Introduction to the Color Series

Posted: September 19, 2016

For the next week or so, I am pleased to present a series, Color.  During this run I will be educating readers on facts about color that are not commonly known.

Most of the population learn the rainbow when they are toddlers, and never concern themselves to know more.  Parents are always quizzing their young children on what the color of grass or sky is.  Sadly, unless the child takes art classes, the lessons stop there.

Some careers are focused solely on the topic at hand, such as painters (artistic and non-artistic), interior designers, fashion designers, landscapers, hairdressers, and the list could go on.  It often becomes second nature to them.

I would like to go beyond the basic red, blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, brown, pink, white, and black.  Look forward to learning how the colors were named, their history, how history has been effected by the use of colors, changes to colors in the future, and much more.

This topic is very dear to my heart, because of all the research I have done on the topic and I still have much to learn.  You may ask, why a writer, who sees only in black and white, would be so obsessed with color.  The obvious is answer is because a good writer should be able paint a picture in the reader’s mind of the scene.  Clearly colors also sets a mood, allowing the writer to push a feeling into the reader’s heart.  The reason why I have dived deeply on the subject is for plot purposes, which hopefully in the not so distant future, you will read about in a novel written by yours truly.

So please come back all week to learn something new on a subject you have known all your life.

I want to apologize to any readers who are protanopia, deuteranopia, tritanopia, or monochromatism contestants.  Please still hang in there, you might learn something too.  If you are unsure what these terms mean, return to find out.

-Beck

https://www.facebook.com/suzannebeckintheopen/

The Importance of Profreeding

Posted: Septemeber, 18, 2016

This will be a fun blog for me , because as tempting as it is, I will refrain from fixing my mistakes.  Then I can have pleasure at the tought of you cringing in your seats as you read this.  I want to clearify the importance of proofreading.

If you are a professional writer, or just a student preparing an essay it matters.  Even just writing a simple email or quick note to a co-worker, it is important to practice good proofreading.  Heare are some good reasons why you need to proofread:

1.       Readers will be able to focus on content instead of the mistakes.  Nothing is more upsetting to a reader, when their attention is pulled away from what they are reading, all from something that should have been gone over once or twice.

2.       Proofreading shows concern for content.  If a writer corrects a mistake, they are showing true interest for the piece.  If not, the reader will feel a certain level of lazieness.

3.       Proofreading shows professionalism.  If you are trying sell something, or maybe you are in a leadership role, nothing will deter your clients or subordinates from you quicker than a misspelled word.

4.       Grammar Nazis will leave you alone.  We all know one.  They read your work up and down, and can’t help themselves at telling you what went wrong with your sentences.

5.       Proofreading brings a peace of mind.  Nothing is more calming then going back through your work and nitpicking it apart, to fix and slip-ups.

While editing a piece can be very time consuming, it is still a part of writing.  I like to break it up into a percentage:  10% writing, 90% editing.  Writing is general considered the fun part.  Editing is often viewed as a pain staking process.  But if you look at these five reasons on why it needs to be done, well maybe it will lighten proofreadings reputation.

(I want to make sure everyone unsderstands that Editing and Proofreeading are two diferent things,, but fall under the same category.  Editing is much huger, and one day we will plunge into that subject, today is not that day)

-Beck

Writing Competition!

Posted: September 17, 2016

Great news!  Now you can be involved with the daily blog, In the Open.  You have the opportunity to have your story posted right here!

If you would like to enter the In the Open: writing competition, there are a couple guidelines that will have to be followed.

1.       Content must be modest enough for children to read.

2.       Word count must be between 1500-3000 words.

3.       A two-week period will be allotted for completion.

4.       Contestants must share the Suzanne Beck Facebook page.

Winner of the Competition will receive:

-          Dinner with Suzanne Beck (to discuss writing, reading, cinema, and the arts!) ***

-          Facebook recognition

-          Story posted on http://suzannebeckintheopen.blogspot.com/

If you have any questions about the competition please message me over Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/suzannebeckintheopen/

Email your short story to     suzannebeckintheopen@gmail.com

-Beck

*** If contestants live out side of Suzanne Beck's local reach a phone or skype call can be arranged!

Motivation

Posted: September 16, 2016

Today I received one of the top ranking birthday presents of my life, a Roget’s International Thesaurus, Seventh Edition.  It is by far the largest book I have been given, and a wonderful tool.  When my parents asked what I wanted, I suggest a thesaurus, thinking I would receive a typical alphabetical Webster edition.  No, they went all out.

This amazing tool, isn’t listed alphabetically at all!  In fact, it is divided into topics, which is very useful.  When I’m looking for a word, I often know the meaning of what I want, but cannot think of a word for it.  This will help immensely, because the ability, to narrow down the word to an exact section and pick out the exact word I was looking for, is beyond powerful.

