Be careful of your thoughts; they may become words at any moment.
~Ira Gassen, Author
Do you remember when you were little and you used to play pretend? You had a chariot pulled by a team of dinosaurs wearing purple capes, and a flying monkey friend named Monkeechy…
No?
Oh… um… never mind.
Well you still played in the Land of Make-Believe, right? Did you have fun? Of course you did. Nonsense is the best.
That, at its core, is writing. Of course, it’s a really long, drawn out game of pretend, where you have to keep changing the rules and deciding which imaginary characters aren’t allowed to play with you anymore, but the train pulls into the imagination station just the same.
And not just fiction. This works for non-fiction as well.
Some of the best posts I read are those where you can feel the author stepping slightly outside his skin, toying with the medium.
In fiction, this is currency. Fantastic worlds, populated by impossible beings, or suburbs bursting with friends and neighbors; both are born in the brain, no different than Monkeechy.
Last year, while driving, a line popped inside my head, followed by a second to match.
They were funny.
Laughing, I pulled to the side of the road and searched through the mini-van for something to write on. This was in the dark ages of last Winter, when the thought of being a writer was almost abstract.
A napkin… too crumply.
A wrapper from an old cheeseburger (gross, Writer Dad) …. too waxy.
A receipt… too small.
My hand!
No, too sweaty.
I pulled back into traffic and started repeating lines. By the time I was on the freeway, I was singing a four stanza song to myself.
Seven and a half minutes later, I exited the freeway, struggling to remember a pile of lines, quickly evaporating from my mind.
I raced passed a wide eyed Daisy. ”I need a minute,” I mumbled.
I scribbled.
Stopped.
Then stared at my paper with a smile the size a banana.
But we had work to do, and if I wanted rave reviews for my ditty, then the worst possible time to present it would be during any one of the six-hundred and twenty-four minutes left before bedtime.
Six-hundred and twenty-four minutes later…
“This is really good.”
“Really?” I don’t say this as much as squeal it in a voice at least three octaves above the baseline needed to sire children.
“It sounds like you.”
That story was different than the few that had come before. It was playful and confident, with a more natural voice.
About a week later, I took the story and shifted it to the perspective of a ten year old boy.
The ten year old I was, voiced by the man (and dad) of many more years I am today.
That story is not the one I have for you today. But it is related.
The boy is named Lucas Bright. His stories are short, with something to say. Today’s ditty is his introduction.
Last Friday’s tale was written with purpose, this Friday’s with mirth.
There’s a teaser below. If you decide to download, you may do whatever you’d like with the wee-Book; copy and pass as much as you want. It’s yours. It’s two dollars (a Venti black coffee).
If you bought The Eighth Wonder of the World, it’s in your inbox already.
Last Friday was awesome; let’s make this Friday awesome and one.
Writer Dad
My name is Lucas Bright. Grown-ups say I’m smart. They taught me to ask questions.
I’m gonna go ahead and start…
Last Week’s Story: The Eighth Wonder of the World
About Sean Platt
I used to make believe my basement was interstellar space packed with huge highways, teeming with anti-matter-burning hover crafts zipping past at a quarter the speed of light.
And I was the Latin speed racer, literally racing against the fabric of time and space, hoping to deliver the blueprints for the wormhole generator before the gargantuan black hole forming at the edge of the galaxy consumed what was left of our speck of a solar system — and then my pen ran out of ink, darn ball points!
Sounds interesting Writer Dad. I didn’t catch last weeks, but I’ll make sure I catch this one’s. On my way to the download page!
I used to make believe my basement was interstellar space packed with huge highways, teeming with anti-matter-burning hover crafts zipping past at a quarter the speed of light.
And I was the Latin speed racer, literally racing against the fabric of time and space, hoping to deliver the blueprints for the wormhole generator before the gargantuan black hole forming at the edge of the galaxy consumed what was left of our speck of a solar system — and then my pen ran out of ink, darn ball points!
Sounds interesting Writer Dad. I didn’t catch last weeks, but I’ll make sure I catch this one’s. On my way to the download page!
I write on my hand – sometimes (often, really) that’s all I I have available.
The story sounds intriguing. OK, I’m in!
