One Red Barter
Dec. 19th, 2007 02:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
morrigirlI'm currently reading "One Red Paperclip" by Kyle MacDonald. I'm sure you all know the story behind One Red Paperclip, but if you don't, go here. At the end of each chapter there's a page of light-hearted motivational quotes. This one on page 39 caught my attention -
Most new stories are variations of stories already told. But if you get caught up in how your story is similar to others it will just discourage you. The trick is to think about how your story is different. And tell it.
I like the idea of thinking of your life as a story. Back when I was writing creative nonfiction on a regular basis it was pretty easy to do. I haven't been thinking of my life as a story lately. Maybe it would help if I did; if I started imagining what I'd like to see happen next instead of just passively letting each day unfold around me. Maybe if I really thought about what I want in every aspect of my life and then concentrated on getting it, I would. It's scary though. I'm scared that I may not know what I want or I won't have the power to get what I want. I'm not sure how to go on telling the story of my life. If you were to write it, how would you create the next chapter of my life? What twist would you make my story take?
I'm also really like the idea of bartering. I think it would be fun to barter intangibles. Like, I could trade my writing skills for Tina's artistic ability, or my ability to accidentally blurt out the single most hurtful sentiments to specific people during verbal altercations for Heather F's intense love of everyone and everything on the planet. Of course, it wouldn't be like you totally gave up the intangible you were trading - more like you'd take a little piece and give it to someone who would then have to plant it and water it and work make it thrive. I think it's a neat idea. There are so many traits I'd want to trade for!
Most new stories are variations of stories already told. But if you get caught up in how your story is similar to others it will just discourage you. The trick is to think about how your story is different. And tell it.
I like the idea of thinking of your life as a story. Back when I was writing creative nonfiction on a regular basis it was pretty easy to do. I haven't been thinking of my life as a story lately. Maybe it would help if I did; if I started imagining what I'd like to see happen next instead of just passively letting each day unfold around me. Maybe if I really thought about what I want in every aspect of my life and then concentrated on getting it, I would. It's scary though. I'm scared that I may not know what I want or I won't have the power to get what I want. I'm not sure how to go on telling the story of my life. If you were to write it, how would you create the next chapter of my life? What twist would you make my story take?
I'm also really like the idea of bartering. I think it would be fun to barter intangibles. Like, I could trade my writing skills for Tina's artistic ability, or my ability to accidentally blurt out the single most hurtful sentiments to specific people during verbal altercations for Heather F's intense love of everyone and everything on the planet. Of course, it wouldn't be like you totally gave up the intangible you were trading - more like you'd take a little piece and give it to someone who would then have to plant it and water it and work make it thrive. I think it's a neat idea. There are so many traits I'd want to trade for!
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no subject
Date: 2007-12-19 09:22 pm (UTC)Um... hello, Carla? Don't you tell the story of your life every day you write in your LJ? Couldn't this journal be considered, if not your great work of creative nonfiction, at least a draft, or source material? You don't have to start from scratch; you just have to approach what you already do a bit differently.