So, I’m starting something new tomorrow night. And it doesn’t involve my laptop; although it does include writing (by the way, don’t you hate it when people start sentences with and? Shit, I do).
I’ve signed up for a course through the University of Toronto called, “Generating Stories” – sort of an ode to brainstorming, I guess, although the title needs work, don’t you think?
Despite the lame name, the course attracted me because, since starting this blog, I’m all ideas, ideas, ideas, but sort of the same ones over and over, you know what I mean? That ever happen to you? You sort reinvent the wheel, trying to perfect the thought about the thing you were thinking. Anyway, blah blah blah, I’m looking to bust out of my mold a bit. I’ll be sure to blog about the class again.
In this course we’ll be writing poetry (poetry!) and memoirs and fiction. I’m nervous and excited. I’m sure there will be some terrific writers there looking to hatch some new ideas, too. I think I’m going to tell everyone I wax people’s hair for a living. If I tell them I’m an editor, they’ll look at me funny, like I’m supposed to remember what the fuck a pentameter is, even though I do, but I don’t care… but I should… because I’m an editor. See?! Awful. I hope the professor asks me to describe diction instead. I figure waxers or editors could come up with a pretty good definition for diction.
Oh, about tomorrow night: I received this email from my professor today and, get this, the whole class is to be… brace yourself… written in longhand. No computers. He even suggested, “bring a pencil”… love it already. The smell of a pencil case is one of my top 10 favorite smells of all time (and don’t you even judge me… I know you have a favorite smells list… you’re thinking about it right now, aren’t you?)
Which reminds me, I need a wax.
On another note, I realized that when I accompany a post with a photo, it’s typically a photo that’s been shot on my travels or via my BlackBerry, which is totally cheating, I think. So I want to change that. I’d like to make the photos on my blog a bit of an homage to The Year that Is 29; a scrap book of sorts. Current images of what I look like, dress like and do in this beautiful city. I’m changing everyday and someday I’d like to look back and just, you know, observe it. If I’m to really treat this blog as a documentary of my life and my List, I’d like the “show” portion of this story to accompany the “tell” more often.
All I know is, 30 better be awesome – I’ve been talking it up in my head for months.
*This is a picture taken last week with my BlackBerry. Yes, again. When I saw this Toronto indie band, Meligrove Band, in concert last year, I had them sign the back of my T-shirt. Such a groupie. So what?
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I start alot of sentences with “So” – is that worse?
Ahhh! It was so great meeting you last night!! Such a great surprise! Your sister is really sweet as well!
That class sounds awesome. I love scribbling away in notebooks. It reminds me of my favorite English teacher in high school–ever class he’d have us write “journal” entries for 15 minutes. Its amazing what would come out on paper. I think that’s when I really fell in love with writing. I often will write stuff out long-hand in my paper journal (or at least notes..) before I blog. I wonder if other people do this as well?
Love the photo–I was thinking of doing something similar–maybe posting a photo for each year of my twenties with an anecdote to go with each.
xo
wonderful to finally meet you! i love that last idea you had… posting a picture from each year.. do it!
When I’m “writing properly” I will not start a sentence with a preposition (“This is the sort of English up with which I will not put” – Winston Churchill (Yes the British WW2 Prime Minister) on reading a Cabinet briefing paper which contained a split infinitive) preferring to use the formal rules of English grammar, but if I’m “writing conversationally” (like in a blog posting or most e-mails) I tend to use the somewhat more free conversational rules. (Bad example, because I was using formal rules in that sentence to make a point).
If I were writing fiction, I’d be inclined to use formal rules for descriptive passages, and conversational rules for, well, conversations.
I stabbed myself with a pencil once. I’m not such a fan of them anymore.
I am interested in this storytelling, generating, class thing that you are doing. And, unfortunately, I do start sentences with and, not in formal papers, but in blogging all the time. ;) i know what you mean though. I kinda hate emoticons, but ya :D
I really appreciated your comment yesterday. Oh how funny, I am sorry But I just wrote about a paragraph here and erased it since I feel it would be more appropriate for an email. Though I should have cut and pasted it into an email rather than deleting it since sometimes don’t you think the very first time you say something it is the truest and best, while summaries are just, well not as pure. Dangit. I am super bummed now. Well, Gosh, Thank you. You seem like you would be someone I would really like to be better acquainted with. I will be away for a week, but I hope to resume some type of dialog with you when I get back.
Christina
I’m obsessed with waxing. Like honey/sugar wax that’s really sticky but smells good. Yes, I realize I’m strange..
=D
I start sentences with “And” all the time. Grammatical sniffiness does nothing for me. But sentences starting with “But” are even better.