Freestyle Writing Challenge

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Dale | 5 Comments

Though I was not tagged officially, George over at The Key of Life blog did his challenge and openly offered it to any and all willing to play! So I did.

Here are the rules:

1. Open a blank document.
2. Set a stop watch timer to 5 or 10 minutes, whichever length you prefer.
3. Your topic is at the foot of this post BUT DO NOT SCROLL DOWN TO SEE IT UNTIL YOU ARE READY WITH YOUR TIMER!!!
4. Once you start writing do not stop until the alarm sounds! Do not cheat by going back and correcting spelling and grammar using spell check (it is only meant for you to reflect on your own control of sensible thought flow and for you to reflect on your ability to write with correct spelling and grammar.)
5. You may or may not pay attention to punctuation or capitals
6. At the end of your post write down the number of words to give an idea of how much you can write within the time Frame.
7. Put the whole document onto your post and nominate 5 others and give them a new topic. Remember to copy paste the rules in!

If you were invited to someone’s home for dinner and the meal was the worst thing you’d ever tasted, what would you do?

Oh what a good question. As I, myself, am a very good cook this is a tricky question! I am, however, quite polite and would say not a word!

I would do my best to eat as much of is as I could ~ depending on just how palatable it is! Thank the host or hostess for a lovely evening and maybe stop off somewhere to eat.

Or maybe not. Who knows just how much I did manage to eat? Maybe it would totally turn my hunger off. Ooohh… now that is maybe a good thing! I need to lose some weight after all! Hah! Yeah, new weight programme: Be invited to individuals’ houses where there are no good cooks and they are not smart enough to have it catered! Guaranteed weight loss within a short period of time!

Seriously…

I could never tell my host or hostess that they can’t cook and would hope and pray that they not ask me because I cannot tell a lie either…

When you think about it, one is invited for the company, not the food. Unless one comes to my house. Then it is ALL about the food! I can’t help myself. I love to cook and my aim is to get the “oohs and aahs”. I, again, cannot tell a lie! I want the kudos!

I think I would die if I served a most horrible dinner! Nothing scares me more than to have people leave my table hungry! I cannot say this has ever happened but still, not something I would ever wish for.

287 words – 6 minutes

Now your turn!

Question:

You have no money restraints whatsoever, where would you go (either on vacation or permanently) and why?

Is There a Book in Me Dying to Get Out?

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Dale | 15 Comments

Thursday, November 20

Do you have a book in you? Fact or fiction? Related to your blog or totally different?

I so absolutely do! I’ve been thinking about it and re-thinking and wondering if I should and deciding I will and then worried I have no idea of what I’m doing and then telling myself to stop being such an ass and just do it… But I am convinced there is one in me for sure!

The type of book however, now THAT is where I’m stuck! See, I don’t have that much of an imagination and would have more of a tendency to want to write about what I know, have experienced and am willing to share. I think they (the stories) would even be funny (see yesterday’s post!) because, well, that’s just who I am. I’ve been telling some of them over and over for a time that I’d barely even have to think about what to write. I’ve even been told that maybe I should write them down.

So, why haven’t I started yet, you may ask? Well, in a sense, I have started. That’s one of the reasons I write this blog. I know I’ve mentioned it before but it’s still relevant to this particular post so I feel it necessary to repeat myself; I just wanted to see if I would be able to put words to paper (so to speak) and have anyone interested in reading them. I think I can safely say that there would be an audience.

So look out world! There will be a book by Dale Rogerson (me, not the computer guy that already has one out there…)

Writer’s Block and How I Handle It

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Dale | 8 Comments

Wednesday, November 12

Have you ever had extended writer’s block? How long did it last? What did you do to break out of it, and do you have tips for other bloggers?

Writer’s Block would imply that I am a regular writer. I don’t think I am a “real” one – yet! I guess I sort of am as I do blog. Other than this month, I have not been that organized and consistent. I want to become more so and for that reason, have joined NaBloPoMo! I figured I would find the inspiration from the prompts and, so far, have. It’s been a great tool actually because there are ideas that I probably would not have ever thought of writing about – or even dared. I would have told myself that no one would be interested in XYZ but, because of this forum, I have given myself permission to go out there and just write it!

I have stories swirling in my head, telling me to go ahead and write them down and become a REAL writer but haven’t decided – yet – to focus my energies on them. Or maybe, it is just that I needed this month of all-over-the-place writing to test my skills and gain confidence.

As a result, this month I haven’t suffered from “The Block” – not even once! Encouraging.

At this particular time I am not on a hard deadline schedule so if I sit at the computer and see nothing but a blank page (which mirrors my blank thoughts) I just step away or I go on Facebook and see what others are posting. Once I’m done with the mostly nonsense on this forum, I then go to my inbox which is overflowing with blog posts to which I am subscribed. I cannot keep up! Sometimes just reading others’ posts is enough to give me an idea of a direction.

If all that fails, I go down to my kitchen to cook! There, I never get “The Block”!

I have read that it helps to scribble whatever thoughts come to one’s head, without paying any heed to syntax, spelling and grammar (I’m such a nerd, I can’t even skip periods!) I haven’t tried this technique yet but will when all else fails – or when I have a real deadline – or when I have decided to write that novel…

Have I Found My Voice?

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Dale | 29 Comments

Wednesday, November 5

Do you feel you have found your voice on your blog? What techniques have you tried to develop your voice in your writing? What are some characteristics of your personality in your writing?

Yep.. that’s me at 17, taken by a fellow student for the yearbook… just diggin’ the totally Canadian checkered flannel shirt, eh? At that time you were a “Disco” or a “Freak”. Obviously, I chose “Freak”! I didn’t do make-up, and hair (barely do today!) and it was a private school without a uniform but a dress code. Whatever we could wear that bordered on the sloppy, we did!

OK. so enough reminiscing….

Today’s question is another good one. Have I found my voice? Geez. I like to think I have. If writing without pretense, sharing who I am and being authentically myself when I write is finding my voice then I have to say I have! I cannot write anything if it feels phony. I know. I’ve tried.

I read a lot – A LOT – of blogs! I admire those who can write poetry or simply write in a very lyrical way with glorious descriptions and beautiful phrases. I’ve tried to write in such a way and it just doesn’t come to me. I have had some fun with poetry (not that it would win any prizes!) but cannot say that I have it in me. There are food blogs that I love that I wanted to emulate but frankly, it’s not MY voice so I continue doing it my way, fine-tuning as I go, modifying until it feels right. But the food blog is different than this one. That one is supposed to eventually generate business (if I ever actually work on it!!) This one is to share what is on my mind and to work on my writing as that is another of my loves.

I am composing all the time in my head and sometimes it is feels quite flowery and descriptive. As soon as my fingers hit the keyboard. Nothing. Those flowery phrases are gone. Just not me. I’m too much of a say-it-like-it-is kind of person. When someone wants something from me but they beat around the bush and try to butter me up or get “all flowery” on me I lose patience. Just tell me what you want! I guess that reflects in my style of writing too.

That doesn’t mean that I am afraid to show my emotions or share things that touch me in some way. Most times I’m funny because, well, I AM funny! I write as I speak, basically. Even in my “sad” posts, there will be humour. I can’t help it. It’s just there and comes out despite me.

If I doubt myself, all I have to do is go back to various posts and read the comments. It is the boost I need to continue doing what I do with my own voice.