#31 Pinterest

I'm sure you guys have heard of an App called 'Pinterest'?

Does the icon ring any bells?

Well.. I believe this app is an IMMENSE tool for writing inspiration.

As the world is becoming more and more technologically intelligent, we as writers also need to get with the times!

Obviously.. there are some old habits that we can't kick.. like writing out your draft on paper or in your various notebooks (I still do that..)

But.. have you ever used pictures as a tool for writing inspiration? I've created a 'Writing inspiration' board on my Pinterest, and I have some pictures on there and associated them with particular themes, so if I ever feel a little less motivated or don't have inspiration, I go there and I immediately get ideas-- I think with associating the pictures with themes, it helped me to be able to form a little story in my head-- I'm a very visual person.. and as long as I can see something.. I immediately get inspired.. and I can already start picturing scenes in my head.

I believe we all have smart phones... so download the app 'Pinterest' and see how you get on.

If you want to follow me on there, just pop a comment in the box and we can be Pinterest buddies!

If you don't have a smartphone, you can do it online.

We can never stop having sources for writing inspiration!

Comment Time- Rachel Dolezal & Being 'Transracial'

So... this 'comment time' had to be a little earlier this week because.. well!

I was on my Instagram last weekend.. just scrolling through my timeline.. and I see all of these '#askrachel' memes all over the place:

And I was like.. what is going on? And then when I googled '#askrachel' my brain was refreshed. So this woman has been posing as black, but she was 'outed' by her parents that she is indeed, white.

Now.. I really have no clue how to react to this. Should I be offended? Should I be humored by it? I'm really just on the fence-- I really suspect it's some kind of ploy with underlying racism. But I'm not offended nor upset about it.. I'm more concerned with the woman at hand.

Was there something that happened to her when she was younger that has caused her to be 'Transracial' (That term makes me cringe a little..)

Or has she had something traumatic happen to her to deny her God given race?

I know we all poke fun at the story, (with the thousands of memes on Instagram/facebook) but what was the purpose of the story coming out now? And then being compared to Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner's story?

I mean, in this video she is clearly asked if she is African American.. and she cannot answer.

I really don't know.. the story makes me wonder.

Thoughts anybody?

#30 Be Real

In life, (admit it...) there are times where we need to put on such a facade when we enter into particular places-- when we go to our workplaces we have to wear a smile for 8 hours, because no one needs to know that our house is falling apart behind closed doors. And quite frankly, no one really needs to know because it's not their business to know!

But when it comes to writing.. it is the place where we can pour out our hearts and our souls to so many people that we may, or may not meet.. but the main point is that we were REAL in telling that story. We were able to depict that EXACT emotion.. that scenario that is in the story, we were able to write it as if we are writing someone's life.

It may sound crazy what I'm saying.. but I believe when we write.. we write what people are afraid to say.. what they are afraid to feel, what they are afraid to accept. This is the essence of writing.. of telling the UNTOLD story. We all have so many things we keep inside due to the fear of someone spreading what we have said, exaggerating it, gossiping about it.. but when we write, there is that anonymity.. of being able to CREATE a world in which we can control what's happening, and we can decide what to write about, what to display, what to share with the person that is reading. Yes, what we are writing is fictional, but there must be an element that the reader is able to relate to; and if you're writing non fiction.. well!!

I believe when we are real, when we are raw, there is a feeling that the reader gets: 'This is speaking to me' or 'Oh my God, this is exactly what I am going through!' and I believe that gives the reader that much hope, that much reassurance that they will see the end of what they are going through, and that they are not alone in whatever situation they have had to bear. The words we decide to use, they all are part of the equation-- to communicate that story that person was afraid to open their mouth and say.

Writing is power-- and when it is used in the right way, it can most certainly change lives for the better.

#29 Spelling

Happpppyyyy Monday!

A lot of people that know me, KNOW I am the spelling fiend.. the spelling police.. etc..

It's only because it is very important to know the correct spelling of words! And fortunately, and unfortunately for me I've lived in two completely different areas of the world where the spelling varies.. so that is the only thing that can catch me out.

