Archives for February 2013
Write Right: Anxious or Eager
The other day, I read that someone was anxious to see Andrea Bocelli in concert. The word choice gave me pause. I only feel anxious when I have to see the dentist or the doctor. I do not feel anxious when I am going to see one of my favorite singers. I feel eager.
What to Do When the Well Runs Dry
The curse of the blank page is an actual phenomenon. You, the writer, come to the page, and nothing pours forth from your head or hands. You stare at the blinking cursor, and it stares back at you. You feel yourself diminish underneath the weight of its gaze. Your ideas, already a trickle, stop altogether. Your well runs dry. You wonder if the source of water has been depleted entirely or if it’s time to move onto a new well. You wonder a lot of things when faced with the blank page and the blinking cursor.
How to Judge Criticism
Criticism can be given for multiple reasons, but it generally can be divided into two camps of thought. The first is criticism that is for the writer’s benefit; that is, criticism that takes a person’s work to the next level and pushes him or her to reach that level. The second is to be dismissed, and it is to be dismissed immediately. It is the sort of criticism that is done for the sake of “poking holes.” It has no grace to it. It has no aim other than belittlement and a desire to prove who is better than whom.
Two Methods for Titling Blog Posts
When it comes to titles, two broad categories exist: descriptive and suggestive. Descriptive titles are what they say they are. They describe the topic of the post, and they do so clearly and succinctly. Suggestive titles are hooks; that is, they lure a reader into reading more either through a provocative statement, a particular attitude, or some sort of ambiguity.
Embrace Messiness
When I was a kid, my mom gave me motherly wisdom as most mothers do: “To have friends you have to be friendly; if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all; you have to get messy to make art.” All true statements and all not readily absorbed, especially the first and third ones. To the first, I was a shy kid who struggled to make friends, and, to the second, I hated to get messy. I loved art, but I hated to get paint or glue all over my hands. Perhaps I already was exhibiting an inclination toward perfectionism.