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Quote by Dreamcatcher
You two need to dance.. not fight.. here ya' go...



we lost it? lol

Not sure we ever had it, Larry.

Traveling the good old US of A and NOT having to worry about bed bugs.

This is why I don't like travel much now. Fear of getting bed bugs!!
Getting your own condiments at certain places.

Now you have to ask for salt, sugar, pepper, creamer, to go ketchup packets, ect.at certain fast food places.

Yeah, I need 6 creamers and a bunch of sugars for my coffee, cheapskates.
free meals and alcohol on flights. Yep, you used to get them for free, folks.

and more legroom. Now it's like sardines in a can.
I guess you'd know all about that Andy.

There's a difference in being alone and being lonely.

I love to be alone. I don't need permission from anyone to do anything.
I can do what I want to, when I want.

The question is, are you comfortable in your own skin?


Do I get lonely sometimes? Yes.

There is nothing wrong with either of these things. I'm sure most have felt some or both at one time or all the time.

If you feel really stuck, then seeking support or help might help you.

From your friends or a professional.

I seemed to pick all the wrong guys to date when I was younger.

I still love doing things on my own, whether it's shopping, concerts, a movie, dining out, ect..

Those are fun to do with friends when they can join me too.

(I used to travel on my own..tip:never get drunk on Amtrak...lmao.)
Quote by Circle_Something
Quote by authorised1960
Quite some years ago when the following poem was published in a small-circulation magazine, it caused quite a stir...

Easter

Jesus rose, yawned
Shrugged off his shroud
And reached for a
Cadbury's Creme Egg

(How do you eat yours?)

I was accused of being disrespectful to Christians and of blasphemy, both of whch are nonsense. My intention was an anti-commercialisation message about Easter - the "How Do You Eat Yours" slogan was a big advertising campaign at the time - but very few actually saw it as that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYLXe3LH33M&feature=player_detailpage



I'm not siding with them, but the poem is actually blasphemous. If you look at the meaning of blasphemy (From Wikipedia: Blasphemy is the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God, to religious or holy persons or things, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable), you're taking the Mick from the Lord, so yeah, it is blasphemous. For what it's worth, I actually quite like that wee poem. It may not have been your intention to blaspheme, but devout folk do tend to take things a wee bit too literally. Personally, I think levity and religion need to go hand in hand, but this forum is not really the proper venue for such heavy discussions.


You can say that again! I have learned my lesson...

Actually you have it wrong: I have not ripped into religion: the piss-take is of the Creme Egg and it lack of relevance to the Ressurection... The only thing I have 'blasphemed' about is knocking the 'religion' of the Mighty Dollar.

The poem is a dig at Cadbury's and all the commercial organisations who profit from Easter. If you place the the heaviest accent on the word 'how' it gives the poem it's proper context, as "How the hell can you eat chocolate". Laid plainly on paper (so to speak) it's impossible to get that across.

It's amazing how much upset just fourteen words can cause. However, I stand by the poem: it says what I meant it to say. Like everything even mildly contentious, it's open to individual interpretation. I would not have it any other way.
Quote by magnificent1rascal
How do you name your characters? Do their names just come to you, or do you agonize over the decision?

How much and what type of research do you do when selecting names?

Has a name chosen early in the writing ever influenced your decisions about a character's behavior later in the story?

Have you renamed characters after you get to know them better, even if you're well into the story?

Have you ever renamed or wanted to rename characters after publication?


I personally think that a character's name is one of the most important elements of the story. I cannot, for instance, imagine having a Superhero named Cecil Larkspur (cool sounding name, nonetheless ) where I can imagine having his real name as something like Scott Cartwright.

I do agonise over names - the two examples just used didn't just 'come' to me - and, yes, I have used a name all the way through a story as I've been writing it only to change it on re-read or during the editing process. If a names 'jars' when you read it in the text of the story, there is probably something not right about it.

I do think character names influence - though not dictate - how that character behaves in the story. Using my two examples above, I could not see dear ol' Cecil jumping in to save the day if a crisis loomed, whereas Scott would be there like a shot, a la Bruce Willis in the Die Hard movies

I tend to shy away from using real names for the simple reason that that person's personality traits, quirks and faults may end up in my story, albeit unintentionally. My characters are all original and newly formed from the cess-pit of my imagination

I have crreated names I love and some I am not so keen on in retrospect -- but not enough to go back and completely change them. My biggest naming error is in my three-part story "The Trials of Adam Gurney". I dislike the title (always have) and dislike the surname of Adam and his dad. I changed it once --then changed it back again! It's been with me so long that story I'm kinda fond of its imperfections.
Quote by rolandlytle
I think of my characters as real people. I will figure out a complete personality profile for any character. The more important the character is the more extensive the profile.