Motivation is among several words I have scoped out.  I would like to dive a little bit into the word and how amazing it can impact our thoughts on our creations.  The Roget’s Thesaurus divides up a specific thought, for our use today, motivation is split up by nouns, verbs, and adjectives.  There are 31 entries listed, practically two pages.

Nouns such as reason, prompting, inducement, incitement, urging, pressure, and instigator are mentioned.  Verbs listed include provoke, prod, stir up, kindle, spark, encourage, prevail on, and charm.  Motivated, challenging, and enlivening are a few adjectives.

Location of Motivation

As creators of music, art, words, theatre, and so on, we need to sometimes pinpoint our motivation and hold on to it for dear life.  Motivation can be found anywhere.  My source is general from the people I surround myself with.  Some look within.  Thinking of the end results is also motivational.

The Passion Motivation Brings

Without motivation a special project that is on our minds, will general lose its momentum.  Motivation will bring a fire and excitement to keep it alive.  With the proper motivation for our work, we will be able to surprise even ourselves with the passion we put towards it.

Reason for Motivation

Our human nature causes us to become lazy or discourage very easily.  If you desire to run a marathon and begin training, soon the pressures will cause us to cave.  We need that motivation to keep going to the end.

You Can be a Motivation

We can motivate our children, spouses, friends, or fellow creators.  So often we need the push, and forget that others will need it too.  A simple phrase is all that is needed sometimes.  Other times, that person is desperate to have you accompany them the entire way.  If that is the case, we should be oblige them.  The support will always be returned when you begin your endeavors, plus you will feel motivated yourself to go on with your work.  It is always amazing how I always want to join the gym after watching a weight loss show.  I see the motivation given to the individual and I believe that if I go for it, the motivation will be there for me also.

Maintaining Motivation

Keeping with the weight loss theme, it is always amazing how in February dust begins to mount on our treadmills.  Motivation is always there, but like a beautiful garden, it needs to be cared for.  Gratitude for it should always be showered on the motivators in our lives.  If you seek your motivation, like me, from others, then you must thank them.  You must believe in what they say too.  If they say, ‘You can do it!’ then you can actually do it.  Believe them.  Motivation sought from your own self, is harder to care for, because willpower is so delicate.  If everyone else has let you down, and discouraged you, then seeking your own motivation is necessary.  Looking at daily inspirational quotes is a good start.  When looking at your future for motivation, you will have to keep a clear head.  Believe in yourself, that the end results will be exactly what you wanted.

I am so thankful to my parents as one of my great motivators.  They encourage and get very excited when I am excited.  Seek out your motivation, you will need it.  Be a motivation for others, and be thankful when you receive it.

-Beck

Order and Chaos

Posted: September 15, 2016  

              Order versus chaos frequently has been in my thoughts.   The belief that the universe is constructed in order, but requires chaos is one I hold strongly.  They bring with them a balance that grips the world together.  Without order, we could not understand chaos in contrast, and without chaos, order is irrelevant.  They are yin and yang.  One without the other is illogical.

                As an artist, and mind you, not a great one, I have a clear understanding on both the chaos and the order.  For example, the other night, while watching the Netflix special, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, (a video blog on this will come later, once I have read the book!), I noticed that my floor, free from toys, was relatively clean.  My table, along with the kitchen sink, were empty.  Order reigned downstairs!  …except… my work desk.  Papers piled up, books one on top of another, pens all askew, showed that chaos had taken over my desk.

                My feelings on all this?  At peace.  Unlike my beloved character, Mr. Walter Sherman, I sometimes enjoy a little mess.  Any type of artist should firmly agree that they need a place or space to just throw everything down, chaotically.  The reason is our brains, left and right side.  Both sides need to be nourished and cared for.  My house is generally clean, and I can find the tools I need.  My spot for creativity is open for any kind of disorderly element that will boost my goals.

                Now I will direct our thoughts to life and the chaos and order that it brings.  While I am still “just a baby” as I am told often, my experiences have allowed me to see that life brings both order and chaos.  Sometimes everything plays out just right, and other times chaos has its way and life seems to fall apart.

                My feelings on all this? At peace.  Life would be so boring if we had no variety.  If everything was right all the time, where would the challenge be?  If there was no order, where would the rest and healing be?  Both sides need to be there.  We are designed to handle a lot, and grateful when we catch a break.

                Applying these simple thoughts of order and chaos to writing is very simple.  Consider a basic story plot.  You have the inciting moment, which is the start of conflict and chaos to the protagonist.  They must battle this problem.  They desire to have order again.  That is why stories are so important to us.  We can compare them to our own lives.  We can think about the main character and put ourselves in their shoes.  If no one could relate to Frodo Baggins, the readers (and viewers) would not continually come back time and time again.  Of course the adventure and setting makes the book more appealing, but without that initial connection to the little hobbit’s plight, no one would care.  We desire to see order set back in place for his little world.  We cheer and cry for him to get his burden up the mountain.

