The Voice

Good morning to you all.

It's Monday.

I usually discuss the writer's voice on Mondays, but I have a rendez vous this a.m. and I am going to do research for my next Montreal City Guide blog, so I will be brief.

Writing the short story that I ended up presenting to my short story class interestingly taught me about where I was when I wrote it. It was mid-December when I wrote it and I was not where I am now as far as honesty is concerned. What do I mean exactly? Well, I think I was still seeing people for the roles that they play, such as mother, dentist, boyfriend, husband, child...and so on. Rather than seeing people for what they really are. It's true that some people get so caught in their roles that that's about all you can see, but for most people there is more--that is if you have the insight and courage to look.

In December I don't think I was ready to look yet. People are not the sum total of their titles, accomplishments or behaviours. Nor are they really a label of any kind, thankfully. It is easier to 'label' people, it makes them tidy--at least in your mind. But no one is tidy or describable by a collection of words. An odd thing for a writer to say I realize, but I do believe that there is an essence to everyone that goes beyond thought.

I didn't take the time to get to know the characters in my short story. And for me that was the key to how I'd been living. Not with everyone, thankfully, but with enough people that I was pushing people I cared about away. About two weeks ago I suddenly realized what I'd been doing. After resolving a relationship I'd had I realized that it was time for me to stop self-protecting.

Life in not about being perpetually happy. Life does involve suffering--I am sure we all know that. Trying to avoid pain only puts more attention on the situations that cause you pain and thus a vicious circle begins.

I am not sure what I was trying to protect myself from. Maybe I just wasn't ready to know myself really, really well.

I no longer feel that way.

It was a breakthrough both personally and professionally. Rather than living with my eyes wide shut, I can just be. It really doesn't have to be more complicated than that!

Open Forum

Good morning one and all. It's open forum day, the day I set aside to talk about whatever I feel like.

Well, my new blog for Montreal City Guide will be live at 8:26 am today. It's kinda exciting really. A broad audience will read that blog and also the people I feature will likely check out my comments as well. It was a lot of fun writing it--though it took longer than I expected. I spent at least twice as much time on the City Guide blog.

I guess that makes sense. This blog is my personal space and, though I take it seriously, I know that it's not as accessible as the Montreal site is. I am also promoting Montreal on the City Guide site. I'm not really promoting anything here. Here I am connecting with other writers and anyone else who's interested.

I can imagine the diversity of people that visit the Montreal City Guide site. They may be tourists looking for accommodation and things-to-do in Montreal, Montrealers might check out the site to keep up on what's new and happenin' and web users might just come across the site from just about anywhere.

Our technological age has certainly brought people from all over the world closer together. It's really cool that I can write this blog, and the City Guide blog, knowing that I am reaching people that I would never have any contact with otherwise. People that live all over Canada, and even the world. That's pretty awesome when you think of it!

I can imagine that's what a writer feels like when they have a first book published. It must be somewhat exposing to be suddenly at the finger tips of so many people. That's the timelessness of books as well. You never know how many people will read your book and be changed by it. And you also never know how many years might go by before different people pick up your book at just the right time in their lives.

Writing is liberating, yet daunting in its responsibility at the same time.

As John Updike said so well: To be in print is to be saved.

The Journey

Good morning to all. Today is journey day.

I am now on the road to blogdom. I am thinking about what's happening in Montreal from a very different perspective. What new and exciting and fun? That's what my brain is starting to notice--everywhere!

I did research for my first blog yesterday and people came to me with ideas for other blogs. It was as if the energy that I had focused into the community was coming back to me like a boomerang.

It was really inspiring. I know writing this blog for Montreal City Guide will also get me out and about more. When I go to concerts I will film an excerpt of the concert on my digital camera (this will require me to actually read the instructions for the thing) and then YouTube the song and post it on my blog. (It was Anne that gave me the idea for this. Thanks, Anne!)

I have a friend that's in a band and I will go to his next concert and film away. I can get information about the band from him and make it into a cool piece on an up-and-coming band in Montreal.

I will have to keep a list of ideas because I get the impression I could lose track.

I like it. This is part of my writing journey that I know I will thoroughly enjoy!

The Mechanics

The answer is yes.

I have been hired by the Daily Pixel Network to write a regular blog for their Montreal City Guide site.

I can write about whatever interests me as long as it relates to Montreal and its environs. I am really excited about it.

I like the idea of coming up with all sorts of ideas and I can talk with people directly to get information about their restaurants, up-and-coming events and concerts--really anything that interests me.

I am supposed to keep my own voice. They don't want all the bloggers to sound the same. I like it.

So I am now officially getting paid to be a blogger. What a lot of fun that is!

The Writer's Weekly

Good morning one and all.

Today is Tuesday and the day I usually talk about writers or writers' concerns in the media.

I can't think of anything this morning, however.

All I can think about is the ridiculous piece on Paris Hilton coming to Montreal to promote her new shoe line. The first 200 people that buy a pair of her shoes at Browns will get to meet Ms. Hilton herself.

She claims her shoes are durable and comfortable. Right! That's exactly the kind of image she portrays. The heel I saw was at least 3 inches high! There's nothing comfortable (and hopefully durable) about Paris Hilton.

I have never understood how a person can be popular simply because they have money. She doesn't 'do' anything. She's never worked, doesn't have a talent or skill that I know of but she's treated like a celebrity nonetheless. At least most stars have some reason for being considered a star: They act or sing or dance--something.

In a lot of ways Paris Hilton represents the worst of our shallow culture. If tomorrow she didn't have any money anymore no one would give her another thought. And she doesn't seem to mind that her status is solely wrapped up in her wealth. She parades around like the queen for no reason whatsoever.

I guess there are some things I will just never relate to--and this is one of them!