Supposedly Sufferable Mumblings & Musings

I was six years old in that picture and i had just written a book about the alphabet. My name is Taylor, and here is where I post strange thoughts.

[wnq-anonymous]

Always remember, someone’s effort is a reflection of their interest in you.

Anonymous  (via wnq-anonymous)

[the-writers-society-deactivated]

Hello! Would you mind doing an example of not using filter words in a first person point of view? While I know that you can just switch out the pronouns for I/me/my, I just want to see it in action and when you should (and shouldn't) use the filter words. Thank you!

Hi there! I would love to! I think I’ll start out with an example with filter words and then cut out the filter words to show you the difference.

For those of you who haven’t seen my post on Filter Words.

Now, for the example:

I felt a hand tap my shoulder as I realized I had made a huge mistake. I knew the consequences would be unsettling, but I had no other choice. I saw the light of my desk lamp bounce off of the officer’s badge before I had even turned around. It seemed like I always found my way into trouble.

It was the first thing off the top of my head, so it’s a bit rough sounding….

Now for without filter words (And a bit of revision):

A hand tapped my shoulder as it dawned on me: I had just made a huge mistake. The consequences would be unsettling if I didn’t get out of this mess, but I had no other choice. The light of my desk lamp bounced off of the officer’s badge. I always found my way into trouble.

By taking out filter words, you get right to the point.

I’d also like to add a few more notes that I didn’t have the chance to post previously.

Some Examples of Filtering:

I heard a noise in the hallway.

She felt embarrassed when she tripped.

I saw a light bouncing through the trees.

I tasted the sour tang of raspberries bursting on my tongue.

He smelled his teammate’s BO wafting through the locker room.

She remembered dancing at his wedding.

I think people should be kinder to one another.

How can you apply this?

Read your work to see how many of these filtering words you might be leaning on. Microsoft Word has a great Find and Highlight feature that I love to use when I’m editing. See how you can get rid of these filtering words and take your sentences to the next level by making stronger word choices. Take the above examples, and see how they can be reworked.

FILTERING EXAMPLE: I heard a noise in the hallway.

DESCRIBE THE SOUND: Heels tapped a staccato rhythm in the hallway.

FILTERING EXAMPLE: She felt embarrassed after she tripped.

DESCRIBE WHAT THE FEELING LOOKS LIKE: Her cheeks flushed and her shoulders hunched after she tripped.

FILTERING EXAMPLE: I saw a light bouncing through the trees.

DESCRIBE THE SIGHT: A light bounced through the trees.

FILTERING EXAMPLE: I tasted the sour tang of raspberries bursting on my tongue.

DESCRIBE THE TASTE: The sour tang of raspberries burst on my tongue.

FILTERING EXAMPLE: He smelled his teammate’s BO wafting through the locker room.

DESCRIBE THE SMELL: His teammate’s BO wafted through the locker room.

FILTERING EXAMPLE: She remembered dancing at his wedding.

DESCRIBE THE MEMORY: She had danced at his wedding.

FILTERING EXAMPLE: I think people should be kinder to one another.

DESCRIBE THE THOUGHT: People should be kinder to one another.

See what a difference it makes when you get rid of the filter? It’s simply not necessary to use them. By ditching them, you avoid “telling,” your voice is more active, and your pacing is helped along.

The above list is not comprehensive as there are many examples of filtering words. The idea is to be aware of the concept so that you can recognize instances of it happening in your work. Be aware of where you want to place the energy and power in your sentences. Let your observations flow through your characters with immediacy.

Ok, sorry for the lengthy answer, I know you just wanted an example…. sorry!

If you have any questions, feel free to ask at my ask box

[thewinterotter]

THIS IS SO GREAT. I dind’t even know there was a term for this (I should have figured, right, because writers have words for everything), but it’s one of those things that being aware when you’re doing it (and editing it right the fuck out) will improve your writing SO MUCH. Removing the filtering helps to draw your readers more intimately into the action of your story, and as the text above says, adds power and immediacy to every sentence. THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT TIP I WANT TO SCREAM ABOUT IT.

[wereimagines]

Prompt list

I got the idea from a few other blogs, to basically list a bunch of prompts to give some ideas for an imagine and you can send in a request for anyone you’d like to see happen. Or if you have an idea for a prompt you think should be on the list, please let me know. I update it as I go along. Just write the number of the prompt(s) and the character you want it with, extra details are optional ( like if you want it to be f/f etc.) 

1. “Please tell me that’s not real.” 

2. “ Why do you even care? We’re not even friends.” 

3.  “ Are you jealous or something? ”

4. “You’re a what!??”