                So next time you are writing a story, painting, drawing, coming up with the next big idea, remember that chaos and order will be there.  I don’t believe that one is better than the other.  Both have pros and cons.  Allow them to guide you to the correct choices in your creation.  Don’t be afraid of a mess.  Don’t be afraid to have everything set just right. 

-beck

Review of "Hedges"

Posted: September 14, 2016

                Now that I have completed my short story, I would like to give a small review of it.  As the writer of this piece, I absolutely hate it.  While I am proud of certain parts, as a whole, I know for sure, that it is not my best work.  I consider it a fluff piece.  It is so fluffy and light, my displeased at the vibe it gives off.  I will probably not go back again to read it after this review, for I am that disappointed with it.

                If you have not read the short story, “Oh the Hedges”, you will probably want to read it before continuing with this post and the next.  It is ok if you don’t, but you might be confused at some of the references.

                To begin, the limited writing space that was available was very restricting.  I wanted the piece to be very short, as to not bore the reader.  So I decided to put it into five parts, each being roughly 500-700 words long.  For seasoned writers, they will testify that it doesn’t take much to get there.  I remember being in high school and dreading the 500 word essays.  Now, I feel I would beg the teacher for more work.  The limited space was an obstacle that changed the story from my original plot.

                I planned for Walter Sherman to go to jail.  I wanted a whole jail scene, with our star feeling unjustly treated, and possibly meeting some questionable characters.

Also I wanted to dive further into Mr. White’s life and family.  Two or three paragraphs seem to hardly do him justice.  But of course Mr. White was not the main character, but to our protagonist, he is the antagonist.

Secondly another restriction was writing as I go.  This was very difficult.  Each day I would add to the story, and publish it that day.  So I could not add anything to the first day, unless it was already preplanned in my head.  Unfortunately for any clever bit I might come up with to possibly tie into the end, would have to be left out, because I missed it from the beginning.

Writing as I go, was a very good exercise, and I encourage anyone who loves to write (and read) to practice this.  For more formal works, such as a novel or magazine publishing, I suggest preplanned work along with the ability to edit, add and cut from the piece.  Writing without the option of editing and proofreading showed me as a writer the importance of proofreading and editing, (I will be blogging about these two topics multiple times in the future.) so I will do it again to test myself.

In general, if I catch or someone alerts me of a spelling or grammar mistake after I publish I do have the option to update the post.  I will fix the problem right away because readers will discover how unprofessional you are, if they return to an article, and the problem hasn’t been fixed.  I recall the very first blog I wrote, chose instead of choose, in the first paragraph!  A mistake like that cannot be left unaddressed.

The last problem I found while writing “Oh the Hedges” was the limited time allotted.  I felt I made a huge mistake promising a five-day story (not already written) in five days.  It was very hard to complete while doing my other day to day activities.  Recalling on the very last day, rushing through without much thought, I wish I would have had a better ending.  The Casablanca reference is so lame.  The last line should have referenced the title and theme: Oh the Hedges.  But my exhaustion and limited time, cost me that line, that I will have to be content not to go back and change.

The time limit I was up against, showed me how much discipline is needed when writing.  Steven King writes for a minimum of two hours a day.  All writers should be practicing this way.  It is hard to find that kind of time.  I tell myself if I can’t find that time, then I have to make that time.  Surely the precious minutes lost on social media can be used for refining my writing skills.

In conclusion, I have found that the limited space, writing as I go, and limited time were very hard tests to push through.  They taught me some valuable lessons allowing me to improve on my writing.

Thank you for reading the very first short story I published online.  For the next short story that I create, I will apply the lessons I have learned and write something great and enjoyable.

-beck

"Oh the Hedges" - Part V

Posted: September 13, 2016

                Mr. Sherman was in utter shock at the whole situation.  He placed his beloved trimmer on the ground slowly, careful not to drop it.  He didn’t know quite what was going on and asked loudly, “What seems to be the problem, officer?”

                “Just place your hands on your head,” was the reply he heard.

                “But I haven’t done anything.”

                Mr. White, who was inside, came out his back door armed with his baseball bat ready to swing.  It took a moment for him to realize who was the cause of the uproar.  He suspiciously asked, “Mr. Sherman?  Is that you?”

                Unwillingly Walter answered, “Yeah, it’s me.”

                Confused, Mr. White looked at the old man, “What are you doing in my back yard?”

                Mr. White, a man in his early forties, happened to be working two jobs, one during the week, and a part time job on the weekends.  His family recently ran into hard times, and had no other choice.  His wife worked part time while little Tommy was in school.  The two were very busy, working, trying to get their lives back in order.  They simply didn’t have time or money to keep up with yardwork.  Here and there, they would mow the lawn or rake the leaves.  But when they did get the chance, they preferred to spend their time together.

