Author: Shelley Powers

Categories
Books Writing

If it’s so bad why do we love it

Michael Blowhard at 2Blowhards provides a detailed discussion about why you wouldn’t want to write a book. Among the reasons given, such as only a few hundred people make a living at it, he says that writing a book just isn’t fun:

Many people imagine that they’d “fullfill themselves” (whatever that means) if they wrote a book; or that they’d get a deep pleasure out of the craft elements of the job. In fact, writing a book is a lot of work, and often work of a very tedious kind. It’s heavy labor, more akin to building a house than puttering in your basement. (And no one builds a house purely for the pleasure of it.)
…
But writing a book isn’t something that can be done in a week or a month. It weighs on you; it’s a bear to wrestle into submission, and it’s followed by the (generally) no-fun publishing process. And then you’ve got to endure the almost inevitable commercial disappointment. Imagine going to all the trouble of building your dream house (by hand, naturally) – and then people ignore it.

I do agree with Michael – book writing isn’t done in a week or a month. And during a deadline, or if you’re having trouble with your subject, it can weigh on you. But he’s focusing exclusively on the darker moments of writing.

Sure there are times when the words feel as if they have to be dragged out of your very soul; but then there are other times when your fingers can’t move fast enough in order to keep up with your thoughts. Sometimes you get a good editor, sometimes you don’t, but when you have a good one, the editing process can be enormously satisfying.

And when you get your first copy of the book, what a feeling of accomplishment. The same feeling you get when someone is kind enough to write you and let you know how much they enjoyed the book, or how much the book helped them.

According to Michael, the only reasons why people would consider writing books are:

  • Some hope to hit the jackpot despite the odds
  • Some have a dream about being an author, or taking part in “literature”
  • Some are obsessed lunatics – ie., they feel they just gotta
  • Some don’t know better (these usually never write a second book)
  • Some have other ambitions, and writing a book is a step along the way
  • A handful are determined to be trade-book authors as a career, and know what the game consists of, and have (or think they have) the tenacity, toughness, talent, luck and energy to succeed

I am guilty. I am an obsessed lunatic.

Seriously, Michael Blowhard has good points: writing books is not an easy thing to do; it takes time, discipline, a certain kind of writing ability, and most people who write don’t make a living at it. As for being part of the literary world, well, for most of us, writing a book might get us a cup of coffee at Starbuck’s, but only at one located in a Barnes & Noble. But still, there are some of us tenacious, tough, determined, hopefully talented people who keep at it. Because in the end, the writing’s the thing. That’s one Michael forgot to include in his list.

Categories
Healthcare

Medication for all and for all a good-night

In my writing about parents being real, I made mention of the fact that medication for depression isn’t the solution for all people. I thought afterwards that some might think I’m critical of those who take antidepressants.

I do think that ours is a society that overmedicates, and that too often doctors prescribe antidepressants with a belief that if they help, great; if they don’t, just stop taking the pills and no harm done. These are not aspirin and starting and stopping these medications should only be done under carefully controlled circumstances, and full understanding of the impact.

I also believe that not everyone who is depressed or down needs medication. I chatted with a person on the phone a couple of weeks ago and started to say I was feeling a bit low, and the first thing they asked is whether I had gone to the doctor and been prescribed an antidepressant. It’s becoming a standard practice that rather than listen to another talk things through, suggest they get medicated and come back when they’re more cheerful.

Sometimes when a series of not good things happen, people become depressed as a result. This isn’t a permanent condition. This isn’t an event calling for medication. Sometimes all that’s needed is a nice chat with a good friend, a long hike, or just time to work things through.

But for other people, depression is a very deep and dark place that they can’t pull out of on their own. The roots of the many such depressions are often found in the chemical and it needs the chemical to find a balance. Or sometimes the depression has been around so long, the person needs something to break the cycle of despair they find themselves in. For these people, thankfully there are antidepressants, and good doctors who know when, and when not, to prescribe them.

I didn’t want to give the impression in my earlier writings that I disapprove of antidepression medication; a good friend or loving mate is not a substitute for badly needed medication. At the same time, though, medication isn’t always a substitute for a good friend, a talk, and a walk.

Categories
Weather

Heat alert

We’ve had another heat alert today. Temperatures up to 95-97 degrees, and effective temperature close to 110 degrees. Very hot, and very humid. The only way I can get any walks in is to go early enough in the morning. Trying to walk later in the day, even early evening can leave you feeling faint after just a couple of minutes.

It’s actually easier to go walking in the winter here. We don’t get as much snow as most areas, and we don’t have to fight the heat. Or the insects. Unfortunately, my walk through the forest last weekend has left me covered with bites, including all over my face.

I had my car worked on yesterday and when I went in, the guy goes, “Forgot the insect repellant didn’t you.” From there it was to the laundry to clean two large comforters. While waiting for them to dry, another lady, who’d been looking at me for ten minutes, comes over, sweet as can be, and gives me her home remedy for insect bites.