5. “Please don’t go.” 

6. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” 

7. “I need you to say it again, please.” 

8. “I can’t do this anymore,”

9. “I love you. And it terrifies me,”

10. “How do you accidentally kiss someone?” 

11. “I kissed a girl, and I liked it.” 

12. “He’s not breathing!”

13. “Squeeze my hand if you can hear me.”

14. “I can’t get you out of my head.”

15. “You’re so beautiful.” 

16. “I don’t care! I love you,”

17. “Come on it’ll be fun”

18. “Now you’re stuck with me.” 

19. “Your eyes… they’re glowing.” 

20. “I trusted you!” 

21. “I want to hate you, but I can’t. 

22. “I think I’m in love with you.” 

23. “Just kiss me already.” 

24. “Why didn’t you tell me?” 

25. “I need you. I always will.” 

26. “I wasn’t scared.” 

27. “This is not what it looks like.” 

28. “I hate hospitals.” 

29. “You weren’t there. You never came.” 

30. “I’m not afraid of you.” 

31. “Can you teach me that?” 

32. “Open your eyes.”

33. “Is that my shirt?” 

34. “We need to talk.”

35. “It hurts.” 

36. “I will always protect you.” 

37. “If you die, I will kill you.” 

38. “What’s he doing here?” 

39.  “I believe in you.” 

40.  “We shouldn’t be doing this.” 

41. “You shot me.” 

42. “Can I have this dance?”

43. “Did you hear that?” 

44. “I just want my friend back.”

45. “And I just miss you so much,”

46. “Wanna play?” 

47. “You make me the happiest I’ve ever been,”

48. “I wish I could stay,”

49. “No, I don’t want you to get sick,”

50. “I told you. I suck at this,”

51. “Next time I make the plan.” 

52. “What the hell happened to you?” 

53. “I don’t want to be your secret anymore,”

54. “Wait. Am I gonna be a dad?”

55. “Will you marry me?”

56. “I’m not leaving you!” 

57. “What’s wrong?” 

58. “Do you want the bite?”

59. “Take care of mommy while I’m away, okay?”

60. “You’re back.”

[fictionwritingtips]

Character Details to Hide from Your Readers

Hiding information from your readers on purpose will help you create tension in your novel. I know this doesn’t work for every novel, but if you’re writing something with elements of suspense and mystery, hiding details and revealing them later will improve your story. This also helps add dimensions to your characters and explore their motivations on a deeper level.

Here are a few things to hide about your characters to create tension:

Whether or not your protagonist is lying

Even good characters lie, especially if they feel like it will protect other people in the long run. There are ways to hint that your character is hiding the truth without actually revealing what the truth is. If your protagonist gets nervous or changes the subject when they’re asked about a specific detail, this will help show your readers that something isn’t quite right. If your character’s deception is hidden and then revealed at the right time, you’ll be able to add exciting tension and shock value to your story.

Who the real villain is

Some of the best tension is created when we’re uncertain about who the real villain is. In mystery/crime novels, for example, there’s often evidence that points to one person who ends up not really being the one we need to worry about. If you hide this information from your readers, you keep them guessing throughout the course of your novel and this will aid in creating suspense.

The truth about their past

When you hide your character’s past from your readers, you have the ability to use it as an explanation for something important later on. For example, if you character has these mysterious powers they can’t explain, you can use their parents and back story in order to reveal later on why it’s happening. Revealing past details slowly over the course of your novel helps build the mystery.

What their secondary goals are

Sometimes characters will have goals no one else knows about but them OR they will have a false goal that their using to cover up their real goal. For example, a character might say they’re rescuing another character because they want to help, but it really might be all about finding some hidden treasure along the way. There are many reasons why a character might want to hide their goals. Explore character motivations on a deeper level and you’ll be able to realistically include this type of deception in your story.

-Kris Noel 

[sparklermonthly]

I love, love, love a good unreliable narrator! This is really great advice for deepening your stories in whichever medium you prefer. 

[twenty--one--vessel]

[bisexualpiratequeen]

Warning to writers

While you are worrying about whether beta readers will steal your ideas, there is a more genuine threat on the horizon.

When offered a publishing contract, please do all your research before you sign. There are a number of fakes and scammers out there, as well as good-intentioned amateurs that don’t know how to get your work to a wide audience. I won’t tell the heartbreaking stories here - there are too many.

Being published badly is worse than being never published.

It can destroy your career and your dreams.

The quick check is to google the publishing house name + scam or warning.

But, to be sure, check with these places first. They aren’t infallible (nothing is) but they can help you protect yourself. They are written and maintained by expereinced writers, editors, publishers and legal folks.