                Walter did not want to answer his neighbor’s question, but with the policemen right in front of him, he had no choice.  He stated, “Well, Mr. White, I was just trimming your hedges.  They are such an awful sight.  I felt that I must take care of them.”

                This time Mrs. Sherman interjected, “Oh, Walter, what is the matter with you?”

                Walter looked over at his wife, wondering who’s side she was on.

                Despite Mr. White’s poor landscaping skills, he was as sharp as a tack.  He quickly understood the situation and was already figuring out a way to end it with the best possible outcome, for everyone.

                One of the police officers spoke up, “Sir, you can’t just trim hedges this late into the night, you have upset the whole neighborhood.”

                “No, no, officer, it is my fault,” Mr. White threw himself in front of Mr. Sherman.  “You see, I asked Mr. Sherman to help me out.  He always has such a great lawn.  I mean just look at it.  He deserves a prize, really.  No, it is my fault because I asked him to help me out.  He has that amazing hedge trimmer.  I mean look at this thing.”

                Mr. White picked up the trimmer, and showed it off.  Inside, Walter felt a little bit of pride, but some embarrassment.  He began to realize what he had done, and how absurd he had acted.  He also felt gratitude towards Mr. White.  Mr. White could press charges, but instead was covering for his mistakes.

                The younger man continued, “This is quite a trimmer.  And he is graciously using it on my horrible hedges.  It is my fault because I never told him what time was best, you know.”

                The police officers, rolled their eyes, gave a lecture about not making so much noise at night, and left.

                “Walter, what are you doing?  Oh, Mr. White, I am so sorry, for this.  We won’t bother you anymore.  Please, I have no idea what my husband was doing.  Oh, Walter, what were you thinking?  Are you trying to get yourself arrested?”  Betty went off.

                “Please, please, Mrs. Sherman.  I don’t mind.  I could use the help.  In fact, Mr. Sherman, I was possibly wondering if you wouldn’t mind showing me a few tips this weekend.  I have a day off, and you are the best at what you do.”

                With one tear welling up in his eye, Walter answered his new friend, “Young man, I do believe this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

"Oh the Hedges" - Part IV

Posted: September 12, 2016

                Sunlight slipped slowly away from the two backyards as Walter sat on his back porch.  It would soon be dark, allowing him to begin his work.  He sipped his coffee as he waited.  The caffeine would be needed for a long night.  The strategy ready, now he only needed night’s cover.

                Betty opened the screen door just a crack and peeked out.  She asked her distracted husband, “Dear, it is getting late.  Are you coming to bed?”

                The questioned revived Walter from his thoughts.  Time for a quick lie.  He answered, “Oh go on ahead without me, darling.  I’ll come in after I finished my coffee.  Just go to sleep, I’ll shut off the lights and lock the door.”

                “Why are you drinking coffee before bed?”

                “Oh, oh, uh,” Walter stammered, “I guess.  I guess, because I like to feel a little kick before bed, you know.”

                Betty, too tired to deal with that answer, rolled her eyes, and decided to leave it for the morning.  She left her husband on the porch, not knowing the plot about to be unfurled.

                Now alone, Walter rose up from his chair with exceedingly impressive stealth for an old man and headed to his shed.  As he walked, he pulled the flashlight from his pocket to make it easier to see.  For only a minute he fumbled around with his keys until finding the correct one to unlock the doors.

                Once inside his base of operations, he located the trimmer.  Finally, my girl, we shall put right all that is wrong in the world, Walter thought as he filled the tank with gasoline.

                Quietly and unnoticed by anyone around, Walter crossed over into the other lawn towards the hedges that lined the back fence.  Walter thought maybe another night would be needed, but he would sacrifice all his time just to see it done.  Coming every night to see that the yard was taken care of never occurred to Walter until now.  He smiled as he thought of himself being a like the little elves that helped the cobbler.  What a service he could provide for his common man.  Maybe this was now his purpose in life.

                Walter yanked the rope to start the trimmer, and she started with a loud roar.  It was music to Walter’s ears.  Back and forth he swept the hedges to make the outcome smooth.  Walter’s heart felt such joy.

                Now it would be nice if the outcome for Walter was that of completing his task.  Life could go on merrily for everyone.  The Whites would have a clean yard and the Shermans would live in harmony once again with everyone on the block.  But this is not a fairy tale.

                Unbeknownst to Walter, for his ignorance and blindness to the situation, he failed to realize that his industrial grade hedge trimmer would wake everyone on the block.  Mrs. Sherman sat up straight in her bed.  Unsure what her husband was doing, she jumped out of bed and rushed to put on her robe and slippers to find out.

