What gives you the right?
I'm an avid reader.
Heh heh heh! No big surprise there right? I mean I usually am right 2 or perhaps 3 books at a time. People ask me how, why, etc. I don't know. I get bored easily. I lose things a lot, right now I don't know where my glasses are and I need those to see. But that's not the point. Just like I have 3 different manuscripts being written at the same time, while not simultaneously cause even I'm not that crazy, when I get blocked or frustrated or think my writings crap (depending on my day and the way the wind of life is blowing) I pick up a different manuscript cause as I said I get bored easily. Again not the point.
I love to read. I have books from high school, even elementary school still.
Okay the point - I don't like reviews. I try not to read them. And I often wonder who gives the reviewer the right to review? What are the credentials? Qualifications?
Just a love of books? I have that.
A degree in English? I have that too.
A lot of books I get I buy either from the cover art is interesting and the blurb interested me and i've browsed a few pages and it caught my attention. Or from word of mouth like
Michael Baisden's God's Gift to Women my best friend recommended it and I agree, excellent book. Now if I had just went by the reviews, I probably would have passed on it.
How many people have passed up a good book because of a bad review? Or picked up a bad book because of a good review?
Aren't reviews just another person's opinion? I mean, when did we start letting others dictate what would be of interest to us in reading and in life. Why should their opinion matter and not our own? Why don't we trust ourselves? Obviously something about the book must have interested us or we wouldn't have picked it up right?
Sometimes I think I'm going to start a book review site with my friends and co-workers who read. We read all types of books.
But me, I'll focus on the "black" books. The African American, Multicultural and even erotic romance and erotica books because they get a lot of bum rap in reviews.
I have a degree in African Studies so that should qualify me right? I read alot? And I have sex sometimes so I know what turns me on.
So - do you read reviews? Go by word of mouth?
What They Don't Tell You
This poem is a personal favorite of mine. One, because I wrote it and two, because I write poems to help me vent and cope and just to express myself, thoughts and feelings.
I hope you enjoy it as much as you do.
What they don't tell you by Phoenix FordWhat they don't tell you is that
life is scary
marriage is hard
love is dangerous
money never flows the way you want it to,
when you want it too.
love never comes easy,
but hard, forceful and strong.
problems are plentiful and
solutions sometimes few.
What they don't tell you is that
friends should be held close
and friendships treasured because
you never know where you may end up
or when you will need a friend.
A true friend.
What they don't tell you is that
fear is false
love is pure
and God is real.
What they don't tell you is that
truth is power
but lies are even more powerful
and hate is strong
but love is stronger.
What they don't tell you is that
you should find joy where you can
live life to the fullest
love as much as you can, as big as you can
say thank you and please and your welcome
When someone sneezes, say bless you.
Hold the door open for a stranger.
leave a big tip when you get bad service
cause you may make that persons day.
speak your mind without fear or censure
speak your soul openly and fully
speak your heart justly and truthfully
speak the language that we have long forgotten.
compassion.
hope.
tenderness.
mercy.
faith.
life is hard.
be kind.
what they don't tell you is all you need to know.
pay close attention, there will be a test later.
It is up to you,
whether you pass or fail.
Are
You
Ready?
(C)August 2002. Phoenix Ford
A Good Comback
When asked why it takes me so long to work on and complete a manuscript?
My response - I'm sorry but I only have 26 letters to work with.
It amazes me how easy people think it is to write a book. Let me correct that a good book and then to get it requested, agented or published.
Also I'm reminded of the fact that if it were that easy to do then everyone would be doing it. Kinda like breathing.
Now most people can write, if they are literate, and that's not a slam. But a lot of people can't write.
Understand?
Let me further clarify, it's not as easy as it looks. It's more than just throwing words on a paper or typing them into a word processing program.
So thinking about this, writers are a rare breed of people. Personally sometimes I think you have to be alittle bit loco to want to write a book. Do you understand the criticism and rejection that you are opening yourself up to?
To write a book, to want to write a good book and get it published for hopeffully millions of people to read - you have to be or have:
strength
independent
thinker - quick, advanced, free
persistent
manipulative
perserverance
thick skin
imaginative
desire
go-getter
open-minded
heart
Getting Along
Being a romance writer, I'd have to admit that I'm a complete romantic and a bit of a dreamer.
Not saying that I have my head in the clouds, my feet are firmly planted on the ground, but I've noticed something.
I get along better with my ex now then when we were married. We're better friends now and we even have real conversations, talk to each other better.
Now I know there may be an entire list of reasons why, and they're really not that important or relevant but it's interesting to me.
Relationships are hard. Marriage isn't all roses and doves but it's something you have to want and work at, at least in my experience. So it got me wondering, is it that we just weren't compatible? Or did we not want it enough? Maybe he just wasn't the right person for me.
Or perhaps he was the right person then and just isn't the right person to help me move on, move along, go to the next level/plateau in my life. I'm a firm believer that people come into our lives for a reason. That everyone serves a purpose and we are here for each other, to help guide and push and spur on and antagonize so we'll work harder.
And I'm not bitter about the divorce or the marriage. I'm happier now then I have been. And I guess I have my ex to thank for that.
Ignorance is Bliss
why oh why must there be idiots in this world?
I'm a writer. And if I hear the words, "Not black enough." or "Need to inject more realism" into my manuscript or into a friends manuscript or even an established author's book ---- I will scream.
One of my completed multi-cultural manuscripts, which I let my critique partner read. And really, it's no problem (she does what she does. helps me out. debates certain issues of the story).
I like that. but then we got on the topic of job choice for characters.
Because a third member of the group, a non-writer - strictly a proofreader and continuity checker says --- "aren't you afraid of making them too Huxtable-ly".
Now I know what she means and I pointed out that Huxtable-ly is not a word but I also pointed out that there are black doctors, lawyers, rocket sciencist, engineers, etc. Then she wanted to add more "flavor, ethnicity" to the story - perk it up some. well i thought the story was/is perky.
and I don't write "perky".
--- Sidebar: Can someone define perky for me? In reference to writing? Cause truthfully I don't get it. -Okay back to the rant/ramble: ---
Of course, I'm curious, have a way too overactive imagination and I've been told I think too much, so of course, me being me, wondered if she meant making them gangstas, drug dealers, unwed teenage mothers, drug addicted, poor, living in the ghetto, etc. So I asked if she was hinting or trying to infer that it wasn't "black" enough. Which I totally hate and really really pisses me off. Why do my characters have to smoke marijuanna, roll their eyes and necks with their hands on their hips wearing 4 inch blood red nails and 5 inch heels?
Answer - they don't. but it just really frustrate me that someone would say/imply/think that.
Welcome
Welcome to my blog.
Who am I?
The real question is do you care and would I be telling the truth. The world wide web also known as the internet is a hube place of pseudonyms, alter egos and facades.
How do we know who anyone really is? All we know is what they tell us or what we can possibly discern from their words and actions.
So i'm going to forgoe the introduction because those who know me, know me and those who don't will never know.
