Motivation
This is actually the difficult aspect of writing, that is, finding the motivation that will compel me to do so. So far I've only written when it comes naturally, because that means I've got a good handle on how to write it, what's the purpose and a good angle for it. If not, I will struggle to put into words my abstract thoughts and it is difficult. I should work on this next - forcing a free write on something more serious, because well these last 3 posts are techincally forced free writes.I have enough ideas keeping me annoyingly awake at night these past few days, half-baked concepts and unfinished paragrapgh constructions about the road not taken, being normal and opinion writing that given any idle time my mind will race through the topic until it hits a brick wall. I'm basically mental blogging the entire day. I wish that there comes a technology that can translate thought to text someday. Or I should just carry a recorder around. It's either that, or I'm entering another meh phase.
RiB
Yeah so I watched Rhytmn in Blue last night. I didn't know it was that big an event. I've basically ignored it my entire college life since it's about dance. Perhaps also since there was no influence around me then would have dragged us or at least made me curious enough to watch it.
I was surprised at how good the other orgs are. I was expecting simple dance routines since these are basically ad hoc danced teams that the different orgs put together for the contest. But their choreography was actually at a competititve level - so good in fact that even orgs that you wouldn't expect to have a group of talented dancers like BoX or AMS (sorry for the stereotype) actually out performed even CADs. Well, CADs' numbers were boring.
Of course the reason we went there was to support Ann, and so we waited eagerly for their group to come on stage. And she was amazing, especially since she says it's her first time. She seemed like a natural, and they even flipped her around. Not many first timers you'd expect who are willing to do that.
I should remember to bring my camera. At least thanks to Ann, I managed to see an event that is actually amazing that I've missed my whole college life, so I'm thankful for that. It reminded me why Ateneans are the cream of the crop, and why I love my school. Cmon, even our Math geeks (sorry haha) can tear up a dance floor. Give Ateneans a flat stage, and they will show you that they can compete at anything, and win.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
OWB: Writing Rules
Like the many lists of rules I've managed to come with these past few years, I'm laying one down for my writing.
Rule #1: Write it down immediately. This goes for both snippets of thoughts randomly conjured (the purpose of the free-notes notebook) and blogging about a new experience. Since it has happened 3 nights ago the excitement of Saturday's Nitro night are starting to wear off, and hence the accompanying motivation to write about it and possibly any creative juice I could squeeze into writing it as well. So the next time I come across a new experience, I'll set a date with a drafting board.
Rule #2: Read, read, read. This comes naturally to me that I don't even have to say it to myself, but what I'll be doing is laying down some corollary rules. Like what type of stuff to read. Instead of spending my time playing Civilizations (thank God the last obsession ended with the realization that my current empire sucks), I will read the newspaper more. Maybe not the entertainment sections, but more of those articles that needed writing talent in it's creation. Opinions and essays. I just saw bloggers' collection of other blogs, and I'll make it a point to browse through those as well. Read more, watch less. Lessen distractions and other stuff that can add noise to my already noisy mind.
Rule #3: Proofread! Careless mistakes and run-on sentences are always present in my writing. I will be more conscientious in my writing that I will edit it. Since most of my blogs are basically just draft qualities, I could probably let slip fixing sentence constructions. But I shall at least give them a once over and correct typos. For more serious pieces I shall proofread them more. At least in terms of typos, I should be perfect.
Perhaps I should make a tier of my writing qualities, like draft-quality blogposts such as these, then medium-quality narrative posts for experiences that will require more editing, and portfolio-level essays that will need serious editing and polishing. Yeah, I think I will do that.
With that the foundations of my rules for writing are established. Tomorrow perhaps I could practice my narrative blogging after watching RiB. The past few days have been boring, with the only ray of sunshine being Kits starting to reply once again with an equal casting of a shadow with the start of waiting for A-SoG's reply to my application for internship.
When i get a column of my own some day, I'll name it Past Midnight, because apparently my writing happens after 12mn.
Like the many lists of rules I've managed to come with these past few years, I'm laying one down for my writing.
Rule #1: Write it down immediately. This goes for both snippets of thoughts randomly conjured (the purpose of the free-notes notebook) and blogging about a new experience. Since it has happened 3 nights ago the excitement of Saturday's Nitro night are starting to wear off, and hence the accompanying motivation to write about it and possibly any creative juice I could squeeze into writing it as well. So the next time I come across a new experience, I'll set a date with a drafting board.
Rule #2: Read, read, read. This comes naturally to me that I don't even have to say it to myself, but what I'll be doing is laying down some corollary rules. Like what type of stuff to read. Instead of spending my time playing Civilizations (thank God the last obsession ended with the realization that my current empire sucks), I will read the newspaper more. Maybe not the entertainment sections, but more of those articles that needed writing talent in it's creation. Opinions and essays. I just saw bloggers' collection of other blogs, and I'll make it a point to browse through those as well. Read more, watch less. Lessen distractions and other stuff that can add noise to my already noisy mind.
