I think Leap Day should be a national holiday. It only comes around once every four years. Shouldn't we celebrate it? A few weeks ago, DB posted a prompt about making up a holiday. So, if Leap Day were a national holiday, how would you celebrate it?
I would sleep in a little. Then, since it is such a pretty day today, I would go for a hike. Spend an hour or so communing with nature, filling the well and clearing out the cobwebs. Looks like Leap Day is also cliche' day for me. Anyway, then I would spend the rest of the day taking leaps. Not physical, but creative. I would maybe start a story in a genre that frightens me. Or apply for an exclusive workshop.
So how would you spend Leap Day if you had it free? Like John, the rotter.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Memories
Another Fresh Air post. NPR seems to be my main exposure to news these days. Fresh Air, BBC World News, The World, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me.
Anyway, Terry interviewed a woman who wrote a book about how memory works. She talked about pain memory. With physical pain, as a survival technique, we can remember that we felt pain and even that it was bad or not, but we don't experience the pain again. But with emotional pain, we can experience it again. To the point that it can be debilitating.
Which could be why if we don't know or care about a character, they're physical danger may mean nothing to us. But if we are emotionally involved, then it matters. Not because we identify with the pain, but with the emotional impact of that pain on the character. I've heard it time and again in the critique group. A couple writers had a penchant for introducing a character and then killing him off. The reaction by the readers? Eh.
And, moreover, it is probably why writing strong emotions can be hard for so many writers--myself included. Feeling the same pain as your characters isn't fun. May also be why writing romance (from basic longing glances to erotica) is so popular. If you're going to re-experience an emotion.......
Anyway, Terry interviewed a woman who wrote a book about how memory works. She talked about pain memory. With physical pain, as a survival technique, we can remember that we felt pain and even that it was bad or not, but we don't experience the pain again. But with emotional pain, we can experience it again. To the point that it can be debilitating.
Which could be why if we don't know or care about a character, they're physical danger may mean nothing to us. But if we are emotionally involved, then it matters. Not because we identify with the pain, but with the emotional impact of that pain on the character. I've heard it time and again in the critique group. A couple writers had a penchant for introducing a character and then killing him off. The reaction by the readers? Eh.
And, moreover, it is probably why writing strong emotions can be hard for so many writers--myself included. Feeling the same pain as your characters isn't fun. May also be why writing romance (from basic longing glances to erotica) is so popular. If you're going to re-experience an emotion.......
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