Uh?

A Writers Toolbox

2010-01-22T15:09:00.001-06:00

Stephen King empathizes a writers' need for the proper Toolbox in his book "On Writing." In King's mind lies the uber Toolbox, with a compartment for every writing tool imaginable. A glimpse into one compartment marked section 4 reads the bold face words: "With a hammer he killed Frank will ever replace He killed Frank with a hammer."
It is strange that two sentences which have so much in common spark different mental pictures. In the first sentence we read the prepositional phrase with a hammer and in our minds mentally pick the hammer up before we read that he killed Frank. That sentence stimulates the mind, whereas He killed Frank with a hammer requires no mental action from the reader. Frank is dead, it's too late for him and we know this.

Getting Readers

2009-12-09T17:15:00.000-06:00

My area of expertise is not getting readers. I am more interested in the writing side of the web, not the search engine optimization. I am amazed at which articles of mine are doing well. Ive written on a variety of subjects especially for the web, and published some of my old college essays and junk. To date my old college essay on John Updike's short story A&P receives the most hits. Although well written, in hindsight I feel it reads too much like a book report, and offers little insight. Of course, it is the professor that gives the prompt, and I am sure that mine answered any questions posited there.
Still their is so much hard work put into getting regular reading. To put it short, you might have to learn some neat Acrobatics, and stand on your head until your eyes GoOgle, spinning backwards inside your head.

Texting Trumps Ebonics

2009-12-04T13:50:00.000-06:00

This is an exciting article, well maybe not exciting for everyone. Perhaps just me. It is my first 'news article' for a real online newspaper.
I am not sure this is news, maybe texting languages are threatening the English Language. Surely, languages evolve in worse ways than OMW.
I can think of quite a few slurs already in the English language, Id rather not have. MILF is not one of them. LOL

Texting Trumps Ebonics

Originality

2009-11-24T13:44:00.000-06:00

As said in a recent post on literary congestion, writing may be difficult due to the incredibly large amount of written works available. We can be clear, concise, fluid in every word which rolls off the tongue, and still not be successful due to the variety of sources on any one subject. You can be well educated and versed in your subject and still not advance financially due to what is considered on the web as duplicate content. If you look up health care reform on Google you will find 16,300,000 pages on the subject, each with a typical angle either for or against the bill. "The fact is, that originality is by no means a matter, as some suppose, of impulse or intuition. In general to be found it must be elaborately sought, and although a positive merit of the highest class, demands in its attainment less of invention than negation." (Poe, The Philosophy of Composition) For writers this means not only reading others work but negating that work. Taking it out of your realm of thought and not duplicating it. If one writer has written on health care reform from a Republican point of view and another from a Democratic view, then you must write from neither point of view. Try your own point of view, comb other works, find a unique selling point that makes your work unlike other works. Give it a fresh perspective. Poe admitted that their was little variety in rhythm, however infinite variety in meter and stanza. While their can be no variety on the matter of the bill itself, it says what it says, their are differing interpretations of the bill and varying outcomes for different groups of people should the bill be enacted.

Literary Congestion

2009-11-17T13:52:00.000-06:00

I've been writing keyword articles for textbroker.com. I only resorted to writing for textbroker out of sheer exhaustion with my personal work. As I've mentioned before its good to start multiple works when your having a slow period with your writing. Textbroker gave me the fresh ideas and this kept me writing through the rough times when I wasn't sure what to write . I also wanted the practice with writing web-content for my own website and they offer feedback and guidelines where that is concerned.
At any rate, sometimes while writing these articles, I feel as though it is impossible to put a fresh perspectiveon the same old topics due to the literary congestion of the world wideweb. This led me to remembering the author, Italo Calvino's Six Memo's for the Next Millenium. "In the even more congested times that await us, literature must aim at the maximum concentration of poetry and thought." Calvino lectures future writers on the topics of Lightness, Quickness, Exactitude, Visibility, and Multiplicity. Throughout his writing he suggests being concise, conveying as much information as possible in your writing in the shortest space. He says he'd "like to edit a collection of tales consisting of only one line," and offers an example, Augusto Monterroso's, "Cuando desperto, el dinosauro todavia estaba alli." (When I woke up, the dinosaur was still there.)

