"I Wish I Wrote That!" Wednesday

As an aspiring writer (and therefore, a voracious reader), I often find myself reading other authors and saying to myself "I wish I wrote that!" I'm sooooo impressed by an author's ability to construct words into meaningful and fresh sentences, that I'd like to highlight them here on my blog each Wednesday. *******************************************************************************
Feathers

by Jacqueline Woodson
Puffin Books (imprint of Penguin)
Page 35

I tried to find the word surreal in my mental vocabulary bank where Ms. Johnson had said we should save vocabulary words so that we could grow up and have rich brains, but it wasn't there. Ms. Johnson said the only way you can deposit a word in your bank is by committing it to memory. I hadn't deposited surreal. I guess I must have spent it somewhere.


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Okay, so maybe you don't think this little section is particularly interesting. Maybe you are thinking to yourself, "I could have wrote that," but the teacher in me loves this section. The most natural way to increase your vocabulary, in my opinion, is to learn it in context. I was never one to be able to learn new words via the dictionary and copying down definitions when I was growing up (or now). My favorite way to learn new vocabulary is through reading books and this excerpt from Woodson is perfect. If I were 9-11 years old, this would peak my interest into finding the definition of surreal...and the last sentence about spending surreal is hilarious to me.

I wish I wrote that!

Music Monday - Dot Com

I'm not sure why Usher never bothered to make a video of this song...I liked it. I thought it was kind of clever using the computer lingo and what not.



I guess Drake & Jamie Foxx must have like the concept since they put out Digital Girl...

Triolet Thursday - Triolet #7

What is a triolet? Check the [corny] video I made on the original post if you need some explanation.


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Triolet #7 (National Book Festival 2009)

My excitement is climbing a wall
sweating authors like condensation.
If Woodson talks to me, I will fall
my excitement is climbing a wall.
I’m heading to the National Mall.
Writers in person? Sweet temptation!
My excitement is climbing a wall,
sweating authors like condensation.

Music Monday - Dealing

This is one of my favorite tracks on Music Fan First. It's a nice duet between him and Lalah Hathaway. I remember seeing on his blog an interview of sorts of his fab 5 and he seems to very impressed with her voice. It was cute.

Writing is Hard

Dear Ernest Hemingway,

What's up Ernie? Is it cool that I call you Ernie? Maybe we should work up to that considering we don't know each other. For what it's worth, I have made a serious attempt of writing 250 words daily, like you use to do...however I read somewhere (else) that the actual number was closer to 500 words. Do you still write? Is there writing after death? Or have you reincarnated into another being who is smart enough not to be a writer? *grin*

Anyway Hemmy...er, Ernest, I was Twitter-ing and ran across one of your quotes. People quote you, dontchaknow? That probably isn't a surprise to you, but you weren't a fan of scholars and critics, huh? It's hilarious to me that you think you would have failed a class on your work. Perhaps you moonlight in Kanye's body on occassion since the both of you are pseudo-anti college. Was that you inside of him during the VMAs? I know you didn't shy away from a quart of whiskey a day, perhaps the congnac was enough of a temptation to jump inside him temporarily...

Back to this quote thingy, before I get off on a tanget that might border on rude. So you say that "It's none of their business that you have to learn to write. Let them think you were born that way." ¿Por qué Ernesto? Why should the fact that writing is difficult and is a skill that takes practice like any other profession be a secret? That will lead people to believe that your writing talent was innate instead of a long process you have nurtured over time and typewriters.

Sorry Ernestoic, I'm going to have to spill the juice. Writing is not easy (for me). I work at it daily, as in everyday. As in, even if I'm not writing, I'm thinking about it. As in, even if I'm reading, I'm thinking about how I wish it was my writing. And even after I've finished writing, I don't even like half of what I write.

Writing. Is. Hard.

That is all,

Evelyn

P.S. Who's your favorite African-American author?
Did you have one? Would Kanye go off on you like he did Bush? Hmmm....