Otherwise.. spelling is my thing.

And to you my dear writers and readers out there in the world wide web.. what words catch you out when writing that story-- or even reading a story? Are there words that you tend to mix up when writing your first or second drafts of stories and such?

Well... I want to tell you the words that I have to kind of go, 'No that's not how you spell it' before I correctly spell the words..

'Humour' (In the states-- where I used to live, they spell it like this: 'Humor'..)

I get the 'there's' mixed up when I'm writing my raw drafts.

'Necessity' 

'Necessary'

Those are my most common words that stop me in my tracks. (From the top of my head)

And it's normal-- sometimes we have our moments where the spelling doesn't flow or we second guess ourselves-- that's why we have our trusty dictionaries and thesaurus'

Obviously we know the meanings of them and where we need to place them.. it's just the spelling that tends to leave us for a brief moment!

But yes, what are your words that you tend to second guess or misspell?

:)

Friday Flicks: The other Woman

I watched this film last weekend and I did kind of know what to expect.. but at the same time I did enjoy it and laughed my head off!

So it's pretty much this: Woman sleeps with man, man is married, woman that slept with man finds out.. and they team up for revenge.

But then they both find out that the man 'cheated' on them with a third woman.. and they all team up as a trio and plan on how to bring him down.

We later find out that the man has a sex problem.. he can't resist a woman.. but claims he loves his wife.. etc.

I won't reveal what they do-- but is more than hilarious and the guy definitely got what he deserved!

The movie has a very simple plot, but I find that is a formula for a good film.

Very lighthearted-- these 3 ladies form a great friendship out of an awkward situation, and you see that they all really needed each other and supported each other into entering a healthy relationship, and valuing their self worth.

Out of 10 I would give it an 8-- it's one of those predictable films, but it's very entertaining to watch and it does warm the heart.

Comment Time: Viral video: Black Teen attacked by Police man

I have seen the most atrocious thing this week: A police officer-- Not in this country-- in America, attacking a black teen and some others at a pool party.

Lets take race out of it for a second: How would you feel if you were just having a casual party with some friends and all of a sudden you're pinned down by a police man for no apparent reason?

Well. That's exactly what happened. In every news report I see... the words 'Black' 'Teen' 'Police' are plastered all over the article.

That's not even my point.

It's not as if the teenagers in the video were drunk and disorderly, or causing a raucous.. they were just having a good time and got RANDOMLY assaulted by a police officer (Oh, the irony)

What is happening right now?

Seriously?

It infuriates me not only because innocent young people were hurt, but it was-- and this is where race needs to come in-- young black teens. They weren't fighting.. they weren't doing anything to cause a fuss.

And according to this most recent article; they ARE saying that the attack was racially motivated.

Either way, it's crude, unfair and downright grotesque. There was no need for it. I mean, did the police officer just see a group of black people, assume they were going to be violent and decided to take it upon himself to be violent also?

I mean. Come on. We have enough stereotypes as it is; and to be quite frank, he was mistaken. Big time.

And now 'coincidentally' the police officer has now resigned...
Mmhmm.

But I have question.. isn't the police's duty to 'Protect and serve'? What he did was neither...


#rantover

#28 'I've tried everything, nothing's coming...'

Have you ever said this to yourself, or to a fellow writer colleague?

It's not unusual... but it's so easy to not write anything for months when you've convinced yourself that 'Nothing is coming'

I guess you could say that this is another form of Writer's block.. but think about it deeply.. have you REALLY tried everything?
Or is it just the case of.. 'It's not coming. I give up.?'

No, no, no!

Go on Twitter. Google random words. Read up on old stories you have written.

There are so many ways to ignite that writing flame. I find looking at photography sometimes sparks the ol creative writing juices.

If you're a little tech savvy, make a Pinterest-- it's a great tool for some inspiration.


If you're sitting there mentally thinking 'I don't know what to write!'

Get up. Get up now.

:)