On my way to work, I was in the left hand lane and an endless line of cars was parallel parked. I saw something moving under the back end of car. It was shapeless and unrecognizable until a human head and shoulders and back became clear. It was a man getting into position to inspect under the car.
With traffic coming only inches from his head!
Aside from sheer stupidity, I had to wonder what would compel a man to take such a huge risk with his life.
The writing exercise is to write a story based on an image from real life or TV. That was real life and it'll be the basis of a short story.
So far, I like my notes on it, but I do need to interview some people from Ecuador and Guatemala to make it authentic. Ecuador will be easy since I know at least one person who escaped. Guatemala might not be. Writing about immigrants from two different countries may turn into too much backstory for something so short, but I can decide later.
Sometimes, writing is fun!
Make someone else's day magical!
Mackenzie
Monday, July 29, 2019
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLOG!
This blog is one year old, and I'm pleased that I've stuck with it.
My very first post, a poem about a bird breaking out of the safety of its shell because the bird had gotten too big to remain stuck inside it, got all of 28 views. (https://mackenzielittledalewrites.blogspot.com/2018/07/poetry-passarinho-little-bird.html)
Flash forward to my post of my favorite scene in my WIP - Joe and Michelle visiting a cemetery - that got over 500 views, and I'm pretty excited about the future prospects of my writing career.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for following. Thank you for the comments and feedback.
Writing is really a journey, one letter at a time.
Much love.
Make someone else's day magical!
Mackenzie
My very first post, a poem about a bird breaking out of the safety of its shell because the bird had gotten too big to remain stuck inside it, got all of 28 views. (https://mackenzielittledalewrites.blogspot.com/2018/07/poetry-passarinho-little-bird.html)
Flash forward to my post of my favorite scene in my WIP - Joe and Michelle visiting a cemetery - that got over 500 views, and I'm pretty excited about the future prospects of my writing career.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for following. Thank you for the comments and feedback.
Writing is really a journey, one letter at a time.
Much love.
Make someone else's day magical!
Mackenzie
RANDOM THOUGHT - Dominating self doubt and the inner critic
I've had this conversation a couple times with writers who struggle with mental health challenges. It's not limited to creatives. It's not limited to minds under duress.
SELF DOUBT takes up residency in the human mind. Every human mind. The question then, is how much real estate do we let Self Doubt take up rent free?
The conversation goes something like this:
Me: Okay, you're a writer. When you hear the voice of Self Doubt (or Inner Critic), what does she look like?
Other writer describes Self Doubt as herself, but elderly, schtooped over, wrinkly, raspy voice, maybe even cataracts in her eyes, demeaning, belittling.
Me: Excellent, you see her. If you go forward, Self Doubt says that's wrong. If you go to the right, she says that's wrong. If you go to the left, she criticizes that move too. If you stop and loop back, she doubts that too. What does Self Doubt want?
Other writer: I don't know. For me to stay right here?
Me: Exactly. Self Doubt is a miserable old has-been whose sole purpose is to DOUBT YOU, no matter what you do or which direction you choose. She feeds on your joy and confidence. If you listen to Self Doubt (or Inner Critic), you sit still, life passes you by and you become HER. Your vision winds up diminishing. Your back bends over. Your joints ache with every move. You shrivel up and life a half life.
Other writer: Oh my God!
Me: I've been in those dark lonely places with Self Doubt's voice. And sooner or later, I realized, hey, I'm ALIVE. I'm not ready to be buried under all this negativity.
Other writer: GIRL
Me: She's keeping you from writing, so let's just be where you're at right now. You need to get around SELF DOUBT the obstacle so you can get past her and get back to your writing. Make Self Doubt a character or monster or villain. What does she eat, since she's so evil? How does she smell? What does she wear? Write a protagonist to defeat her. Write a story where Self Doubt the villain gets what's coming to her, then go back to your writing project.
Other writer: Hangs up on me immediately and gets to it!
I fucking love this.
Back to the real estate in your psyche devoted to Self Doubt. Don't let that bitch squatter live extravagantly in your head at the expense of your joy and happiness. Shrink it down to size and let the real estate for your Self Confidence expand, lavishly.
