The Power Of Words

Written or spoken, words are continuously propelling us through life. They lift us up or drag us down. They wound us deeply or heal our hearts. Words have the power to break confidences, build life long alliances, or start wars. Words shape us both as individuals and as a society. Compliments. Criticisms. Introductions. Goodbyes. Words of love. Words of hate. Words you hang on. Words you easily dismiss. Words you never want to forget. And words you struggle forgetting. Words change worlds. That is the power of words.


We seek control over every single aspect of our lives. But when it comes to choosing our words, we often lose self-control. Controlling what we say, especially when emotions become elevated, is a problem most of us combat daily. Despite our best intentions, it can be difficult to refrain from saying words we know will only harm. Surely it is easier to harness the power of a wild horse than to reign in your tongue. To say the right thing at the right time, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

We may have the right to free speech, but speech is not entirely free. Whether we realize our impact or not, there are always consequences for what we say...and often consequences for what is left unsaid. The most damaging and life altering of all words is gossip. As my 91-year-old Grandmother recently said to me, "The biggest problem with gossip is you never know for sure who started it, why and when (if ever) it will end. It's a vicious cycle and there is little you can do to stop it or set the story straight because people will say what they want to say and believe what they want to believe. You're powerless." Powerless. If humans seek control over every single aspect of their lives, one word they don't want to hear is "powerless."

My Grandmother knows all too well the power of words. In 1945 she divorced, something that was unheard of in those days. Now living alone, she looked for someone to share laughs with and found friendship in another woman, a widow with grown children. The two became fast pals and were nearly inseparable! That was until a vicious rumor started spreading around her small town that the pair were more than friends. That they were a couple! Of course neither were lesbians. But those words devastated my Grandmother so much that she tried to escape by moving to a neighboring town and began slowly breaking off her friendship with "I'm sorry, I can't, I'm busy" excuses. Eventually the friendship died. And so did the woman. My Grandmother never told her what people had been saying because she didn't want her to feel the same hurt she did.

Of course years later the truth came out. There was never any rumor. My Grandmother's co-worker was simply jealous of the friendship she shared with this other woman and wanted to sever their ties. So she told my Grandmother that lesbian rumor was going around fully knowing how devastated she would be and that it would cause her to cut the friendship. Basically, she was played like a puppet. That is the power of words.

Words are things. Living things. Cut them and they bleed. The words from our minds or from others have the power to define us...if we let them.

Words are things. Choose good ones.

Tiffany Blue Ink

When was the last time you received a handwritten letter on proper stationery? Or a handwritten note on any type of paper for that matter? The look and feel of a handwritten note is incomparable and deeply personal. Compared to e-mail, e-vites, and everything else electronic, paper holds a soft spot in the hearts of a rare few that still enjoy kickin' it old skool with a pen. The Handwritten Letter Is A Dying Art. I’ve made no secret about my love affair with pen and paper, but yet everyone is always shocked and questions why a tech gadget whore like myself enjoys such a prehistoric form of communication. I’ll tell you why. Because it’s classic. It’s classy. It’s both formal and informal. Personal and sometimes professional. Thank you notes are a necessary part of life. They are used to acknowledge gifts, special favors and extended visits. You should send one after interviewing for a job and you should send one to thank someone for their business. Of course companies don’t do that anymore...or do they?

When I sort through my mail after work, anything hand addressed is opened first. Always has been. Always will be. Needless to say, those rare gems don’t appear very often nestled among the monthly bills, coupon fliers and junk catalogs. Yes, the handwritten letter really is a dying art, if not already extinct! I was nearly certain that the only two people left on the face of this earth that still wrote the occasional letter or thank you note was me and my 91-year-old Grandmother. If I have nothing else in common with a 91-year-old woman, at least I have that.

Then one day tucked between my Visa credit card statement and Men’s Health magazine was a small robin’s egg blue envelope, or "Tiffany blue" as the color is better known. Tiffany & Co had sent me A HANDWRITEN THANK YOU NOTE! What company in 2010 still does such a thing? It’s almost unheard of to receive a thank you note from any business these days. And if you do, it’s usually a canned formed computer generated letter. But this one was all original and written in hand! I could hardly believe it. I still can’t believe it. I was so impressed that someone (let alone a huge company like Tiffany & Co) would take the time and care enough to let their appreciation be known to lil' ol' me.

Really, that’s all any of us want in this world. To be recognized and appreciated if only for a brief moment. To know that we matter. To say "hey, I didn’t forget about you."

To open a shop is easy, to keep it open is an art. And Tiffany’s hasn’t stayed in business for two centuries without knowing how to properly treat people. They’ve perfected the art.

How To Be Alone

If you are at first lonely, be patient. If you’ve not been alone much, or if when you were, you weren’t okay with it, then just wait. You’ll find it’s fine to be alone once you’re embracing it.

We can start with the acceptable places - the bathroom, the coffee shop, the library. Where you can stall and read the paper. Where you can get your caffeine fix and sit and stay there. Where you can browse the stacks and smell the books. You’re not supposed to talk much anyway, so it’s safe there. There is also the gym. If you’re shy, you can hang out with yourself and mirrors. You can put headphones in. And there’s public transportation, because we all got to go places. And there’s prayer and meditation. No one will think less if you’re hanging with your breath seeking peace and salvation.

Start simple. Things you may have previously avoided based on your avoid being alone principles.

(written and performed by Tanya Davis)

The lunch counter. Where you will be surrounded by “chow downers.” Employees who only have an hour and their spouses work across town. And so they, like you, will be alone. Resist the urge to hang out with your cell phone. When you are comfortable with “eat lunch and run,” take yourself out for dinner - a restaurant with linen and silverware. You’re no less intriguing a person when you are eating solo desert and cleaning the whip cream from the dish with your finger. In fact, some people at full tables will wish they were where you were. Go to the movies. Where it’s dark and soothing, alone in your seat amidst a fleeting community.