Lances last blog post..Sometimes You Just Have to Take That Leap
I write on my hand – sometimes (often, really) that’s all I I have available.
The story sounds intriguing. OK, I’m in!
Lances last blog post..Sometimes You Just Have to Take That Leap
I always thought I had a good imagination–I could play for hours with seemingly random objects, pretending they were real, etc. However, when it comes to writing fiction, I kind of stink like smelly socks. There must be something I’m missing.
Nonetheless, I do carry around a small notebook with me now, just for fun, and those times when something strikes me that I just have to remember.
I always thought I had a good imagination–I could play for hours with seemingly random objects, pretending they were real, etc. However, when it comes to writing fiction, I kind of stink like smelly socks. There must be something I’m missing.
Nonetheless, I do carry around a small notebook with me now, just for fun, and those times when something strikes me that I just have to remember.
My mom always said I was the creative one in the family. My favorite course all the way through elementry school was creative writing. Then life started to hit, concepts became more concrete, and the creativity started fading away.
Now that I have kids of my own, the creativity is back in full force. I get to play “tea time” with my daughter (corny I know, but so what, she is my daughter and I love entering in to her world) and the characters that come to join us are a marvel to play with again. Some of them my old friends, with current-day advancements, and some I have never met before.
Either way, I am back in my “comfort zone” so to speak and it is a ton of fun.
Sals last blog post..10 Business Strategies I Learned from Wal-Mart
My mom always said I was the creative one in the family. My favorite course all the way through elementry school was creative writing. Then life started to hit, concepts became more concrete, and the creativity started fading away.
Now that I have kids of my own, the creativity is back in full force. I get to play “tea time” with my daughter (corny I know, but so what, she is my daughter and I love entering in to her world) and the characters that come to join us are a marvel to play with again. Some of them my old friends, with current-day advancements, and some I have never met before.
Either way, I am back in my “comfort zone” so to speak and it is a ton of fun.
Sals last blog post..10 Business Strategies I Learned from Wal-Mart
To say we live vicariously through our characters is an understatement, is it not?
Kimmelins last blog post..The Art of Dialog
To say we live vicariously through our characters is an understatement, is it not?
Kimmelins last blog post..The Art of Dialog
Hey Writer Dad! Thanks for stopping by Rebel Zen today :-) I am a Dad too these days and my little one is just getting big enough to enjoy longish play sessions with me and a bunch of colourful bits of plastic. (Where did they all come from. I didn’t BUY any!) And yes, I pretend, a lot, and all the time too.
Seamus Anthonys last blog post..Rebel Zen Master: Jonathan Mead
Hey Writer Dad! Thanks for stopping by Rebel Zen today :-) I am a Dad too these days and my little one is just getting big enough to enjoy longish play sessions with me and a bunch of colourful bits of plastic. (Where did they all come from. I didn’t BUY any!) And yes, I pretend, a lot, and all the time too.
Seamus Anthonys last blog post..Rebel Zen Master: Jonathan Mead
Luis: Man, I wish I had you to play with when I was little. My friends only wanted to play “pile the rocks.” That game is not fun.
Lance: Thanks, Lance. I’m glad you’re in. Tell me what you think.
Ryan: You’re probably just guarding yourself. Just start writing without a filter. Don’t stop for like an hour. Then go back and read what you wrote. It won’t be good, but there will be good stuff there. Trim that fat and shine the gems.
Sal: Being a good parent is awesome because it’s like you get a childhood and a half.
Kimmelin: Indeed an understatement. When I was reading the first draft of my novel, I couldn’t believe some of the things the characters were saying, even though I’d placed the words firmly in their mouths.
Seamus: My pleasure. Pretending is the best, and yes, plastic seems to be able to self-produce.
Luis: Man, I wish I had you to play with when I was little. My friends only wanted to play “pile the rocks.” That game is not fun.
Lance: Thanks, Lance. I’m glad you’re in. Tell me what you think.
Ryan: You’re probably just guarding yourself. Just start writing without a filter. Don’t stop for like an hour. Then go back and read what you wrote. It won’t be good, but there will be good stuff there. Trim that fat and shine the gems.
