As a writing specialist, I occasionally tear my hair out reading bad blog posts. More often I just read and tweet about good ones though, because I’ve stopped reading the poorly written ones by the second sentence. But then I eventually write a “make your blog posts better” tip. Here’s one: Don’t ramble. A lot…
Category: Writing
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To Be a Storyteller
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The #reverb10 final prompt from Molly O’Neill asked “What is your core story?” Being a huge fan of The Moth, and Eddie Izzard, and loving to hear people rattle off stories about their hilarious trip here and there — and being a writer naturally — I am perplexed and in awe of storytellers. I can…
#reverb10, Day 29: Tearing Down Walls
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A combination of the day 29 prompt (Defining Moment: Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year) and my decision to finally read “Eat. Pray. Love” made me realize what my defining moment of the year was. My old friend, JD, came out to visit and to work…
#reverb10 Day 28: Achieve is a Dirty Word.
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Fuck I hate that word. So there in my email is a simply GORGEOUS woman smiling at me and underneath her is the prompt for the day and it just so happens to be one of single words in the English language that I hate more than any other. ACHEIVE. Ergh. How does it make…
#reverb10 Day 27: The Ordinary Joy of Friends
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On Day 27 of #reverb10, Brene Brown asked: What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year? My moment was an accumulation of split-second realizations: each about the same and exquisitely lovely. They were those moments when you are looking into the eyes of someone and you suddenly see the glimmer of returned…
What it Reveals
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#reverb10 prompt for 12/25: Photo – a present to yourself. Sift through all the photos of you from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words. Share the image, who shot it, where,…
Future Self: Don’t Be Such a Bitch
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Dear Future Self, I hope you realize that not EVERYONE is as lucky as you are to be a highly successful author of four best-selling books. I hope you remember that even though you have EVERYTHING YOU DESIRE, that many other people still have barely what they need. I hope you know that achieving ONE…
To Be of Use: Beyond Making Do
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Here’s a tandem response today: integrating #Reverb10’s Day 13 prompt on “Action,” asking “What’s your next step?” with my dovetailed thoughts to Tara’s question posed to us: “Why do you make?” (I am going to put aside for now the fact that when I nannied in 1989, the family used the word “make” as euphemism…
On Not Walking
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Walking is joy. I love walking like I love Ira Glass and peanut butter cups. I am surprised that since I moved back to America from London, that I have given it up. Just basically decided that even though it is one of my favorite things to do in the world, I am not even…
1 + 10 = More Real Me in 2011
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Day 11, #Reverb10 Prompt: What are 11 things your life doesn’t need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? (Thanks Sam Davidson!) The one thing I know I can get rid of in 2011 is living up to others expectations of me. This is assuming, of course, that those expectations are real. Perhaps…
“Your Life’s Work of Art has Already Begun”
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Day 10, #Reverb10 Prompt: Wisdom. What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out? (Thanks, Susannah Conway!) “To create a work of art you’re proud of, step back on occasion, ask for feedback, paint over, change directions, and switch your medium. Just don’t wait to begin to paint, don’t…
Parties: Math Made Fun!
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Day 9, #reverb 10: Party.What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? (Thanks, Shauna Reid) Here’s the best party advice I ever learned: Never –ever– hang your invite up on a wall. Parties are simple mathematical equations. They are algebra. On one side of the = sign is everything you need for the party:…
Inside the Wall, Inside the Funhouse
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#reverb10 Day 7 Prompt: Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011? (Thanks, Cali Harris). You know what is funny? The Muppets covering Queen. You know what else is funny? Crossword puzzles. Here’s something else: transvestite tips…
It Takes a (Christmas) Village?
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#Reverb Day 6 Prompt: Make: What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it? (Thanks, Gretchen Rubin) I made cookies (seen pictured), 500 or so of them for a church fundraiser. Well, actually I just rolled…
No One is Looking: On Letting Go
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So I continue to take part in #Reverb10, a 31-day write-in. Here’s today’s post. Day 5 Prompt: Let Go. What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why? (Thanks, Alice.) This year, I let go of Kevin. Kevin is the name of the man I really and truly fell in love with in…