And then take yourself out dancing, to a club where no one knows you. Stand on the outside of the floor until the lights convince you more and more and the music shows you. Dance like no one’s watching, because they’re probably not. And if they are, assume it is with best inhuman intentions. The way bodies move genuinely to beats is, afterall, gorgeous and affecting. Dance until you’re sweating. And beads of perspiration remind you of life’s best things. Down your back like a brook of blessings.

Go to the woods alone. And the trees and squirrels will watch for you. Go to an unfamiliar city. Roam the streets. They are always statues to talk to. And benches made for sitting gives strangers a shared existence if only for a minute. And these moments can be so uplifting and the conversation you get in by sitting alone on benches might have never happened had you not been there by yourself.

Society is afraid of alone though. Like lonely hearts are wasting away in basements. Like people must have problems if after awhile nobody is dating them. But lonely is a freedom that breathes easy and weightless. And lonely is healing if you make it.

You can stand swathed by groups and mobs or hold hands with your partner. Look both further and farther in the endless quest for company. But no one is in your head. And by the time you translate your thoughts some essence of them may be lost. Or perhaps it is just kept. Perhaps in the interest of loving oneself. Perhaps all those sappy slogans from pre-school over to high school groaning were tokens for holding the lonely at bay. ‘Cause if you’re happy in your head, then solitude is blessed and alone is okay.

It’s okay if no one believes like you. All experiences unique. No one has the same synapses. Can’t think like you. For this we’re relieved. Keeps things interesting. Life’s magic brings much. And it doesn’t mean you aren’t connected. The community is not present. Just take the perspective you get from being one person in one head and feel the effects of it. Take silence and respect it. If you have an art that needs a practice stop neglecting it. If your family doesn’t get you or a religious sect is not meant for you, don’t obsess about it. You could be in an instant surrounded if you need it. If your heart is bleeding, make the best of it. There is heat in freezing be a testament.

When You Hate Your Own Writing

If you’re like the majority of writers out there, you’re a self-doubting bundle of neuroses determined to believe that your writing will never be good enough. That’s the tortured soul of a writer. I’ve always been my own worst critic. Writing makes me happy. Reading what I’ve written usually does not. I hate my own writing. Well, at least 95% of the time. Hardly a day goes by when I don’t feel the need to obsessively edit a post, even after publishing it. And nearly every post I publish lately, I have to fight the overwhelming urge to completely delete it. (This post will probably be no different.) Even browsing through my blog archive makes me cringe.

I was a sophomore and the last one left sitting in my college writing class. I had completed the in-class writing assignment, but was reluctant to turn it in. I kept marinating over the words, refusing to let the ink dry. I don’t even recall what the paper was about, but I do recall what Dr. Jordan said to me. She told me..."A real writer is like an artist. They never feel their work is complete. There is always going to be something you’ll want to change or improve upon."

When it comes to writing, the second you call it complete, you’ll think of something new to add. Something you should take out. Something you should reword and say differently. You’ll begin to overanalyze and rewrite it to the point where you question if you have some mild form of O.C.D. or if you’re just one of those annoying perfectionists that everyone hates. You’ll become frustrated when you read another writer’s take on the same subject and feel as if they stole the words right out of your skull! Even worse, you’ll convince yourself they said it better than you ever could. You won’t trust your own voice any farther than you can throw your own pen.

It's a bizarre phenomena the way writers see-saw between a love/hate relationship with their own writing. You're in the throes of a story or an article. You feel inspired. The creative juices begin to flow. It’s all blooming before you and you’re experiencing that writer’s high. This feeling can last a few hours, even a few days, until you look back at what you've done. Then the angst sets in. The writing you thought was superb suddenly seems clunky and inadequate. The phrases you particularly liked now seem awkward and ill-formed. The metaphors lack depth and the imagery is weak. The writing is awful...or at least to you it is.

If any of this resonates with you, take comfort in knowing you're not alone. All writers go through this. At some point, every writer thinks they are the worst writer in the world. It's has nothing to do with talent or dedication or practice or experience. It has to do with self-doubt. With being human. And maybe with the fact that you ARE a real writer?

I wish I was more easily satisfied. To write a few lines and think, "perfect - nothing needs changed!" But I don’t know a single writer that operates like that. I need to come to grips with the fact that I rarely, if ever, will be 100% satisfied with what I write. Even if I pour over every single word, I still think I’ll read over it and find flaws. Still, I want it to be perfect. I want it to impress everyone, especially myself. I want to be proud of what I write, even if it’s not leather bound and labeled a best seller. Is that asking too much? I’m sure it is. The fact is everyone doesn’t have to love my writing, but I sure wish I would at least learn to like it.

Do You Dream Of Being Published?

Do you dream of being published? To not just be a blogger or a freelance writer, but to have a book? Author - it's a title many of us dream of adding to our resume. But if you’re anything like me, you don’t have a clue what it takes to become a published author. All you know is it sure sounds fancy! You dabble in writing on the side and admire "real writers" from afar. But a little part of you always wonders if you too have what it takes. Do you possess the talent? For close friend and fellow blogger, Jenny Blake, the answer is yes! She just landed her first book deal with Running Press for Spring 2011. While her dream of becoming a published author is now a reality, it's not too late for YOU to see your name in print as well! Because Jenny wants YOU to be a part of her new book! Here's how...

First off, for those of you who don’t know who Jenny Blake is, shame on you! She’s a magnificent creature and to know her is to love her. Google girl by day. Life Coach by night. Triathlete on the weekend. Not sure where she fits the time in to write a book, but she does. Incredibly smart, multi-talented and sweeter than cupcake frosting. Her blog, Life After College, provides simple, practical tips that help you focus on the BIG picture of your life...not just the details. And because there is no manual for the real world, adjusting to life after college can be a very confusing and challenging time! So that’s where Jenny comes in with all sorts of invaluable information regarding life, work, money, happiness, personal growth, productivity and even love. And this is where YOU come in because Jenny needs your help.

The book is a compilation of tips, quotes, advice, exercises and recommended reading for every area of someone’s life after college. And every chapter of the book will contain crowd-sourced wisdom from college grads. So if you're a college grad (of any age) and would like a shot at seeing your name in print, all you have to do is answer 10 short questions.

