Dan Jorgensen's Blog, page 98

A Writer's Moment: 'Living in a story'

A Writer's Moment: 'Living in a story':   “I think the job of writing and literature is to encourage each one of us to believe that we're living in a story.”...

A Writer's Moment: 'Imagination' equals the root of intelligence

A Writer's Moment: 'Imagination' equals the root of intelligence:   “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination.” – Albert Einstein Today is a day Einstein -- born on this date i...

'Imagination' equals the root of intelligence

 

“The true sign of intelligence isnot knowledge, but imagination.”– Albert Einstein
Todayis a day Einstein -- born on this date in 1879 -- would have enjoyed.  It’s NationalPi Day.  Pi is a mathematical constant,  one of the first ever discovered and used extensively in Einstein's calculations.   Pi, which isthe ratio of the distance around a circle to the circle’s diameter, produces a number that isalways the same.  The number starts 3.141592653...and continues without end.  But it's quite helpful in solving problems or making discoveries, somethingEinstein was pretty good at.   Celebrating National Pi Day on 3-14makes sense because the first three numbers are, of course, 3-14.  

 

Einstein probably would have had as much fun as anyone celebrating National Pi Day on March 14th because he had a great sense of humor to go along with hisbrainy abilities.    He once noted that people should never kiss and drive at the same time . . . because then you aren't giving thekiss the proper attention it deserves.   He also said – probably with a bittoo much modesty – that he didn’t keep a notebook of his great ideasbecause “I’ve only ever had one."  [image error]  “Learn from yesterday, live for today, and hope for tomorrow," he said.  "The important thing is not to stop questioning.”    And maybe have a slice of pie with that.

A Writer's Moment: That nagging 'What If?' factor

A Writer's Moment: That nagging 'What If?' factor:   “A strong emotion, especially if experienced for the first time, leaves a vivid memory of the scene where it occurred.”...

That nagging 'What If?' factor

 

“A strong emotion, especially ifexperienced for the first time, leaves a vivid memory of the scene where itoccurred.” – Algernon Blackwood

  

Bornin England on this date in 1869, Blackwood was a short story writer andnovelist and one of the most prolific writers of ghost stories in the historyof the genre. He was also a journalist and narrator in both radio andthe early years of television.   

 

Agifted storyteller, even in childhood, he said he always amazed friends andneighbors with his ability to spin yarns about the supernatural and so thoughtit was his calling to continue doing so as an adult.   Ultimately, hewrote some 3 dozen original short story collections, 14 novels, severalchildren's books, and a number of plays before his death in 1951.

 

Mostof Blackwood’s stories were written to elicit a sense of “awe” or carry throughthe  “What if?”  factor, which made them perfect for suchbroadcast shows as “Suspense” and “Night Gallery.”  

 

Hesaid his secret to success in the genre was to leave a sort-of nagging sense inthe reader that something was yet to happen. “Those little things that pierce and burn and prick for years to come.”

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A Writer's Moment: 'The responsibility to reach out'

A Writer's Moment: 'The responsibility to reach out':   “I believe musicians have a duty, a responsibility to reach out, to share your love or pain with others.”   – James Taylor Born on M...

'The responsibility to reach out'

 

“I believe musicians have a duty, aresponsibility to reach out, to share your love or pain with others.”  – JamesTaylor
Born on March 12, 1948 Taylor is a writer, singer, poet, performer and member of the Rockand Roll Hall of Fame.   He also has written several bestselling books, including Life and Break Shot.  His lyrical creations -- writing both words and music for most of his own songs -- have resulted in over 100 million record sales. 
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“It is a process of discovery,” hesaid of his creative process.  “It’s being quiet enough andundisturbed enough for a period of time so that the words can begin to sort ofpeek out … in an emotional way.” 
Taylor’s song (and lyric) writing include the Grammy-winning “Fire and Rain,” his first number one hit, theamazing “You’ve Got a Friend,” and the joyful “Your Smiling Face,” 

“Though 'Fire and Rain' is very personal, forother people it resonates as a sort of commonly held experience,” he said.  “And that's what happens with me. I writethings for personal reasons, and then in some cases it becomes a sharedexperience.” 

A Writer's Moment: 'Ending where I need to be'

A Writer's Moment: 'Ending where I need to be':   “There's nothing worse than sitting down to write a novel and saying, 'Well, okay, today   I'm going to do something of hig...

'Ending where I need to be'

 

“There'snothing worse than sitting down to write a novel and saying, 'Well, okay,today  I'm going to do something of highartistic worth.’” – Douglas Adams

 

Born on this date in 1952, Adams isperhaps best known as the author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,which originated as a BBC radio comedy before being turned into a series ofbooks that sold more than 15 million copies.  Ultimately it also generated a televisionseries, several stage plays, comics, a computer game, and a feature film. 

 

Adams, who died of a heart attack atage 49, was known as an advocate for environmentalism and conservation; hislove of fast cars, cameras, and technological innovation; and, of course, hisprowess as a writer, first begun in elementary school.  Hitchhiker’sGuide has been enshrined in The UK Radio Academy’s Hall of Fame.

  

Often called  "a true Renaissance man," he also was anactor, singer, producer, computer game developer, and stand-up comic.                        

  

“I seldom end up where I want to go,” he once saidabout his eclectic career, “but I almost always end up where I need to be.”

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A Writer's Moment: 'Like a piece of ice on a hot stove'

A Writer's Moment: 'Like a piece of ice on a hot stove':   “Like a piece of ice on a hot stove a poem must ride on its own melting ... Read it a hundred times, it will forever ke...