Make someone else's day magical!
Mackenzie
#writersblock
#writerslife
#lifeofcreatives
#innercritic
#selfdoubt
#dominate
SELF DOUBT takes up residency in the human mind. Every human mind. The question then, is how much real estate do we let Self Doubt take up rent free?
The conversation goes something like this:
Me: Okay, you're a writer. When you hear the voice of Self Doubt (or Inner Critic), what does she look like?
Other writer describes Self Doubt as herself, but elderly, schtooped over, wrinkly, raspy voice, maybe even cataracts in her eyes, demeaning, belittling.
 |
| Photo: Shutterstock |
Me: Excellent, you see her. If you go forward, Self Doubt says that's wrong. If you go to the right, she says that's wrong. If you go to the left, she criticizes that move too. If you stop and loop back, she doubts that too. What does Self Doubt want?
Other writer: I don't know. For me to stay right here?
Me: Exactly. Self Doubt is a miserable old has-been whose sole purpose is to DOUBT YOU, no matter what you do or which direction you choose. She feeds on your joy and confidence. If you listen to Self Doubt (or Inner Critic), you sit still, life passes you by and you become HER. Your vision winds up diminishing. Your back bends over. Your joints ache with every move. You shrivel up and life a half life.
Other writer: Oh my God!
Me: I've been in those dark lonely places with Self Doubt's voice. And sooner or later, I realized, hey, I'm ALIVE. I'm not ready to be buried under all this negativity.
Other writer: GIRL
Me: She's keeping you from writing, so let's just be where you're at right now. You need to get around SELF DOUBT the obstacle so you can get past her and get back to your writing. Make Self Doubt a character or monster or villain. What does she eat, since she's so evil? How does she smell? What does she wear? Write a protagonist to defeat her. Write a story where Self Doubt the villain gets what's coming to her, then go back to your writing project.
Other writer: Hangs up on me immediately and gets to it!
I fucking love this.
Back to the real estate in your psyche devoted to Self Doubt. Don't let that bitch squatter live extravagantly in your head at the expense of your joy and happiness. Shrink it down to size and let the real estate for your Self Confidence expand, lavishly.
Make someone else's day magical!
Mackenzie
#writersblock
#writerslife
#lifeofcreatives
#innercritic
#selfdoubt
#dominate
On Writing - 2 wins
It's not for me to tell a writer why she writes. If she wants to be published or writes for her own enjoyment, the decision either way is solid and she validates it on her own terms.
For many years, I wrote for my own pleasure.
That changed.
I now write privately for my pleasure but also in hopes of being published.
I'm already published. One win for me!
An article I wrote based on an interview of a Somatic Bodyworker named Oscar Trujillo appears in Conscious Life Journal
http://mobilemagz.com/flipbooks/atlanta/beautyandhealth/consciouslifejournal/12.20.2018/21/
Fiction-wise, one of my #vss365 stories got accepted for inclusion in an upcoming anthology! Two wins for me!
I have a poem under consideration right now for an astrology related anthology and they should give word soon.
The MC of This Darkness is Mine, "Michelle Delphinia" wrote a compelling essay with a psychological and spiritual interpretation of The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz. I'm seeking a home for this essay in a university literary journal.
Before my short story can win a competition, I have to submit it. Before I submit it, I have to write it.
This is the writer's life. Not to be envied, and not to be taken lightly. We are a bit crazy, often solitary, but always searching for that word. Even though English is made up of roughly 40,000 words, sometimes even English leaves us flat, and we have to borrow from other languages for the perfect conveyance of meaning or feeling.
I love it!
Mackenzie
Make someone else's day magical!
#OnWriting
#Published
#WhatsNext
For many years, I wrote for my own pleasure.
That changed.
I now write privately for my pleasure but also in hopes of being published.
I'm already published. One win for me!
An article I wrote based on an interview of a Somatic Bodyworker named Oscar Trujillo appears in Conscious Life Journal
http://mobilemagz.com/flipbooks/atlanta/beautyandhealth/consciouslifejournal/12.20.2018/21/
Fiction-wise, one of my #vss365 stories got accepted for inclusion in an upcoming anthology! Two wins for me!