Also, be sure to sign up for the LAC Book Project Newsletter to follow Jenny's step-by-step journey and discover what it really takes to become a published author. It's a process few writer's talk about, with plenty of ups and downs, tears and triumphs.

While I often find myself "in aww" of writer's, Jenny isn't much different from you or me. She's just a girl who had a dream and chased it.

Thoughts that once only existed privately in her own head. Feelings that once only existed privately in her own heart. She shares them on little scraps of paper. Jotting down notes in Moleskines, scribbling on the back of cocktail napkins, inking words into the palm of her hand. She hops out of the shower, dripping in lather, just to etch a phrase into the foggy mirror. She wakes up in the middle of the night to pour over pen and paper. Wherever and whenever the creative bug bites, she itches it. And somehow after months of writing small pieces here and there, it all begins to fall into place. It snaps together like a jigsaw puzzle. Like a work of art. Her tiny, little masterpiece nears completion. Her ideas, stories and experiences bound together. Ready for public display on a bookshelf. She’s writing her first book. And it’s nothing short of beautiful.

Congratulations Jenny. I couldn’t be prouder and happier for you. Come Spring of 2011, you can add "author" to an already very impressive resume.

Use Your Words, Just Not These Words

I was never an English major and I don't pretend to be an expert in my native language, which is English. Although I probably should be an expert because it's the one language I've been speaking and writing all my life! I've always been somewhat embarrassed by the fact that so many people from other countries can speak fluent English, but most Americans barely have a grasp on their own language, let another a foreign language. It's disgraceful and perhaps even a bit ignorant. I'm not bilingual, but I do speak a little Italian and French (emphasis on "a little"). However, if I'm not going to learn more of foreign language, it seems only right that I should be making a greater effort to hone my English...especially my writing skills.

Use your words. It's a phrase people say in an effort to get you to express yourself more clearly, to open up the lines of communication. While sharing your feelings can be hard, finding just the right words can sometimes be even more difficult. But the biggest challenge I find is trying to resist using words that serve little to no purpose in getting my message across. They only add confusion or unnecessary fluff. But just like a bad habit, I can't seem to drop certain words from my vocabulary.

When I write, I have a bad habit of overusing these words - literally, actually, honestly, truthfully, seriously, really and just.

For the most part, these words don't add any really value to what I write, or at least in the manner in which I write them. They're like filler material. I either squeeze them somewhere inside a sentence for reasons unknown even to me. Or I'll tack them on to the beginning or end of a sentence like I'm creating some type of ambiance - making the sentence bolder, more dramatic. Oooh, ahhh. In fact today I said to someone "actually I have family that lives there." Now why did I need to say "actually?" Like I would be lying about where my family lives? Using words like actually, honestly and truthfully in any statement just makes you look like a well versed liar. When in reality I'm just a bad writer with bad habits that he needs to break.

Truthfully, I do this all the time. I actually have a really hard time not literally writing the word honestly just before I'm about to give my opinion on something. Seriously, it's just weird.

What is your vocab crack? Any word/s you can't shake your addiction from?

Are Bloggers Real Writers Or Just Literary Dabblers?

I like to write. I like to blog. But am I a writer because I’m a blogger? Some say yes. Some say no. I say..."I am not a writer. You will never see my name embossed on a fine leather book. The dream of being published does not exist for me. At least that’s what I say in my About Me section here on my blog. Although these days that’s no longer entirely true. I do dream of being published and having my name embossed on a fine leather book. But, I still don’t see myself as a writer. I’m a blogger, a literary dabbler. I’m not a REAL writer. And if you’re a blogger, I’ll tell you exactly why you probably aren’t a real writer either.

The vast majority of bloggers are not writers and very few bloggers can actually write well. Ouch. I know. Believe me, this realization pains me too. After reading Modite's post on this and seeing countless other posts around the web debating whether or not bloggers are writers, it got me thinking.

Just because you put pen to paper doesn’t make you a writer. Just like putting paintbrush to canvas doesn’t make you an artist. To me, you can’t call yourself a writer or an artist unless you get paid for your work. Most bloggers don’t get paid for their work/words.

When I say I’m not a writer, I say that because I don’t get paid to write. Therefore I don’t feel it’s right to call myself a writer. I enjoy writing and do it as a hobby (for lack of a better word), but the title writer should not be applied to me or any other blogger who doesn’t get paid for their words.

I would think that REAL, paid, talented writers would feel somewhat irritated at every Joe Shmoe running a blog labeling himself a writer. It’s discrediting to the title "writer." I think writing is a beautiful profession and it’s a title that should be earned, not given to yourself just because you can self-publish anything under the sun on Blogger or Wordpress. Let's be honest, anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can blog. Those aren't exactly high credentials for a writer.

Can blogging be a good playground to hone your writing skills? Most definitely! Are some bloggers so talented that they should pursue a freelance writing career? You bet! Although my feeling is that you shouldn't apply any title to yourself or call yourself an expert in anything unless you have the paper to back it up. Paper meaning - show me the degree/certification/license or show me the money. Unless or until that happens, you're just a literary dabbler like me. Blogger Boy.

Agree? Disagree? I would love to hear your thoughts. I don't want to be cynical and I hope my love of writing will one day flourish beyond some minuscule web address on the net filled with my random ramblings. diamondkt.blogspot.com is what I am and all I'm afraid I’ll ever be to the world. I am reduced to being a blogger (an unpaid one at that) and nothing more. I don't want to be just another wannabe writer lost among the millions of other wannabe writers living their dream thru a Blogspot address. But right now, that's exactly where I am.

Cerebral Constipation

Nothing is more daunting to a writer than a blinking cursor on a blank page 1 Word document. I hate it! It taunts. It teases. It ridicules me to no end. I’ve been verbally constipated before, but this goes deeper. This is more like cerebral constipation. And it’s serious. I feel like an artist with a blank canvas, tons of paint, but hands too crippled to move a brush. I have a pen. I have a keyboard. Both begging to be touched, but my mind simply refusing them the orgasmic pleasure that is the written word. They remain pure, but unfulfilled. Lifeless. Empty. The cursor keeps blinking at me, like a traffic light screaming to GO! The drive to write is definitely still there, but my fuel line is fucked up as I choke and sputter on poisonous fumes.

