no way jumping the queue, but for now I'll relish in a little mischief.
*UPDATE* Our library hookup forgot to order us a personal copy, so I do have the library's book sitting next to me right now. I better start reading...
tags: Elizabeth+Peters, Tomb+of+the+Golden+Bird, cutting+in+line
Today I got word that Tomb of the Golden Bird is out, and my library connection is going to hook me up with it tomorrow a little *ahem* ahead of everyone else.
Actually it's possible that my mom just ordered a copy for me and I'm in no way jumping the queue, but for now I'll relish in a little mischief.
*UPDATE* Our library hookup forgot to order us a personal copy, so I do have the library's book sitting next to me right now. I better start reading...
tags: Elizabeth+Peters, Tomb+of+the+Golden+Bird, cutting+in+line
You'd never know...
...by looking outside right now that it'd been snowing most of today. The accumulation has melted, the sun is shining with a few white clouds drifting across the sky blue.
tag: weather
tag: weather
One
It's official: TTaT is one today. I had lots of musings on this accomplishment last week, but they've faded from memory in the course of recent events. Perhaps they'll come back to me in the PM, or you'll forgive me if I decide to indulge myself some days hence.My thanks to everyone who's been reading.
tag: blog+anniversary
03 April 2006
Well, at least my brakes work
Today's just not going well overall. It's chilly, dark, and rainy, the type of day you'd rather not go out, but tomorrow is supposed to be worse with rain and snow.
Sifted through a whole section of cliche-ridden condolence cards covered with birds and flowers until I found one with a bolder design and words that didn't make me cringe. I sat in the parking lot copying out the message I'd composed last night and addressing the envelope. My plan had been to get the card and mail it before my dentist appointment, but time was running short and even if there was no line at the post office, I'd probably be late for the dentist.
Of course, when I got to the dentist my hygienist was running late, and I would've had plenty of time. And then breaking a six year streak, I have two small cavities and have to go back.
Mailed my letter and then picked up a shower liner and some photo album refill pages before heading home. Took the back way in hopes of seeing some pygmy goats.
Then I watched an SUV on a side road approaching mine, and I could just feel that he wasn't going to stop. I was right, mostly. He did stop, but only after he was covering more than half of my lane.
I opted to stop. I just wasn't feeling the adrenaline rush and clarity to whip around him over a double yellow line on a rise I couldn't see over. The hair he had left was thin and grey. He was probably in his late 50s or 60s. He raised his left arm in a sort of shrug gesture that annoyed me. Not a mea culpa, more of a "why didn't you just pull around me?" or "whatever" dismissive gesture. He backed up and I drove past him. He seemed oblivious to the danger; I would've driven straight into him personally if I hadn't been able to stop.
Saw a few ponies, but the goats weren't out.
Felt very much like it was a day that would've been better if I'd been able to stay in. Approached the garage in relief thinking, "At least I made it home," and then cursing myself for thinking it because I wasn't actually in the garage yet with my car off.
Within a few minutes managed to upset my mom while talking about the stupidest of things, the shower liner I'd just bought. I should've started with mentioning the condolence cards as a way to segue and mention Q's father's death, but I felt like warming up, if you will, and had blown the chance before I could get any further. I just wasn't in the mood to explain. I'd already made it clear I was having a bad day with the cavities and near accident, so I'm feeling entitled to some slack I'm not getting.
sigh.
I have some new things in mind for ttat, but I'm feeling... sidetracked.
And like I want a nap.
Sifted through a whole section of cliche-ridden condolence cards covered with birds and flowers until I found one with a bolder design and words that didn't make me cringe. I sat in the parking lot copying out the message I'd composed last night and addressing the envelope. My plan had been to get the card and mail it before my dentist appointment, but time was running short and even if there was no line at the post office, I'd probably be late for the dentist.
Of course, when I got to the dentist my hygienist was running late, and I would've had plenty of time. And then breaking a six year streak, I have two small cavities and have to go back.
Mailed my letter and then picked up a shower liner and some photo album refill pages before heading home. Took the back way in hopes of seeing some pygmy goats.
Then I watched an SUV on a side road approaching mine, and I could just feel that he wasn't going to stop. I was right, mostly. He did stop, but only after he was covering more than half of my lane.
I opted to stop. I just wasn't feeling the adrenaline rush and clarity to whip around him over a double yellow line on a rise I couldn't see over. The hair he had left was thin and grey. He was probably in his late 50s or 60s. He raised his left arm in a sort of shrug gesture that annoyed me. Not a mea culpa, more of a "why didn't you just pull around me?" or "whatever" dismissive gesture. He backed up and I drove past him. He seemed oblivious to the danger; I would've driven straight into him personally if I hadn't been able to stop.
Saw a few ponies, but the goats weren't out.
Felt very much like it was a day that would've been better if I'd been able to stay in. Approached the garage in relief thinking, "At least I made it home," and then cursing myself for thinking it because I wasn't actually in the garage yet with my car off.
Within a few minutes managed to upset my mom while talking about the stupidest of things, the shower liner I'd just bought. I should've started with mentioning the condolence cards as a way to segue and mention Q's father's death, but I felt like warming up, if you will, and had blown the chance before I could get any further. I just wasn't in the mood to explain. I'd already made it clear I was having a bad day with the cavities and near accident, so I'm feeling entitled to some slack I'm not getting.
sigh.
I have some new things in mind for ttat, but I'm feeling... sidetracked.
And like I want a nap.
02 April 2006
This is no time for faux-pas
One of my dearest friends' father just passed away. It was not without warning, but I find myself feeling acutely unprepared. Q was able to be there which means he's halfway around the world right now. It never occurred to me to ask if his family observes any customs particular to his country after the death of a loved one, if there's anything friends of the family normally do. It's not like there ever would've been a good time to ask such things, I'm just wishing I already knew the answers.
It just clarifies what I don't know about his family, like if his mother reads English or what his other brother's name is (I knew them both once but have forgotten the elder's). These concerns are trivial in the scheme of things, I realize; I just don't want to make things any harder for Q by doing or asking anything inappropriate.
In revising that last phrase, it became ridiculous somehow. I am not so inept and he would understand if there's cultural stuff with which I'm unfamiliar. I just want to be thoughtful and considerate, and I wish I was able to be there more for him.
What I need to do is look up what precisely the obscene time difference is and figure out what to do with the extra numbers in an international phone number.
tags: condolence+etiquette, foreign+customs
It just clarifies what I don't know about his family, like if his mother reads English or what his other brother's name is (I knew them both once but have forgotten the elder's). These concerns are trivial in the scheme of things, I realize; I just don't want to make things any harder for Q by doing or asking anything inappropriate.
In revising that last phrase, it became ridiculous somehow. I am not so inept and he would understand if there's cultural stuff with which I'm unfamiliar. I just want to be thoughtful and considerate, and I wish I was able to be there more for him.
What I need to do is look up what precisely the obscene time difference is and figure out what to do with the extra numbers in an international phone number.
tags: condolence+etiquette, foreign+customs
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