Writing Dilemma

by sara star | February 9, 2009 at 12:51 pm

361 views | 35 Recommendations | 14 comments

I can’t help it.

Everywhere I turn I am reminded of global health threats;

bird flu, superbugs,

Medical Mafias (pharma), Monsantos,

population reduction by the Elite,

Chem trails and vaccine conspiracies. The list goes on.

So I am in a dilemma, what stories do I write about?

Feel-good or feel-bad.

Worrisome need-to-know stories that raise awareness and panic? I certainly have written a few of these (World’s Largest Viral Threat), and surprisingly many are thankful for the info they didn’t know about. I usually learn a few things myself in the process, as people comment and add videos.

However we are bombarded by an overload of negative stories and after a while we just become numb. Me included. It just becomes another story. Which story do I recommend? They are all important.

I think the key word here is overload. We have never before have had to sift through so much information as we do in these days. As in the aforementioned story WLVT, there were almost twenty videos downloaded. I watched most of them today, and soon the morning vanished. A lot of them were good. Most were questioning if China was covering up the present day bird flu.

Maybe I should stick with comedy. Or meditation. After all doing nothing is an important part of health.

Do I fight another battle with the swing of my pen (or the punch of my keyboard)?

Or do I heal with words of hope?

So far, I write as spirit whispers to me.

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Fripouille

at 18:48 on February 9th, 2009

Great post this, Sara Star, and in my humble opinion, you hit the nail right on the head when you typed in the word "overload".

We as writers are under more and more pressure to produce stuff "now". The result is that much of it is based on emotional reaction rather than rational analysis. Look at what was written during the latest Gaza violence! Everyone going totally nuts, and some of them must be regretting their epidermic reactions now...but it's not their fault. "Gotta have news, gotta get it out first".

Same for politicians. I mean, without defending Bush, but because it's a good example, how can anyone expect rational and reflected and wise reactions to cataclysmic events like airliners flying into buildings just a few minutes after they happen, with live microphones thrust under their noses hoping for scoops? Moreover, a "no comment" would even be seen as indecision nowadays, whereas it would in fact sometimes be wiser.

Overload, media deadline pressure, and, at the end of the day, a public which majoritarily just pays for the paper, reads the headlines, and throws it away....

Your post finishes with some extremely good advice for us all...

"So far, I write as spirit whispers to me".

I hope you never lose sight of that wisdom.

Excellent read, thank you so much.

Babel-Fish

at 18:43 on February 9th, 2009

One can always find something to write about it making the article interesting that's the problem.

I really do not like hype or propaganda. I do try to write with a new angle or opinion on any subject.

Mainly I write for the love of showing that I am a concerned citizen of this world and a dedication for citizen journalism that allows any one from any walk of life to express their opinions or relate their experiences to concerned or interested world citizens.

It's not what you write about that matters its what your show in your heart that's the important factor. Well it is to me.

The main thing is clear "It's up to you" what you write and how you present your self to the world. Your opinion is important and should be respected if its sensible and well balanced.

sara star

at 19:39 on February 9th, 2009

Thanks to all who shared a part of themselves. I learn so much every day.

Terri Potratz

at 14:00 on February 9th, 2009

I think the most we can do is try to strike that delicate balance between the good and the bad.

Fred Miller

at 15:47 on February 9th, 2009

I said in an earlier item, 'it's just the busy world we live in today. No, it's not that we turn a blind eye to the tragic deliberately. It's just that there's only just so much news we feeble, inadequate humans are capable of absorbing and acting on.'

After that statement, I threw all caution and much of my focus out the window. After all, I am not bound by any deadline or promise of remuneration to create anything here. and so I continue to freely opine on what I want to. That's really the nice part of being here ! While others have a burning desire to consistently present their views in extensive detail , I come here open-minded, looking to comment and be aware of what affects people's lives because that's what gets me through the day. I could go on but then that would mean setting myself to write a whole follow-up to what you are saying here. Rather, I'll let the truly concerned and involved readers keep the ball rolling, then catch up if the occasion arises.