I don’t have the extra time, the necessary energy, or the needed direction to finish a thought let alone compose a sentence. Thought process confused. Head feeling scattered, but yet overflowing with puzzle pieces that don’t snap into place anywhere I try to fit them. I have at least dozen posts in draft and a dozen more in a virtual desktop folder lying in wait. Countless catchy titles and powerful phrases, thoughts and ideas scribbled on minuscule pieces of paper. These can be found behind me as I leave a Hansel and Gretel trail wherever I roam. None have made it to publication, but yet many are worthy of a big stage appearance.

My left brain is not speaking to my right brain. I’m not sure if they are fighting or if it’s just a technical difficulty, a dropped signal. Whatever the case may be, I would like them to reopen the lines of communication. Because quite frankly, I can’t take the court jester in my head anymore. The one that keeps laughing hysterically as he slaps me upside the back of my skull with my own Moleskine. It’s not helping my creative writing juices to flow again. It’s simply causing a blood clot. I’m secretly wishing for brain hemorrhage to occur. To bleed it all out, so I can write it all out.

Writing has always been my creativity outlet. It’s what relaxes me and comes somewhat effortlessly to me. Although these days, I find no greater challenge than trying to mix words with pleasure. Writer’s block is painful enough, but when you have too much to write about and suffer from cerebral constipation, it’s excruciating.

EffableArts Playwright Project - Stage Prep

Last month I posted a little blurb on my blog about writing my first manuscript. In it, I wrote...

"When offered to turn my writing into a NYC play, naturally I was flattered. But I initially turned it down because plays, musicals, and slam poetry just isn't me. I'm snowboards, sportbikes, and Bulldogs. Then after talking with a friend, I started to wonder if I turned down the NYC theater writing gig too early. It's good to do things out of your comfort zone, right? So I decided to do it, like a big cannonball into the water!"

Since then I completed my first draft and promised to keep everyone updated on how the playwright project is coming along. So today I'm happy to not only announce the next step, but to invite YOU along for the ride as well!

THE BLOGGER PLAYS: The Adventure Begins

Effabe Arts has gone out and searched the web to find NINE new and exciting writers to give us NINE new short plays! THE BLOGGER PLAYS will be having it's first (very informal) reading on Wednesday, December 9th. It will be at the official bar of Effable Arts - Bar One And One at 7pm (directions). We will be asking actors and potential directors to come, read, comment, and help our writers in the next steps to getting these bad-ass scripts ready for the stage. Please RSVP and let us know what you're interested in doing. We hope to see you all there!

WHAT: The Blogger Play - First Reading
WHERE: One And One - Nexus Lounge (Basement)
WHEN: Wednesday, December 9th, 7PM

Website: http://www.effiblearts.com/
Twitter: @EffableArts
Facebook: Effable Arts Fan Page

While their manuscripts will be a surprise, their identity is not. I encourage you to follow them on Twitter and check out their blogs. Now let me introduce you to the 9 writers...

David Stehle
Twitter: @davidstehle
Blog: The Rest Is Still Unwritten

Jen Kucsak
Twitter: @jenkucsak
Blog: The Dating Jungle

Stephane Magloire
Twitter: N/A
Blog: Rabbit Hole: Enter Here!

Zachary Wilson
Twitter: @newzac
Blog: And How

Una LaMarche
Twitter: @sassycurmudgeon
Blog: The Sassy Curmudgeon

"K"
Twitter: info removed by request
Blog: info removed by request

Meghan Blalock
Twitter: @megbeebee
Blog: Blackberries to Apples

Polly Syllabick
Twitter: @pollysyllabick
Blog: The Hitch List

Jessie Rosen
Twitter: @20nothings
Blog: 20-Nothings



So if you're in the NYC area around Dec 9th, would love to have you join us!

Write Like No One Is Reading

I have a motto. It goes like this...

"I write like no one is reading. Because it's much more freeing that way!"

That motto is just as true today as it was 5 years ago when I started blogging. I never really expected anyone to read what I wrote, nor did I care if they did, or didn’t. I just assumed that I would fly under the radar and my blog would be among the billions of others that are lost in cyberspace. For the first few years my voice remained anonymous and my identity unknown. I blogged for just one reason - because I enjoyed writing and felt I had something worth being said, even if it was only for an audience of one. Then somewhere along the way I discovered that writing was more than a creative outlet for me. It was also therapeutic to me. Writing gave me the ability to express the things in my everyday life that are often too difficult for me to verbalize. So in a way, this blog has been a gift to me. However, I never thought that others would see it as a gift to them. That was my mindset until I received this letter. It was signed "Laura Love," a fictitious name behind powerful words.

(reprinted with permission)

Dear David,

As I sit here crying writing this email to you, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for your words. Thank you for your blog. Thank you for the time and energy you put into it. I can't express how healing, how soothing, how inspirational your words have truly been for me in this very moment of my life. I seek nothing by writing this to you, but the simple expression of gratitude.

I hope it brightens your day, night...whenever you read it. My faith and hope has been slowly and shakily building as of late, and reading your words has given more shine to the world I navigate through. Thank you.

Laura Love

Immediately I thought she was referring to my post titled "My Deepest, Darkest Secret." It was about my attempted suicide when I was just 12-years-old. A story that I had NEVER shared with ANYONE, but yet felt brave enough to confess it in writing to THE WORLD! However, she wasn’t just referring to that post. She was referring to several other posts of mine, some which I forgot I had even written. That’s the beautiful thing about writing. We’re not just connecting our thoughts and emotions with words. We’re connecting with complete strangers with our words. It sounds so cliché, but if you touched just one person’s life, you’ve made a difference. It's letters like Laura's that let me know that my writing makes a difference in the lives of others, no matter how large or small that difference may be.

There are all kinds of writers/bloggers out there. Some write to teach. Some write to share. Some write for money. Some write for fame. Some write to up their social media cred. And then there are others that just write for themselves. Those that write because they simply enjoy the process. I enjoy the process.

