Well....
What a week its been, huh? In the matter of five days, we lost 9 people in the 1st metro crash in a while in my near-hometown, Washington D.C. The second day, we lost the sidekick to the funny man Carson, Mr. Star Search himself, Ed McMahon. Then Thursday, the 25th of June, Farrah Fawcett lost her long and hard battle with anal cancer at the age of 62. And just a few hours later, not even five hours afterwards, the freaking King of Pop himself passed away. As someone aptly put, "the Seventies officially died this week."
As much shock as Michael Jackson's death was, his and the passing of the others I mentioned are actually no different than the countless other deaths, all over the world, in the same week that we didn't hear about. We always seem to forget in a world where a person with "influence" is immortalized in images and sounds, that we are all very much mortal and will soon pass. One day.
Death has always been something that has scared me though. It scares a lot of people, of course. But I don't mean death as in my death necessarily; but the death of others around me. Because the only reason why we mourn the passing of human beings is because we will no longer be able to witness the impact they make on this Earth. The impact they make in our lives. Its stuff like that I hate to think about, but can't help but think about when people around you pass away as easy as that. Not my own mortality, but the mortality of others.
We do, of course, have our memories to keep us company. With the Pop King, his incredible music, videos, and talent that have inspired millions across generations, including my own cousin who used to dance to "Billie Jean" at every party event I can remember growing up. They're not the same, and they can't replace the emptiness we feel when that person leaves, but that's part of the reason for our memories. It keeps us going. It kept my Mom going after she lost her own mother to kidney disease at the age of 42. I hope its keeping my friend going, who just lost his father to a heart attack a few weeks ago. I pray it'll keep me going when the time comes. And I also pray the time doesn't come for a very long while.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
My 1st blog...
This is my first foray into this stratosphere known as "blog-world". Don't really know too much about blogging. I've read dozens of others from friends of mine and I always thought they sounded more pithy and wisdom-filled than anything I could ever come up with. (See there? "Wisdom-filled"? That's clearly not a word, but I still chose to use it because I was either too lazy or too tired (actually both) to come up with an actual word that satisfied what I was trying to say.)
Actually, I'm really trying to define for myself what would make me a better writer. See, I have a lot of goals in my life. Dreams, actually. But for the past four or so years, I've come to realize that those dreams can actually manifest themselves into goals once I believe (and that's the key here) that those dreams are actually attainable ones. One of those 'dreams' happen to be a screenwriter (and I only came to that conclusion after realizing that there was a name for what it was I wanted to do--apparently, I can't realistically morph into a ball of fire, but my make-believe character I create can!).
But what makes a good writer? Having a good idea that could make a great book, or a movie, or even a television show? OR spending such a good part of your life immersed in literature of all kinds that you could pen down your own tome as if it were as easy as breathing? OR the act of simply starting to write? Me thinks all three of these things are needed, but if you're lacking in one area, you could always start picking up the slack in the other two.
Which brings me to the reason I'm doing this blog. I realized I haven't done a lot of writing in my lifetime, and I haven't read nearly enough books that would warrant me an 'expert' on writing. But what I do have is an idea. Or ideas. So that's why I wanted to start this blog. I think I've got interesting things to talk about, or expound upon, and with this blog I can use it as a tool to not only express myself more creatively, but also critique myself (others are welcome to do so as well, of course. Constructive critiques only please!).
For example, a critique on myself in this moment would be that I really write a LOT. Like, a lot of WORDS. Especially words that say the same thing. And especially when not needed. And THAT is the kind of tooth-filled wisdom you can expect to garner from my words. Lots of words. Words that still say pretty much about the same thing as fewer words could probably say better.
Anyway, thanks for reading! Comment at your leisure, constructively criticize and help me become the better writer I wish to be. Hopefully there's something in it for you too. Like, perhaps....a good story.
Actually, I'm really trying to define for myself what would make me a better writer. See, I have a lot of goals in my life. Dreams, actually. But for the past four or so years, I've come to realize that those dreams can actually manifest themselves into goals once I believe (and that's the key here) that those dreams are actually attainable ones. One of those 'dreams' happen to be a screenwriter (and I only came to that conclusion after realizing that there was a name for what it was I wanted to do--apparently, I can't realistically morph into a ball of fire, but my make-believe character I create can!).
But what makes a good writer? Having a good idea that could make a great book, or a movie, or even a television show? OR spending such a good part of your life immersed in literature of all kinds that you could pen down your own tome as if it were as easy as breathing? OR the act of simply starting to write? Me thinks all three of these things are needed, but if you're lacking in one area, you could always start picking up the slack in the other two.
Which brings me to the reason I'm doing this blog. I realized I haven't done a lot of writing in my lifetime, and I haven't read nearly enough books that would warrant me an 'expert' on writing. But what I do have is an idea. Or ideas. So that's why I wanted to start this blog. I think I've got interesting things to talk about, or expound upon, and with this blog I can use it as a tool to not only express myself more creatively, but also critique myself (others are welcome to do so as well, of course. Constructive critiques only please!).
For example, a critique on myself in this moment would be that I really write a LOT. Like, a lot of WORDS. Especially words that say the same thing. And especially when not needed. And THAT is the kind of tooth-filled wisdom you can expect to garner from my words. Lots of words. Words that still say pretty much about the same thing as fewer words could probably say better.
Anyway, thanks for reading! Comment at your leisure, constructively criticize and help me become the better writer I wish to be. Hopefully there's something in it for you too. Like, perhaps....a good story.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
