Green Room - Week 0 - Day 10

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

After several years of living in the same area, I finally got to meet impoetry for the first time. Probably also the last, because I was kicking him pretty hard, there were most likely internal injuries.

He came out to see of my favorite songwriters, Micah Schnabel perform. I was trying to think how to describe his writing, especially lately, and came across this - which I think translates to writing in general. (From http://ninebullets.net/archives/micah-schnabel-music-as-a-vehicle-for-truth-by-larry-fulford":

"I’d like to think true artists aspire to reach a point where they’re comfortable baring their souls. Some manage to get over themselves and find a way to dig that deep. Even fewer will dig that deep, hit a gas line, stash of marked bills, lava, or worse and still throw enough caution to the wind to unearth it into a song, painting, book, joke, movie, etc.

Micah now goes beyond that. He hits the skeleton of his soul, chips it away and fires the pieces into space with a slingshot."

I think that's the goal, regardless of what format you're writing in: non-fiction, fiction, poetry, writing songs, creating *anything*, where you're giving something real of yourself, chipping those bits of who you are and shooting them out into the universe. (

Sincerity is something that you can just feel. It resonates and stays with you.

***

I'm not sure what advice our own Season 8 winner whipchick is going to be giving in her Webinar, but I'm sure it will be good. I saw this earlier today and wanted to pass it along for anyone interested:

http://www.editors.ca/professional-development/webinars#dec3

***

But if you're only going to click one link today, it should be reading the Veterans entries and sending me your Top 5 list: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/950046.html Although, I'll admit, I don't know how you are going to manage that with just one click. But I trust that you will somehow figure it out!

That deadline is tomorrow.

***

Sign-ups are slowly ticking upward again: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/945807.html as we get closer to closing time. So make sure to keep spreading the word. (There *are* going to be people who show up after the fact, going "Oh man! I wish I had known!!" there always are. But the hope is that by keeping it open a little longer that they *will* find out and have time to get in the door!)

Comments

[rayaso.livejournal.com]

First! Unless I missed something, whipchick is not competing, which is unfortunate. She is an excellent writer, and she was also very free with her comments and help.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Allison's really busy with her career right now. I'm sure she will pop in when she can though.

It's always funny to see people's reactions to her, because to me she's just an older version of the person I knew in high school. :)

[rayaso.livejournal.com]

I'm glad her career is going so well; still, I will miss her entries.

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

She posts little mini essays on instagram and once a week or more blogs for Brevity. If you twitter, she links to them on her twitter @guerillamemoir.

[cloworora.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was strange and flattering she popped in to say "Happy Writing" at my signing on to Season 10 post. I was like..."Hey??? I remember you. Still weirded out busy, successful you remembers me" to her.

And then we snickered, and chuckled, and I died a little more inside.

Same Idol, new season.

Cloworora tap dances away while singing, "Make 'em laugh! Make 'em laugh! Don't you know everyone wants to laugh!?!"

[murielle.livejournal.com]

I'm terrified I won't be able to read all of the introductions before the deadline. (Head desk!)

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

Since last week I havn't even managed to read all the Green Room comments.

I think I might have to quit FB completely. I start out fine and then read it and my brain explodes. Then I'm done for the day.

I

[murielle.livejournal.com]

I am now more than half-way through the week 0 vet entries. You know what that means? Spaghetti! I get spaghetti! Just like it's my birthday, which it isn't. But spaghetti!

FB? Oh yeah, FB. Um later. Much!

I love reading all the entries. I do, but it is exhausting. Wonderful, but exhausting. (Sigh)

Spaghetti!

[messygorgeous.livejournal.com]

After the world-devouring drama tsunami Facebook has become over the last few months, and after winnowing the list of people I follow down to nothing because I couldn't stand much of what I was seeing, I think this season of Idol is perfectly timed as an escape hatch from other social media!

I

[murielle.livejournal.com]

I am now more than half-way through the week 0 vet entries. You know what that means? Spaghetti! I get spaghetti! Just like it's my birthday, which it isn't. But spaghetti!

FB? Oh yeah, FB. Um later. Much!

I love reading all the entries. I do, but it is exhausting. Wonderful, but exhausting. (Sigh)

Spaghetti!

[messygorgeous.livejournal.com]

You are right about digging deep. Brushing away all the crap that tells us to hide our real selves, whether it's to look cool or sound smart or just to protect a soft place that we fear will get hit too hard if it's exposed. Idol is a perfect place to get real with yourself and with your writing.

Sincerity and truth have a clarity to them, like the ringing of a good bell. Even if the writing isn't structurally perfect, if that truth is there it can still be very powerful.

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

Oh hey, GR!

I'm sort of the walking dead right now, which is what happens when I have a day off. Started reading the veterans entries last night, nodded off, woke up, read a few more, nodded off...finally gave up and went to bed.

I've been up in a haze since 5AM :p

[feritatum.livejournal.com]

Give up, have some wine/beer/cookies

[adoptedwriter.livejournal.com]

Between the insanely busy school " get this done before Thanksgiving" push and dealing w sinus drainage/ coughing bouts/ infection issues all night, = sleepus interruptus, everything I do feels like playing a 33 record ( normal speed) on slow-mo. I'm also prob not going to get as much intro reading done. I just want sleep.