                As for the Mrs. White, who was quietly watching a movie with her husband and nine-year-old son, sprang to the window.  Without hesitation she dialed 911 on her cell phone and pleaded for help.  Some unknown stranger was in their backyard with a chainsaw, tearing up her yard.  Mr. White, ran to grab the baseball bat he kept under his bed.  As for little Tommy White, he rushed to stand behind his mother to keep safe as she peered out the window.  If only they were aware that it was only old Mr. Sherman their not so pleasant neighbor, but it was too late the police were called.

                By that time, Betty reached her husband and was yelling at him to stop the engine.  Walter heard nothing for the engine was too loud. 

                There happened to be a police patrol car on the street, making it’s rounds, that two police officers were on the scene immediately.  They shined their lights into the back yard, lighting up the criminals in the act.  Then and only then, did Walter stop the trimmer’s engine and look around to find his wife facing the light with her hands high in the air.  Shock all over her face.

                “Place your weapon on the ground, sir, and put your hands up!”

"Oh the Hedges" - Part III

Posted: September 10, 2016

                Walter Sherman started up his car and headed towards the edge of town.  He couldn’t help but smile to himself as he thought of his plans.  How beautiful the outcome in the end would be when finally, matching houses would reside next to each other in a perfect splendid order.  Once Sherman pulled into the parking lot and found a close spot, he entered the store with a merry whistle.

                This lawn and garden store being owned by a woman named Kelly, was called Kelly’s Lawn and Garden Center.  Kelly’s was Walter’s home away from home.  He had been up and down the aisles numerous times and he was quite familiar with where everything was located.  There was nothing particularly exciting about the store, but in Walter’s eyes, he beheld treasure every time he passed through the glass doors.

                Kelly was at the front registers helping customers and tending to business as usual when she watched Walter enter.  She greeted him with a smile, “Ah, Mr. Sherman!  Welcome back, what is my best customer needing today?”

                Walter’s eyes darkened at the question.  He motioned her over for a private conversation.  Without much hesitation Kelly joined him, wondering what he could be up to.

                “The hedges, Kelly, the hedges.”

                “Yes, your hedges?” Kelly responded in a normal speaking voice.

                “Shh, please, keep your voice down,” Walter whispered nervously as he looked around to check if others had heard.  He looked back at her, “No, no, not my hedges.  It doesn’t matter anyway.  I need to get them trimmed.  Do you understand?  I need to see what you have in the back.  I need the best.”

                With a confused expression, Kelly answered the older man, “Well, I don’t have any trimmers in the back, but you know all I have on trimmers are down aisle four.  If you are looking for the best, the Deluxe Hedge Trimmer 5000 by HedgeMaster is the best on my shelves.  It cost well over a hundred dollars though!  You aren’t using for industrial work, Mr. Sherman, so there is no reason for you buying it.  I would go with the smaller-”

                “Thank you, that is all, Kelly,” Walter stated as he walked away from her.

                He headed straight down aisle four.  Nothing could stand in his way.  There on the top shelf, sat the glistening Deluxe Hedge Trimmer 5000.  Dark angels seemed to sing as he beheld this inglorious prize.  He reached high above his head to take it from its resting place.  Now in his clutches, he pulled the heavy box close to his heart and then he began to snicker.  The snicker turned into a chuckle.  The chuckle became a laugh, and before long the laughter became an evil cackle that rang throughout the store.  Everyone that could hear it, shuttered at the sound, because they knew no good deed could come from it.

                One hundred dollars poorer, Mr. Sherman returned home, with part of his crew assembled.  Now he just needed a flashlight.

"Oh the Hedges" - Part II

Posted: September 9, 2016

So there Walter sat, in a blue lawn chair he grabbed from the garage.  The early summer day did not bother him, for the sun rested behind many clouds keeping the temperature tolerable.  Occasionally he would slip into a dreamless sleep, as he waited for the mail man to show up.  After a few minutes he stirred in his chair to wake himself and to keep alert.  To pass the time, he watched the houses around him as his neighbors left for work or went for a jog.  At one point children gathered to play.  This was the perfect community and to boot, everyone kept their lawns neat and tidy.  Except for the Whites.

Oh the hedges, Walter thought, as he glanced over at the chaotic yard.  It was impossible to keep his eyes looking on such an atrocity, causing him to pick up the chair beneath him and rotate to face the other way.

The hours did not take long to pass.  When Bill pulled up to the block with his mail car, he spotted Mr. Sherman down the way, looking very irate.   Bill had to roll his eyes when he noticed the sour faced man.  Under his breath he muttered, “Not again.”

Walter greeted him, once he arrived at 125, “Bill, it’s good to see you!  How is the business today?”

“Hello, Mr. Sherman.  Business is good.  Just delivering the mail,” Bill responded happily, hoping that the conversation would stay light.

“That’s great, that’s good.  I got something I want to say to you now.”

Here it comes, Bill complained in his head.