Triolet Thursday - #6

What is a triolet? Check the original post if you need some explanation.


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Triolet #6 (It's better to write...than dreaming about it)

I should be sleep, but I'm writing
better to write than haunted dreams
gnashing teeth, grinding, and biting
I should be sleep, but I'm writing
a complete piece is exciting
procrastination incites screams
I should be sleep, but I'm writing
better to write than haunted dreams

"I Wish I Wrote That!" Wednesday

As an aspiring writer (and therefore, a voracious reader), I often find myself reading other authors and saying to myself "I wish I wrote that!" I'm sooooo impressed by an author's ability to construct words into meaningful and fresh sentences, that I'd like to highlight them here on my blog each Wednesday. *******************************************************************************
Orange Mint and Honey
by Carleen Brice
One World Books
Page 24

At my feet was a dandelion, a lone globe of a hundred almost-translucent white parachutes ready to carry this week's babies across the winds. I plucked it.

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The mental movie these lines create in my mind are lover-ly. This author is a fellow blogger. Click here to check her out.

Book Blogger Appreciation Week - September 14-18

...so this week marks Book Blogger Appreciation Week.

I didn't even know there was such a thing, until recently. What a cool idea. I signed up to participate since I do review books on my blog, in between triolets, drooling over other author's words, and fictional stories of Maxwell.

Ways to participate vary. I've seen some book give away contests (which I will be signing up for). Interviewing a fellow book blogger is another way. I'm paired up with Martha Eskuchen from Martha's Bookshelf and here are the interview questions she asked me:

Why did you decide to participate in BBAW?
It seemed like it would be fun. I love reading books and talking about books and blogging about books.

How often do you post?
I wish I could post everyday, but it's usually about 3 times a week.

How many books do you read a year?
I complete 2-3 books a month, however I probably start 7 or more of them. The books that have the strongest characters, I'll read to the end...so my guess would be that I read at least 24 books in a year. This is not including the curriculum books I use for teaching.

Do you have a favorite genre?
Lately, I read Young Adult Fiction the most, that or African American Fiction...not sure if that's considered a genre...?

Name three of your favorite authors.
Jacqueline Woodson, Toni Morrison, and Zora Neale Hurston.

Name up to five books you would like to recommend to everyone else to read!
It's hard to narrow it down to just five, think of this list as the first five I might recommend.
1. Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson
2. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
3. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
4. 47 by Walter Mosley
5. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

What are some of your favorite blogs?
I like a lot of blogs out there, but I would have to say I visit Color Online the most.

What is the number one thing you look for in a book?
Beauty.

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Happy Book Blogging!

Music Monday - Goapele

I don't get tired of hearing this song. This is her sexy-est song of hers to date, in my opinion. I can't wait until she starts touring in my area again. Enjoy.

Triolet Thursday - Triolet #5

What is a triolet? Check the original post if you need some explanation.


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Triolet #5 (Widening my audience)


Need a poem about football
to relate and appeal to males
I don't like sports, so I will stall
need a poem about footbball
where do I start, I've hit a wall
the rules? I can't make heads or tails
need a poem about football
to relate and appeal to males.

"I Wish I Wrote That!" Wednesday

As an aspiring writer (and therefore, a voracious reader), I often find myself reading other authors and saying to myself "I wish I wrote that!" I'm sooooo impressed by an author's ability to construct words into meaningful and fresh sentences, that I'd like to highlight them here on my blog each Wednesday. ********************************************************************************
The Bluest Eye
by Toni Morrison
Plume
Page 39

It was as though some mysterious all-knowing master had given each one a cloak of ugliness to wear, and they had each accepted it without question...And they took the ugliness in their hands, threw it as a mantle over them, and went about the world with it.

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I tried a vlog for today's edition of "I Wish I Wrote That!" Wednesday. Toni Morrison is amazing.

Birthing Poetry

I'll never have any children of my own.

At first that was only an idea in my head, carried like a backpack since childhood. I didn't share that with random people because girls are supposed to want to have kids. Why else would there be a variety of babydolls available to little girls at the toy store?