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

I'm down to the last page of entries, so I think I'll be able to get my vote in unless work distracts me too much.

impoetry mentioned in passing that he likes country music, and I know he did or does work at Disneyland, so I think he is probably disqualified from being a hippie.

Which means you have kicked falsely! What punishment will you now visit upon yourself? :O

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Nope. Having met him, he's definitely a hippie.

Which is why he needed to be kicked.

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, well I guess I need some clarity then.

Is the set of (Hippies) mathematically equivalent to the set of (Not-Gary)?

Because I'm starting to suspect...

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Not 'Merican.

See also: damn foreigner

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

That kind of seems like a non-sequiter.

Unless you mean that those are both ALSO equivalent to "Hippies" and also to "Not-Gary".

Mathematically equivalent, anyway. The SIZE of the those sets would vary enormously.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Yes.

Hippies = People who need to be kicked
People who need to be kicked = those who do not live in 'Merica
Those who do not live in 'Merica = damn foreigners trying to steal our jobs
Damn foreigners = more likely than not also smelly hippies

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Those who live in 'Merica:

Me
Cynthia
Celena
Foxy
'Mulgee
Honey
Gobi

If you are on this list - you will not be kicked.
If you are on this list and you're name is Honey, you will probably be accidentally kicked because you have decided to stop right in front of someone who isn't watching where they are going and don't expect you to be there.

[feritatum.livejournal.com]

Come to England. We'll kick you, but we'll do it with good manners.

[banana-galaxy.livejournal.com]

You mean you're not just a mythical creature, Gary, and people can actually meet you IN PERSON? :O One of these days, I should do that.

Tomorrow I will be meeting up with an Idoler I met in season 6. It'll be the 4th time we've met up in person, which is crazy considering she lives in Australia, and I lived in Malaysia the first two times we met, then where I am now the last time we met (which means this is her second trip out to the Bay Area since I moved here).

I'm also finally on page 4 of the veteran intros, so I'm hoping to get my votes in today. Fingers crossed! Thankfully there's only a few more to go, and I managed to get through roughly 25 entries each day over the last couple of days.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

I should have pointed out that he met the actor I hired to portray me. I *almost* hired impoetry himself for that role, but I thought it would get too complicated.

[banana-galaxy.livejournal.com]

hahahahaha

Real person - him?

[amy michelle levy (from livejournal.com)]

Back before I returned to the land of gainfully employed, I went on a LJ Idol-based road trip. I managed to meet (or meet again) over a dozen different LJIdolers during my drive. I honestly don't remember how many states I hit in two weeks... but it was a lot.

I've been to FL a couple of times since. So yes, he does exist!

Wanting to meet him though? THAT is done at one's own risk...

Amy / Spydie

Re: Real person - him?

[banana-galaxy.livejournal.com]

That's really cool you were able to meet so many. I was counting how many I'd met over the years a couple of weeks ago, and I think I'd got to 18. But that wasn't in the space of a two week road trip!

Also, heh, yes, I can see that meeting Gary would be a big risk!

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

...and I give up. This the fourth time I've dozed off while trying to finish reading.

It's not you, dear fellow Idolers. It's me and my schedule vs. body clock. Like, for instance, my body's telling me that dinner's in two hours because I have to be in bed two hours after that. So much for attempting to live on a "normal" schedule.

[j0ydivided.livejournal.com]

I read all of the veteran entries, and I managed to vote, though I didn't have time to leave comments. I'm hoping to be better about it as the season goes on, but good lord, the way this last week has been...

I'm glad I can participate in Idol, and I want to be here more fully starting from week 1.

[feritatum.livejournal.com]

I'm planning, and I need advice!

Since I was, maybe 20, I've always said that I'd like to go to Las Vegas to celebrate my 30th Birthday. As I'm now 29, I really ought to give this some consideration...

The reality is that my actual birthday in November falls at a time when my teacher friends couldn't attend and probably a pretty inconvenient time for me, too. So, I've made a decision - to wait until December, and then take a month-long trip that crosses both Christmas and New Year.

New Year will be Vegas, because... why not?

But...

Where is else is good to see on that side of the USA, at that time of year?

Where is a good place to spend Christmas?

[banana-galaxy.livejournal.com]

Have you considered visiting San Francisco? ;)

Mind you, my husband's sister's family is planning on visiting for Christmas next year. I'm not sure if we'll spend it here or visit another part of the US with them yet.

[murielle.livejournal.com]

Done!

Need way more than five votes. So many wonderful entries. Very sleepy now. I wonder if I'll dream of kilted satyrs?

[vik_thor]

»chuckles«

I just sent my votes off to Gary. After finally finishing the first page… (read them in reverse order)

I definitely need to figure out a better work flow for this (along with my actual work)

To late to go back to sleep, night as well get started for the day.

[murielle.livejournal.com]

I hear you. (Smile)

[whipchick.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for the shoutout!