- I Can’t Make You Love Me-Â Bonnie Raitt
- Someone like you live at Royal Albert Hall-Adele
- Age– Jim Croce
- Silver Springs– Fleetwood Mac
- Dreams– Fleetwood Mac
Five songs that may or not may not be connected. Five songs that help create a sound, a feeling and a moment. Set a tone and draw a scene so that the writer remembers feelings that he may once have had and in reliving that experience he tries to share recreate the storm
A storm can be dangerous and it can be destructive. But it doesn’t always have to be either…or. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. It doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive…or does it.
You can stand inside the eye of the storm and see things that you can’t find anywhere else. You can walk at the edges and have an experience like no other. That is where I often find myself and whether it is because I create it or because it finds me I can’t say for certain.
Writers lack perspective.
I was a teenage boy when I first read this or maybe I was a preteen, I truly can’t remember. What I do know for certain is that it killed me to see the fellowship split apart. I didn’t like watching Frodo and Sam walk away. Didn’t like it all.
But I remember it. I remember it for a million different reasons not the least of which is that as a writer I want to create that sort of connection and feeling. I read the book but I SAW what happened. And I felt a loss. When Gandalf fell fighting the Balrog I felt a sense of loss and outrage.
If you haven’t read the books or at least seen the movie that won’t make any sense to you, but here is the point. I have an imagination and memory that operate in bright and vivid colors. When I remember victory I feel my heart soar and when I remember sorrow it sinks.
I really don’t know if I feel or see things more strongly than anyone else but I know that my goal with my words is to create the sort of connection I have experienced. I want you to connect with my heroes/heroines. I want you to root for them and I want you to despise my villains.
It is a secret world that we try to create. Every time I write here I encourage you to come talk to me. Create connection, build a foundation and start a relationship. That is what writers do or at least what we hope to do. But we lack perspective. There are moments where I am confident that I have written something exceptional, but no one comments and no one reads it.
I stop, stare and wonder why it is that this has happened. Do I blame it on bad writing, bad headline, poor timing or something else. It is always possible that I have failed to capture the interest and attention of the reader. Sometimes I think it is because I didn’t provide enough substance to comment upon or I have left them in shock.
And sometimes the post that I hate is the one that garners the most interest and attention. The rhyme and the rhythm are odd and confusing.
I usually determine this to be related to writers lacking perspective. It is the same reason I use for why I don’t get hired for certain jobs or asked to write for certain publications.
On the other hand I could be wrong and the drinks I had earlier this evening could be coloring my perception and my perspective. To be clear, I am not drunk blogging- but I might be buzzed or overtired.
I’d write more but something just happened that blew my mind. I can’t explain it but I can tell you that just proved to me that I must be stone cold sober. The universe just lobbed a hand grenade at me and the pin was already pulled.
Dammit, I am wondering if I am typing this in my sleep because it would make far more sense if this happened in a dream.
Circling Back
While I try to figure out what the hell just happened I am going to circle back and pretend everything is normal. So let me share something important with you. Power in social media is derived from whether people respond to your call to action and now I am going to call upon you.
I respectfully request that all who read this please leave a comment. It doesn’t have to be anything exceptionally long, just let me know your are out there. Thank you for your time, I appreciate it.
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Ralph March 9, 2012 at 6:04 am
Jack, thanks for the heads up on your comments. I guess I need to check that spam filter closely. I have had a ton of trouble with wordpress but I am migrating to self host soon (TMI?). I guess I might seem like a doufus for not responding. Thanks again.
bridgetstraub.com March 8, 2012 at 7:59 am
What the hell Jack, the universe just lobbed a grenade at me but I can’t tell you about it? You are such a tease lately.
Jack March 8, 2012 at 11:26 am
Hey Bridget,
Not a tease lately, always… 😉
Kaarina Dillabough March 8, 2012 at 7:22 am
I’m answering the call:)
Sometimes, it has nothing to do with the writer, the post, the content or its value. For me, if I don’t make the time to comment with passion and purpose, I usually don’t comment. And that often happens when I’m harried for time, or my brain’s just not in gear. I’d rather spend my time commenting from the heart on a few posts/sites, rather than sprinkling many with little.
Oh, and BTW…you had me at Adele and the live performance at Royal Albert Hall of Someone Like You. OMG, just thinking of it brings chills, and my eyes well up.
