Give Them A Chance To Forget
There comes a point where you’ve read and heard just about every technique. But somewhere in reading the archives of Neil Gaiman’s blog, I came across this tidbit that feels new, even though I kinda do it already. Now I can more consciously play with it, though.
“Give them a chance to forget.”
I think this technique is best shown, rather than told: American Gods Blog, Post 36.
No, really, please click through. Worth it, I promise. Cross my heart. I don’t hope to die, but I do hope you’ll read it.
And from Gary Corby (via Janet Reid, so you’ve probably already seen), is this Microsoft Word tip that made me laugh out loud.
The other use I put autocorrect to is to catch my noise words. Everyone has them. I tend to overuse the word just. To stop myself I put in this autocorrection:
just autocorrects to NO! NO! NO!
If I type:
"I’ll just wander over to the Agora," N said.
What appears is:
"I’ll NO! NO! NO! wander over to the Agora," Nicolaos said.
I found THE prettiest book today: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll and newly illustrated by Camille Rose Garcia. A wonderful goth feel to the new illustrations.
And you know what I thought? That I miss reading books with pictures in them. Then what do I read on the first page?
Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, ‘and what is the use of a book,’ thought Alice, ‘without pictures or conversation?’
I have a new dream: to someday write such a story that Harper Collins decides it worthy of illustration by Camille Rose Garcia.
(Too much fangirl? Sorry. Can’t help it.)
Also, have found new blog: Multi-Hyphenate: Perpetually Hyphenated. Highly Opinionated. Endlessly Creative. The link does not lead you to the blog front page, but to Paul Klein’s first contribution, of Dark Scribe fame (whom you might remember), who ceased blogging to go to law school. Hmph. He’s getting his life back on track, now. ;-P
I NO! NO! NO! love it when lost bloggers resurface in the blogosphere.
Any new techniques you’ve discovered, or at least put a new name to, made you remember it consciously instead of subconsciously? Any cool links to share?
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Natasha Fondren is a writer traveling the U.S. in a camper with her four cats and husband. She spends summers camped near her niece, because, well, her niece is her favorite girl on the planet.
Thanks for the link to Gaiman. Great!
And I No! No! No! love Corby’s tip.
Me too, Anissa! Cracks me up!
I want that book! That is just too cool and I love the goth feel.
I have a problem with “just” and “had” that this could help with.
I love it, Christina. I ended up bringing it home with me.
So pretty!
While the American Gods Blog post to which you linked was interesting, how does it relate to Gaiman’s saying that one should “[g]ive them a chance to forget”?
Hey, Joey! Surfaced after J-term, huh?
The Harlan Ellison thing, the way he structured it… gave this brain a chance to forget, anyway.
I loved reading Gaiman’s piece.
And the No! No! No! technique, I might have to try that:-)
Paul, I can think of a few words I could use it for…
That NONONO thing it TOO funny! Thanks for sharing all the links. And the Alice in Wonderland book looks awesome!
Heather, I’m loving it! And I’m loving reading it again, too. Wow, I can’t believe how good it is! I forgot!
I had NO idea you could customize auto-correct. Interesting…
Me either, Melanie!
I saw the NO! NO! NO! blog. Too funny. I knew about customizing auto-correct, but I’ve never done it. I might after this.
This link is a few days old, a brilliant and funny blog by John Scalzi about Amazon’s hissy fit.
Edie, I never thought to do it in a… useful way like that, LOL!
I did read that article!
There’s a lot of Neil Gaiman around the net today. I guess the guy is pretty popular.
Really, Charles? Man, I missed it all!
Wanna get really jealous? I have an old Alice and Wonderland book that my grandmother gave me, (along with Uncle Wiggly) when I was 5 years old. It has the Tenniel illustrations. Mwahahaha! I have to see this new one. It sounds super cool.
I’ll never be able to say “just” again. Sigh.
Oh WOW, Robin! Wow! I am jealous!
I know, LOL! Every time I think of “just” I hear NO! NO! NO!!
I never gave much thought to personalizing auto-correction. This will make journaling much more efficient!
So true, Lana!
Great tip on the Auto-Correct! I should hook that up for “began” or “started.” Hate those words, and yet they pop up all over the place.
Also, major cheers for the shout-out to MH! We’re having a blast over there, and Creatives of all kinds are “Finding Their Voice(s).”
Paul, I keep thinking of new words to auto-correct! I keep wanting to make them funny things, LOL.
It’s such a cool blog, there!
Just catching up–how is Glenn? Is he home?
He’s been home for a week and a half, and he’s going into surgery on Wednesday. I can’t wait for it to start healing!