Singer Anna Nalick once wrote:
If I get it all down on paper
It's no longer inside of me, threatening the life it belongs to
And I feel like I'm naked infront of the crowd
Cause these words are my diary, screaming outloud
And I know that you'll use them, however you want to

My point is this...write like no one is reading, because it’s much more freeing that way. Stand naked infront of a crowd and let your diary scream outloud. And remember how good it feels to finally breathe.

***NOTE***
You can also see this post featured on BrazenCareerist.com

A Publishing, A Play, And A Book - Oh My!

I still don’t get it. My blog writing here has becoming increasingly bitter over the last few posts, but somehow readers are loving it and being sweet and supportive to me. Maybe it’s because my words are delicious like bittersweet chocolate? Or maybe you’re just holding onto hope that I will snap out of it and get back to writing a kickass post? Whatever the reason may be, you’re sticking around. You’re continuing to read. I thank you for that. So even if this doesn’t classify as a kickass post, it does classify as kickass news! Which is exactly what I want to share with everyone, in small bits, like bittersweet chocolate chips.

I've Been Published!
If you follow me on Twitter (and my Mom says you should), you have probably already heard the news. My words were published by Examiner.com's Generation Y Examiner, Sharalyn Hartwell. Here's a snippet of the article...

Gen Y Gives Thanks:
The Opportunities of Technology and The Romance of More Simple Means

"The romance of a ribboned notebook. The smell of the oiled leather cover. Inside, virgin paper awaits, just begging to be touched with the thrill of violet ink. A Moleskine notebook has real pulling power on me, as does proper stationary. Stationery is romantic, poetic, sensual. Typing on a computer keyboard feels anonymous, anodyne, soulless. I'm so grateful that I’ve rediscovered my childhood love of writing. It has given me the creative outlet in which I so desperately craved. And through it, the ability to express the things in my everyday life that are often too difficult for me to verbalize.

Writing an e-mail is just something you do, perfunctorily and without much thought. Writing a letter or a card is a careful considered act and one that makes the recipient feel as if they’ve received a tiny present. Tragically, letter-writing is a dying art, even when it comes to love letters. It seems people are perfectly content to be wooed by text these days. I know this sounds shocking coming from me, a self-proclaimed tech whore. I do love my gadgets, but I also love the written word. There is just something about the feeling of a pen between my fingers and paper beneath my palm. To me it’s intoxicating." ...read the full article here.

Writing My First Manuscript!
When offered to turn my writing into a NYC play, naturally I was flattered. But I initially turned it down because plays, musicals, and slam poetry just isn't me. I'm snowboards, sportbikes, and Bulldogs. Then after talking with a friend, I started to wonder if I turned down the NYC theater writing gig too early. It's good to do things out of your comfort zone, right? So I decided to do it, like a big cannonball into the water! I'm nervous, but hopefully I'll swim and not sink. I don't know the first thing about writing a manuscript, but I'll learn along the way. My first draft is due this weekend. Wish me luck! (I'll post more on this in the future, but just wanted to say thanks to Effable Arts and the 8 other writers involved in this project. Looking forward to working with everyone. Should be fun!)

From Blog To Book!
There are lots of services out there that can turn your blog into a book. But when I received an e-mail from a reader who wanted to do this herself, I was blown away. She enjoys my blog so much that she wants to take it with her when she travels around the world, but wants it to be in a more tangible form - a book to hold in her hands. Naturally, I loved the idea! She is going to design the cover and select her favorite posts of mine to include. All I need to do is write a Preface for the book. I'm a virgin manuscript writer and a virgin book preface writer. But, I'm up for all these challenges!

Not Getting Published, But My Words Are Being Framed

"I am not a writer. You will never see my name embossed on a fine leather book. The dream of being published does not exist for me..." Blah, blah, blah. You know how it goes. Those are the words you read everytime you visit my blog. Those words are me declaring my acceptance of any future defeat I should suffer in life if my dream of being published fails to become a reality. And while the acceptance of failure is always a jagged pill to swallow, it is a healthy dose of reality. Having one's name embossed on a fine leather book may be all the proof the world needs in order to acknowledge you as a REAL writer, but sometimes all a wannabe writer like myself needs is the acknowledgement of those closest to him to recognize that he has a little writing talent. Until 2 weeks ago, my family was anything but supportive of my writing. That was mostly because they read little to nothing from me and had little to no expectations of me. Which brings us back to sibling roles and the fact that as the baby of the family, I believed I would forever be labeled as the clown and the jock. However, I've recently broke free of that image and I'm about to be framed in a new light!

My sister is not the sentimental type. She is not one to hold a keepsake box full of childhood memories and past loves. (Oddly enough though, I do.) So when she came back from her honeymoon and told me she wanted the folded piece of paper I wrote my wedding toast on, I was more than surprised. "I want to frame it," she told me. Really? I still hadn't gotten over the shock that on her wedding day the only tear/s she shed is when I gave the Best Man toast. That alone says something about my speech, but wanting to frame it? Seriously? People frame fine art and they frame precious photos. They do so to capture time, emotion and beauty. I could stare for hours at Georges-Pierre Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" painting and get lost in the tiny dots of oily paint, but who would want to stare at my ink-filled chicken scratch on boring and bland vanilla paper?

She doesn't realize that by me giving her this old, folded piece of paper that she's actually the one giving me the gift...or so I feel. She's making my writing frame worthy! No one has ever made my words frame worthy! To me, that's one of the greatest compliments I could ever receive. Instead of being published and my book sitting on a dusty shelf, I'm being hung on a pristine wall. And anyone who ever steps foot in her house will see my writing on the wall. In an odd way, she's turning my words into a piece of art. My canvas was ordinary paper and my paintbrush was a simple pen. Crude tools of an artist, but tools that somehow magically created art without even knowing it. It just goes to show you that you never know how your words can affect someone, for good or bad. Words are a powerful thing. And no three words have greater power than "I Love You." Of course expanding on those three words in my roundabout, beat around the bush style seem to be quite endearing as well.

Have you ever framed a letter you received or some words once said to you? Or have you ever been frame worthy yourself? Share your tale. I'm anxious to hear!