Absolute Write: Bewares and Background Checks

Preditors and editors

Writer Beware

and the WRITER BEWARE blog

Keep yourself and your work safe.

This is really important, so if you are a writer or have writer friends, or you are a writing blog, please reblog it.

[rosey-buddy]

Just to let you know, PublishAmerica changed their name to America Star Books.

[lunamax1214]

HEAD’S UP, WRITER TYPES: THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PSA!

[oldmanyellsatcloud]

Also applies to many so-called freelance sites that are just content mills, and may not pay unless your work is used, even if the contract seems designed otherwise.

[mickeyandcompany]

Pixar’s 22 rules to phenomenal storytelling (click in the pictures to zoom)

[thvnderfox-blog]

[slippingintoacomabored-blog]

traumacomplex:

no but imagine the tally marks turning black if their love is requited.

and then imagine the tally marks becoming a scar when the one they love dies.

[pretendersrpa]

Imagine someone with no tally marks meeting someone with 50 tally marks

[tuckedshirts]

Imagine someone with no tally marks starting to like someone with all tally marks scarred 

[grokwrites-deactivated20150612]

imagine aromantics with no tally marks laughing at this tally mark bullshit system

imagine someone afraid of being in love suddenly getting a tally mark

imagine someone married with a single nice black tally mark has a new one just appear

imagine someone with a single scarred mark that refuses to love again gets a new mark and it’s black

imagine someone who falls in love too easily having a lot of marks

imagine nurses at old people homes taking care of people with scarred marks, black marks, and no marks

[75orchids]

Imagine a dolphin with human legs. Like a normal fucking dolphin except it gets up and walks around on human legs. Wouldn’t that be fucking nuts. Just my contribution to this post.

[theribbongirl]

Here I sit along the ocean deep Waves crash, the icy waters Splash on the sand. The sun gets Lower every day, the light is Running from me, Sequestered from my thoughts. And somewhere, church bells are Chiming.

If I were the sun, I too, would Run. Ripping into the ground, Bare feet...

[sufferable-mumblings]

The Pursuit of Happiness

When I was a little girl, I listened to country music. Shania Twain was my biggest role model. All I wanted to do was be a country singer so we could be friends. My parents never diluted my thoughts of granger with thoughts of studying law or medicine, they let me be a 7 year old girl. When I was in the fourth grade, my parents were told that I was a gifted child, but unfortunately there were no programs in our school district for me, so I would have to just hang back with everyone else. They didn't want me to jump a grade, so I did a lot of waiting. When most of the class was still reading books with pictures, I was at a sixth grade reading level. By the end of the year, I had read everything in my teacher's classroom. I never thought of myself as gifted, or ahead of anyone else really. I just thought I was faster, or maybe a little strange for understanding when everyone else scratched their little heads. When middle school arrived, grades switched from checks, minuses, and pluses to A's and B's and C's and so on. I remember the sudden pressure to stay ahead. I earned all A's all year, but that didn't come without a head ache. My teacher was hard on his students, and I remember pouring over extra credit essays to keep my perfect grades. I don't remember why I was so afraid to get anything under perfect. As middle school went on, my dreams of being a singer shifted. My teachers would again tell my parents that I was very smart and capable of great things. Soon the idea of being a doctor formed in my head. Whether that was on my own accord or not is still unclear, but for a long time I thought I would become an obstetrician and bring life into the world. But in the seventh grade, I got a B. I was never more embarrassed. I remember crying in my room, afraid to show anyone my failure, printed in black ink. My mother came in and asked me what was wrong, and when I told her, she assured me that my grades were still very, very good. I kept on singing in the chorus and the select chorus. I played in the band. I started theatre. I loved performing from a young age. The more time I spent in stage, the bigger my appetite grew for applause. In the eighth grade, I was cast in my first lead in a musical. It was a complete slapstick role, and I found my niche. Nothing made me happier than having the audience doubled over, laughing until the tears came down. When I was a freshman, the word "college" kept coming up in conversation, like an inevitable battle to be fought. I started listening to musical soundtracks, reading into the lives of my favorite actors and actresses. I had begun to realize that grades do not make a person, and are not an accurate measurement of one's intelligence. I realized that I was never meant to be a doctor, or a lawyer, or an engineer, or any of the other high paying jobs people had tried to convince me to pursue. My dream was, and is, to pursue a career as a performer. My parents were not eager when I first told them my secret. But now, they are my biggest supporters. My parents are letting me follow my dream. They love me enough to let me find what I was put here to do. And while I love them dearly for being so understanding, I do not understand why they are such an oddity. I have friends with parents who are pushing them into career's they detest, friends with parents who refuse to accept who their child is or what they want out of life. We only get one change here on Earth, one chance at happiness. Why waste it pouring over work in a poorly lit cubicle, ironically plotting ways to end yourself. Parents, love your children. Love the, enough to allow them to pursue their dreams, to pursue their happiness. You had your chance, you made your bed, don't make them lay in it.

