Why So Serious?

I want to ask this to pretty much everyone in my creative writing workshop.  Everything is so depressing in this class!  Out of a group of 15, I swear that I'm the only one who wrote something vaguely uplifting.....and my narrator is dying of cancer!

I just don't understand.  Literature doesn't have to be sad to be good.  True, you don't want to read something sappy, but you can still have an uplifting ending without making it cheesy.  But, I feel like student writers always feel that they need to bog down their readers in depressing tales that leave them feeling forlorn and empty inside.  Here's just a few examples from my class:

• One protagonist is eaten by a werewolf
• Two find their significant others dead at the end of the piece
• One gets arrested
• One commits suicide
• One suffers a devastating breakup
• Two are insane
• Two stories are about 9/11
• Etc. Etc. Etc.

I know it's always suggested that writers use experience to create art.  And I'll be the first to admit that I have so much pain in my past that I could easily dredge up to write something passionate that would reduce the toughest among you to tears.  But, why would I want to do that?  I don't want to make people cry.  Literature is not all about pain and frustration.  It's about conflict and overcoming this conflict, reaching past it.  But, I feel like I'm the only one in this workshop who understands that.  Halloween is this Wednesday.  And I really want to just show up in class dressed like the Joker and rant about how this class needs to lighten up a bit, asking them "Why so serious?"  Maybe, while I'm at it, I'll see if they'd be interested in learning "how I got these scars."  In the meantime, though, I'll just be sitting in the corner writing pieces with conflict and ultimately uplifting endings.  True, I do write depressing pieces now and again, but there's no fun in only writing the same type of literature all the time.  That's like only eating one flavor of ice cream or only playing one board game for the rest of your life!

I've reached the conclusion that people are crazy.

October Means Halloween!!

So, call me a dork, but I just love Halloween :)  I just love seeing the trees change colors as the nights grow longer, and children dress up in cute costumes to go trick-or-treating door to door for candy treats.  I haven't been home for Halloween since I went to college, so I haven't had the chance to enjoy that aspect of the holiday, but I've still been having fun enjoying spooky stories, scary videos, and other Halloween themed treats.

Every year, I think I'm going to post a whole ton of awesome Halloween stuff, but every year that falls through and I only end up posting a small smattering of things.  This time, I'm not going to try and be too ambitious, but I did want to pass along some fun seasonal treats for all of you.

I think I'll start off with a video.  I thought this was the funniest thing when it first came out, and I'm sure most of you have already heard of it, but for those of you who haven't, I'll provide a bit of background.  So, a few months back, a song came out on the Internet called "Actual Cannibal Shia LeBeouf".  And as far as I know, there was really no reason behind it; the actor is not actually a cannibal.  But, it sounds cool, and it's actually a very funny song (if you understand that it's still very dark).  I've included the song below (this video is my favorite version so far--I love the cartoon characters, and I think it's funny that Shia is drawn to look like Hannibal Lecter).  Also, if you want to learn a bit more about the song, you can read all about it on Cheezburger.com's Know Your Meme, here.

Enjoy!

A Post Where Emmy Just Writes and Writes and Writes...

Having one of those moments where I just want to curl up in the corner and read EVERYTHING forever.  And it's kinda great.  I haven't felt like that in a long time.  Sometimes, I feel as though being an English major is squashing my love of books...like being forced to read is making me hate it or something.  Nice to know that the passion is still there, though.

 

So, this is going to be a bit of a bigger update, since I've been pretty AWOL lately.  I hadn't been blogging much for the past few months, but OF's passing has made it even more difficult to get back online and write.  And I desperately want to write.

 

Things have been a bit stressful lately.  Classes are taking up a lot of time, and I'm still trying to keep up a social life on top of all that, which makes for a lot of stress and things not getting done.  I'm getting bogged down in projects and stuff, and people make me feel bad for complaining because they have more to do.  It bothers me sometimes, because I feel that just because I have less work, it doesn't mean it's not overwhelming, and I'm not sleep deprived, too.  Watching cat videos on the Internet is my way of relaxing; I'm not a lazy-ass.

 

Ranting over.  So, the guy I had mentioned before?  Yeah, not working out.  He's kind of a snake who flirts with me like crazy, and only told me that he had a girlfriend when I asked him.  At first, though, I thought I could be overreacting, so I was just going to drop it, but he insisted on talking to me about it, so that he could explain himself.  So, I let him.  And we had a great conversation.  Then, though, he took that as his "okay" to basically cling to me like a very horny shadow.  And I'm not really cool with that.  I mean, we could be friends, but I'm experiencing slight trust issues from this, and I just need a bit of space.  Instead, he comes running back, trying to act like he's my boyfriend.  And while I would  be perfectly happy to have another male friend, I think that these advances he's making at me are a bit too forward.

