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Posts Tagged ‘Thoughts’

How Do People Get New Ideas?

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 14, 2014| 2 Comments »

 

Like many of you I’m doing NaNoWriMo and as such I am more than usually interested in questions of creativity and how to help it along. The following is from an essay in MIT’s Technology Review by Isaac Asimov, in which he asks that most fundamental of questions, “How Do People Get New Ideas?”

… what is needed is not only people with a good background in a particular field, but also people capable of making a connection between item 1 and item 2 which might not ordinarily seem connected… Making the cross-connection requires a certain daring.

And so to you I say (with a nod to Theodore Roosevelt), dare greatly!

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What Kids Eat for Breakfast

Posted in Food and..., Writing, tagged , , , , on October 24, 2014| 1 Comment »

When I meet someone new, especially if they are from another culture or country, I like to ask what they eat at home. It’s a simple yet often intriguing question, with the potential to upend basic assumptions while also opening a door onto the experience of another life.

In that spirit, I was fascinated to come across this New York Times Magazine article on what kids eat for breakfast. Sounds dull? Nay, say I. The article and accompanying photos provide an engaging glimpse into one of the most basic facets of our lives: breakfast.

Children begin to acquire a taste for pickled egg or fermented lentils early — in the womb, even.

How do we start the day? What do parents consider appropriate fuel for their children? How do those choices reflect their economic realities, historical trends, and geographic locations? Their societies?

The child in Japan eats much different food than the child in Holland or Turkey. Which looks best to you, and why? There is such variety in the food described, and of course this only scratches the surface. It’s the sort of thing I try to keep in mind when I’m writing. My breakfast is not necessarily your breakfast, especially if “you” grew up on Mars.

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The Gender Politics of Pockets

Posted in Food and..., Other, tagged , , , , , , , , on October 3, 2014| 3 Comments »

This!
The Gender Politics of Pockets by Tanya Basu.

Conditions are ripe for a revolution in pockets for women…

Go ahead and laugh if you like, but if you do I will argue that (imho) you are probably male. In my experience men often don’t realize that women’s pockets can be a total sham. This is why I liberated my father’s 1960s suit from the back of his closet in my teenage years (well, that and my flings with Vespas and British ska). This is why I adore the idea of Saint Harridan‘s suits for women (inside pockets ftw, people!). This is why I spent a not-insignificant amount at my local tailor to have the front pockets in my new jeans boosted to adult size. Yes, I do want to carry more than a tube of lip gloss in there. Crazy talk, I know!

I don’t use a purse.* You wouldn’t either if you spent as much time as I do thinking about disasters and alien invasions and the zombie apocalypse. When that sort of thing happens you just have to run, you know? Can’t be stopping to find your designer bag. And then what? You’re out in the forest with no phone or money or credit cards or keys or hair band (don’t even get me started on women and hair in action movies**). If I must carry larger items I go for the backpack. (And yes, I two-strap it:)

Addendum: For those of you who want more on the long history (and sad demise) of women’s pockets, check out this useful Marketplace article on the subject: Why women’s pockets are useless: A history. Thanks to my mother, who remembers having similar thoughts 40 years ago, for the link.

* I find them a hassle, easy to forget in inconvenient places, tough on the shoulders, and prone to removal by passing ne’er-do-wells. Although I do like saying “ne’er-do-wells.”
** I’ll just mention that when Sarah Connor tied back her hair in Terminator 2, I cheered. Honestly, have these people never tried to fire a rifle on a windy day with long hair? Not recommended.

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Fifty Thoughts on Writing

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on October 2, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Here’s another great piece of writing advice, this time from prolific and award-winning author Seanan McGuire. She gives us 50, yes, fifty thoughts on writing, some on the act of writing and some on being a writer. It’s a useful list. Let’s just say she had me at “You’re going to suck when you start.”
🙂

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Cover Letters: The Story Stands or Falls on Its Own

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on October 1, 2014| Leave a Comment »

If you have ever had questions about how to introduce your submission, I recommend The Occult Wisdom of Cover Letters by Helena Bell. It’s extensive, covers a great many details that only come up when you are ready to submit at 4:13 a.m. and have no one to ask, and is funny besides.

Essentially, her advice boils down to “the story stands or falls on its own” so keep it short and simple. Also, I recommend paying special attention to the appendix of “terrible things.” Avoid!

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Attention

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , on September 19, 2014| Leave a Comment »

So I’m chatting with my mother and somehow the topic of her graduate work comes up. Next thing I know we’re discussing linguistics, theories of form, elegance as a measure of validity, and how it’s possible to learn a language in a weekend (if you’re awesome, like my mom).

Not that I needed it with her, but it was a great reminder that everyone is interesting, everyone is complex and multi-layered and experienced in some way. Given the press of time and the tyranny of labels, it can be too easy to let this drift to the background. Mother, neighbor, mail carrier, teacher, gas station attendant. They are these things, yes. And much more.

Liking a person has less to do with it than you might think. The man who throws a huge stack of newspaper advertising against my front door every week, where it lands with a loud bang? His limp tells me he may not just be doing it to be annoying.

Everyone has a story. It’s important not to forget it, especially if you are a writer.

Pay attention. It’s all about paying attention. Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager.”
― Susan Sontag

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Something Nice

Posted in Other, tagged , , on September 15, 2014| Leave a Comment »

I did a good deed today. No need to get into specifics, but let’s just say that it involved a banking error of no inconsiderable size. I expect it will make several people’s lives easier and that felt good. And hey, doing for others is one key to happiness. I recommend it:)

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Do More

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on September 11, 2014| 1 Comment »

My motto for today is “Do More.”

That’s it. Simple and easy to wrap one’s head around, if not always to put into practice. Having a goal helps me focus. Making it straightforward brings me all the positive feedback of accomplishment without the tedious “Holy crap, I can’t do this” of a more difficult challenge.

“Self,” I say to myself, “you are doing more and that is awesome. Let’s keep it up.”

Does a dead-simple productivity hack like this work for me? I am happy to report that so far the answer is yes. I’ve edited one story, submitted another, brainstormed a third, worked out and also done non-writing work. I’ve made what I consider not-bad progress. Here’s hoping that whatever it is you’re working on, you have too.

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Why Not?

Posted in Likes, tagged , , , , , , , , on September 9, 2014| 1 Comment »

 Life, a good life, a great life is about “Why not?” May we never forget it.

— Danielle Steel

 

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Keys to the Universe

Posted in Likes, Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on August 20, 2014| 1 Comment »

The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man.
― T.S. Eliot
I’ve just discovered a lovely series by NPR on libraries. It’s ongoing but there are already close to a dozen pieces on the role libraries play in society, how they are transforming to meet new needs (disaster preparedness, anyone?) and the challenges they face in this new century.
Also, I had no idea that not all states supported public libraries. Srsly?

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