Choosing a Writing Topic

2009-11-11T16:38:00.000-06:00

Choose a topic that you know, what you can describe in detail, what you can see in your mind.
But, lets face it we don't always get to choose our topics, on the other hand we can always put our own twist on the subject. If you don't know your topic, investigate your topic, look at it from every angle, then put your unique spin on the subject. The most important fact is that you must write what you know, in order to be well received. If you find that you have a problem with writers block, go back and investigate the subject some more. It is not knowing that block's the mind's images and word flow.

Setting the Mood for a Writing Experience

2009-11-10T12:25:00.000-06:00

I think I may have a little writers block where my haiku is concerned, and have come to believe that writing haiku is more difficult than I atfirst thought. I did real well, at first, I think it may have beenthat it was summer. That is my favorite season, I love summer, and Iwas looking forward to a weekend vacation in the Texas Hill Country. As well, I had spent some time on the beach, soaking in theair and enjoying the whole infinity of the sea. It had been awhilesince I had been to the beach for more than a Spring Break beer, andfor some reason this summer the beach was different for me. Oh yes, now I remember, I was thinkingof moving, for work reasons, to a suburb of Dallas, and leaving thebeaches of Corpus Christi. Therefore, the beaches sparked nostalgicmemories of my childhood and life more this summer more than othersummers. Being close to nature and enjoying my time at the beachand later at the hill country enabled me to write some decent Haiku. That is not going to stop me from posting to my haiku blog, justchange the theme of it some. I guess it just proves that your environment does effect your writing, as for me I think I may plan a trip, maybe that will clear my mind a little.

John Cummuta on Writing Web Content

2009-11-05T21:36:00.000-06:00

"Good web writing is like good journalistic writing: it's lean and to the point." He also reiterates points on verb usage keep it in the present, doing not has done. His tip for success, keep a picture in front of you as you write like the one found in a new wallet or picture frame and make that stranger your typical reader. In this way your typical reader may become more tangible. Be enthusiastic!

Getting a Leg Up on Procrastination

2009-11-02T13:37:00.000-06:00

Woe is me, I meant to wake up before 10:30, however it isn't my fault and I'll still have time to get what I need done, done. I think. I wanted to write a post sooner even than 10:30, but Halloween weekend ensued, and well, I didn't sleep well and therefore felt as though the blogiverse was less important. I s'pose you can call it laziness, Ill blame it on a temporary lack of creative genius. But, never fear, for now I am here. Well, wait what am I going to blog about today? Hmmm. Let me check Zemanta and see what is hot....
Ok I'm back. I think a cold front came in while I was sleeping, I had to turn on the heater, wash the dishes, and switch out the laundry, it is now 1:30, and I haven't even had time to get purdy. I managed to rhyme in 17 syllables today, or did I? Oh, shoot brb. No I'm kidding, I'm not going anywhere, till I get this blog done. I have set myself a time limit to get this out and now my creative juices are just flowing. My kids will be home at 3:00 and you see that gives me the pressure of a deadline. The pressure of a deadline can aid you in getting a leg up on procrastination. My micro deadline is fast approaching and now I am typing much faster than I was before. I know I only alot 30 minutes to this blog and must head over and write my haiku, which I typically do first, but well, I have always had a thing for you guys here, so I thought I would make the exception for today, today only....

Things I Have Haiku'd

2009-10-29T12:03:00.000-05:00

SUV, on a windy day. Crabgrass, and having to weed my yard. The web worms that ate the blooms off my tree. Halloween, not all my haiku's are good. Rainy Day haiku, no I didn't save up for this one. Wrote two Haiku's on typing haiku's, I like the rhythmic tapping of fingers on the keyboard, what can I say? I wrote a haiku about reading a story about Indians calling cotton "tiny lambs." A cloudy day, sunflowers, mesquite trees, swearing the Texas heat and Mosquitoes. No, the last isn't an excerpt from a David Allen Coe song. The kids getting off the school bus, Autumn, reflections, dancing children and Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize. I think Haiku is one of the easiest ways to express yourself in writing and that it enables one to get into the habit of writing. Id like to say all my haiku's are original works, however, I get the strangest sense of De'javu from my mesquite tree haiku. Like I perhaps, had read it somewhere before, and while looking at the mesquite tree in my backyard, somehow transposed the humor from another haiku into my own. Is this plagiarism? I don't think so.
I guess I would be remiss if I didn't add a link here to my Haiku blog

