Vivian Heather

Tag: Writing (Page 1 of 2)

DIY Bangs—A lesson learned

June 14, 2021 /

A picture came to light yesterday.

There is so much to unpack in this single image (Yes, those are clip on ties)

Taken at age 4, I recall this event quite well–the sweater was pink and of itchy wool. The necklace, produced from my mum’s “jewel box” has now passed through four generations. I’m certain the facial features of the bro on the right maintained that juxtaposition for less than a week but hey, our eyes are all open and that’s what counts. A coupon was involved.

At this point you won’t be shamed for asking, “What the heck does this have to do with writing?”

There are two points in particular that can be brought forward:

  1. No clucks were given when I decided those bangs (fringe) needed to go. Photographic evidence indicates this was a reoccurring event.
  2. This picture was blown up to an 8 x 12, displayed prominently, and sent overseas in a smaller version. Also for display.

My first thought is that our young selves place no limits on our abilities, there are no internal critics (or critics we have internalized) to say ‘”I think that’s above your skill level dear.” We see the crayons and a blank canvas, that may or may not be the dining room wall and go for it; unleashing the tempest of creative genius.

  Allow yourself to sit and dump words, all your words, onto a page or keyboard. Later, eliminate the pointless ones. This FREEFALLactivity is liberating so lean in to it. You are 9 again and the pedals of your bike spin too fast for your feet as you tear down the hill. I should apply the breaks, you think. WRONG—you are 9. Those feet are held up allowing you to freewheel into whatever comes next.

Note: Originated by W.O. Mitchell (Mitchell’s Messy Method) Follow the flow, don’t stop; don’t fix keep going until something shifts and your story bubbles up.

Secondly and equally important, seek out and embrace folks who will blow up your handiwork and send it far and wide with no apologies. (And no Photoshop) Many of my favorite writers confess to looking back at their early stuff, published or otherwise and tut-tutting to themselves.

About 30 years after this picture I learned a life hack that enables me to successfully trim my own bangs.  In subsequent years when work and life have me in a punishing schedule I employ it confidently; reinforcing the notion that practice perfects all things. As in writing.

… In Which She Reveals Hamster Command.

April 26, 2021 /

I’d like to preface this offering with a historical note. Some fifty years ago, I was identified as a child with “mild hyperactivity.” My default setting, tuned to daydreaming, doodling and bursts of enthusiasm, caused ripples in my attitude toward Education. Perhaps here I could say more honestly, Education’s attitude toward me.

Curiosity and humour are superpowers I use to keep the trolley on the tracks. Indulge me, please, while I introduce you to the multi-disciplinary crew that is more often than not running the show…

Gif of a Hamster sharpening a pencil

This time last year, I waited with giddy anticipation for my first contest-related short story prompt. My first writing contest EVER sort of prompt. Mental Hamster Command (yes, that’s a real place, just behind my left ear) was a-buzz with the audacity Rarely Regarded Body Parts demonstrated, using links, clicking keys?

Where was the consultation, the focus group, the committee! When at last, some months later, the first prompt appeared in my inbox, there came a collective squeal. Not a, we’ve won the world cup sound, more of a leaky bicycle tire valve refusing to hang on to the air. Really. Any Genre. Any location. The writing task force at Mental Hamster Command erased the whiteboard in its ready room, rolled up the plot map and left Barry alone with his notebook. He had, after all, lost at rock paper scissors. 

To be fair, Barry sweat bullets by the deadline, passing out cold when the RRBP hit the send button, and almost a month later, raised up on shoulders to be feted by his peers. We’d made it through to the next round. Barry brought Jasmine and Dave on board, causing a few bent whiskers, but the team got us into the final ten submissions. A feat hitherto unimagined. Tiny fury high fives all around! 

The sense of disappointment with the contest prompt lingers still, leaving me to wonder, what makes a good one?

Images are good, not practical for a contest perhaps, but excellent for crafting worlds with details crisp and believable. 

Overheard snippets of conversations if you can jot them down. Working in industrial construction, as I do, provides a buffet of topics as varied as they are hilarious, well removed from cliché and not always PG.

Gif - Hamster holding a pencil

The hunt continues. I find lists of contests, lists of prompts (this list is long and surprisingly unimaginative), but not a matrix for arriving at anything contest worthy. I now suspect that I’m overthinking the problem. (The hamsters are all in agreement, overthinking stuff is a topic for another day.)

 Back to contests- I suspect there are some wild ideas fomenting in the minds of the Corner Lot. I shall consult.

 In the interim, has anybody else been disappointed or pleasantly surprised by a contest prompt??

Please leave your comment below:

And Then… She Lost It!

March 1, 2021 /

It’s really quite simple, this poor habit of hurried speech –it harms no one at all, not the listener or the speaker. But in written form, oh my! Comments on social media, papers about to be handed in (yes I AM looking at you “Night baker”).

How on earth does THEN and THAN become interchangeable?

Uh-huh, no-way, not on my watch!

Now to be clear, I am no editor. Line edits leave my hamster brain ready to perform Seppuku, whereas continuity and voice stand out to me like neon lights. 

Some years ago, after much eye rollingand a brave, “Oh really Mum, does it matter?” I wiped a fleck of foam from the corner of my mouth and explained it this way:

Would you rather wash the dishes THEN take out the garbage?

OR…. Would you rather wash the dishes THAN take out the garbage?

Point taken, begrudgingly.

Words matter. Two dollar ones, ten dollar ones all have their place in our big tent predatory language. Be kind, be clever but for the love of the written word use them correctly. 

Here’s a link to some common usage errors*.

Are any of your bugbears missing from this list? Please indulge yourself in the comments below, you’ll feel better. I certainly do.

*I/we are not responsible for the content linked, and have no affiliation with the content or sight representative. At the time of this post the link offers a list of common english language usage errors.

« Older posts
Vivian Heather Photo

© 2024 Vivian Heather

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