Gratitude Journal

We all have heard people say "I’m destined for greatness" or "I’m destined for failure." If you’re a Pessimistic Patty or a Pessimistic Pete, wouldn’t it be nice if you could change your destiny? You can! And it’s as simple as changing your outlook on life. If you want to start attracting positive things into your life, there is one small thing you should do every day - show your gratitude, appreciation and love for the people and things around you. As more of your thoughts and words become positive, you'll start attracting more positive people and circumstances. Decide today that you are going to reduce negativity in your life by getting rid of the 'don'ts,' 'nots' and 'no's' - the negative people, the negative thoughts. Basically, shed the toxicity in your life, including toxic relationships that weigh you down. The idea is to get in the habit of appreciating things. So how do you do that? Well the best way to do that is by keeping a Gratitude Journal.

It's not a new concept and one that you've probably heard about before. For years, numerous "spiritual teachers" have been recommending and encouraging the practice. But it wasn’t until Oprah (from the Cult of Oprah) endorsed the practice that it began to really take off. For those that don’t know, a Gratitude Journal is a way to consciously call attention to the things for which we are thankful each day. By focusing on gratitude, we become aware of those things and thus create a shift in our thinking to the positive. Starting a gratitude journal helps you rediscover life’s simple pleasures, the very things we all take for granted...and by showing appreciation for these simple things, it creates a whole new outlook on life. And in today’s dreadful economy and bleak job market, who couldn’t use a fresh outlook on life?

Starting and keeping a Gratitude Journal isn't rocket science. Look for things during the day for which you are grateful, making mental notes throughout the day. No matter how small or great, anything goes - a baby's smile, a flower in bloom, or the smell of a newly cut grass. Make the list personal. Be brief in your words and increase the length as time progresses. Begin looking everyday for the positive angle in all things. View obstacles as opportunities to appreciate. Focus on the wonderful things in life to attract similar encounters in the course of the day. Use positive energy as a magnet to draw even more positive energy. Note these attractions in the gratitude journal. And lastly, personalize the gratitude journal. Expand it with clippings, photos, quotes or verses from magazines or other sources.

You can make your Gratitude Journal as private or public as you want it to be. And as formal or informal as you like. All that is really required is that you set aside just 5 minutes at the end of each day to write 5 things you are grateful for on that given day. 1 minute per item. You can do that, right? Of course you can and so can I. My future Gratitude Journal entries will be private and kept in a leather journal, but for now, here are 5 things I am grateful for today...

1. Confirmation that there is a girl out there with the ability to make me deliriously happy.
2. My four-legged BFF, Diesel. He's simply the best part of my every day. As someone with insomnia, last night I found myself falling asleep to the sound of his snore. Oddly enough, his snoring didn't keep me up, but rather calmed me and sent me off into la-la land.
3. That my Grandmother is still with me and we will be celebrating her 90th birthday next month! As someone from a small family, I very much cherish our relationship and feel blessed for each day God has given me to spend with her. Time is short, but precious. A realization I am always mindful of.
4. That I don't carry the bald gene or the fat gene. By genetics, I'm naturally tall and thin. So while most people go to the gym to lose weight, I go to the gym to gain weight - bulk up, build muscle. (I accept the fact that many people hate me because of this.)
5. That I've rediscovered my childhood love of writing. Not even words can describe how sooo, sooo grateful I am for this. It has given me the creative outlet in which I so desperately craved. And in it, the ability express the things in my everyday life that are often too difficult for me to verbalize. To me, paper and pen are better than sliced bread.

So what are you grateful for?

***NOTE***
You can also see this post featured on the frontpage of BrazenCareerist.com

I Got Nothing. Notta. Zip. Zilch. Zero.

Before I begin, let me first apologize to my high school composition teacher. I realize proper English is "I have nothing" not "I got nothing." But if you are going to circle that phrase in red ink, then you must also circle the made-up word "notta" that I used in the title as well. However, before your pen goes on a whirlwind of i-dotting, t-crossing, circling, underlining, crossing out and the insertion of those little condescending carrot marks that indicate that I'm a dumbass and I should have said this or that instead of what I originally wrote, let me stop you. Let me ask you to take a little pity on the grammatically incorrect and ignorant, rambling fool that I am. There will be plenty of time to rip me apart on my term paper, but for today and for just this one time, have a little heart. Spare me the wrath of your red ink and lend me your sympathetic ear. Today, as much as it pains you to hear, I care not about my spelling or poor grammar. Improper sentence structure, misplaced punctuation, and the confusion of past and present tense does not matter to me right now. Because unlike my usual obsessive compulsive editing and re-editing, striving for perfect but forever failing writing style...I'm just going to get it all out. Get it all down on paper so it's no longer inside of me, haunting me. I'm going to write like no one is reading, because it's much more freeing that way. If that is too much for you to bear and your hand begins to tremble and itch with red ink fever, then look away now.

You may recall this recent post, "Giving A Toast Isn’t Hard, It’s Composing It That’s Hard!" And now with my sister's big wedding day fast approaching, I am still speechless! There is only 5 short days left and I have yet to write a single word on paper! I'm starting to really freak out now. It's crunch time, the pressure is on and I'm failing miserably. Was that a figment of my imagination or did I used to be fairly decent with words? Where is the writer within me? He has vanished without notice and without a trace. In his midst, he has left this shell of a man. A man that lacks the flowery prose needed to compile a best man speech. Some best man he is!

Perhaps a freelance writer I could never be. I seem to crack under writing pressure. This is a true test with a deadline just around the corner and I got nothing. Notta. Zip. Zilch. Zero. My long standing love affair with pen and paper has ended. Yes, the honeymoon is officially over. The joy of writing has morphed into a deep, ugly hatred of mine for the written word. As of right now, our relationship is bitter and vile.

