13 Thursday: Write Up My Alley
1. Whenever I’m given a writing assignment, I feel like Rumplestilskin being asked to spin straw into gold. At first it feels impossible that I will ever be able to create something out of nothing, but sometimes and somehow I do.
2. I was asked to write stories for a women’s magazine insert in regional newspapers after the editor saw some pieces I did for The Floyd Press. I had hoped this meant I could write about women minorities, activists, and eccentrics but the theme for the next issue is “skin care.”
3. There will be some free facials, manicures, and pedicures involved.
4. Years ago the Appalachian Women’s Alliance met here in Floyd and hosted a poetry reading at Oddfellas Cantina, back when it was under the management of the couple who now run FloydFest. I signed up for a spot to read, but the crowd was noisy and busy eating. When it was my turn, I got up on the stage, leaned into the mic, and said loudly, “Let’s talk about sex.” Everyone dropped their forks and their jaws and the room got quiet. I read THIS poem.
5. Three dentist appointments and one tooth infection later, I guess I’m glad August is over.
6. September highlights won’t only be the free facials and manicures I’m getting. Dave Matthews and John Mayer are also on the schedule. They and others are doing a free concert for Virginia Tech students and staff in support of the school. Because my husband helped with counseling after the shootings, he was able to get us tickets. NOTE: POST WITH PHOTOS AND VIDEO OF THE CONCERT COMING UP NEXT.
7. TomFoolery: Tom Ryan, who spoofs Floyd on an irregular basis, says he recently got a call from Hollywood. According to Ryan, Tom Hanks wants to play him in a movie about “the pathos and bathos inherent in (his) multiple marriages and their seemingly inevitable failures.” Due out this fall, the name of the movie is “Saving Ryan’s Privates.” More of Tom’s latest HERE.
8. Tom has reported in his most current Floyd Enquirer, The Floyd Press front page stories on July 5th included: Roaming Skunks Become Big Problem on Main Street,” and “Storm Interrupts Yard Sale.”
9. Believe it or not, writing foster care quarterly reports for the state for eight years helped me to be a better writer. In them I had to review what took place in a brief and cohesive way, outline where there was progress, report any drama and cite what was done to address it, while mixing in direct quotes from the client; all the elements that make for good story telling.
10. My mother was a waitress who never wrote orders down. I like to do stories the same way. If I pull out a pad and start taking notes, everyone starts acting different, including me.
11. Yesterday I did an interview with a young woman who sells Mary Kay. As soon as we sat down and she said, “What kind of skin do you think you have; normal, dry, or oily?” I laughed and said, “Oh, I have a few questions for you too.”
12. Scientific objectivity goes on the premise that the scientist is separate from the object of his or her study. But Quantum Physics tells us that everything is connected as a whole and that you can’t study anything without affecting it.
13. Potters Who Aren’t Named Harry: Did you hear about how my Asheville Potter Son, Josh, got addicted to Harry Potter books and read six of them back to back in two weeks? Details about his recovery HERE. The movie is HERE.
Thursday headquarters is here. My other 13’s are here. View more 13 Thursday’s here.
September 6th, 2007 9:29 am
Cool list. Thanks for letting us get to know you better!
September 6th, 2007 9:30 am
I completely sympathize with having to write about things you don’t necessarily want to – I write web copy for a marketing firm, much of which is articles for distribution, and write now it’s all about cars, which is fine, except sometimes they forget that I’m not actually an auto enthusiast.
Great T13. Lovely to “meet” you.
September 6th, 2007 9:55 am
Mmmmm… John Meyer. “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” was on heavy rotation for me last month. Thx for stopping by!
September 6th, 2007 10:05 am
I think that’s why I liked Harry Potter so much…from Lord of the Rings 🙂
September 6th, 2007 10:06 am
I like having a specific topic and restrictions in a writing assignment. I’m more scared of “just write about something” more difficult then “write 500 words on [blank].” Sorry to hear that your son caught the Harry Potter bug, but he’s in good company.
September 6th, 2007 10:24 am
Excellent poem!
September 6th, 2007 10:55 am
Love your ‘shame’ poem! It looks like the two of you were having a great time. Good luck on you women’s magazine articles, I am sure they will be a HIT.
September 6th, 2007 11:09 am
Got their attention with “Let’s talk about sex,” huh? I love the poem that followed, and you and Mara work so well together. I’m not playing the shame game, either.
September 6th, 2007 11:18 am
i’m SOOO jealous of #6! i love dave matthews and john mayer ain’t bad, either. 🙂
i had to write daily ‘progress reports’ for my charges at the group home and school i used to work at. it could be a pain at the end of a long day, but i like your perspective on it….. the fact that it was good practice.
September 6th, 2007 11:24 am
bluemountainmama, I’ll think of you tonight and try to get some photos and maybe a camera video clip.
September 6th, 2007 11:24 am
It IS hard to write about stuff you’re not all that interested in. I have to do it frequently and sometimes it is a royal pain in the … well, you know. But life is not a bowl of pudding, I guess.
