First off something to hopefully bring a chuckle:
SERIOUS STUFF
A Facebook friend recently cautioned me about what I post concerning political issues, as it may not help my career to get in the middle of controversial issues. That friend did so in the nicest, most well-meaning way, but I don’t agree that we should hold back just because we run the risk of angering people to the point of losing followers and money.
My response to my friend was that I believe writers owe it to the public to be a voice of reason and truth, and if that means taking a risk, so be it.
So I will be taking lots of risks between now and November as the worst political campaign continues to unfold. I won’t call names – well, I can’t resist The Trumpster – but I won’t dredge up ugly things to say about him or about Hillary, just to say ugly things. I will just post comments that shed a light on the absurdity that is the current campaign.
To that end, I want to share this great article by William Rivers Pitt at Truthout.
There are many aspects of presidential electioneering in the United States that make me want to run my head through a stone wall. The dirty money, the endless campaigns, the corporate “news” media’s insipid talent for dividing their time between the horserace angle and “coverage” of a handful of utterly unimportant bits of quasi-factual flotsam that have no bearing on policy or the state of the nation.
If I didn’t have this nasty Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, I would be joining William at that stone wall. The misinformation that is poured out in the media distorts truth in ways that are so distressing.
As an example, here is a video from The Daily Show where Jordan Klepper interviewed people who were at a Trump rally about campaign issues, and their responses were mind-boggling. One lady proudly announced that her mind was made up with no facts or information to sway her opinion. Is that really the way we want a president to be elected? By people who don’t consider the issues or the facts or the truth to be important?
The prospect scares the bejeebers out of me.
Okay, enough of that. On to some fun.
FRIDAY FUNNIES
The following are responses from kids when asked what love means. They are not laugh-out-loud funny, but they do elicit a smile. I dare you not to smile.
‘Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.’ — Elaine-age 5
‘Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.’ – Chris – age 7
‘Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him
alone all day.’ – Mary Ann – age 4
‘I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.’ – Lauren – age 4
‘When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little
stars come out of you.’ – Karen – age 7
And this sweet sentiment from a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.
Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard , climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
When the boy’s mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the child said, ‘Nothing , I just helped him cry.’
WRITING WISDOM
Robert Bruce who is a contributor to Copy Blogger, recently posted an article that offered advice on The Art of Finding Ideas. He pointed out, as most of us writers know but sometimes need to be reminded, that there are no new ideas in the world, and he suggested we steal ideas.
Now, I don’t think he meant felony burglary, but rather that we get the ideas from being a good listener. He shared this quote from the legendary copywriter, Eugene Schwartz :
“You don’t have to have great ideas if you can hear great ideas.”
Bruce continued, “I stole this post from him, and he stole it from many others.
“Listen more. Talk less.
“Read less. Read better.
“The Art of Finding Ideas is then … the act of going out and finding ideas.
“Originality? That’ll come from using your own voice, and your voice develops from writing more. And more. And more.”
That is advice I give to new writers at workshops and in my freelance editing business, and it is so true. We learn by reading good writing in all genres and practicing our craft every day.
What about you? Where do you get ideas? What advice do you have to offer new writers? Have a joke to share? Please do. And have a wonderful weekend.