Sal: Being a good parent is awesome because it’s like you get a childhood and a half.
Kimmelin: Indeed an understatement. When I was reading the first draft of my novel, I couldn’t believe some of the things the characters were saying, even though I’d placed the words firmly in their mouths.
Seamus: My pleasure. Pretending is the best, and yes, plastic seems to be able to self-produce.
WD: Right on. I don’t live vicariously through my kids, I live with my kids. When we are out in town, my wife will tell someone that she is a stay at home mom with 2 kids, and a third when I get home. Shortly there after, I second the motion with a bunch of hooting and hollering and throwing the kids in the air (they get such a kick out of that, but it scares the bejesus out of my wife).
Sals last blog post..Look Before You Leap – Or Not
WD: Right on. I don’t live vicariously through my kids, I live with my kids. When we are out in town, my wife will tell someone that she is a stay at home mom with 2 kids, and a third when I get home. Shortly there after, I second the motion with a bunch of hooting and hollering and throwing the kids in the air (they get such a kick out of that, but it scares the bejesus out of my wife).
Sals last blog post..Look Before You Leap – Or Not
I love the one- liner “I scribbled”, Writer Dad.
It sums up the fun nature of writing that you describe so well. It also suggests the very beginnings of something more substantial.
After all, the Mona Lisa started with just a scribble too!
Once you let yourself continue to scribble away without too many limits, the result can be a personal masterpiece of prose.
I enjoyed your take on this, Writer Dad. :-)
I love the one- liner “I scribbled”, Writer Dad.
It sums up the fun nature of writing that you describe so well. It also suggests the very beginnings of something more substantial.
After all, the Mona Lisa started with just a scribble too!
Once you let yourself continue to scribble away without too many limits, the result can be a personal masterpiece of prose.
I enjoyed your take on this, Writer Dad. :-)
That’s probably good advice, WD. I used to do things like that–write to just write–but I’ve fallen out of practice. Even writing without a particular goal or “filter” takes practice too.
That’s probably good advice, WD. I used to do things like that–write to just write–but I’ve fallen out of practice. Even writing without a particular goal or “filter” takes practice too.
My brother and I made swords and shields out of cardboard so we could “battle”. His had a skull and thunderbolt on it. Mine has two roses that took FOREVER to draw. Roses? Because I had heard about some ‘war of the roses’ and thought it would be uberawesome to have a WAR on my SHIELD.
No one else seemed to understand why it was so “300″.
Hayden Tompkinss last blog post..A World of Hope
My brother and I made swords and shields out of cardboard so we could “battle”. His had a skull and thunderbolt on it. Mine has two roses that took FOREVER to draw. Roses? Because I had heard about some ‘war of the roses’ and thought it would be uberawesome to have a WAR on my SHIELD.
No one else seemed to understand why it was so “300″.
Hayden Tompkinss last blog post..A World of Hope
I miss the land of make-believe.
I miss the land of make-believe.
Sal: It’s fun to watch the muscles in their necks tighten, isn’t it?
Scott: I’m so happy to have you here. Thank you.
You are correct; everything starts with a scribble; my only regret is that I didn’t start scribbling sooner.
Ryan: Their definitely a wall you have to jump, but once you do, you’re flying. Promise.
Hayden: There is a way that you string your thoughts together that is magical. I’ve only known your blog for a week or so, but every time my reader lights up, I smile at the certainty that I’m about to have a sip of either laughter or enlightenment. Thanks for doing what you do.
UBE: It’s borders never close. If you don’t have transportation, hitch a ride. I’m sure someone will be glad to take you.
Sal: It’s fun to watch the muscles in their necks tighten, isn’t it?
Scott: I’m so happy to have you here. Thank you.
You are correct; everything starts with a scribble; my only regret is that I didn’t start scribbling sooner.
Ryan: Their definitely a wall you have to jump, but once you do, you’re flying. Promise.
Hayden: There is a way that you string your thoughts together that is magical. I’ve only known your blog for a week or so, but every time my reader lights up, I smile at the certainty that I’m about to have a sip of either laughter or enlightenment. Thanks for doing what you do.
UBE: It’s borders never close. If you don’t have transportation, hitch a ride. I’m sure someone will be glad to take you.
