No, I don't know of a General named Info, but I think that would be awesome!
I'm giving you general information. It's not my fault that by proper-casing the title of this blog post I may have unintentionally mislead you into thinking I was capitalizing "General" because it was someone's professional title. That is just the way capitalizing will get you with it's devious little mind tricks, I suppose.
If you followed that, I'm not sure I should congratulate you. You might be as strange as I am.
To the point!
Anyone interested in being my writing pal for NaNoWriMo (and trust me, you want writing pals at least for peer pressure), my username is RueLane, or maybe Rue Lane. I can't remember if I used a space. Either way, you now have the information you need to find me.
Also, for anyone interesting in receiving my writing newsletter or contributing to it every now and then (or even just once), I'm giving you my email address. This is a big action for me, because I might get spammed by posting this. And spam is only good when it's fried and you're camping, because everything is good camping. Anyway, email me and let me know if you want to read or contribute (or even edit): bri44any@gmail.com
Thanks a million for reading this post. Thanks a billion if you leave a comment with a random fact in honor of General Info, the imaginary military leader for the battle against the uneducated.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Handwritten Letters
I've been checking the mail a lot recently for the last bill from my insurance company with a corrected amount on it (I refused to pay for a full month when I clearly didn't need coverage for a full month, only 11 days), and I realized something.
People do not handwrite anything anymore.
I mean, if it's something small enough for a post-it, then maybe, but anything longer than that? Heavens, that is just too much to ask.
I love handwriting, the verb and the noun. I think it feels so much better to handwrite something than it does to type it out, even though it's much more efficient to use a keyboard, and not everyone can decipher my letters. Maybe I like writing on paper because of the way I feel when I receive something handwritten.
Who can explain that feeling? It's not just the time it takes to handwrite a letter. It's not just the personality a pen brings to paper. It's not just the fact that you learn exactly how well someone can spell without a computer correcting them. It's not just the way almost no one can keep a straight margin on the left side of the paper. It not just the doodles and fancy ways people write your name and sign the letter.
It's a combination of these things and all the other simple quirks that come from an authentic message that physically traveled from someone else to you. It's communication in a form you can handle, a message you can save in a shoebox, a tool you can use to reminisce. It's a surprising form of support that can brighten even the dullest of days.
I have two favors to ask of everyone who reads this. First, leave a comment about why you like handwritten letters, or why you don't like them if that's the way you roll. Second, send letters to at least two people (one for each hand). If you don't know who to write, then start by asking yourself if you even know anyone's address. Also, make sure you have envelopes and stamps.
Don't feel awkward, and don't be discouraged if you don't think of anything to say at first. Write about what you could be doing instead of writing. Write about something you are looking forward to. Use colored pencils or decorative paper. Write about a memory with whoever you're writing to. Draw a picture (and don't worry--the less talent you have, the more likely it will be put up on someone's fridge, even if you aren't three years old). Send a photo or a scrap of something you can tell a story about. Make up a story and tell them to read the letter before bedtime. Just send something in the mail and write on it. It's a dying art that's simple enough to do if people would just practice.
It seems like people get excited about writing letters but then say "when I have time." The truth is that we never have time. We just have to commit ourselves to making time for these types of things. I think Humans can create anything they set their minds to, so why not create time to write a letter? It's not a chore. It's a relationship-building experience, a day-booster. I think it's worth the time and energy it would take to write it.
Help me revive handwritten letters. Please.
People do not handwrite anything anymore.
I mean, if it's something small enough for a post-it, then maybe, but anything longer than that? Heavens, that is just too much to ask.
I love handwriting, the verb and the noun. I think it feels so much better to handwrite something than it does to type it out, even though it's much more efficient to use a keyboard, and not everyone can decipher my letters. Maybe I like writing on paper because of the way I feel when I receive something handwritten.
Who can explain that feeling? It's not just the time it takes to handwrite a letter. It's not just the personality a pen brings to paper. It's not just the fact that you learn exactly how well someone can spell without a computer correcting them. It's not just the way almost no one can keep a straight margin on the left side of the paper. It not just the doodles and fancy ways people write your name and sign the letter.
It's a combination of these things and all the other simple quirks that come from an authentic message that physically traveled from someone else to you. It's communication in a form you can handle, a message you can save in a shoebox, a tool you can use to reminisce. It's a surprising form of support that can brighten even the dullest of days.
I have two favors to ask of everyone who reads this. First, leave a comment about why you like handwritten letters, or why you don't like them if that's the way you roll. Second, send letters to at least two people (one for each hand). If you don't know who to write, then start by asking yourself if you even know anyone's address. Also, make sure you have envelopes and stamps.
Don't feel awkward, and don't be discouraged if you don't think of anything to say at first. Write about what you could be doing instead of writing. Write about something you are looking forward to. Use colored pencils or decorative paper. Write about a memory with whoever you're writing to. Draw a picture (and don't worry--the less talent you have, the more likely it will be put up on someone's fridge, even if you aren't three years old). Send a photo or a scrap of something you can tell a story about. Make up a story and tell them to read the letter before bedtime. Just send something in the mail and write on it. It's a dying art that's simple enough to do if people would just practice.
