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Friday, May 05, 2006

Where it will go...


I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in
And stops my mind from wandering
Where will it go
--Fixing a hole, The Beatles

It may come as a suprise to some of you that I don't always have something in mind to write about when I begin a new post. More often than not, I start with an image and let my synapses fire at will. Okay, maybe it isn't a suprise to some of you.

I was inspired a couple of months ago by an article in The Onion called, "I can write 600 words about anything," by Jason Alford. He brags about his uncanny ability to write 600 words about anything, including 600 words about his uncanny ability to write 600 words about anything.

I believe I share his uncanny ability to write 600 words about anything. I proved it back in June of last year when I blathered on about the horned viper and I had never heard of the horned viper until I opened up a dictionary to a random page and chose the horned viper as my subject (it too, was an uninspired blogging day). Not that I counted the words. I’m sure there were at least 600 words. It takes discipline though, to write a specific number of words.

Oh, I suppose it is kind of a cop out to write about your ability to write anything about 600 words. Though I don’t think it is as big a cop out as writing nonsensical, convoluted logic about only wanting what we already have. I have to admit, that was pretty lame. I shouldn’t use the word “lame.” I was chastised several years ago after using the word “lame” as in “lame excuse.” I was informed that I was making fun of people with disabilities by using that term. I really don’t think It was, though.

But I am digressing. I do that a lot. Ask Lights in the Wake.

I guess writing about writing about anything isn’t as big as a cop out as not writing at all. But then again, I’ve been writing professionally for almost 20 years, so it really doesn’t take me much time to write in my blog everyday. The digitally enhanced images I’ve become so fond of (and THE Michael seems so down on), however, do take a bit of work. And come to think of it, a picture is worth a thousand words, so I really am ahead of the curve whenever I include an image in a blog post.

I wonder why they call them posts. You don’t put them in the ground. Oops…digressing again. Focus is the key in cranking out 600 words about anything. I suppose focus is the key in doing anything that requires focus. But then again, I do wear glasses, but just for reading now. I had that Lasik surgery about three or four years ago. I had worn glasses since I was 14 years old. It is quite the miracle. It doesn’t really help you focus on writing 600 words about anything, though. That takes training, experience and appreciation for words. And I do appreciate words. They fascinate me. But they also baffle me at times. For example, why does a rooster crow, but a crow doesn’t rooster?

Oh well, what’s important about writing is understanding words and how they are strung together into coherent sentences that sound like they mean something meaningful. And when you are writing 600 words about anything, you have to be able to stop when you reach exactly 600 words and not one more.

7 comments:

Time said...

Shandi, BLUSHING...you really think so? I mean, I could stand to lose a few more words, but I have been blogging out a lot. Hold on, just let me slip into that Speedo... :)

Anonymous said...

I think a picture of you in a speedo would be priceless. You wouldn’t have to type a single word ever again.

Alex Pendragon said...

Shandi, did you actually count the words? I knew 35 words in what he was blathering on about.....600 words worth. And I can see him now, feverishly working on finding a pic of Marc Spitz in his speedo to paste his face on. But c'mon...six hundred words worth of drivel is nuthin"....I do that every other post!

Hayden said...

TRUELY and GENUINELY (if I cap will it make it so?) ROFLMAO! applause, applause! tour de force......

and the audience nods and murmers it's approval....

Time said...

Lights, As I mentioned in the other comment thread,I've put you down to sponsor the Race for Digression Marathon. What say you to $1 a word?

Mickey, the world is not yet ready for me in a Speedo. And it wouldn't be me that was speechless.

THE Michael, It is important to embrace your inner drivel and nurture it. You are a master at it. It's the confining it to 600 words or less that you need to work on. :)

And Hayden, my true patron and producer of the artistic, I am not worthy, but thank you.

Zagu said...

Hey there. So I'm 42 and often need a cane to walk. I don't mind you're using "lame," at least not for excuses. Excuses don't get you anywhere, which is pretty lame.
I'm much more concerned with intentions than words. After all, they've named bombs "Peacemakers."
'Love your post here and your blog.
I'll be back . . .

Time said...

Welcome zagu, I like that, "more concerned with intentions than words." I've been enjoying your blog as well. I found you through Mickey's blogroll which is high praise indeed.