“Then stared at my paper with a smile the size a banana. ”
I’ve never thought about comparing a banana to a smile, but I do like it!
Bamboo Forests last blog post..Why Having to Say Hello Twice can Be So Awkward
“Then stared at my paper with a smile the size a banana. ”
I’ve never thought about comparing a banana to a smile, but I do like it!
Bamboo Forests last blog post..Why Having to Say Hello Twice can Be So Awkward
cool blog. clicked on your name from your posts on write to done, and decided to subscribe to yours.
i’m not blogging myself yet, but my girlfriend is currently obsessing with upping her subscriber count, so i know how much the stats matter to you bloggers ;-)
yvettes last blog post..Cro-Magnon In A Michael Kors Mule
cool blog. clicked on your name from your posts on write to done, and decided to subscribe to yours.
i’m not blogging myself yet, but my girlfriend is currently obsessing with upping her subscriber count, so i know how much the stats matter to you bloggers ;-)
yvettes last blog post..Cro-Magnon In A Michael Kors Mule
I have a notebook and pens in my glove compartment at all times. Also, a camera. You never know! :)
Vereds last blog post..Obsessed With SEO?
I have a notebook and pens in my glove compartment at all times. Also, a camera. You never know! :)
Vereds last blog post..Obsessed With SEO?
“a team of dinosaurs wearing purple capes, and a flying monkey friend named Monkeechy” LOL! Quite frankly I think my imagination is getting more interesting as time goes by. I hope your children’s stories get picked up, you could be the next A. A. Milne :-)
Marelisas last blog post..Five Simple Ways to Create Passive Income
“a team of dinosaurs wearing purple capes, and a flying monkey friend named Monkeechy” LOL! Quite frankly I think my imagination is getting more interesting as time goes by. I hope your children’s stories get picked up, you could be the next A. A. Milne :-)
Marelisas last blog post..Five Simple Ways to Create Passive Income
Make believe and pretend was my key source of entertainment when I was a kid! I used to do everything it was nutz. I know the feeling when you want to write on something but you can’t. At least you remembered later on ;).
On a side note, I hear writing on your skin is bad because it absorbs into your blood. I’m always a bit on the paranoid side.
Make believe and pretend was my key source of entertainment when I was a kid! I used to do everything it was nutz. I know the feeling when you want to write on something but you can’t. At least you remembered later on ;).
On a side note, I hear writing on your skin is bad because it absorbs into your blood. I’m always a bit on the paranoid side.
Bamboo: It was gonna be banana or rowboat. I went with banana.
Yvette: Thanks Yvette. Let’s get your blog going.
Vered: A camera. THAT is a capital idea.
Marelisa: Thanks, Mare. I was unsure of that line. It made me laugh, but so do I lot of things that get me only blank stares.
Andy: I think that’s like having a watermelon grow in your tummy if you eat a seed, don’t believe it. If ink from a ball point pen can get into your blood, I’d hate to think what would happen to all those people covered in tattoos.
Bamboo: It was gonna be banana or rowboat. I went with banana.
Yvette: Thanks Yvette. Let’s get your blog going.
Vered: A camera. THAT is a capital idea.
Marelisa: Thanks, Mare. I was unsure of that line. It made me laugh, but so do I lot of things that get me only blank stares.
Andy: I think that’s like having a watermelon grow in your tummy if you eat a seed, don’t believe it. If ink from a ball point pen can get into your blood, I’d hate to think what would happen to all those people covered in tattoos.
Writer Dad,
Writer Dad,
Groovy idea for selling your stories! I thought of this awhile back too. Does it work?
I’d rather read your story then buy a pack of smokes. It’s cheaper too!
I can’t download it right this minute, but I promise I will come back this weekend and get it. E
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..The Forward Momentum of Bloggery (continued)
Writer Dad,
Writer Dad,
Groovy idea for selling your stories! I thought of this awhile back too. Does it work?
I’d rather read your story then buy a pack of smokes. It’s cheaper too!