“Have you talked to those fellas up at headquarters for me?  Did you do what I asked?”

Bill had a dark complexion for the beginning of summer, and it would continue to tan as the days wore on.  A straight graying mustache grew above his lips, that would curve downwards when he smiled, and upwards if frowning.  Currently this curve moved from down to up.  He answered irritably ashamed, “No, no.  I haven’t talked to them at ‘headquarters’.  Listen, Walter, I’m real busy today.  I don’t have the time to explain to you again how-”

                Walter interrupted him, “How hard is it to just simply change an address?  I’ll do it myself.  I’ll rip that ‘3’ off their box for them!  I’ll nail up my ‘5’!  They won’t have to do a thing.  And you know, you just have to have headquarters, switch our names, and everything will be fine.  Come on, Bill, for me!”

                “That all is out of the question, Mr. Sherman.”

                “But why?  Why do they get to get away with the sins they commit over there!”

                Bill, the mailman, had about enough he could handle for the day.  Maybe tomorrow they could continue the conversation, but today, he had reached his limit.  Bill looked Walter straight in the eye, and voiced clearly, “Look!  You don’t have to switch addresses.  If you don’t like your house anymore, or your neighborhood, move!  I can’t do anything about your house numbers, or anything about how someone lives.  If they like it messy over there, that’s fine.  Let them be!  But please, for Pete’s sake, have something else to talk about when I deliver your mail, Mr. Sherman!  Good day!”

                When Bill shoved his mail into his fumbling hands and stormed off, Walter was so shocked that he stood there for a minute with his mouth wide open.

                It would have been nice if Walter received the message and took a hint, but instead, Walter decided he would have to take matters into his own hands.  Trimmed hedges would do his eyes good, if he could only get in their lawn unnoticed.  First, he had to assemble the right team.  A visit to the lawn and garden store might prove valuable in his efforts to fix the problem.

"Oh the Hedges" - Part I

Posted: September 8, 2016

“That house,” Walter scowled as he spoke to his wife, “is an absolute disgrace!  I’ve just about had it.”

Walter Sherman, a retired accountant, lived on Downing Street with his wife for the last thirty years.  Being the type of man who desired order opposed to chaos, it made perfect sense that his feelings towards his neighbors were unwarrantable.  Yet he felt the way he felt.  Not even his wife could change his state of mind.

The two had been married for over forty years and Betty Sherman knew better then to try and change her husband.  She had worked as a nurse most of her life, but now in her older years, found she could do her part by volunteering at their local blood donation center.  After she finished buttering her toast, she let out a sigh.  This would inform Walter, she wanted him to sit back down at the table so they could finish their breakfast in silence and for once not talk about the neighbors.

“I mean it, dear.  Someone’s got to do something about it.  I mean, why?  Why do they get that house?  It isn’t fair.  I must be getting punished.  Now after all these years, I’m being punished for something I must have done in my childhood.  Just look at it.  Just a disgrace,” said Walter as he peered out the window into his neighbor’s lawn.

“Just come to the table and eat your breakfast.  You know what the doctor said,” Betty ordered.

The old man, with a grunt, finally listened to his little wife and sat down to eat.  All the while, his mind kept chiefly on one subject, the house he come to know as the “1,2,3 House”.

On the one hundred and twentieth block of Downing Street, typical houses were arranged down the line all having one garage, one drive way, and one mailbox.  Each were one level houses, making them very ideal for small families such as the Shermans... and the Whites.

At 123 Downing Street, lived the White family.  Walter became quite upset that this specific family had been given the best house on the block for he had to live at 125.  Being an accountant his whole life, these numbers would not do.  The numbers “123” would be the ideal numbers for when he wrote out his return address when doing the bills.  But this was only a trifle thought, for the major problem came from outside.

123 and 125 were both constructed identically, but both were diverse in many ways due to the different proprietors.  The Whites were not at all like the Shermans and this drove Walter mad.  Having more time and money to spend, Walter was often found at the lawn and garden store located at the edge of town.  He fashioned his front and back lawn perfectly.  The flawlessly trimmed hedges, straight sidewalk edges, and coordinating foliage shown that indeed Walter Sherman cared for his home, inside and out.  The “1,2,3 House” on the other hand, was lacking a paint job, a regularly cut lawn, and the hedges, oh the hedges, were always out of sorts.

Betty found her husband’s observations and remarks to be a small nuisance, but as the long days of retirement carried on, they became progressively worse.  She had a slight understanding to why he had become so upset, for he worked very hard on making everything picture-perfect.  Today happened to be proving worse than most days.

For after a few bites of his toast, Walter stood suddenly from his chair and announced he would be going out to sit by the mail box and wait for Bill, the mailman, to come along.  It was eight o’clock in the morning.  Bill always showed up at around three.

