I’ve done well, I think, in the past week by providing more material to read. This is decidedly because I’ve worked on Reddit writing prompts for eight days now. Do I always end up with something that fits the prompt? No. Yesterday’s story went far off into left field, but so what? So what if I use prompts in general? An art class can look at the same still life and come up with no two pictures exactly alike. I’ve been there.
I’ll have you know I scared off two groups of three people at a bar while writing that last piece. It was so much fun to get into the flow, I get all sorts of “weird” and make “odd” faces. There’s nothing more than that, but others don’t want to be around people like me let alone say anything. I’m sure this is one reason I haven’t met anyone yet. Maybe it’s the population around here? Maybe it’s just better I stay single and die young? I’ll be sure to buy a part from James Dean’s car.
Regardless, what is important in all of this is that I haven’t stopped. The engines have not been cut and I haven’t drifted for too long. The longer one drifts, the easier it is to give up. I don’t want to give up. When I find a second job, I don’t want to give up. After battling depression, I don’t want to give up. Why? Because it’s something to hold on to. Right now, it’s the only thing I’m holding on to.
On a different note, there’s nothing inside of me that desires a “Freshly Pressed” logo on my blog. I’ve determined this as my phone decided to thrust the front page in my face Sunday. Why? That’s not an easy questions to answer, but it can be done. An easy take is that I’m not looking to compete with others. That makes life in America a tad more difficult as there’s always the Ayn Rand jerk off that thinks they’re allowed to step on you. No, you’re not. Not now; not ever.
Other reasons aren’t so clear cut. In a way, I’ve despised trophies in the past. Maybe it’s because acceptance speeches aren’t my gig, but there seems something else to it. That’s not my reward. My reward isn’t that tangible. Notoriety is one thing, but I’m not looking for a gold star to show off to others. Would a best-selling publication be awesome? Sure! However, I’ve lived life long enough to know there’s a plethora of interference between me and that success.
Accessibility seems to be part of that problem from time to time. Often do I get the whole “I don’t get it” routine from the public. That’s not saying everyone doesn’t get it, or that sometimes I don’t get others but people do miss the more subtle things I put into my writing. Maybe I’m wrong and they just don’t care, but that’s not what I’m picking up from of them.
Speaking of stepping, I’ve decided to acquire some new work boots as my Sketchers decided to fall apart after a year. These boots were expensive, but if I polish and oil them they should last a long time. That’s what I’m counting on, at least. Boy will I be upset if they get ruined.
Corvidae in the Fields 
I’m not sure precisely what reward I’m looking for in my own blogging, although I’d be willing to see what bestsellerdom and widespread public admiration would do for me. For the scientific value of it, I mean.
But of course. For SCIENCE!
Maybe wearing those boots will inspire you to write about the Iron Rangers. I bet there’s some tragedy there. I do wish WordPress would get rid of the awards. It’s nice in theory, but it’s too much. That said, I’ve nominated you for…just kidding. I wouldn’t chance it with the James Dean car, either. Too many “coincidences.”
I haven’t looked too much into the Iron Rangers, other than what Red Wings has elaborated. I suppose it’s something to Google when I’m looking for something to do.
I make funny faces when writing too. Both my editers love to watch me write. I look crazy as I crack myself up. As for being pressed, I understand. I can’t even get pressed because I use WordPress.org and we are the ugly stepchildren. My reward ate those bloggers that read my mental ejaculations and come back again.
So that’s why your page looks a little different. Is the .org an older version of the website they haven’t migrated over?
No it is for those of us that host our own site. I get to design it and put adds on or whatever else i want. We are part of the WordPress family.
Love the new look on your blog. I think it’s time I spiffed mine up a bit. I’ve loved reading your writing-thanks to Reddit or whatever else you’re using for inspiration. As for the ‘awards’, I got nominated for some but I can’t make the time for all the ‘work’ involved in responding. It’s enough that I have 5 or 6 blogs I read regularly, and respond to, to say nothing of my own writing, I struggle to stay on top of everything as it is.
But, I have to say, your’s is one of those that I always look forward to seeing in my in box. I am trying to finish my own incredibly fucked up book right now. I can’t end it! I’ve written myself into a corner! I think I have to go back and scrap most of the end of the book-a hundred pages!- and take a different direction. And I was so looking forward to ending it. So I can start another one. Who knew it would be fun/painful/irritating to write.
Thank you very much, Laura! I’ve had the old look for a full year. It was time to find something else. This comment, these conversations, are much more to me than a picture or a WordPress member linking my work to their front page. That’s the point of communication, isn’t it?
That’s the thing about novels. They have to be managed in such a way that they’re cohesive. When I hit my first plot hole in My City by the Bay, I derailed. I haven’t been at it in nearly a year because I distract myself too much from fixing it. Such is the life of a writer. Love hurts, and our work is our love.
Truth! I am actually a wee mite worried that every time I sit down to fix it, I get right back up again, or I troll away somewhere. I forget where I read it, a week ago or so, someone said that it’s a hard truth but sometimes our best bit of writing doesn’t fit into the story and it has to go. arrgghhh….I suspect he/she is correct. I need to be tough with myself.
I’d also wanted to say I find the new look more pleasant to my eyes too. Of course I’m always going over my blogs and thinking what they might look like in other themes myself.
I liked this one the best out o the free lot. The header on the “Book Lite” theme bugged me as it wouldn’t stay in place.
Writing prompts. What a great idea. And yes, I definitely think it’d be better to use them as a general guideline than something rigid and steadfast… as creativity definitely unleashes itself at the most unexpected of times! Haha. I’ve sat with my laptop in cafes before. I have no idea what kind of faces I make but I am entirely certain that there must be a contortionist aspect in there somewhere. I’ve seen myself stick my tongue out in the ‘Q’ position when I absentmindedly glanced in a mirror. Such a strange trait, I have no idea what kind of thinking advantage its supposed to provide. Anyway, I digress. And I like the clean blog design too, but I miss that blue horizon slightly…
Sticking one’s tongue out surely increases creativity by 5%. I’m sure of it.