I can’t download it right this minute, but I promise I will come back this weekend and get it. E
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..The Forward Momentum of Bloggery (continued)
I usually force my children to write down my thoughts when I’m driving. When I’m at home, I tell my wife or my kids and I ask them later about my crazy thoughts. I do this because I hate writing…I much rather type but it’s difficult to be infront of a laptop all the time.
I usually force my children to write down my thoughts when I’m driving. When I’m at home, I tell my wife or my kids and I ask them later about my crazy thoughts. I do this because I hate writing…I much rather type but it’s difficult to be infront of a laptop all the time.
I think the reason that some many “grown ups” live such unfulfilling lives is because we stop pretending, we stop dreaming, and we stop enjoying using our imaginations to go where ever it is in the universe that we wish to go. We are taught from a young age to squelch the child’s thoughts and think instead about getting a “good” job, working until we’re 65+ and then dying. I love reading your posts, WriterDad, because they tell me it’s not too late to dream with all the belief of a child.
Talk to you soon
T
T Edwardss last blog post..Don’t Call Me Red, Blue Boy!
I think the reason that some many “grown ups” live such unfulfilling lives is because we stop pretending, we stop dreaming, and we stop enjoying using our imaginations to go where ever it is in the universe that we wish to go. We are taught from a young age to squelch the child’s thoughts and think instead about getting a “good” job, working until we’re 65+ and then dying. I love reading your posts, WriterDad, because they tell me it’s not too late to dream with all the belief of a child.
Talk to you soon
T
T Edwardss last blog post..Don’t Call Me Red, Blue Boy!
Ellen: I think it’s a great idea too. So far, no, it hasn’t worked at all. But I believe it will, I just need to be patient. I’d rather sell wee-Books than ads. I like the equation to smokes; I’m cheaper and healthier. Have a great weekend, Ellen. And thanks.
Chris: Just curious, why do you hate writing? I can’t stand writing with pencil. It’s one of my quirks; gives me the chills.
T Edwards: I have to admit, the fires of my imagination have definitely been stoked since my children were born. Getting on the floor and playing with them on their level allows me to see the world through their eyes. It’s better sometimes.
Ellen: I think it’s a great idea too. So far, no, it hasn’t worked at all. But I believe it will, I just need to be patient. I’d rather sell wee-Books than ads. I like the equation to smokes; I’m cheaper and healthier. Have a great weekend, Ellen. And thanks.
Chris: Just curious, why do you hate writing? I can’t stand writing with pencil. It’s one of my quirks; gives me the chills.
T Edwards: I have to admit, the fires of my imagination have definitely been stoked since my children were born. Getting on the floor and playing with them on their level allows me to see the world through their eyes. It’s better sometimes.
WD,
Thank you so much for Lucas Bright. That really was an adorable story. I downloaded it and I am going to send it to my nephew. He is 6 years old and has the brains of Lucas and I felt like you were speaking using HIS VOICE! He is always challenging the status quo and is always asking questions that don’t even have real answers. Plus he just has the biggest heart for such a little kid.
As humans we are creatures of habit and routine. We enjoy something to look forward to. Please don’t stop doing what you are doing. I now have officially started looking forward to your stories every weekend. They are absolutely wonderful, really.
Andy
Andy @ bloginyourface.coms last blog post..101 in 1001
WD,
Thank you so much for Lucas Bright. That really was an adorable story. I downloaded it and I am going to send it to my nephew. He is 6 years old and has the brains of Lucas and I felt like you were speaking using HIS VOICE! He is always challenging the status quo and is always asking questions that don’t even have real answers. Plus he just has the biggest heart for such a little kid.
As humans we are creatures of habit and routine. We enjoy something to look forward to. Please don’t stop doing what you are doing. I now have officially started looking forward to your stories every weekend. They are absolutely wonderful, really.
Andy
Andy @ bloginyourface.coms last blog post..101 in 1001
I have Jott on speed dial of my cell phone, for those moments I need to capture an idea before it escapes. It’s one of those things I use where I can’t believe how I got by before.
Al at 7Ps last blog post..Why Should I Help You?
I have Jott on speed dial of my cell phone, for those moments I need to capture an idea before it escapes. It’s one of those things I use where I can’t believe how I got by before.
Al at 7Ps last blog post..Why Should I Help You?