 

I've talked about him to some of my guy friends.  Movie Boy says that this guy is either in love with me, or he's a psychopath.  Either alternative is not ideal, but I'd prefer the first one.  And another male friend (who is in the same class as the Snake and myself), says that not only is he positive that this guy is really into me, but that he's been getting bad vibes off him, and that there is something wrong with him, and I should stay away.  How comforting, am I right?

 

Work has been blissfully quiet.  I'm having a wonderful time.  I've been getting homework done.  And I'm BLOGGING!  I'm so happy!

 

I've started reading Jasper Fforde's latest book The Last Dragonslayer in my free time.  This guy is brilliant! :)

 

Irish Lit is focusing on James's Joyce's short story "The Dead".  I've read and reread a 14 page essay on new historicism in "The Dead" about three times now.  It is so boring!  I feel my brain turning to soup as I read.  I wouldn't care so much, except I have to be able to discuss it in class.....in a group with two other people...while the whole class watches us. How awkward.  Why can't we just make it a presentation??

 

My writer crush has asked me to read his work and give feedback.  Do you know how amazing that is for me????  I just want him to write things at me.  His literary genius is beautiful.  I'm thrilled :)

 

Okay, so I think that's enough for now.   It was nice to actually blog a bit again.  Hope y'all are well.  I would love to hear from you :)

Old Fool

I'm not the best with words at times like this, so I'll be brief:

Old Fool, you were an inspiration.  You are loved.  You will be missed.

Love,

A silly girl honored to have known you, and your Blogging Granddaughter,

Emmy

What is up with Emmy?

So, life is starting to really confuse me right now.  First, I'm super tired.  I haven't been sleeping properly.  And that of course, doesn't help me one bit.  It's a Friday night, and all I wanted to do is curl up in bed with a blanket, a movie, and a nice cold can of Guinness.  Instead, I'm went out into the dark and the cold with my friends from the Physics Club to go stargazing.  It was a lot of fun, but it was so cloudy that we couldn't actually see anything.  However, my friend and I ran into a thick patch of fog and found a clustering of trees that looked like tall thin people.  It was actually somewhat terrifying because we honestly could not tell what they were from a distance, and it was so dark, that we couldn't make out more than just basic shapes.  Overall, though, I would still say it was a worthwhile time :)

Also, there's this guy in my writing class.  We've been talking a bit and he seems pretty okay.  I friended him on Facebook, and now he keeps messaging me.  I sort of get the impression he likes me, especially when he addressed me as "bella donna".  But, the issue I'm having right now is I just don't know how to feel.  I should probably be flattered, but I think I've finally gotten to that point where I'm not going to go to pieces every time a guy seems to like me as more than a friend.  It's comforting to know that I've finally gotten past that awkward stage, but it's difficult, too, because as much as I protest that I'm not a romantic, I would really love to feel sparks and to go all mushy inside when someone compliments me or tries to flirt.  Instead, I'm just lukewarm.

I'm not rushing things.  I'm not even getting too excited right now.  Usually, that kicks me in the ass.  But, this guy could be something worth pursuing.  He's Catholic for a start, and a writer.  He's ex-military/wants to be a cop. I come from a family of cops and military men.  And he wears his heart on his sleeve.  Whether he tries to or not, I feel like I can see exactly what's going on in his head.  And I kinda like that.  For once, I feel like I'm the cool, collected one (not that he's a basket case or anything), and I really like how it feels.  It's not so stressful.

I'm sure I look a sight sitting here right now.  I have one sock on, one off; my hair in a ragged ponytail, and I'm practically shivering from the cold air coming in through my window screens.  On the plus side, I have that Guinness sitting beside me.  And ah....it is delicious :)

Contemplations

The rain softens my

heart of stone and turns my thoughts

to the arms of men.

I'm not a romantic.  I will never be a romantic.  But, on rainy days, as I curl up in my frigid dorm room, dressed in too many layers to keep myself warm, sometimes I wish there was a guy to cuddle with.  Sometimes I have someone particular in mind.  I know I do today.  And he's so perfect in every way, but it just won't work out for so many reasons.  It's not a sad thing, just a melancholy feeling that comes knocking on my door sometimes in the cold and the dark, in the rain and the night.  It's the driving force that keeps me writing; that spark in my gut that makes me remember that I'm alive, and that my heart is not fully dead within me.

Two Small Disappointments

I'll keep this brief....

1.) I didn't get the job at the coffee shop; they loved me, they wanted me to work there, but we could not make our schedules match up.  They wanted me to come during times when I would be in class....

2.) My date didn't actually go through.  He sent me a text a few hours before we were supposed to go out for coffee and chess, saying that he sustained an nasty injury during his workout that morning.  Apparently, he strained his trapezius muscle, and was having trouble even sitting up.

I guess the good news is that I'll still hopefully be able to get a rain check for the date, but as for the job...well, I'm not going to be getting that.