The common advice to writers just starting out is to write what one knows, and often, this is good advice. What better starting point can an individual have than his or her own experiences and memories? To this end, many writers, such as Hemingway and Jack London have led adventurous lives — Hemingway drove an … Continue reading A Form of Autobiography
Category: Habits
Dead Parrots and Shows About Nothing
Python, Seinfeld, and Absurdity People think of absurdity as someone acting irrationally, or strange things happening to an otherwise normal person, but often the heart of absurdity comes from people rationalizing behavior which defies explanation. My stock portfolio just tanked; now's the perfect time to buy more! Whenever our instincts conflict with our intellects, we're … Continue reading Dead Parrots and Shows About Nothing
Working for a Living
I've often been told I need to be more proactive, particularly at work, but on the job, I tend to be the opposite, waiting for something to happen, then reacting to it. So far, this strategy has served me well throughout my professional career, while those who counseled me otherwise are no longer around. Admittedly, … Continue reading Working for a Living
Minds of Their Own
Many years ago, when I was in high school, I saw a film talking about Ibsen's A Doll's House, which contained a quote from Ibsen on why Nora leaves at the end. While I don't recall the exact quote, he essentially said that once he knew the character, he knew leaving was her only course … Continue reading Minds of Their Own
Two Doors, People, Two Doors
When I was a student at Georgia State University in Atlanta, as ten-o-clock break rolled around, students would stream out of Sparks Hall, cross Courtland Street and enter the Student Center to get to the cafeteria. There was and probably still is a single set of doors that lead out of Sparks Hall onto Courtland, … Continue reading Two Doors, People, Two Doors
Force of Habit
I'm normally a creature of habit; I buy fruit and don't eat it; I always set the alarm clock earlier than I should, then hit the snooze button until I feel like getting up; I always buy the same brand of toothpaste, even if there are deals on other brands. This behavior on my part … Continue reading Force of Habit