[sufferable-mumblings]

petit oiseau

I once saw a little bird Dead on the concrete. She was Small, Her wings Unfurled, like she was Stopped mid flight by the grace of God. I like to Imagine that the little Bird was meant for More than Her little Meager life here in the world of Pollution and politics that I discovered her at the Close of. I like to Think that little Bird once was an Eagle, or a Falcon. That She had the chance to Fly among the mountains, Skim the clouds with the tip of her Wings, build a great Nest of branches, and not Twigs. I like to Pretend that I am that little bird, that She and I are of the same Wing. That I may Soar over the misty lakes of Earth, and look down to See my beak and Black bead-like eyes Shining because I am Free, I am at Peace. I once saw a little bird Dead on the concrete. She was Small, Her wings Unfurled, like she was Stopped mid flight by the grace of God. I like to Pray that someday when I am laying on the Concrete, arms Outstretched, that someone Believes I was stopped, too, by the Grace of God.

[sufferable-mumblings]

time

Right now, you're reading this sentence. Now you're reading this sentence. Now, you're thinking about what this column is going to be about, aren't you? You're wondering, why are you wasting your time reading whatever this is? You're four sentences in, and this, this piece is about nothing, right? What's the big deal? This is what the passage of time is like. You go about your day, reading, writing, thinking, eating, blinking, breathing, and then go home and sleep. You wake up the next day and do some sort of similar routine all over again. When you just do things without thinking, time passes secretly, it slips by you without your knowledge. But when it's pointed out to you, you stop for a moment and try to get a handle on time. Look at the time right now. Check a clock, a watch, your phone, whatever time piece you have. What were you doing at this time yesterday? Perhaps thinking about what you would be doing at this time tomorrow? Or maybe you were thinking about how excited you are for the weekend. Does it seem far away, this weekend? Well now you're closer than you were yesterday. You're closer to the weekend right now than you were when you read the opening paragraph to this column. You're closer now than you were when you read the first word of this sentence. Time passes constantly. Whether you are awake and consciously thinking about it, or sleeping it away, it's passing. Some times, time can be agonizing. You buy concert tickets months in advance, and it feels like the day will never come. But, it does. You have a paper due at the end of the semester, which seems like an eternity away. But, it comes. You start high school as a freshman, and from day one you're praying for graduation, feeling like it's a life time away. But, it comes. For me, graduation is less than a month away. I've been thinking about it for years. But when you break it down, the concept of a year is just a handful of months. Months are just a few weeks. Weeks are just seven days. Days are a few hours. Hours are only minutes. Minutes are seconds. Time is relative. You never realize how quickly it's slipping by you until it's gone entirely. I have been waiting for graduation since I was a child, and now it's here. And by the time you have read this, it's closer than when I wrote this. It's closer still since you starting reading this piece, since you read this sentence. Or this sentence. Or this one. My intention in writing this piece wasn't to trivialize time to you. I wrote this with the purpose of showing you how every single moment of your life counts. Every tiny moment speeds by so fast, it's already become a memory. Make what you have worth remembering.

[sufferable-mumblings]

"Girls," a poem from the point of view of Holden Caulfield

Girls. They Kill me. Goddamn, do they Kill me. Make me Crazy. Ernest Morrow’s mother, Boy did she have a Nice smile. Terrifically nice, In fact. The way she Smoked, she had such Charm. Quite a bit of Sex appeal, really. But Mrs.Morrow Left her goddamn Bags in the middle of the Aisle. Sunny. For Chrissake she was My age. A prostitute. I wish Maurice didn’t Wake her. Hey, she said, like funny She said, jiggling her foot in that little green dress. Nervous girl. But Sunny wasn’t a real blond. Sally. What a royal Pain in the ass. But Christ, was she marvelous. She never wore a Hat, but that little black beret. Goddamn. I couldda watched her and her cute little ass skate around all night. But Sally likes The Lunts. Goddamn. Nobody keeps their kings In the back row Anymore. I remember her, Laying by the pool. She lost by eight balls That day. I remember kissing Her eyes, her nose, everywhere and Anywhere.Her hands were Terrific to hold. Never too tight And never sweaty. All I knew is I was happy. I should Give her a call. But she Went out with Goddamn Stradlater. Girls. Goddamn, Crumby girls. I swear, I’m going Mad. They kill me.

