Bobbing for . . .

Have you ever bobbed for apples?  Germ-concerned people and those who don't like to get wet may choose to forgo that activity, but they can enjoy bobbing for donuts.  Put a string through the hole of a donut, tie the string to the hook end of a broom, and hold it out for your friend to eat without using her hands.  Take turns with a fresh donut on a string for each person in the group.

What does this have to do with writing?  One possibility is that writers can satisfy both the requirements of a writing task and adapt to the needs of the audience.  What's another possibility?

Happy  Halloween!

Two Thumbs Up?

Once long ago I used the expression "two thumbs up" with my daughter who countered, "two thumbs in the mouth!"

Thumbs up means we like it, it's a go, all is well.  When you get a writing assignment, how often do you give it the thumbs up?  And if you can't give it the thumbs up, does that mean you're less likely to get to it, do your best, or produce a good product?  And as always, are these rhetorical questions?

Ideally you like what you're asked to do.  It can sure help.  There's also liberation in the thought that you don't have to like something in order to do it.  If you're waiting for pleasure or inspiration before you can settle down to writing, you may not settle down to writing.  And consider this:  if your thumbs aren't up, you can use them to hit the space bar or help hold your pen; it's easier to write with the use of thumbs.

perpendicular parking

Only because I did not hit the person's car, I found it charming and creative .

Yesterday evening there was a fall festival, and cars lined the road alongside the grass.  I left plenty of room in front of me (but not so much room that another car would wedge in) so that when someone parallel parked behind me, I could still pull out easily.

At the end of the event, I returned to my van to find someone perpendicular parked in front of me.  I'd never seen that before.  It made pulling out harder, but I admired the creativity.

Which of course brings us to writing.  When you do the unexpected and the readers accept your offering even though it violates the norm, you've succeeded--at least with your audience.  Writing is risk taking, so choose your risks wisely while aiming to stay true to your art and bring delight to your readers.