Besides I have a Blog and a Flickr album to attend to, not to mention keeping up to date with my Facebook, MySpace, Wayn and Tagged contacts. Trying to keep Twitter at bay.....

Fripouille

at 14:52 on February 10th, 2009

Hello "whateveryou say (not verified)".

I couldn't agree more.

The adult maturity of your mature, eloquent, and helpful comment demonstrates your innate talent for literary appreciation, your eminently humanistic approach to literary knowledge, your mastery of the english language...

...and the fact that you are a first class and cretinous juvenile jerk.

sara star

at 16:31 on February 10th, 2009

Sounds like overload to me...

Fripouille

at 03:13 on February 11th, 2009

Hello whatever you say,

I just reread my comments on the article, and there is no advice given to Sara Star anywhere as far as I can see. That's not surprising as I wrote to her elsewhere and said something like "who am I to give advice". Quite the opposite, as I even said that certain of her words were useful for me! Also, I have no authority and did not comment her style at all, but the content, which I happen to appreciate. You, on the other hand, according to your comment, seem to think you have the necessary authority which permits you to comment her style and give her advice.That's very revealing..

Concerning my own writing, I welcome and encourage people's opinions on it, and I work on it all the time. That's because I give no lessons to anyone.

Thank you

BMCWrites

at 20:09 on February 9th, 2009

No offense, but I wonder how in the world this piece ever made it to NowPublic's front page?

Fripouille

at 03:02 on February 10th, 2009

Hello, BMC, don't you think you may be being a little hard here?

I mean, please don't get me wrong, Sara Star does not need anyone to defend her post, I'm sure, and I'm not doing that. But I did read this post myself and my in-between-the-lines impression was of an honest and frank effort to ask questions about what, and how, to write. I think that's admirable and that that's why the article got the reaction it did, in my humble opinion. All writers ask those questions at one time or another, and I have seen many writers "ask", subliminally or not, for the opinions of others.

We are not all seasoned writers as I'm sure you'd agree. The title mentions a dilemma. I've certainly had writer's dilemma in the past (and have even posted here on it). Moreover, even though I've been writing for a reasonable length of time now, I may even get one again one day lol!

whateveryou say (not verified)

at 12:05 on February 10th, 2009

Reads like a typical teenage angst piece. Maybe she has yet to develop her voice but it isn't prime time ready

sara star

at 14:28 on February 10th, 2009

I respect different points of view. We all have our preferences.

Fripouille

at 16:48 on February 10th, 2009

"Sounds like overload to me..."

Five very well chosen words.

whatever yousay (not verified)

at 19:34 on February 10th, 2009

Bad Boy (oh boy, if that isn't enough of a giveaway),

You make some very loud points, but vapid ones.

Verified means what in this context? You could well be a spotty teenager from Croydon, using the computer after lights out. You haven't 'verified' anything. You could be homeless, in jail, or in Chicago. You claim one thing, but you have verified nothing. The only thing you have done is give yourself a return email/comment box - that is all verified means in this context.

In addition, you somehow seem to equate online aggression and VOLUME with meaning. An opinion of one, yours or anyone else's, is nothing more than that - an opinion.

Further, encouraging a young writer to continue in a style that needs improvement doesn't help her. She needs to work on her voice. You seem to think you have some innate authority here - why? If we examine your work, it is far from ideal. If she used you as her literary guide, it would be a little like listening to Stevie Wonder giving advice about colour coordination. Here is one of your paragraphs. It does not resonates with rhythm. It fails in allegorical imagery. It is also full of fragments.

"...is the machine no adult will admit to watching, except for news freaks and bored couples who don’t know what a sofa was invented for. It’s a bit like Macdonalds. No-one eats them because “they’re disgusting” but hundreds of millions of them get sold every year. Go figure."

Flip, I mean Frip, with all due respect...suck up your ego and stop threatening people. It just doesn't work...and whay you are at it, work on your wrting too.