September 6th, 2007 12:09 pm
What bothers me is that – even though “skin care” is important! – women’s magazines degrade women by assuming all that interests them is skin care, or fashion, or recipes, etc. Why not more intellectual topics? But of course, I know the answer – sales!
I like your attitude in #9.
September 6th, 2007 12:12 pm
Great list! Enjoy John Mayer. I hate watching him sing, but his voice is fabulous. 🙂
Happy TT!
September 6th, 2007 12:26 pm
I can’t help but agree with your comment at my blog.
September 6th, 2007 1:01 pm
I live for 13 Thursdays and wish I was tecno enough to do all that linking , though I could not get the Tom one – loved the Sahme game .. sandy
September 6th, 2007 1:18 pm
Such a glamorous life writers have! Skin is our largest organ, so you will certainly have a lot of territory to cover.
Today I’ve got 13 tips for dads. http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/2007/09/thursday-thirteen-13-communication-tips.html
September 6th, 2007 1:23 pm
I loved that poem and loved seeing you and your friend in YouTube!! Glad you are done with dentist appointments for the time being, I have to go in next month (and I am not looking forward to it!)
By the way: I am reading Potter. Yes, Harry 🙂
Book nr 2 is currently on my coffee table.
September 6th, 2007 1:26 pm
Love the shame poem! We saw John Mayer last month in Nashville. You are in for a treat! Not only is he super sexy, his music is amazing!
September 6th, 2007 2:05 pm
What a neat list — very interesting, and good luck with all the writing you’re doing, that’s fantastic! And I’m glad your dentist appointments are over, too.
Happy T13, and thanks for visiting mine!
September 6th, 2007 3:23 pm
#1 is a really great description of the problem of starting writing which is why I always start with some notes scrawled on envelopes, sheets of paper or anything else.
September 6th, 2007 3:52 pm
SO cool that you get to see John and Dave. I hope they raise a lot of money and awareness.
I am so excited about your new writing gig. I LOVE facials and manicures and pedicures. Can you squeeze in a massage as well?
September 6th, 2007 5:06 pm
I like your TT……….but I am jealous too, of it all especially you and Mara reading the poem.
September 6th, 2007 6:01 pm
You should have a great time at the concerts.
I used to write IEPs and always tried to make them as concise as possible without leaving out anything important, always a challenge.
Loved your intro to the poem!
September 6th, 2007 11:00 pm
You couldn’t work in skin of an eccentric activist?!!
Are you ready for steak yet?
Writing report cards forced me to become a better writer too.
September 6th, 2007 11:32 pm
Great TT as always, Colleen…Sorry I haven’t been around…Still very lethargic from that dreadful heat we have had…They say it may be coming back on the weekend…OY!
Floyd is just about the most interesting place I have ever encountered, considering it is small…I mean it is not like NYC! The amount of talented people living in the area is astounding!
September 6th, 2007 11:51 pm
The concerts were great. Joe and I are in a bar now. The band is singing this: It takes a worried man to write a worried song. I’m worried now, but I won’t be worried for long.
Greek pizza and dark beer. We rode our bikes over here. Who knew Dave Matthews dances like James Brown flatfooting?
September 7th, 2007 8:16 am
i came over to see how the concert went and saw your last comment. 🙂
lucky you!
September 7th, 2007 10:54 am
I can totally relate to the comment about writing stories on a pad. I find that I really want to purchase one of those voice recorders you can take in the car because inevitable I get idea, whole sentences, etc. while I am driving but if I write them down later they are never as good.
As for Josh, my sister can commiserate with him. She came to visit recently and started reading my set of HP. She is now on or finished the 6th one. They’ve monopolized her days ever since the visit.
September 7th, 2007 3:33 pm
I’m afraid to open a Harry Potter book for that very reason.
I did try a voice recorder before but could not get used to having to find and re-find pieces of what I said, whereas with notes I can scan all of them in one place (If I can read my writing). Recorder might make people even more nervous.
Post on concert coming up next. I got photos and videos. A big show!
PS I was a little drunk when I wrote that last comment because I drank a beer on an empty stomach and hadn’t eaten in a long while.
September 8th, 2007 8:08 pm
My ex spent his childhood in foster care, and he didn’t dare to look at the reports until he was about 40. The care and exactness the writers took with them gave him back his childhood.
September 9th, 2007 3:22 pm
I go every 6 weeks for a vitamin peel facial…one that my sensitive skin can handle and I LOVE them! OMG they have really made my skin so much healthier and younger looking. I hope you enjoy yours! I had to take the less is more approach to skin care now that I hit my 40s…I found out I was over doing my skin and killing the glow by too much cleansing. Apparently makeup is not the only thing you have to change to adjust to different skin age levels. I threw out all my old cleansers and toners and things and in 6 months my skin is alive and well…again.
September 9th, 2007 8:17 pm
“Tom” is hilarious – I had never read him before…. I wish you could comment at his blog….
September 11th, 2007 9:57 pm
My friend Wendy just read all 7 Harry Potter books in about 4 weeks. They’re just that kind of story. Not the best writing, but darn good story-telling.
I enjoyed the shame poem. And couldn’t help thinking about the male version of the poem.
~S