In the Open- Part II

Posted: September 7, 2016

This is a hard decision and I believe most writers would side with me on my carefulness.  Even though I am very cautious with what I put online, and the fear of stolen work is heavily on my mind, I have decided that I will give you, my beautiful readers, a taste of what I can do.  I will take you on a journey.  A short story journey.

Over the next 3-5 blogs or so, I will give you a nice, simple, short story.  This will allow you to get a feel for my writing style and how I narrate, how I compose.  I humbly ask that you be patient and understanding if it doesn’t quite work out the way I want.  I might have to go back and fix things.  If this happens I will alert you to any changes.  Hopefully I will be skilled enough to get it right the first time.

I am putting myself out there…in the open.  If it isn’t great, well, then I can’t say I didn’t try.  At times writing can be a lot like sight reading music.  You might make mistakes as you go along the way, but if you remember nobody is perfect and try your best, the next time you play, the better it becomes.

Therefore, this will not be the first short story I will publish on my blog, and just like running through the music again, the next time will be a better attempt.

Thank you for reading. 

Tomorrow should prove interesting.

-Beck

Children's Books

Posted: September 5, 2016

Due to the fact that I have read many children’s books and will continue to do so for the next decade or so, has caused my opinion on them to be very diverse.  For me it’s either a hit or miss.  Some are just terrible, while others shine through so brightly, I want to read them over and over again.  Being an adult with a higher understanding then a child, I can pick up on things the author squeezed into the story.  So sometimes it can be very entertaining or emotional for the adult.  I have caught myself wiping a tear from my eye, voice trembling as I read aloud and I have even laughed so uncontrollably at the authors word, that a young pair of eyes look up at me, in wonder.

I have spoken to a number of people who have proclaimed they want to write.  I ask, “Oh, what do you want to write?”  And the ones that answer with children’s books always seem to admit the fact with shame.  This I can understand this, because to the layman, children’s books seem so easy.

They aren’t that easy.  If you haven’t tried to sit down and actually do it, then you don’t understand how difficult it might be.  So many factors have to be taken into consideration when undertaking a task like this.  The pictures, the simplicity of the words, the plot, the ideas that children may or may not grasp, and of course the good old “don’t do this at home” adage!!!  These are just some of the issues, for the list can go on.

Children are the future, and it is a huge responsibility.  Giving them a good start with ideas from fun entertaining stories is so important.  I am glad that I can go to the library and pick out books for the young kids in my life from a wide selection.  But that selection gets older every year.  Our grandchildren will want something fresh and more up to date.

So I encourage anyone with a dream of writing children’s books to go for it.  The work might be hard, but the payoff is worth it.

-Beck

Here is my favorite book that I read often.

Blank Page Syndrome

Posted: September 4, 2016

 There you sit, staring hopelessly at a blank page, and the blank page staring back at you, laughing.  The spirit is willing but the mind is weak.  So many times have writers faced the dreaded Blank Page Syndrome as I like to call it.  You have such a drive to write, but once you sit in front of a computer or down with pen and paper, your mind grows empty.  Where have all your ideas gone… out into the great unknown.

This isn’t a bad thing.  Everyone faces it.  Here are some ways to combat writer’s block.

1.       Don’t expect the best, write away.  As for me, I tend to be very hard on myself, especially at the beginning of a project.  Under the false motivation of fame and glory, instead of writing for the sake of art and myself, I stress out trying to prove that I am the best.  This is crazy.  No logic can come from this.  My readers will see through this knowing I’m trying to impress.  The best way to fight against high expectations is to just write.  Just write even if it doesn’t sound right.  If nothing is on the page to begin with how can you fix it later.  Don’t put pressure on yourself to make it amazing right off the bat.  Be patient with yourself.

2.       No ideas, walk away.  When you absolutely cannot come up with any ideas, leave the area taking your mind, body, and soul with you.  It is often suggested that you take a walk, listen to music, talk to someone, and the list can go on.  Sometimes concepts will come from the most unlikely places.  Just setting motion to your body, can have astonishing outcomes.  Your mind will open up and become free.  Thoughts will flow before you know it.  (drink a full glass of water also, it does me wonders)

3.       Keep writing.  So you might have an idea of what you want to get on paper, but you aren’t sure if it might work.  Stay with it.  Make sure you keep to your routine.  If you plan on sitting down to write for 1-2 hours a day.  Do it.  Eventually your thoughts will crystalize.  An outline will form.  Trust me, your mind will escape the dreaded blank page syndrome if you are constantly pushing it to work.

4.       What comes next?  You have your pages filled, but you don’t know what will happen to your characters next.  Currently a big project I’m working on, has an uncertain ending.  I have a few thoughts floating around in my head, but still it is a prominent mystery.  What I plan to do for this current writer’s block, is to try one avenue then step away.  When I come back to it later in a couple days and review it, I will decide whether it was the right path to take.  If I am satisfied I will continue on my way, if not then I will try again.  The best decision will shine through.  It takes time.  Trying different ways and directions will provide you with multiple choices to pick from.

