The Writer's Poke

For Writers: Sometimes it's just as much fun to watch my wife watching TV as it is to watch the TV itself. Linda isn't squeamish. She can watch the most violent horror movie without any problem. It's the slapstick comedy that gets her every time. Are you familiar with Fawlty Towers? If you've somehow missed this British sitcom, please quit reading this poke right now. You need to purchase the Complete Series DVD post haste. What makes this series difficult for my wife to watch? It's the masterful use of farce -- taking the comedy of errors to the point that laughter itself becomes painful. Basil Fawlty, played by John Cleese, isn't a bad man, but he always brings disaster upon himself, and while viewers understand that Fawlty gets what he deserves, on another level they also recognize that he is powerless to act in any way other than he does. Fawlty simply tries to play the role he has been culturally designed to play, and when things inevitably go wrong, we fee...

For Writers: Sometimes people sit around at parties and ask silly philosophical questions. Well, maybe not the parties you go to, but they do at the parties I go to. One typical question might be something like, "If you knew you only had six months to live, how would that change the way you lived the rest of your life?" We're all going to die, so why should the knowledge that we're going to die in a specific period of time make a difference to the way we live our lives? Do people really live life not believing that they are going to die? I've got news for all you non-immortals out there: You're all going to die. You might not know when, but you might as well start living like you do, because death happens -- even to you. And it could happen sooner than the hypothetical question raised at my philosophical party. Sweet Dreams. What do you want out of life? Do you live each day with that "want" in mind? "Death is more universal than life; everyone ...

What's better than the matching white undershirt look? I don't know, but there's just something about that Tavi. :)

If you're at all like me, you try very hard not to let the books in your house run wild. No matter how many books I read each year, I always seem to buy even more. So for 2009, I've decided to try something novel: the plan is to read from books I already own, and not buy any additional books for an entire year. Is that doable? I don't know. Here's the challenge: I don't care if you buy more books in 2009 or not. I just want you to read 50 books. Are you up to it? I tried to narrow my selection to the "Top 50 Books to Read for 2009," but I couldn't narrow it to 50. But here's an idea (subject to change) of what I plan to read in 2009 (in no particular order): Scott Adams -- God's Debris Scott Adams -- The Religion War Chuck Klosterman -- Killing Yourself to Live Chuck Klosterman -- Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs Chuck Klosterman -- IV Russell Baker -- Growing Up Frank McCourt -- Angela's Ashes Frank McCourt -- ' Tis Lee Stringer -- Sle...

For Writers: It's just speculation, but my guess is that no one would have ever heard of Tina Fey if a stranger hadn't cut her face with a knife when she was a small child. Anyone that's ever seen Tina has probably felt their eyes move uncontrollably to the big scar that marks the left side of her face. I hate to admit it, but that's the first thing I notice every time I see her on TV. And I should know better. I was born with an unusual right ear that interested many people when I was growing up. The top of my ear lapped over too much on top, and my peers couldn't help themselves. They would notice. And although some were too polite to mention noticing, I could always see them looking at it out of the corner of their eyes. In a strange way, I think my flawed ear made me a better observer, a better listener. I'm sure Tina's scar left a similar mark on the way she interacted with her peers, too. Humor certainly is a great defense. Humor is a weapon we use t...

I consider this a "found poem." :) Check out http://www.engrish.com/ And the next time you think your teenagers don't use good English, just think about how much better their mastery of the English language is compared to the rest of the non-English speaking world.

For Writers: One of my students told me that he didn't like short stories. "I'm just getting into the story," he said, "and then it's over. And I'm like, what happens next?" I pointed out to the student that readers of War and Peace might feel the same way, wondering what happens next. In fact, all endings may seem somewhat arbitrary, and that's because -- at least on some levels -- they are. In writing, the writer has the power to decide when to begin and when to end. Worrying about "what happens next" should not be the main objective. That's just plot. The main objective should be: Does the "middle part" that makes it to the page serve a purpose? Does it have continuity? A discernible and meaningful theme? Bottom line: Does it make the reader think? And is leaving the reader wanting more such a bad thing? Start with the end in mind -- be it your life, a relationship, a piece of writing that you're working on. How d...