Monday, January 21, 2013

Diction Addiction

I have been slack, I know.

Julie Luek at A Thought Grows, and Joseph Schwartz at Magicellus awarded me the Addictive Blog Award so long ago now they may have moved on to more stimulating addictive blogstances.

Nevertheless, thank you.

My role in the process is to pass on the award to those blogs I feel impelled to visit regularly. All of my current addictions have been presented with this award, a number of times in some cases, so instead, I am nominating new friends that I am confident will become addictions over time.


And speaking of diction addictions, I'm usually not one to enter into the frenzy of fads, but this is one I could not resist.

The PBC Mastermind, M. L. Swift, has spoken. The third Wednesday of every month, beginning 20th February, will see a group of astute writers descend like a pack of wild animals on a writing craft book.

First to the feast is Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.

Check it out. Speak your mind. Mingle with fellow wordivores, because remember:
You are lucky to be one of those people who wishes to build sand castles with words, who is willing to create a place where your imagination can wander.                           Anne Lamott. Bird by Bird.

21 comments:

  1. Your blog is like crack. And I mean that in all admiration. Congratulations on the award. I'm looking forward to the book club as well.

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    1. Is that an egg joke as pay-back for the comment I left at your place? And I'm still keen on Cracked Utopia, by the way. Hmm, I'm sensing a theme, here.

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    2. I was making an addiction joke, avoiding plumber humor or egg destruction. ;)

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  2. Jules,

    There are several types of crack. Some good, some bad. Some are addictive and some are to be avoided at all costs. I will say that I am addicted to Erica's blog as well. She has too much class to let Big Joe's stink linger in the hallway, I admire that she knows there are better movies than 'Sleepless in Seattle', and "She looks marvelous!"

    Can't wait for Swifty to wake up from his nap and weigh in on the debate of how wonderful Erica's blog really is.

    Love you guys!

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    1. Dearie, dearie me. Put the crack away now, Shakers. That's it, put it away.

      Speaking of movies, you never told me the obscure 80's movie that you quoted from weeks ago. (What was it again? "This is hard work, I think I need to lie down," or something like that.) I've been dying of anticipation, can't you tell?

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    2. Rob, Rob, Rob...how is it you are a husband and not in touch with your inner chic-flick meter?

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    3. Erica,

      Okay, no more crack. I will quit cold turkey. I hope I don’t accidently step on a crack and break my mother’s back.

      The quote “This is hard, lets go watch TV.” Is from PCU, Politically Correct University. It is a horrible movie so don’t waste your time thinking it is Animal House, Revenge of the Nerds or Old School.

      Jules,

      I watch the chick flicks, but that doesn’t mean that I like them. Real story. A few years ago my wife and I were on the couch flipping channels. We came across a Sandra Bullock movie. A terribly sad movie of a woman with a young daughter whose husband is a slime bag, leaves them with no money, no home and only a ratty car to live in. The movie drones on dragging us deeper and deeper into depression. Finally she meets a nice man and you are left to wonder if the guy is going to be true to them.

      The credits start to roll and my wife yells between sobs. “There was supposed to be a guy with an airplane and a restaurant at the end.”

      I respond between sobs, “That is Sweet Home Alabama! This was Hope Floats!”

      Now, we have Netflix so I choose the movies. I pick great movies and if she wants a chick flick she tells me and I find it. If her friends want to see something that is a new release, then she goes with her friends on her girls’ night out. You might not believe this but I am a sensitive guy, and yes I cry in a movie. In fact I get so upset that I am useless to her later. So this is a system that works for us.

      Fortunately for me, she really likes action movies, mystery movies, thrillers and comedies. I married well.

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  3. I've started BIrd by Bird for M L Swift's challenge. I've given up on this book before, so I'm glad to be 'forced' to read it now. There are a few great tips in there.

    Thanks for those links, I'll check them out :)

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    1. I'll be interested to read why you gave up on the book. When I read it ages ago, I wrote: 'It was with great effort, then, that I committed myself to finishing Lamott's, Bird by Bird.'

      Ooo, there could be some contention in the camp.

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    2. Oooo indeed! I can't wait to discuss it. I'm actually loving it. I wish I had a big clump of free time - I'd finish it in one sitting.

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  4. Pay no heed to Rob Akers. The only crack he knows runs up the middle of his plumber's butt. I love Bird by Bird, especially since I gave myself permission to NOT read the entire book. I learned that trick in college.

    Congrats on the award Erica. I became addicted to your writing the first time I read your responses on the Writer's Digest prompt blog. No lie. I still rememember the short story about the Irish bandits.

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    1. Joseph, you are far too good at this imagery business.

      To not read a book in its entirety is so alien to me, but what a great idea.

      But then can you say, 'Yes, I've read it,' or do you answer with, 'I've read most of it,' and expose yourself to an interrogation: ('Which parts have you read?' 'Why not all?' 'Do you feel like you've missed something?' etc).

      I still remember your style jumping out at me via the wacko obsessed with his wife.

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    2. Plumber's boar-haired butt would be a titch more descriptive. The bristly, wiry kind that you can make a brush with. :o)

      Hey...I'm lucky to finish a book, especially if it's a reference or how-to. I'll read the majority and see where everything else is to tap on later. I'll finish fiction and creative non, though. And this one. Not your typical craft book.

      Hey...no sweat about finishing. It even says something about that at LitLovers. I'm a "do what you can" kind of fella.

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  5. Congratulations on the award! Thank you for stopping by and following my blog. I'm returning the visit and follow :-) I look forward to reading more from you.

    Sylvia
    http://www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/

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    1. No worries. You've got a great site, and I'm sure I'll be learning alot from you.

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  6. Hope you get better soon, Mike. I got your comment but I'm not sure why some comments aren't showing.

    I might be a bit quiet this week,too - another jaunt in Japan.

    Did you really have to add to Joseph's scary description? I'm having nightmares as it is. Maybe I just need a chick flick to calm me down. (The Three Amigos should do it.)

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    1. Goodness...I think the internet's trying to tell me something. Check your spam box...I've had two comments (on different sites) tossed in there at various times. I have no earthly idea why or what I can do to rectumfy it. Yes, another butt joke. :o)

      Hope you enjoyed the movie. Now look to the side and cough. :o)

      Have fun in Japan. I don't know if you've ever met Nutschell (that's her real name, too) from The Writing Nut, but she's been writing some fantastic posts about her time over there. Great gal, and maybe you two can meet online and then in real life.

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  7. Oh my my my, there's a whole lotta "crack" going on over here. You guys are having crack ATTACK which sucks for me 'cause I just wrote a post about crack. And now after writing about it and then coming over here to read comments about it, I'm all cracked out. Thanks a lot for killing my crack buzz.

    Anyhoo, congrats on being an addictive blog. I must say I do enjoy it over here, so it's a well-deserved award.

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    1. Yep, no shortage of crackpots around here. I'd better get over to your place for a dose of cracked sanity.

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  8. Thanks! I also hope you become a fellow addiction too, of the legal variety. ;)

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    1. I've tried to leave a comment or two on your site but I get blocked with system differences. I'll sort it out eventually, I'm sure.

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