Blank Page Syndrome is a serious, if not fatal condition for writers.  Use these few remedies to break the illness.  Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, get out and about, keep writing no matter what, and try different avenues.  Keep on creating!

-Beck

Man Loves to Hate Man

    

Posted: September 3, 2016

Two of the last books I have enjoyed are Edgar Rice Burrough's Tarzan of the Apes and Return of Tarzan.  There were such fun reads, I can't wait to get my hands on more.  Tarzan especially is a strong amazing character.  He, while being still a man, hardly makes mistakes and seeks to be just and do right.

Last night I was able to watch the new Disney version of The Jungle Book.  I have of course seen the 1967 version as well.  The Jungle Book was written between 1893-1894 and published to be read in magazines.  Since they are a collection of stories about the jungle, I have read most of them.  I stopped after the chapter “Mowgli’s Song”.  The author Rudyard Kipling could not hold my interest much after that.  Mowgli, like Tarzan, is placed in the jungle.

The authors may or may have not realized the message they were sending from the stories they wrote, being that mankind has ruined man in his primeval state, making him dark and evil, taking away the innocence.

Let’s start by looking at how both characters, Mowgli and Tarzan, were raised by animals with laws and “rules of the jungle”.  Both were small toddlers when they entered the family that so willingly accepted them and would die for them.  For Tarzan, Kala his mother, one time so sacrificially brought water in her mouth multiple times from the stream to a hurt disabled son, badly wounded from a gorilla attack.  (Tarzan was raised by apes, not gorillas!  Once again Disney got it wrong)  Burrough’s expressed how never before has a mother loved.  Mowgli, also loved, was saved from the undesirable monkeys by Bagheera, Baloo, and Kaa.  Now each child learned the laws of animals.  They were shown that they killed only for food, never pleasure.  They learn that other animals live this way, so they must protect themselves and their own.  This was natural.

The two characters are both very smart.  Even though they are raised from an animal family they could easily adapt to the race of man.  Tarzan teaches himself to read from the books found in his biological parent’s cabin.  He discovers how to make a lasso and use it effectively.  Mowgli also learns the ways of man.  Eventually he shows his cleverness by killing the dreaded tiger, Shere Khan.

Both the jungle dwellers return back and forth to their preferred lifestyle and the human race.  Tarzan is torn between his love for Jane and his love of the jungle.  Mowgli’s family, the black panther and the sleepy bear, regretfully have to send Mowgli away to live with men.  The authors send the message here that if these men, raised so close to nature, live in the civilized world they will be ruined.  Luckily for the reader, they are not.  Tarzan, often confused by the vicious and cruel ways of his fellow man, always overcomes by remembering the ways of the jungle.

Books today go even the classic step further.  Instead of saying that civilized man will ruin our primitive selves they look at government and how men in power can ruin our entire human race.  The Hunger Games and Divergent are two books with two female leads that challenge a government power mad bent on destroying their populations.  Rebellion against government is nothing new.  Look at Caesar, a real historical story made famous again by Shakespeare.

I wonder what the next generation of writers will bring to the table.  What kind of humans we will use to fight against a new untold adversary?  I am excited to see what new ideas come from my fellow writers and thinkers.  I, myself, am inspired to create something new.

Let’s change the idea of man hating man.  We can develop the story to be so much more.

-Beck

Heart and Soul

Posted September 2,2016

As a creator of ideas and thoughts, I try my very best to be positive while I create.  Now not everything has to have a fairy tale ending, he gets the girl in the end, and they live happily ever after.  Real life isn’t like that.  We all have hardships.  But for the most part we as humans are generally happy.

I have an understanding that my readers will always look to see if I putting my heart into my writing.  The same can be for you in anything that you might create.   Whether you work with your hands or behind a desk you can throw your heart into it and come out with something beautiful.

Even if your creation is purposely repulsive, because that is your artwork, there is still joy.  Your audience will enjoy it and you will get a great pleasure and pride in what you make.  They will see how much energy and thought went into creating that.  A great example would be Steven King.  We all know who he is, the author of horror.  He brings fear and excitement.  I am NOT a fan.  This is due to the fact that while I seem a cool confident woman, underneath I am a big baby.  Scary and I do not match in the slightest.  He is respected and loved by many.  I respect him.  This is due to the fact he throws his heart and all his love into what he is creating.

So today as you are creating either physically or just mentally, put everything you have into it.  It is a passion, why not give it your whole heart.  Find the joy, find the positivity.  Even if the audience is just yourself, you can enjoy it knowing that you have done everything in your power to make it yours, to make it your heart’s work. 

Love can be a very powerful thing.  Nothing great can be created without it.

-Beck