Rule #3: Proofread! Careless mistakes and run-on sentences are always present in my writing. I will be more conscientious in my writing that I will edit it. Since most of my blogs are basically just draft qualities, I could probably let slip fixing sentence constructions. But I shall at least give them a once over and correct typos. For more serious pieces I shall proofread them more. At least in terms of typos, I should be perfect.
Perhaps I should make a tier of my writing qualities, like draft-quality blogposts such as these, then medium-quality narrative posts for experiences that will require more editing, and portfolio-level essays that will need serious editing and polishing. Yeah, I think I will do that.
With that the foundations of my rules for writing are established. Tomorrow perhaps I could practice my narrative blogging after watching RiB. The past few days have been boring, with the only ray of sunshine being Kits starting to reply once again with an equal casting of a shadow with the start of waiting for A-SoG's reply to my application for internship.
When i get a column of my own some day, I'll name it Past Midnight, because apparently my writing happens after 12mn.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Blogging Back
So I've just finished rereading my old blogposts. Really, there is a discernible difference in my writing style from before and after 2008. I can't articulate it well, but before 2008 I was more conversational, like I was talking to someone in particular that made the post sound, natural. And after 2008, it seems like the writing is now without an audience. I can't get a handle on the distinct nuance of this writing style, but I know that it's different. I guess the only way to exercise back to that style is try narrative blogging again.
Blogging for the sake of doing is actually an effective way of exercising my writing ability. Reading back I see that my wittiest comes from that unedited explosion of thought that comes from writing about a new experience or epiphany. I used to write about even my most mundane opinions, and still make a good post. Surprisingly I could even end it with a profound thought. All it lacks perhaps is a second reading and clearing up careless mistakes and typos.
I guess due to the events of 2008 I taken more to internally picking apart my thought processes and held off coming to any conclusion until I figured it all out. Perhaps also my isolationist policy contributed to the sudden decline of my blog posts. I've come ignore or suppress my opinions, unlike the way I used to shamelessly write it down and present it to the world. I have to break this mold. Blog, even for the sake of blogging. This will be my 'conditioning' exercise as part of Operation Writers Block. Until I am satisfied that I have regained my ability to be witty and naturally conversational. Shall I blog about last Saturday's Nitrogen dinner? Perhaps I should. It will be a good exercise. And this is the latent purpose of blogging that I should remember. Writing about my experiences, putting o paper my reactions and thoughts about it, thte wonder that comes from doing something for the first time or stepping foot on a place I've never been, will allow me to relive them later, and God knows I get to more adventures that I actually acknowledge. but that will have to wait for tomorrow. It's past midnight already.
So I've just finished rereading my old blogposts. Really, there is a discernible difference in my writing style from before and after 2008. I can't articulate it well, but before 2008 I was more conversational, like I was talking to someone in particular that made the post sound, natural. And after 2008, it seems like the writing is now without an audience. I can't get a handle on the distinct nuance of this writing style, but I know that it's different. I guess the only way to exercise back to that style is try narrative blogging again.
Blogging for the sake of doing is actually an effective way of exercising my writing ability. Reading back I see that my wittiest comes from that unedited explosion of thought that comes from writing about a new experience or epiphany. I used to write about even my most mundane opinions, and still make a good post. Surprisingly I could even end it with a profound thought. All it lacks perhaps is a second reading and clearing up careless mistakes and typos.
I guess due to the events of 2008 I taken more to internally picking apart my thought processes and held off coming to any conclusion until I figured it all out. Perhaps also my isolationist policy contributed to the sudden decline of my blog posts. I've come ignore or suppress my opinions, unlike the way I used to shamelessly write it down and present it to the world. I have to break this mold. Blog, even for the sake of blogging. This will be my 'conditioning' exercise as part of Operation Writers Block. Until I am satisfied that I have regained my ability to be witty and naturally conversational. Shall I blog about last Saturday's Nitrogen dinner? Perhaps I should. It will be a good exercise. And this is the latent purpose of blogging that I should remember. Writing about my experiences, putting o paper my reactions and thoughts about it, thte wonder that comes from doing something for the first time or stepping foot on a place I've never been, will allow me to relive them later, and God knows I get to more adventures that I actually acknowledge. but that will have to wait for tomorrow. It's past midnight already.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Operation Writer's Block
First title that came to mind. This is my attempt to make myself a good, or dare I hope, I great writer. And like any other discipline, I will become better at it with practice, and so this is the point of this post. This is the first step of that thousand mile journey, the first few strides of my training for the marathon. If I want to become a writer, I will have to write (or type).
Like any well-executed military operation Writers Block begins with an assessment of my strengths, a study of my capabilities, a review of procedures; a recon mission if you will. And so I have browsed, to whatever point I deemed was relevant for me at this point, several chapters of my underused book Writer's Express, which was actually helpful. i got several ideas by which to train and practice with. Second, I have reread my past works, at least the contents of this blog. I will have to schedule reviewing my written works tomorrow. Rereading my previous entries have told me one thing. Yeah, without a doubt, I am a good writer.