The students I teach will be the closest thing to having children that I will ever experience, much to my mother's chagrin, but what legacy will I leave when I'm gone?

Poetry. The poems I create can be my children. My printed words can last longer than my genetic code...if they are published.

But who is purchasing poetry?

I wonder if Shakespeare ever pondered this question or imagined that his name would be synonymous with sonnets. Even if you can't remember one of his sonnets by heart, you know that besides writing famous plays, he was also pretty popular as a poet...at least you would if you were paying attention in English class.

Is that the key to getting people to pay attention to poetry? Becoming an expert at one particular poetry form? Probably not, but just in case, I have recently pursued triolet poems with the idea to write them with near perfection.

Here's one I've been working on, it's untitled right now, but I'm open to suggestions:

Poetry is free from grammar
a blank space extravaganza
Teachers can't slam the rules hammer
poetry is free from grammar
poetry provides the glamour
the truth in a succinct stanza
poetry is free from grammar
a blank space extravaganza.

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What is a triolet? Click here.

Music Monday: Stop the World

The Blacksummer'snight CD has been in heavy rotation in my car. So heavy, that on my morning drive to work, I know that by the time Maxwell gets to 'Stop The World', I should be pulling up to school (if I start the CD at Bad Habits).

Have you ever analyzed song lyrics to try to understand the song better? When I was younger, I'd even write lyrics down to help me memorize it so I could sing along.

There's this part in "Stop The World" I'm not exactly connecting with and it's at the very beginning of the song:

Someone stop the world, yeah
Seems like the moment has come and I'm gonna get you girl
The shadows are forming across your parts the vision looks absurd
No one around to interrupt the feelings you stir babe

What does he mean by the vision looking absurd? I mean, if he's with his girl and the room they are in is kind of dim, dim enough to have shadows...why would it look absurd? When I recognized what he was saying, I had to consult the dictionary even though I'm aware of what absurd means. The dictionary check didn't put me any closer to the answer. Is he saying that when he looks at her, it doesn't even make rational sense that she looks that good? You know, how somebody will say something is "sick" as a way of saying they like it. That's the only explanation I can come up with, because I can't imagine him using it in a negative connotation, since the world is stopping and he's finally getting a chance to "be" with this girl. Can you help out on this question Maxwell, if you're not too busy of course. :-)




On a different note, I really enjoyed the lyric "things I can't explain, with subtext." I mean, how many people do you know use subtext in regular conversation? It's not a difficult word, by any means, but to place it into a song to illuminate the idea that he can't express with words how he feels about this woman....bomb! I love it!

Triolet Thursday

What is a triolet? Check the original post if you need some explanation.


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Triolet #4 (The Treadmill is Calling)


The treadmill is calling my name
I listen, but I am tired
My excuses are very lame
The treadmill is calling my name
This muffin top, showing my shame
My sneakers frown and say "you're fired!"
The treadmill is calling my name
I listen, but I am tired.

"I Wish I Wrote That!" Wednesday

As an aspiring writer (and therefore, a voracious reader), I often find myself reading other authors and saying to myself "I wish I wrote that!"

I'm sooooo impressed by an author's ability to construct words into meaningful and fresh sentences, that I'd like to highlight them here on my blog each Wednesday.
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A Little Piece of Sky
by Nicole Bailey-Williams
Harlem Moon
Page 5

Did my mother look into my eyes and think that I could do something special?...Probably not. I tried asking her about it one day, but it must not have been the right time. She had just opened her beer, and it hadn't had enough time to fill in the empty spaces, to blur the hard edges of her reality.

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What a clever way to say that the character's mother was using alcolhal to numb her from the disappointments in her life. It makes it almost seem beautiful. This is what they mean by showing instead of telling. I can feel it. Saying it in this way makes it palpable.

I wish I wrote that!

My Theme Song for Today...

I certainly won't toss and turn like I did last night. Too worn out for my body to even consider it an option.