Are you a man dreaming you’re a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming you’re a man. Have you seen the TV ads for a program entitled “Awake”? And finally…was this all a test? You know how much I luv ya and your writing. I just put the pin back in the grenade. Cheers! Kaarina
Jack March 8, 2012 at 11:25 am
Hello Kaarina,
I appreciate your commenting philosophy. I definitely find moments where I don’t say anything because that passion isn’t pushing me.
It doesn’t mean that I didn’t like or appreciate the post either.
Funny thing about that Adele song. Google Music is running a promotion where they are offering songs/albums for .25 a pop.
Yesterday I bought one of those albums and that Adele song was on it. Coincidentally you posted the video on your FB page, so it ended up here.
Probably should have mentioned that in the post, but I had a fine time celebrating the holiday and my thoughts were scattered.
All of life is a test but you only fail if you give up. Don’t worry about the grenade, I let that sucker explode.
Sometimes it is part of the process to get to that next place. I take the road less traveled and the long way home, too stubborn too quit.
I know about that television show you mentioned and I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that I am asleep. 😉
Betsy Cross March 8, 2012 at 6:05 am
I KNOW what happened! You opened the door and your jaw dropped to the floor as she swooshed past you, popped a Three Stooges DVD in, plopped onto your couch, opened a box of chocolates and patted a spot next to her as she handed one to YOU! HAHA!
Have fun with the bomb!!
Jack March 8, 2012 at 11:07 am
Hi Betsy,
In some ways that is so very close it is frightening. 😉
You just made me smile. Thank you.
Harleena Singh March 8, 2012 at 5:27 am
We are all sure right here Jack!
But yes, sometime writers do lact perspective and at those times no matter how hard we may try, things do take their own time.
I do marvel at the way you manage to share your thoughts with everyone around, and do that every single day! That in itself speaks volumes about you.
Great going 🙂
Jack March 8, 2012 at 11:01 am
Hi Harleena,
You and the others who visit consistently have the “privilege” of watching me clean the great empty space between my ears.
If you knew me in person you’d probably find me to be far more reserved about sharing what is on my mind.
It is not that I can’t do it but I usually don’t. Writing just opens up a place that would otherwise stay closed.
Always good to see you.
Gina March 8, 2012 at 5:07 am
I have told you many times how I feel about your writing so I think you know. I look forward to reading everyday.
What was the grenade?
Jack March 8, 2012 at 10:57 am
I appreciate it. The grenade, well that will have to wait for a blog post. Still sifting through it.
Ralph March 8, 2012 at 5:02 am
Jack, Jack, Jack, My lord man. I hear you loud and clear. The funny thing is that I have a similar dilemma. I get tons of feedback from people about my writing when I see them and by email but rarely do peple leave comments on my blog. It is a bit of a conundrum. I am really curious as to your mind blowing event – there’s a hook! Keep it up. I love your writing and I was drawn to your site vis comments from other blogs where your mischevious nature makes for some fun reading. I look forward it.
Jack March 8, 2012 at 10:56 am
Hi Ralph,
I am very glad that you have joined us here. I like to say that I am 240 pounds of 5-year-old.
I meant to tell you, but I have commented on a few of your posts and not seen my comments.
I have an ongoing issue with being caught by the Spam filters so I suspect you might find a few in there.
Or maybe I really have lost it and have been dreaming about these things. 😉
Hajra March 8, 2012 at 4:06 am
You just have to be one of the most inspiring writer I have read. You always manage to brighten up the day with your words. That is all I have to say.
Jack March 8, 2012 at 10:53 am
Hi Hajra,
Thank you. I am just another guy pounding the keys hoping that something special comes from it.
The beauty of blogging is the opportunity to meet people like yourself who would never otherwise come through our lives.
Stan Faryna March 8, 2012 at 1:17 am
I root for the enduring and passionate daddy, the unretiring basketball player, the man that gets back up after he’s been knocked down, and a restrained though beleagured Ajax that would prefer to settle accounts with outrageous fortune by force – but uses a keyboard instead.
Sounds like you need to hear Gogol Bordello’s Undestructible before you hit the pillow.
Jack March 8, 2012 at 10:52 am
Hi Stan,
The beleaguered Ajax- I like that. The most important thing is getting back up when we get knocked down.
Doesn’t matter if we walking by Heritage Hall or elsewhere- we will fall and we will get back up.
Thanks for continuing to hang out here.