At this moment, all I am going on is hope and a prayer, literally. I'm hoping something will come to me and I'm praying it does! Although I've NEVER drawn such a blank like this before in my entire life. Without a doubt, this is the most extreme case of writer's block I have ever known. I wish it was a stranger or mine, but lately it's been like a best friend. Well, an enemy is more like it. It creeps up on me late at night when I lay my head down to sleep and it penetrates my mind everyday when someone asks me how the best man speech is coming along. It's NOT coming along. That's the problem! Ugh! The frustration overwhelms me. I want to scream and pound my forehead on the mahogany desk in front of me. Actually, I have smacked my head on the desk in hopes it would jar my brain into some aw-inspiring thought I could jot down in Shakespeare fashion.

Still, I got nothing. Notta. Zip. Zilch. Zero.

May God have mercy on my soul.

Words I Hate With A Passion

I’m passionate about writing, but there are some words that I hate with a passion! Just seeing them on paper or hearing them drop from someone’s mouth ignites a hatred deep within me. I attempt to smoother my irritation by clinching my fist and ultimately snapping the #2 pencil between my fingers. It sounds ridiculous and I can’t explain it, but there are a few select words I utterly despise. They crawl under my skin and gnaw on my last nerve, like an infectious parasite feverishly sucking the life supply of blood from every square inch of my body. I want to rid my eyes from ever seeing these words again. And I want to rid my ears from ever hearing them. In short, I would like to abolish them from the English language, even though some are slang and have already been shunned by Merriam-Webster. Still, I want to wipe planet Earth clean of them, UrbanDictionary.com included. I’m not sure if that is a feasible task to ask of myself, but perhaps with your help, we can make it possible. So without further ado, here are the words/phrases I loathe the most! They are in no particular order as I hate them all equally.

The words are...

• fodder
• muse
• angst
• chillax
• peeps
• late (instead of later)
• and the phrase "make love"

The first three words - fodder, muse and angst. These are words I really never heard or saw used much until I joined the blogosphere. These aren't awful words, but three of the most overly used words ever in blogging! Seriously, if you find yourself using these words often, PLEASE STOP! People tend to think that in order to write well you need to use a vocabulary set above or outside the realm of your own, instead of what you use in normal everyday speaking. I feel this only makes your writing awkward to read and gives the impression that you’re trying too hard to impress people by using words not in your comfort zone. Personally, I think some of the best writing comes from those that write how they speak. It’s just feels more authentic. So I have a hard time believing that all these bloggers go around actually saying words like muse, fodder and angst on the street.

Now chillax, peeps and late. Oh. My. God. I can not stand these slang terms! This takes me back to junior high when nerds would say "cool beans". What the fuck does cool beans mean? That's the stupidest phrase I have ever heard and you should be beaten within an inch of your life if you ever utter it. Seriously, I feel that strongly about it. I can hardly even type the words chillax, peeps and late without pounding my keyboard in a fit of uncontrollable 6th grade anger. For those who don't know, chillax is the love child of the word "chill" and "relax" that verbally fucked one another in retard fashion. Peeps is a cutey term that failed miserably in the cutey department and it is short for people. So instead of referring to your friends, you refer to your "peeps" - blah. Then we are brought to next gem. The word "late" is the product of some lazy, brain dead surfer dude who finds it to be too much work to say the measly two syllable word "later", as in goodbye. So he drops a syllable and just says "late". Now tell me you don't have the urge to skull whack him with his own surfboard when he says that.

Finally, we come to a phrase that just makes me shudder - make love. Call it fucking, screwing, banging, bumping uglies, sleeping together, whatever I don't care. Just don't call it making love. To me, the phrase "make love" holds this overly romanticised, cheesy, Harlequin novel type of connotation to it. I get this horrific 80s soap opera image stuck in my head of daytime's leading lady grabbing onto the fluffy chest hair of her mustached beau, looking deeply into his emerald green eyes and instructing him to make sweet love to her. He complies by sweeping her into his arms and carrying her into the bedroom where the sultry piano and violin music begins to play. That's the scene and that's the end of keeping my lunch down. I realize that sounds a bit harsh and it's probably breaking the hearts of women everywhere who love saying and hearing the phrase, but if I can be totally honest, when I hear someone say "make love" I want to vomit. And I have to believe I'm not the only guy alive that feels that way.

Go ahead and pick me apart with your psychology as to why I have such a severe reaction to the phrase. I'll be the first to admit that it's been awhile since I've had sex with someone who I was actually in love with and not just casually dating, so perhaps that is part of why I react to the phrase "make love" like I do. However, even when I have been in a serious relationship and I was in love, I still hated the phrase! In fact, I loathe it so much that if a girl were to refer to us sleeping together as making love, it may be the last time we ever sleep together. That is how severe my reaction to the phrase is. It just completely freaks me out! It's the "David freaking out equivalent" to a girl wanting me to commit on the first date (which is actually a true story of mine)! Or if she asked where the relationship is going on the first date! Ahh, my response would be..."You're going home and I'm never calling you again. That's where this is going." I know that sounds really mean, but who in their right mind would ask such a question after only spending an hour or two with someone? I don't even know you, but yet you want to comment on forever with you? The only "going question" I'm looking to answer is what bottle of wine will go with our dinner entree. By the way, we will NOT be going back to your place or mine and making love later tonight.

A girl saying "I want to fuck you" is hot, but the terminology doesn't always have to be explicit or crass. Sure spontaneous, throw you up against the wall, rip your clothes off, erotic sex is a favorite of mine, but I am fully capable of being sweet and romantic too. For the right girl, I will go far above and beyond my call of duty in terms of setting the mood and taking my time - some rose petals, candles, wine, a bubble bath, the works! Whatever it takes to pamper you and put a smile on your face. And if I should make your heart go a flutter and you end up spending the night, in the morning when your girlfriends ask how your date went, could you please just tell them you stayed over? Don't tell them we "made love" becaue the last thing you want to do when things are going good is freak a boy out to the point where he runs away screaming with his hands above his head.

They say to overcome a severe aversion to anything, you need to expose yourself to what you fear the most in order to desensitize yourself and overcome that fear. So let's hope this works...

My muse and peeps have told me that I need to rid myself of the angst I feel by making love to the words chillax and late, but if that doesn’t work, turn it into blog fodder.