Important Fact

2009-10-27T17:37:00.000-05:00

     Important fact that is being forgotten from a generation of blogger is that a writer, writes. Pure, simple, easy, fact. The same as a plumber with a home full of leaky pipes is considered a lousy plumber, a writer, with a strew a of reblog's pasted together is less a writer and more an exhibitionist, looking for an affiliate handout.
   Important fact, I am no better than the rest of the blogiverse, tapped of originality, and boggled with wonderment at other's success. However, I am looking for niche as many of us are. In this position I asked, where do I start? While some dive in, finding words easily on diverse topics, I find myself more timid. I started with a few articles on computer repair, technical articles, that do not lend too much personality to the writer. Not very glamorous, but like I said a writer, writes. I liked seeing advertisements on my articles, which I published on hubpages. I got into this affiliate marketer's nightmare for a day or two. Cleaning up essays, I had written in college and publishing them to check out the the hubscore. I watched my income grow. Not blossom but grow just the same.
    I needed more though. I hadn't had any great book ideas, less much ideas for articles. In the end I made a blog on Haiku, not glam, but like I said, a writer, writes. I publish a new haiku poem everyday, it is a habit. A ritual. When I am done with that, I write this blog. It helps to have more than one thing to work on, even if you aren't profiting from all of them in the real time. I have another blogspace now. It is at blog.fixitfacts.info
It is like personal space.....
I have no idea what ill write there, hope its good. But if not keep in mind a writer, writes.

Common Error in Story Construction

2009-10-26T15:30:00.000-05:00

In Philosophy of Composition, Poe points out that one of the common errors in story construction is hastily choosing the plot. We form the basic necessities for the story on paper then we fill in the rest with jargon. The same goes in the blogiverse. We are afforded the luxury of writing a small amount to lure in readers and fill in the rest of the area with advertisements, however this may not always be to our advantage when it comes to the subject of web-content. To an extent what we look at as luxury can be our downfall, writing cant be too short, or readers don't stay long enough to form an opinion on the matter, and not so long it can't be digested in one sitting or readers lose interest, as Poe says, "The affairs of the world interfere." He suggests dealing with this problem by taking into consideration effect with originality always in view.

Say Goodbye to Technology

2009-10-23T11:29:00.000-05:00

Turn off your computer, next time you are writing your blog or article and get stuck; pick up an old-fashioned pencil and use it instead. It may feel funny, and perhaps a little archaic, but also it will help you to focus on details. No doubt, it will slow you down, however, exactitude in literature, as pointed out by Italo Calvino, "is the Promised Land in which language becomes what it really ought to be."

Do You Have a Writing Ritual?

2009-10-22T14:09:00.000-05:00

A writing ritual is an important part of every writers life. If your new to writing and are having trouble getting started I suggest starting at least five new pieces, articles, blogs, poems, whatever it may be, perhaps even a mix. Try to start writing for a set amount of time each day. Don't be overly self-critical, go ahead and write some drivel, just don't make me read it, (haha)

What's the Big Idea?

2009-10-19T09:04:00.000-05:00

Just in case somebody else in the blogiverse gets writer's block too, I decided to write a blog on overcoming it.
Perhaps, I will post a tip here and there for recovering from writer's block, or a helpful hint or tip about writing style. So Uh? is a blog about the practice of Creative Writing.
Today's tip will be on Audience.
Your audience is extremely important when deciding what your going to write. While writing for yourself is gratifying with web authoring it is not always the best way to draw in "fresh eyes" for advertisers. Since the ultimate intent is to be read by others, it makes sense that we as writers should keep them in mind. We want to create a response in the reader, not just through the use of tags, but something more memorable.

2009-10-16T00:39:00.000-05:00

Out of excuses for writing your next article or essay, blog? Well, looks like I'm not the only one, nor the most creative! I once did the same thing... Wrote a Haiku poem rather than a short story though. Wanna hear it?

Fingers wiggle

Tapping out this verse freely

Not looking for words.

Related Feature

2009-10-02T22:24:00.000-05:00

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