I have a poem under consideration right now for an astrology related anthology and they should give word soon.
The MC of This Darkness is Mine, "Michelle Delphinia" wrote a compelling essay with a psychological and spiritual interpretation of The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz. I'm seeking a home for this essay in a university literary journal.
Before my short story can win a competition, I have to submit it. Before I submit it, I have to write it.
This is the writer's life. Not to be envied, and not to be taken lightly. We are a bit crazy, often solitary, but always searching for that word. Even though English is made up of roughly 40,000 words, sometimes even English leaves us flat, and we have to borrow from other languages for the perfect conveyance of meaning or feeling.
I love it!
Mackenzie
Make someone else's day magical!
#OnWriting
#Published
#WhatsNext
Friday, July 19, 2019
On Writing - Something new
Since writing has been tremendously therapeutic for me, I want to press on. A webinar I listened to on writing short stories said one way to use them is to experiment with new genres and to introduce my writing to an audience.
That's exciting!
I'm going to try my hand at writing a short story about Emma, a recent widow who is forced to financially support herself, but she develops a physical condition that makes her chosen profession almost impossible. However, when she's working, she's restored (in a sense) but in a most uncomfortable and ironic way.
Writing is even more important to me than therapy. It's a way to experience the world and reduce it to words. Can words do that?
Staying on top of my bipolar means finding meaningful challenges to stay engaged in the business of life. And taking my meds nightly. Can't forget that. Writing can be lonely, which makes it well suited for loners. Sort of. Loners can't just observe humanity, but interact with people, know people, love people, talk with people. Sometimes that awkwardness makes for great stories.
I have no way of knowing whether my social on/off switch is the way it is because of the bipolar, or if it's hereditary. My mom is something of a wallflower, while my father was charismatic and outgoing. I get the dubious distinction of being shy at times and being extroverted at other times. I have not yet found a way to control this. Perhaps I can write a character who can, and then learn from her.
I'm keenly interested in knowing what writing means to you. Please describe in the comments. How does it help you navigate your real life?
Mackenzie
Make someone else's day magical!
#writing
#mentalhealth
#bipolar
#arttherapy
That's exciting!
I'm going to try my hand at writing a short story about Emma, a recent widow who is forced to financially support herself, but she develops a physical condition that makes her chosen profession almost impossible. However, when she's working, she's restored (in a sense) but in a most uncomfortable and ironic way.
Writing is even more important to me than therapy. It's a way to experience the world and reduce it to words. Can words do that?
Staying on top of my bipolar means finding meaningful challenges to stay engaged in the business of life. And taking my meds nightly. Can't forget that. Writing can be lonely, which makes it well suited for loners. Sort of. Loners can't just observe humanity, but interact with people, know people, love people, talk with people. Sometimes that awkwardness makes for great stories.
I have no way of knowing whether my social on/off switch is the way it is because of the bipolar, or if it's hereditary. My mom is something of a wallflower, while my father was charismatic and outgoing. I get the dubious distinction of being shy at times and being extroverted at other times. I have not yet found a way to control this. Perhaps I can write a character who can, and then learn from her.
I'm keenly interested in knowing what writing means to you. Please describe in the comments. How does it help you navigate your real life?
Mackenzie
Make someone else's day magical!
#writing
#mentalhealth
#bipolar
#arttherapy
Thursday, July 4, 2019
Happy Birthday United Snakes
Today is the USA's 243rd birthday as a free sovereign nation. That sounds great, except for the barbarians guarding our southern border and occupying 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
All the ideals we claim to stand for have to mean something. They have to be for PEOPLE, regardless of skin color and all the other exemptions.
Caging children like animals is disgusting.
What is liberty? How do you claim to stand for it when you only mean liberty for certain classes and colors of people? Just how fucking revolting do you have to be?
That is all.
All the ideals we claim to stand for have to mean something. They have to be for PEOPLE, regardless of skin color and all the other exemptions.
Caging children like animals is disgusting.
What is liberty? How do you claim to stand for it when you only mean liberty for certain classes and colors of people? Just how fucking revolting do you have to be?
That is all.
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