I’m staying home until it’s cooler, and until I don’t invoke pity in everyone who sees me.

One piece of good news: I received my first professional photography payment today. Next week I’m treating my roommate to dinner, or perhaps brunch over at Tower Grove.

The money will come in handy because I still haven’t found a new book. I’ve had to cancel my planned birthday trip this fall: driving to the Southeast, then up the coast, and finally over to the Northwest to my Mom’s house. I don’t mind missing out on the long drive so much, but I had huckleberry margaritas to look forward to. Now, that was disappointing.

Still, there’s always next Spring. It’s nicer driving in the Spring, anyway. And I’ve been told huckleberries freeze.

Categories
Political Weblogging Writing

A Missouri woman heads to American Streets

Starting this next Sunday, I’ll be writing a weekly essay at The American Street–my first time as contributor to a group weblog. Each essay is a longer writing, and may or may not include links. Though the topic will vary from week to week, I hope to bring a unique perspective to each that reflects, among other things, being a woman living in Missouri. Since it’s been said by those who say such things that women prefer facts over theory, you might say I’m providing the show me sex in the show me state viewpoint.

(Speaking of which, Missouri, an important swing state in the upcoming election, is also the site of one of four presidential debates scheduled for this Fall. It’s also a popular campaign stop for both parties, as witness President Bush’s visit today.)

I’ve resisted group weblogs in the past, preferring to keep all my writing here in my own space. What changed my mind in this case–aside from the other excellent writers at The American Street, not to mention my respect for Kevin Hayden–is that I want the discipline that comes with writing in another’s space, and at specific times in the week.

I’m writing on impulse too much lately. Writing impulsivly is not the same as being fresh and spontaneous. There is an element of ‘knee jerk’ reaction to impulsive writing, and I end up regretting such writing, more often than not.

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of material lately that leads to reactive behavior, much of it political in nature. I’ve been reading the top linked stories the last few week and I’m seeing a new element entering into weblogging; we’ll call it the “Fox” element for want of another classification. You can see it with the relatively new weblog written by Michelle Malkin, who happens to be, among other things, a Fox News Contributor.

Malkin has looked at weblogging and seen what it’s done for Wonkette and others, and has enthusiastically jumped in. She’s a real pro, too, having written for the New York Post and National Review Online, as well as being trained by that media maw that is known as Fox. Though we can laugh and sneer at Fox’s lack of credibility, make no mistake–it is the highest rated news station in the country now. Fox sells here in Missouri. Fox sells in a lot of places.

Malkin has, quickly and efficiently, demonstrated how to push the right buttons with her writing. Though I am pleased to see a woman gain such immediate attention, I am less than sanguine when I read her form of journalism.

Malkin succeeds by generating impulsive reactions. Whether they are reactions for or against (primarily for, at this time), there is something about her writing that makes me, at least, want to sit down in a heat of anger and write a blistering refutation.

However, the problem with this kind of reaction is all we’re doing is responding to having our buttons pushed; instead of providing a counter-point, we’re providing a chorus. It’s somewhat comparable to Fox News and that new documentary, Outfoxed. Is Outfoxed outfoxing Fox? Or will it be outfoxed itself as Fox’s audience increases rather than decreases over the next several months, thanks in part to this documentary. The documentary and that foolish MoveOn challenge of Fox’s slogan, “Fair and Balanced”, I should add.

Rather than immediately respond to Maltin’s writings, or other events just as heated and reactive, with many postings barely controlled, I’m hoping that by picking one specific topic, thinking about it carefully and calmly and then writing about it on a specific day, to a weblog shared with other people, my writing will not only be more disciplined, but more effective. The writing can still be as passionate; hopefully, though, it will also be thoughtful, cohesive, and coherent.

(Not to mention spell checked, and carefully edited for grammar. Not, toomany, comma’s or other punctuation an grammar errors other other typos in the writing of it.)

My appreciations to The American Street folks for inviting me in.

Now, I may be more thoughtful with my political writing at The American Street, but I’ll still blather incoherently about everything else here, or in Practical RDF. Just in case you were worried.

Unfortunately, reading popular political weblogs from all sides of the fence, I have a feeling my approach is not going to gain The American Street any fans.

Categories
RDF

New for me

Recovered from the Wayback Machine.

You all probably know about this already, but version 0.8 of RAP or RDF API for PHP was released in June. Among other things, such as an integrated RDF server, RAP provides support for the RDQL (a query language for RDF), now a W3C submission–which you’ve probably also heard about.

One advantage of taking a hiatus away from a technology is that when you come back, all the things you wished for are now a reality. Of course, the disadvantage is that you’re saying things like, “Hey, cool! Look at this!” and everyone has seen it before.

I guess it’s just me, myself, and I in this little journey of rediscovery. That’s okay – at least the audience will agree with me. For the most part.