Philosophy for Writing & Editing Your Life
You’re the Master Storyteller: On Writing & Editing Your Life
Your right hand lifts your coffee mug to your lips, and you take a sip of the beverage that will activate your editing sensibilities.
After the drink’s vessel rests securely back on your desk, you look at your computer monitor, blink a few times, and glance down at your keyboard as you fiddle with your mouse.
Since you’ve already completed a rough draft of your writing, improving it should be simple.
Nonetheless, editor’s block has plugged the flow of your creative juices.
How do we end up in situations that require literary Drano?
A rough draft is the first step in the writing process, but you must stay vigilant.
The words that we initially transcribe aren’t always the purest and most accurate manifestations of our intentions.
You get to manipulate your creation until it satisfies your vision.
The evolution of a document is comparable to the evolution of human character.
We encounter editor’s block in our writing for the same reasons we get stuck in life:
We’ve made choices that have produced a present unhappiness and don’t feel we’re capable of making new choices that will alleviate our frustrations.
We’ve fallen down a well, and there’s nothing but darkness.
We don’t know how to get out. [Click to continue ... ]
Get Over Heartbreak in a New Way Each Day
Once your fairy tale ends and you’re forced to face a heartbreaking reality, you don’t want to hear more bullshit.
Unfortunately, traditional get-over-heartbreak talk is as aggravating and distracting as the situation that broke your heart.
How to Overcome Heartbreak Without Projectile Vomiting: A Guide for Cynical Hopeless Romantics is the only heartbreak book that doesn’t mention your Ex.
Aren’t you tired of lamenting about everything that’s wrong with him or her?
When relationships, dating, and love are the themes of heartbreak examinations, the discussions focus on External factors—the people who hurt you and the circumstances that cause heartbreak.
But heartbreak isn’t about them.
It’s about You. [Click to continue ... ]
The Heartbreak Book About You, Not Love and Relationships
You crawled through the day feeling sad, angry, and disappointed from your latest heartbreak, but now you’re almost back at home where you can wallow in your pain.
You press the Up arrow in the lobby of your apartment building to summon the elevator.
Only a few more moments before you can indulge in your fuck-the-world attitude in private.
But then a neighbor arrives home from a long day at work, as well, and you wait for the elevator together.
“Hi, how are you?” she asks.
You give her a quick glance but don’t respond and go back to looking down at your feet.
When you get in the elevator, you press the number of the floor you live on and do not ask where she is going.
As she jets out her arm in front of you to press the button she needs, you’re even more frustrated that she came in such close contact with you.
Everyone is irritating.
Everything is wrong.
Nothing is comforting.
You’re consumed with your own personal book of heartbreak. [Click to continue ... ]
Warning: Your Fulfilled Desires Will Leave You Stranded
In elementary school, the monkey bars were my scene during recess.
Unaware we were actually getting exercise—one of the reasons for recess—my friends and I regarded the physical activity as a way to socialize.
The different types of playground equipment were the youth equivalents of coffee shops and nightclubs.
Older girls always sat on top of the monkey bars, forming a tree house of sorts where they surveyed the playground and gossiped.
My days of simply doing pull-ups and hanging from the structure seemed numbered; if I wanted to grow up, I needed to learn how they climbed up through the bars to bask in all their glory.
I studied the Monkey Bar Queens’ techniques for weeks, noting how they positioned the palms of their hands and the moments when they paused to get their balance.
One day after school, when I didn’t have to be rushed back to class, I decided I was ready.
I swung to the spot I desired, pulled my legs up, and thrust my feet through the horizontal ladder to give myself leverage to pull the rest of my body through the opening.
My fingers tightly gripped the cross-section of the bars as I adjusted into a sitting position.
I was pretty much a professional gymnast. [Click to continue ... ]
Heartbreak 101: Dissecting the Pain
“Did that hurt?”
The man in front of me in line at Starbucks pointed to the rose tattoos on my upper arms.
Before I had a chance to answer, he continued.
“That’s cool. I like pain, too. That’s why I got married.” Smirk.
The lack of caffeine in my bloodstream made it difficult to reply.
“Ahh, uh huh,” I giggled.
He wanted to chat, but since I’ve had the “I want to get tattoos, too” conversation countless times with his faceless counterparts, I wasn’t interested.
A stranger is not the best person to advise you about a permanent marking on your skin.
Besides, I already got what I needed: I like pain, too. That’s why I got married???
“Have a good day!” I affirmed, trying not to be rude, as I hurriedly stuck a straw in my green tea latte and went on my way. [Click to continue ... ]
