July 25, 2007
Writing right
Good writing can take my breath away. A book does not necessarily have to use a sophisticated vocabulary to please, me, but a writer who consistently exhibits a special level of deftness with the language will make me seek out their works again and again. I should check myself regularly with a pulse oximeter whenever I read Christopher Moore, because I find myself literally forgetting to breath as I get caught up in a particularly captivating turn of phrase or descriptive passage. Children’s author Cornelia Funke (or perhaps her English translator) has the same effect on me. Margaret Atwood always weaves a good tale and frequently excites in me that same overwhelming desire to pin her with a medal for a particularly clever arrangement of words. Of all of the books I’ve read in the last few years, though, I think that Walter Mosley’s The Man in My Basement has attained the highest honors in my own personal appreciation of literary excellence. I found my self pausing to re-read phrases, sentences and paragraphs again and again as I read this book, savoring their sweetness, laughing out loud (literally!) with sheer joy at Mosley’s exquisite writing.
As bloggers, we have the opportunity to improve our craft every day. I am not so bold as to compare my own writing to those paragons who inspire me, but they do inspire me and make me want to get better at what I do. The writers whose blogs I admire the most seem to share that mindset. Their blogs are proof that they challenge themselves each time they sit down to the keyboard, and that they focus on constant growth and improvement. I’ve constructed little writing exercises for myself towards those ends, and it’s occurred to me that other bloggers might like to join in. This Friday I invite you to join me in a new meme. The theme is simile and the goal is to stimulate us all to improve our writing. I don’t know yet whether this will become a weekly meme or an occasional feature. Perhaps that should be decided by the level of interest others have in the project.
The rules are simple. I will propose a subject for a simile. Each of us will select an object of comparison and give at least three reasons to support our choice. It’s a writing exercise, so don’t limit youself to making a list. Be expansive. Play with your words. Make it fun! There are no grades or prizes. The reward is in the self-satisfaction each of us will gain from becoming better writers. My simile will be posted on Friday, July 27th. Each participant will link their own post in my comments so that we all can enjoy each other’s offerings.
Your first assignment: A blog is like _________________. Write your piece and I’ll see you here on Friday!
[tags]blogging, simile, writing, writing exercises[/tags]
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July 26th, 2007 at 4:50 am, jo hutson Says:
Wow! Christopher Moore’s first book “Practical Demonkeeping” is one of my all time favorites! My paperback copy looks like it’s been to Baghdad and back. I keep the hardcover copy in my “Shrine To Great Books”,(sounds impressive, but it’s really just a special shelf in my book case) I also love Anne Tyler, especially her earlier books like “Accidental Tourist”, and can’t forget John Irving, his early books are hilarious! Have you ever read Donna Tart? Her book, “The Little Friend”, is another book on my list of all time favorites, her books are very atmospheric and her characterizations are always dead on. JO
July 26th, 2007 at 11:08 am, skeet Says:
Jo, Practical Demonkeeping was the first CM I read and is still my favorite of his. I love, love, love that book! And John Irving - yeah, I have quite a few of his. Good stuff! I’ll have to look for the others you mentioned.
Hope you’ll do the little writing exercise and join the fun!
July 26th, 2007 at 12:52 pm, jo hutson Says:
Okay, here goes, and don’t laugh! I’m easily wounded!
Sometimes a blog is like an exotic, found egg, you hope for a rare and beautiful bird who’ll eat from your hand, but sometimes you get a crocodile who snaps off your fingertip.
July 26th, 2007 at 2:59 pm, skeet Says:
Lol! I love it, Jo! You’ve got the right ide. Now I hope you’ll do a whole post on it and list it with the meme after I post it tomorrow. That was we can all read each other’s ideas and share a little primo writing!
July 26th, 2007 at 3:04 pm, jo hutson Says:
I shall do it! Hopefully tomorrow my blog won’t be
like a crocodile! Jo
July 26th, 2007 at 6:45 pm, Tina K Says:
I adore Atwood. I’ve read Handmaid’s Tale about once a year since I first read it.
Her is my contribution to the game:
http://tinakubala.com/2007/07/26/
smile-its-a-simile.aspx
July 27th, 2007 at 2:20 am, Online buchen Says:
>> Jo, Practical Demonkeeping was the first CM I read and is still my favorite of his
What about (i don’t no the accurate english name) Biff’s bible? It’s my favorit. One of the best books ever written. So much laughs inside
July 27th, 2007 at 5:51 am, jeanjeanie Says:
I’m usually out of breath with laughter whenever I read Christopher Moore. He’s probably one of the bigger influences on my own writing style, but I couldn’t even aspire to be as funny as he is.
July 27th, 2007 at 6:56 am, Fickle Food » A Blog Is Like…….A Red Red Nose… Says:
[…] of new people since I began blogging, one of them, Skeet, is trying out a new feature on her blog, Skeet’s Stuff, so I thought it would be right neighborly to participate! The idea is to come up with a simile, if […]