But beyond that narcissistic proclamation of natural ability and affirmation of my God-given talents, that exercise has shown me where I would start, where my strength lies. My writing strength comes from free writing, that unfiltered collision of my thoughts and the keyboard. This is where my wit is revealed, when I don't try to control it. I have noticed, before the unfortunate events of that crappy year that is 2008, that I wrote often, and I wrote freely. My tone was light and my writing voice conversational (which I could tell is not how I am writing now so that is something I am trying to gain back). I was just like talking to my blog. But when 2008 hit, my entries became infrequent and heavy. It was emotional and dark, and it seemed like all entries after that are serious and grave in tone, like I'm trying to explain something carefully. It went from random narratives to deep philosophical dissections of my distressed emotional psyche. The spontaneity disappeared; posts were heavily edited, and wit and sarcasm all but gone.
I think the better writing style of mine was before 2008, when I still could create witty turns of phrases and novel ways of telling the story. And I know it is so because when I recall writing those pieces like Worms of the Heart or Tough Shoes I did it without minimal editing, like it came naturally. But after heartbreak 2008, when I try writing something I remember being so serious, writing and rewriting even the first sentence just trying to get it perfectly.
That's why this post feels like it just runs on, like a Kelvin talking after having 5 cups of coffee. It's because this is a free write, I'm typing everything that comes to mind. I'm trying to break free from that habit I developed of screening my thought and carefully crafting my sentences. I'm not letting myself stop typing, hoping that eventually I will unclog that mental dam that was created from the rubble that 2008 caused and what is now blocking my perfectly fine and entertainingly sarcastic stream of consciousness. I must get him back, that guy that can write oh so naturally.
So what now dear blog? What's the plan? I have already identified my free writing notebook as well as a handy-dandy free-notes notebook for traveling. I have made a date with the Writers Express book for writing some practice articles. But to get ol' conversational writer back I will need practice, so I guess that will be here. I will return to blogging about my random days and fun experiences. This will be my daily stretching of my writing muscles. Can I do it? Will I be able to do it? I hope so. But this I say, Operation Writer's Block has begun, and it will be awesome.
Expect more mundane posts, returning here soon.
First title that came to mind. This is my attempt to make myself a good, or dare I hope, I great writer. And like any other discipline, I will become better at it with practice, and so this is the point of this post. This is the first step of that thousand mile journey, the first few strides of my training for the marathon. If I want to become a writer, I will have to write (or type).
Like any well-executed military operation Writers Block begins with an assessment of my strengths, a study of my capabilities, a review of procedures; a recon mission if you will. And so I have browsed, to whatever point I deemed was relevant for me at this point, several chapters of my underused book Writer's Express, which was actually helpful. i got several ideas by which to train and practice with. Second, I have reread my past works, at least the contents of this blog. I will have to schedule reviewing my written works tomorrow. Rereading my previous entries have told me one thing. Yeah, without a doubt, I am a good writer.
But beyond that narcissistic proclamation of natural ability and affirmation of my God-given talents, that exercise has shown me where I would start, where my strength lies. My writing strength comes from free writing, that unfiltered collision of my thoughts and the keyboard. This is where my wit is revealed, when I don't try to control it. I have noticed, before the unfortunate events of that crappy year that is 2008, that I wrote often, and I wrote freely. My tone was light and my writing voice conversational (which I could tell is not how I am writing now so that is something I am trying to gain back). I was just like talking to my blog. But when 2008 hit, my entries became infrequent and heavy. It was emotional and dark, and it seemed like all entries after that are serious and grave in tone, like I'm trying to explain something carefully. It went from random narratives to deep philosophical dissections of my distressed emotional psyche. The spontaneity disappeared; posts were heavily edited, and wit and sarcasm all but gone.
I think the better writing style of mine was before 2008, when I still could create witty turns of phrases and novel ways of telling the story. And I know it is so because when I recall writing those pieces like Worms of the Heart or Tough Shoes I did it without minimal editing, like it came naturally. But after heartbreak 2008, when I try writing something I remember being so serious, writing and rewriting even the first sentence just trying to get it perfectly.
That's why this post feels like it just runs on, like a Kelvin talking after having 5 cups of coffee. It's because this is a free write, I'm typing everything that comes to mind. I'm trying to break free from that habit I developed of screening my thought and carefully crafting my sentences. I'm not letting myself stop typing, hoping that eventually I will unclog that mental dam that was created from the rubble that 2008 caused and what is now blocking my perfectly fine and entertainingly sarcastic stream of consciousness. I must get him back, that guy that can write oh so naturally.
So what now dear blog? What's the plan? I have already identified my free writing notebook as well as a handy-dandy free-notes notebook for traveling. I have made a date with the Writers Express book for writing some practice articles. But to get ol' conversational writer back I will need practice, so I guess that will be here. I will return to blogging about my random days and fun experiences. This will be my daily stretching of my writing muscles. Can I do it? Will I be able to do it? I hope so. But this I say, Operation Writer's Block has begun, and it will be awesome.
Expect more mundane posts, returning here soon.
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