Keeping it interesting ...

Writing Lesson number one: keep it interesting.

One of the biggest criticisms I ever got as a writer (via peers and editors) was that I tell, instead of show. It’s what you do when you try to get the most apparent (maybe boring) details across as quickly as possible, when you could easily infer them through brilliant descriptions and anecdotes of alternative events in the story.

This is something that some of us do every day. Case in point: status updates. To my friends out there who read this, I accuse no one of this crime: I just know it happens. But to be on the safe side, I have decided I will try to make status updates on facebook as interesting and entertaining as possible. Because it’s important to know that I crave a pair of sparkly tap shoes, or that I want wear sausages on my head if I’m going to be a Bavarian dancer.

Gone are the days of “KatMol woke up this morning” (actually, I never was that tedious – and neither are my ‘friends’ – but I can guarantee you there are people who are) and “KatMol has a pulse and is still breathing” (again – didn’t write it, but I’ve deleted people who have). It all begs the question: not everyone is creative, but does that mean a status update is allowed to absolutely state the obvious?

“Katmol is really being a bitch today!”

Maybe – but that is what I am talking about. That’s not inspired as such, but it invites the questions: why?
What’s happened?
Can you stop being such a critical, nasty troll and let me write that I have milk in the fridge, if that’s what I want to write?

That invites questions too – who cares? Seriously? Who does?
Rule of thumb: if someone can legitimitely comment "Who actually gives a shit" and not sound like an insensitive toolbox, you might have to come up with a better status update!

Facebook is aweseome – I’ll admit it, I’m addicted. “Hi, my name is KatMol and I’m a facebook-aholic!” But do you know what I’m addicted to? Finding out the fantastic, trivial but important things that are going on in my friends’ lives. Tell me you’re having a great day, by all means, but don’t tell me you just drove to work if that’s what you ALWAYS DO!!!

Like with all writing, the trivial is interesting. The obvious is not.

But seriously, write what you want. Just don’t tell me you’re wearing shoes to work.
Unless you work in a swimming pool!