Alexander M. Zoltai's Blog, page 23
April 21, 2018
For All the Women Who’ve Been Misunderstood ( and, Worse… ) . . .
I’m not doing a re-blog today because I was reminded of a particular video that, to me, fits right into the #MeToo Campaign; plus, any related movements that are working to free women from inequality, harassment, oppression, and violence…
The video is Pink Floyd and the song is The Great Gig In The Sky…
The males of the band defer to the three female backup singers, giving them center stage—voices soaring, imploring, complaining, and wailing—melodies of elegance and entreaty and exhortation…
...
A Little Is Enough
No time to write…?
Really…?
Then, you really should read today’s re-blog :-)
He’ll work on his book after this shot
At the Postgraduate Writing Conference at the Vermont College of Fine Arts earlier this month, Andre Dubus III talked about his writing practice after his three children were born, when he was writing House of Sand and Fog. He and his wife both worked full time, and the hours outside work focused on parenting. He taught as an adjunct at several schools...
April 19, 2018
Friday Story Bazaar ~ Tale Eighty-Seven
Reflections on Truth
by
Alexander M Zoltai
~~~~~~~~~
My grandmother sent me five very short emails last year, just before she died.
I learned a lot by pondering their words.
I reproduce them here hoping they’ll mean something to you, too…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“This side lies about that side…
“A ‘neutral’ source disputes that they are lies…
“The ‘neutral’ source is found to be lying…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“This company makes a killing by acquiring that company…
“A highly-reputed magazine dispute...
Do the Doing: An Actor Writes
Sage advice in the re-blog today—for all kinds of writers…
A guest post from Cecile Callan:
“I’m noticing a pattern in your work, and it’s a problem,” my mentor said.
I was near the end of my third term of my fiction MFA when she put her finger on something happening in my writing whenever emotions grew strong. To show an intense scene’s rage, anger, or grief, I’d throw in more adjectives and adverbs, believing more description would create more emotion and show I re...
April 18, 2018
Our Blog Conversation Takes a Turn toward Truth. . .
[image error] This past Monday was the last full post about pop-ups and other charming and surprising books.
The last because, when there are no comments on a post, I change the topic :-)
However, just before I launch into the new topic for discussion, I’ll offer a link to a post on Publetariat that has a video with all kinds of pop-ups—a video with the creator of those pop-ups—a link to a tutorial on making pop-ups.
So, perhaps another day, we might, once again, talk about pop-ups and other charming thin...
April 16, 2018
Writing Toward Freedom
No time to write with a baby around?
Translate “baby” into other “blocks”…
Can you see the same issues with the “other” blocks in this woman’s baby blocks…?
By Varda Meyers Epstein
For years I struggled to put pen to paper. How to say what was so perfect in my heart and mind? I’d write it this way and that. But it would be no good.
Then the baby would cry and I’d put the writing aside. I’d tell myself that time was the problem; my excuse for not writing. Because time...
Our Blog Conversation Stays in the Realm of Charming and Surprising Books
Last Wednesday we had the post, Our Blog Conversation Takes a Delightful Turn . . ., and it garnered two comments—one from Maryland in the USA and one from Melbourne, Australia…
[image error]Painting by Hokusai
I wasn’t sure if talking about pop-up books would bring any conversational comments; but, I was delighted that both have valuable links included :-)
So…
from Maryland:
“This conversation reminded me of an essay I once bookmarked in Library School…
(A Concise History of Pop-up and Movable Books) by...
April 14, 2018
Tempting the Muse – A Quick Bit of Advice
………
Sharon Stone in the Albert Brooks 1999 movie, The Muse
I’m going to bet that your muse doesn’t always show up when you want her to.
Muses are tricky, fickle creatures. They are like cats in that they prefer to do things only when they damn well please and never according to anyone else’s schedules or needs. Also, like cats, they have a tendency to show up when you least expect them. How often have you been struck by inspiration in a moment when you absolute...
Leading with Reading or How I Found a Career that Nurtured my Book Addiction by Liz Garden
Most Fascinating re-blog today :-)
I have discussed my book addiction with many different people. The first step is admitting you have a problem, right? I know I have a problem. I just can’t say no to books. I guess there are worse problems I could have. I have multiple to be read piles, yet I just signed up for a book of the month club. When I pack for a trip, the number of books might occasionally outnumber my articles of clothing. I can look in every direction in bot...
April 13, 2018
Friday Story Bazaar ~ Tale Eighty-Six
But, We Thought…
by
Alexander M Zoltai
~~~~~~~~~
“We did all we could; but, we didn’t know what we were doing—it was all wrong.
“We really wanted to help; but, we made things worse.
“Now… We feel that knowing exactly how to help is Way more important than just starting to try to help.
“I mean, we actually harmed folks with our ‘innocent’—but immature—efforts.
“But…
“We are starting to learn…
“We must ask the people we want to help—find out what they really need.
“No, not all the people; but,...