[sufferable-mumblings]

Transgender and Katie Couric

You don't need a vagina to be a woman. Similarly, you don't need a penis to be a man. What takes it to be a man or a woman comes down to so much more than genitals. Being feminine isn't limited to only those born with ovaries and the like. Many people are born in a body bearing testosterone and Adam's apples, but their spirit and mind connect to the female gender identity. On the other end of the spectrum, some people are born with breasts and estrogen, but long to be associated with the pronouns "he" and "him."Transgendered members of the community are, unfortunately, more looked upon as objects and experiments to be studied, than men and women living their lives as they choose. Recently on an episode of Katie Couric's talk show, two transgendered women, both prominent in pop culture television, were asked to be on the show to discuss their current and upcoming projects. Instead, Laverne Cox, star of Netflix hit "Orange Is the New Black," and model, Carmen Carrera, were grilled on their genitalia and surgical procedures they had to undergo in order to "become women." Now, it was clear from the beginning that Couric has no malicious intent on asking these incredibly invasive questions. She was merely ignorant, and looking to "educate" those who may no be "familiar with transgenders." To an ignorant, callous person, yes, these questions may seem entirely harmless. (Just a tip; never go into an interview ignorant. In any situation, you should always have done your research before an interview, whether you are being interviewed or are doing the interviewing). As a talk show host and springboard of education to millions, her lack of preparation is unacceptable and inexcusable. Take a moment and put yourself in the shoes of these two women; you are being interviewed on national television, and while you expected to talk about your achievements, the host only wants to know what's going on with your naughty bits. Wouldn't you be extremely uncomfortable? When asked a question of this nature, Carerra shut down Couric, saying, "I don't want to talk about it. It's really personal." When Cox joined for the second half of the segment, Couric began with relevant questions, but circled back to questioning her nethers. But Cox didn't skip a beat and replied with a beautifully put together statement; "I do feel there is a preoccupation with that," replied Cox, "The preoccupation with transition and surgery objectifies trans people. And then we don’t get to really deal with the real lived experiences. The reality of trans people’s lives is that so often we are targets of violence. We experience discrimination disproportionately to the rest of the community. Our unemployment rate is twice the national average; if you are a trans person of color, that rate is four times the national average. The homicide rate is highest among trans women. If we focus on transition, we don’t actually get to talk about those things." She then continued to discuss the recent murder of a transgendered woman, and how we as a nation need to stop focusing on bodies, and instead focus on the realities of oppression and discrimination transgendered people must endure. It's time society takes a step back and instead of focusing on bodies and sex and physicality, specifically in situations they are not a part of, we need to relearn the idea of empathy. Stop. Think. Then speak. And when you do speak, remember to be respectful. You may not be a transgendered person, you may have differing opinions on transgendered people, but one sentiment remains the same: live and let live.

[sufferable-mumblings]

Holidays-

A hot shower. A home cooked meal, made in your oven. A secure and steady roof. The holiday season is a time for being irrationally happy and hoping to receive the presents you ask for, right? In recent year, that's what it seems like, anyway. Making sure you get the new model of smart phone you claim you need so badly is more important than the feeling behind it. And when people don't receive what they want, there's a bitter tension in the air on the Christmas morn or Hanukah night. Many people are lucky enough to spend their holiday season with people they love in the comfort of their home. That is a lot more than some people in our country have. Homelessness is at an incredible high, due to the ever crashing economy. While some people have a place to live, they may have to give up heat or gas in order to pay for the roof over their head. More people than you think go to bed at night with not enough food in their stomach, not enough blankets on their bed. The common misconception is that people who are homeless are those in need. There are so many functioning members of our society, and community, who appear that there couldn't possibly be something lacking in their life. They smile, joke, and carry on as thought their lives are splendid. But they may go home to a house with a floor covered in buckets, because their ceiling leaks and they can't afford to fix it. There are so many agencies nowadays that are geared toward helping families in need. So, why don't people take advantage of them? It takes a strong man to admit he can't provide for his family. It takes a strong woman to accept she is stuck and needs someone to help her. Pride and ego is too strong for many families. Embarrassment and shame is something that, to many, looms over the food stamps line. This holiday season, if you're lucky enough to be in a situation financially that you are receiving gifts, put aside your selfish and materialistic ways. Say thank you. Be grateful for that you have, not lustful for what you don't, because you can take a hot shower. You can have a hearty, warm meal cooked in your fully functioning kitchen. You have a secure and steady roof over your head, and that is what you should be truly thankful for.