I do a smiliar thing, Roland. I try to make my characters as real and as believable as possible so that readers can relate to them.

Quote by rolandlytle
I know it sounds strange , but I talk with my characters (mentally, not out loud) and let them tell me what they will do.


Not at all strange! As I'm writing I 'am' my character: I speak, act and think as that person as I type, inhabiting them as they develop on the page. Personally, I don't think any writer can give any character depth and round it out unless they know that character as well as they know theirself. There is nothing more disappointing than having a fair to good story populated by "cardbard cut-out" uninteresting characters. It takes away a lot of the enjoyment of reading the story for me.
Quite some years ago when the following poem was published in a small-circulation magazine, it caused quite a stir...

Easter

Jesus rose, yawned
Shrugged off his shroud
And reached for a
Cadbury's Creme Egg

(How do you eat yours?)

I was accused of being disrespectful to Christians and of blasphemy, both of whch are nonsense. My intention was an anti-commercialisation message about Easter - the "How Do You Eat Yours" slogan was a big advertising campaign at the time - but very few actually saw it as that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYLXe3LH33M&feature=player_detailpage
Quote by DirtyMartini
Damn snow is falling,
Inside I will be staying.
Weather's appalling.


A fresh air phobic?
your lungs must be moth-eaten
and full of stale air
I am not a cat-lover by any means but, damn, this is too cute to resist


Quote by DirtyMartini
Not in the mood to write a limerick,
Just the thought of it is making me sick,
So I'll just type some random crap,
Then go back to taking a nap,
And just get this thing over real quick.


Your drivel is exceptionally bad
It actually makes me quite sad
Keep posting on the thread
You'll kill it stone dead
Will that leave you upset or glad?
Being an ass must be the most boring past-time in the world - unless you have the mental stamina to keep persisting at it against all logic and common-sense.

Just an idle thought
Quote by rolandlytle
It is common for me to do 5-10 rewrites of a piece before I submit it.


If I may say so, Roland, I think there lays your problem.

There is being self-critical, which is good; there is being hyper-critical, which is okay, then there is striving for pure perfection, which is unrealistic. Pretty-much every author ever publish will admit to finding fault in the published work.

It's the nature of this beast we call writing: we are never gonna be 100% satisfied with everything we produce. Personally (I would not presume to speak for anybody else) I try to find a happy medium between what I wanted to produce and what I actually produce. If there is a close correlation between the two then I'll accept that.

Sometimes - but rarely - one just has to admit that, no matter how many times you rework a piece, it just isn't going to come together and admit defeat.
Quote by Rebellious_Soul
Oh look it's snowing.
Can you hear the wind blowing,
Lets just stay inside.



This is cute - just like the composer


do not take offence
at a compliment that is
said to make you smile
Quote by Starfallfantasy
I believe if you felt nothing for your characters then you are either heartless, or your characters need more soul. If you feel nothing for anyone in your story how could you expect readers to feel for them? Just my opinion on the subject smile


Absolutely right!
Bad limericks - all bad poetry -
Is sheer anathema to me
you know that you should
do the best you could
if only for functionality!

That's a not-good limerick, too
Quote by DirtyMartini
Quote by authorised1960


I have always liked the idea of calling my book Look Through Any Window because the stuff I write mainly involves people and things that go on behind closed doors.



Not a bad title...just reminds me of a Hollies song...and btw, if you do plan any sort of writing career in earnest, you might want to think of more than one title...just sayin'


you got it in one

The line goes (from memory)

"Look through any window, what do you see?
Smiling faces all around, rushing through the busy town"

I have always liked the implication of that first line... It suggests all kinds of secrets and goings-on (to me, anyway! )
Mine would be "You can't handle my truth" because it would be about a girl who tells you the real truth of her life.

Rebs should now what I'm talking about.
My cat, I love you.
You're my heart and soul, kitty.
Angel from above.


My one true love is
Coffee. I drink you until
I'm fully sated.