The Pencil Bag -- this writer's toolbox

Last night my friend asked me, in a rhetorical, off-handed way, if I had some Scotch tape. We have a standing Sunday night meeting at a coffee shop to work on our respective businesses ... you know, catch up on emails, update web sites (here's hers: Curious Cup; here's mine: Amy Marie Orozco),and all sorts of little stuff so we can hit Monday morning running. But back to the tape story ...

Fully expecting a "no" answer, she was pleasantly surprised I had the requested item. I was pleased the tape had been returned (by me!) to my pencil bag. Yes, pencil bag. I carry it in my purse. It is filled with pens of different colored inks, a variety of highlighters, scissors, glue stick, tape, some loose paper clips and binder clips,and sticky notes. There are some other goodies in there, too. Pencils being one of them. Mechanical pencils and replacement lead. Had to switch, the pencil shavings were getting too messy.

It's a writer-nerd thing, the pencil bag is. You can always find a piece of paper if the notebook/journal didn't make it back to your purse, but it's not always easy to find a writing implement. (And if you can't find a piece of paper, writing on the wrist will do in a pinch.) Yes, I have a digital recorder and could use my iPhone notes function. It's not the same though. Maybe one day, one of those gadgets will replace my pencil bag, just as composing on a keyboard has replaced longhand. Until then, a good pencil bag is this writer's toolbox.

Repeat After Me: Anaphora

Alliteration, onomatopoeia, allegory, and similes are well known literary devices. I just learned a new one. Well, I didn’t just learn the device, but I learned the name for the device. It’s called anaphora. Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences, clauses, and/or verses.

This new knowledge comes to me thanks to the January 2014 edition of Writer Magazine. Probably the best known example of anaphora is Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech given in 1963 at the March on Washington. King repeats the phrase “I have a dream” at the beginning of his sentences.

“… I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood …”

Anaphora. Great word, isn’t it? Great device, don’t you think?

Betcha Can't See It Just Once

This Saturday is the Carpinteria premier of the The Bet, the feature-length film from the Community Film Studio Santa Barbara. Matinee at 2 p.m./$10. Gala party at 5:30 p.m. followed by the film screening at 7 p.m./$50.

I bought tickets to both. Want to know why? I'm in the movie. Yes! I play "waitress," which is a speaking part.

Sometimes I need a break from sitting behind a computer. Acting not only gives me a break, it inspires and motivates me. Plus it's fun.

Anyway, it will be a fun day in Carpinteria. Hope to see you there. Oh, The Bet is playing at the Plaza Playhouse Theater,4916 Carpinteria Avenue in beautiful Carpinteria. Thanks.

Obeying state laws on mandatory rest and lunch breaks

You know how experts tell you the importance of taking breaks? Ten minutes a pop is enough to refresh the mind, and upon returning to the task at hand one will be ready to approach it with renewed vigor. I’m really not a believer in that theory. I’m more of a “if I get off this six-hour jam I’ll never be able to hop back on the train.” And, because I’m self-employed and a lone practitioner, I’m not worried about the state of California cracking down on me regarding mandatory rest and lunch breaks.

Well, a dog has special needs, such as being taken outside to go to the bathroom. Now, breaks are imposed on me. Meet Libby. She guarantees I’ll be taking breaks. At least every three or four hours, Libby puts her paw gently on my thigh and gives me a knowing look. Then it’s outside for a short stroll. And, when I get back to my desk, I, must admit, I do feel better – refreshed, renewed, and ready to tackle the project at hand with renewed vigor.

Golden retrievers are known as the perfect family dog. Gentle, kind, thoughtful, wonderful with children. But did you know they also make excellent office mates? They really do.

The Inner Editor - friend or foe?

I love to write. The stereotype of the tortured soul enduring bouts after bouts of writer's block does not apply to me. Oh sure, sometimes a deadline is under my nose, and, yes, I'd rather be at the long lunch a group of don't-get-together-often-enough friends is having. Of course, writer's block has knocked on my door, though, I find procrastination and not enough coffee far greater adversaries. Thankfully, I've pretty much got those licked.

Here's what I have yet to conquer: my inner editor.

My inner editor prevents me from taking full advantage of some my profession's most enjoyable and rewarding work. Take free writing, for example. In free writing, one writes (in longhand usually) for a specified amount of time without stopping, without giving a care to spelling, grammar, punctuation, usage, relevancy, and all the other stuff one is to be 100% cognizant when writing (for an audience, for a living, for a college board, et al). The idea behind free writing is that it primes the pump, helps overcome self-criticism, and sets the writer free. Anything goes, and the idea is to let go of the inner critic and the inner editor.

An inner editor is not to be confused with an inner critic. The inner critic is the inner voice judging, and, most likely, demeaning you. The inner editor is the inner voice that says you forgot to put an apostrophe in the first paragraph of your freewriting piece on "Creating My Perfect Day." But, according to the workshop leader to whom you have paid $325 for four hours of "unlocking the magic pen within," under no circumstances are you to go back an insert the apostrophe in that first paragraph.

So, there you are. Vacillating between putting in the apostrophe and trying to get your $325 worth out of "unlocking the magic pen within." What would you do?

I recommend this book. Love Natalie Goldberg. Love her books. Haven't met her yet. Need to save my money and go to one of her workshops.

Due to technical difficulties ...

My domain name expired and along with it went my amymarie@orozcoink.com gmail account. In the big scheme of the universe it's not such a big problem, and I've been trying to remember that. It's just so darn inconvenient and annoying.

My new email address is amymarie@amymarieorozco.com.

amymarie@amymarieorozco.com
amymarie@amymarieorozco.com
amymarie@amymarieorozco.com

Thanks for sticking with me on this tricky tech-y trail.

Also,check out the poster. I'm in the play! (But maybe I already told you that.)

Thinking on your feet while sitting at a computer and writing

May I suggest taking an improv class if you find yourself frequently stuck, or saddled with the comment ailment of writer's block. May I suggest taking an improv class if you like to have fun and want to sharpen your mind.

Improv isn't just for actors, you know.

No improv class near you or available to you? Well, then do what I did -- organize one! Now in its fifth session, the Improv Workshop at the Plaza Playhouse Theater starts up on Sept. 3. There's a new acting class, too. Check out the above flyer.