It seems like people get excited about writing letters but then say "when I have time." The truth is that we never have time. We just have to commit ourselves to making time for these types of things. I think Humans can create anything they set their minds to, so why not create time to write a letter? It's not a chore. It's a relationship-building experience, a day-booster. I think it's worth the time and energy it would take to write it.
Help me revive handwritten letters. Please.
Friday, October 15, 2010
NaNoWriMo Kickoff Party! WooHoo!
Here's info about the kickoff party. I received this news via email.
Hello Rocky Mountain WriMos!
The 2010 Kick-Off for SLC will be at Raw Bean Coffee House!http://rawbeancoffee.com/
They have a nice upstairs area that we are going to take over on Saturday, October 30th, from about 1-4pm.
Raw Bean serves coffee, other drinks (sodas), and some desserts (the banana chocolate chip nut bread was yummy). They don't really have food, so they're allowing us to bring our own. Unless someone has a better idea, I think pizza should work just fine, as it has been our kick-off meal of choice for many years.
Going with the pizza idea, we ask that everyone who eats contributes $5 to pay for the pizzas. You're on your own with drinks and desserts, but please at least buy a drink while we're there; we're getting the use of the building for free so we want to give them our business.
Raw Bean looks like a great place to bring your computer and do some writing, so feel free to go back during November. Unfortunately, they don't stay open very late for evening write-ins.
You can see Trax just one block away. It looks like the nearest station is at Main Street and 450 South, about two blocks away. If you drive, Raw Bean has its own parking lot behind the building on the SE corner of 600 South and West Temple. So it shouldn't be a problem for anyone to get there.
RSVP to the forum thread or this email.(Email RSVPs tend to not mention your nano username, which means I list you twice sometimes, so please remember to mention who you are if you RSVP to both.)
See some of you there!
Is everyone excited about their novels yet? I'm still working mine out in my head but I think I may have something when December rolls around. Just waiting....
Banai
ML for Salt Lake City, UtahAIM, YIM, GTalk: banai47Twitter: http://twitter.com/banaifeldstein, http://twitter.com/SLCWriMo
Hello Rocky Mountain WriMos!
The 2010 Kick-Off for SLC will be at Raw Bean Coffee House!http://rawbeancoffee.com/
They have a nice upstairs area that we are going to take over on Saturday, October 30th, from about 1-4pm.
Raw Bean serves coffee, other drinks (sodas), and some desserts (the banana chocolate chip nut bread was yummy). They don't really have food, so they're allowing us to bring our own. Unless someone has a better idea, I think pizza should work just fine, as it has been our kick-off meal of choice for many years.
Going with the pizza idea, we ask that everyone who eats contributes $5 to pay for the pizzas. You're on your own with drinks and desserts, but please at least buy a drink while we're there; we're getting the use of the building for free so we want to give them our business.
Raw Bean looks like a great place to bring your computer and do some writing, so feel free to go back during November. Unfortunately, they don't stay open very late for evening write-ins.
You can see Trax just one block away. It looks like the nearest station is at Main Street and 450 South, about two blocks away. If you drive, Raw Bean has its own parking lot behind the building on the SE corner of 600 South and West Temple. So it shouldn't be a problem for anyone to get there.
RSVP to the forum thread or this email.(Email RSVPs tend to not mention your nano username, which means I list you twice sometimes, so please remember to mention who you are if you RSVP to both.)
See some of you there!
Is everyone excited about their novels yet? I'm still working mine out in my head but I think I may have something when December rolls around. Just waiting....
Banai
ML for Salt Lake City, UtahAIM, YIM, GTalk: banai47Twitter: http://twitter.com/banaifeldstein, http://twitter.com/SLCWriMo
Thursday, October 14, 2010
So I'm Curious
I want to do a Writer thing. I'd write something like an article about writing. It could be anything from tips, techniques, thoughts, solutions...as long as it had something to do with writing that could help writers.
I figure I could do it once a week or every other week. I was wondering if anyone would want to read it, or even contribute to it. It could be like a newsletter. Who would want to be on the email list to receive this, and would anyone like to be part of it? I know I don't have many writer followers, but I'm just throwing this out there.
I just figure it would help me to write about writing. I could write about what I love, what I don't love, what I know, what I find out...because right now writing is hard. I usually just need to talk about what's hard, and then it either stops being hard or I find a solution.
Thanks.
I figure I could do it once a week or every other week. I was wondering if anyone would want to read it, or even contribute to it. It could be like a newsletter. Who would want to be on the email list to receive this, and would anyone like to be part of it? I know I don't have many writer followers, but I'm just throwing this out there.
I just figure it would help me to write about writing. I could write about what I love, what I don't love, what I know, what I find out...because right now writing is hard. I usually just need to talk about what's hard, and then it either stops being hard or I find a solution.
Thanks.
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