Discovering My Worth In Written Words

It’s not always what you say, but how you say it. Or in this case...it’s not always what you write, but how you write it. People always ask how to draw more readers to their blog and my reply is always the same - content is key! And while interesting and diverse content may be important to catching a new reader’s attention, there is also another fundamental element needed - well written words. They say a good writer can take any topic, even the most mundane topic, and hold a reader's attention if it's written well. So I’m ready to put that theory to the test! I want to discover my worth in written words. A girl once told me, "I actually think well written thoughts are incredibly sexy." I took it as a huge compliment. However, she may want to rethink her position before penetrating the unorchestrated thoughts that dance thru my mind on a daily basis. The very same thoughts that then become word vomit on my blog for all the world to see. Although in some ways, I guess it’s better than being verbally constipated.

Poo, poop, do-do, dung, crap, shit. Call it what you like, but we all know what I’m referring to - feces. That’s right. I am posting about poop, dog poop in particular. Why you ask? Because I want to test myself. I want to see if I really am a good writer. If I can take the most mundane topic (dog poop) and not only make it sounds tantalizing and thrilling, but leave you wanting to read more as well. If I can do that, then I succeeded! Actually, to be perfectly honest, I’ll settle for just keeping your attention from beginning to end. So will I be able to do it? Will I be able to captivate you with my words alone? Will I be able to keep you engrossed in my gross subject matter? Or will I just be spewing mindless dribble, AKA a bunch of crap? (Pun intended.) Think of this as Poetic Poo. Now let’s begin!

When one thinks of dog poo they think of small, smelly, chocolate chunk nuggets you sidestep and curse while walking from point A to point B. And while our furry, four-legged friends may defecate on every street corner known to man, it’s man that is held responsible for cleaning up the mess after his beloved pup takes a massive dump on Wilshire Blvd. It’s a "crappy" job and nobody wants to do it, but there is something very humbling about the whole poop scooping experience. Bag over hand, bending over, picking up a warm turd in the pouring rain. It puts life into perspective. And these days, I think we all could benefit from a little humbling. It’s probably why TMZ takes great delight in photographing numerous celebrities retrieving the care packages their little Fido has left behind. Because as unpoetic as it sounds, dog shit is something we can all relate to.

Over the past short 2 years since I’ve had him, my dog has taught me many things, including it’s not shameful to feel shame. Everyone should be taken down a peg in life. It’s odd to say, but when my dog drops a twosie and I scoop it up in my plastic baggy, I feel proud. Because a wise man, Benjamin Franklin, once said..."A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle." To that I say, I will not be contained to the small bundle of shit in which I hold.

It's a deep thought, I know. So let it sink in for a minute. Mull it over. Ponder it a bit. And get back to me.

(So how did I do? Was my long awaited and greatly anticipated dog poop post everything you thought it would be and more? If it wasn’t, I can handle the criticism. Although, if you tell me my writing is shitty or crappy, I may just thank you. Afterall, I did write about poo.)

Twitter Makes You A Better Writer

Love it or loath it, Twitter is all the rage lately. If you don’t know what Twitter is, basically it’s a micro-blog. In 140 characters or less, it answers one basic question..."What are you doing?" If you’re a person who tends to ramble when you write, you will surely find condensing your words to just 140 characters rather challenging and often downright frustrating! But that’s a good thing because it helps cure you from diarrhea of the mouth. Long winded writers may have a hard time wrapping their heads around this concept, but a list of phrases can be replaced by single words without loss of meaning. Twitter forces you to write concisely. And that makes for crisper, more direct, easier to read copy. There's no room for flowery prose with only 140 characters to express an idea. It cuts out the fluff and leaves the reader with just straight content, which is important in today’s busy world where people are pressed for time and want you to get your point across in a hurry. In short, Twitter can make you a better writer.

Since you only have 140 characters to spew your message, you will have to dust off your dictionary and thesaurus and expand your vocabulary. You will have to utilize words that are shorter, more descriptive and get the job done in 140 characters or less. In the process, you’ll discover a better, clearer and more concise way to say what you want to say. Plus, every writer needs to be able to edit their work. And by using Twitter, you can really hone your editing skills and make them top-notch.

I’m a fan of simplicity. And writing more clearly and consciously is something I’m working on. If Twitter helps me accomplish this goal by putting me to the test, then I’m going to keep on Tweeting. But now it’s time to put YOU to the test!

So whether you are or aren’t Twittering already, put yourself to the 140 character test now by leaving a comment on this post in 140 characters or less. Remember, letters, numbers, symbols, punctuation and spaces all count as characters on Twitter. Good luck!

(Follow me on Twitter @diamondkt and Tweet this post. You know you want to.)

Six Word Memoirs

When challenged to do so, Ernest Hemingway wrote a story in six words.

His story: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

Six powerful words that tell a much deeper story than a simple number count would imply. You may recall back in October of 2008 I wrote a post called "Say It In Six Words". In that post I asked readers of my blog to share a secret of theirs in just six words. I have to admit, the outpouring of secrets/comments the post received were amazing! And to this day, it’s one of my favorite posts - not because of what I wrote, but because of what all of you wrote.

I’m not one to write for the sole purpose of getting feedback, but in this case, the post can only be as good as the feedback it receives. So in a sense, you write the post! So lay it on me. Tell your story in six words. No more. No less. Just six. And if you wish to post Anonymous, that's fine.

To be fair, I'll start it off with six, six word memoirs of my own...

"Still blame myself for your suicide."
"My laughter is an amazing disguise."
"You showed me that I mattered."
"Want me as boyfriend or boy-friend?"
"2009 gave birth to David 2.0"
"I write like no-one is reading."

Dream On

Ever have the same fantasy as me? Then you wake up and snap back to reality.

Notice the "I am" is missing. How appropriate.

And clicking "Publish Post" in Blogger just isn't quite the same as actually being published in the literary sense.

Ode To Diesel

I’m sorry. I promised I would never write really bad poetry, but...

I think I love you more and more each and every day.
No, really, it’s true!
I just can’t get enough of you.

(Like his 80's style Glamour Shots pose? He's bringing sexy back.)