Writing Strengths Meme

Posted: Thursday, November 29, 2007 by Travis Cody in
20

Well gang, I listened to The Mo Show tonight and found out a little more about Google page rank and why it's got some of my blogging pals in various states of outrage. If you missed the live show and you are also stressed over your page rank, please check out the archive on Blog Talk Radio.



Then I spent some time in chat with Mimi, Katherine, and Linda. And they showed me how to find out what my page rank is. I'm not really concerned with it because I don't do pay posts or anything, but I do appreciate learning how to find it.

So I didn't get very far with my rounds and I'll have to catch up with y'all over the next few days.

For now...it's time to take care of an outstanding tag.

Sandee at Comedy Plus tagged me for this over a month ago. I'm embarrassed that I've let it sit so long. But the truth is, I'm not really writing much these days and I don't know about my strengths anymore.

I don't know the origin of the meme, but here's how it works:

“So, here’s the challenge: make a list of five strengths that you possess as a writer/artist. It’s not really bragging, it’s an honest assessment (forced upon you by this darn meme). Please resist the urge to enumerate your weaknesses, or even mention them in contrast to each strong point you list. Tag four other writers or artists whom you’d like to see share their strengths.”


OK Sandee, let's see what I can come up with here. When I was writing effectively, I know there were some things I did well.

1. The first thing that came to mind was attention to detail. I love the details. I think it's important that a reader has a clear picture of the characters and the setting, and I think I provide that.

2. I think I'm adept at finding the right word. I have an extensive vocabulary and I like to use it. And I'm good at going back over my work and changing out words for better ones.

3. I understand how to use proper grammar and punctuation, but I also am not afraid to use unconventional sentence structure when it makes sense to do so. Sometimes it's right to end a sentence with a preposition. Really. Trust me on this.

4. I write dialog pretty well. I think that there is a rhythm to dialog and the reader should be able to hear it when they read silently through it. Dialog is the "voice" of the character and I've worked hard to learn how to give each of my characters a distinct "voice".

5. I think I write action sequences well. I'm able to visualize what I want to happen, find the right pacing, and then put the words down on paper.

Thanks to Sandee for the tag. Sorry again it took so long to do.

I'm supposed to tag four others, but I tend to break the rules on tagging. If this looks like it might interest you, then please feel free to steal it.

I'm still working on the tag from Anndi for the Course Meme, otherwise known as the meme about personal improvement that comes from The Blue Tea person. I was hoping to have that one ready for Friday, but I may need a little more time.

I'm walking a fine line here to stay out of Mimi's dungeon. She might run out of patience with me, so I'm working on my best head tilt and batting eye lashes.

Free Smileys :)



Speaking of our dear Queen, please cruise by Bloggingham Palace today and wish Mimi a Happy Birthday! Look darlin...CAKE!



Happy Birthday!!

20 comments:

  1. katherine. says:
    28 November, 2007 22:08

    head tilt and eye lash batting...no wonder you are never in the dungeon...

    (I need to find a king....smile)

  1. Mimi Lenox says:
    28 November, 2007 22:33

    Travis! You too?? I now have three birthday cakes floating about the blogosphere. You guys are too much. And I'm going to get fat.

    Seriously, you've made my day! Eastern Standard Time declares I am now officially that-age-that-shall-forever-remain-unknown-to-my-loyal-royal-subjects-upon-punishment-of-multiple-memes-if-you-spill-the-beans. Got that? (wink)

    Giggling here. Smiling. I wanna say something stupid like "aw shucks..." but that really sounds pretty corny and not very Queen-like.

    So I'll just do the Queen wave.
    And properly thank you.

  1. Jay says:
    28 November, 2007 23:26

    Internet-calories don't count, right?

  1. Liz Hill says:
    29 November, 2007 01:38

    Thank you for sharing more writing insight .

    and YUMMY cake *giggling*

  1. Schmoop says:
    29 November, 2007 05:12

    I too am a firm believer in using converstional sentence structure when writing dialogue. Screw not ending sentences with a preposition. Cheers Travis!!

  1. Vinny "Bond" Marini says:
    29 November, 2007 05:34

    All excellent points Travis and I agree 100% on all of them...

    hehe

    OOOO I think I like your cake better than mine, but I have a poem....

    poem envy...I thought it was poetry envy...but that might just be a regional difference...

    bwahahahahahahahaahahahahaa

  1. Desert Songbird says:
    29 November, 2007 05:55

    I'm with you on 2, 3, and 4. Those are strengths I've always thought I had, and they've been confirmed to me by various editors, so they must be true!

  1. the Book of Keira says:
    29 November, 2007 12:29

    My google toolbar shows the page rank of every page I click on. I'm always annoyed that my page rank is so low and can't ever figure it out as I get almost 200 hits a day on the blog (and, like, three comments...lol. People are QUIET!)I'll have to go and listen and see how it all works.

  1. Lee Ann aka Dixie says:
    29 November, 2007 12:54

    I think I see some CAKE!!!!

    WHOOP! WHOOP!

  1. Charles Gramlich says:
    29 November, 2007 13:19

    Wow, that's some cake. I enjoyed reading about your writing strengths. I did this meme some time ago and it was tough.

  1. Sandee says:
    29 November, 2007 13:31

    Very well done Travis, but I knew it would be. I think you nailed all your strengths too. Thanks for doing the tag.

    Mimi couldn't be angry with you with a cake like that. It was really good too. Have a great day Travis. :)

  1. Mimi Lenox says:
    29 November, 2007 15:30

    The cake is yummmmmyy and I'm doing extra situps as we speak.

    Sigh.

    Thanks everyone for visiting me and singing me songs and such. It is a blast. I'm smiling here....no dungeon for the birthday commenters! lol

  1. Travis Cody says:
    29 November, 2007 16:38

    Katherine: **wink**

    Mimi: These are the best kinds of CAKEs...no calories! And you are welcome.

    Jay: That is correct.

    Turn: Have a big piece...like a turret or something. There's still lots of leftovers.

    Matt: Damn straight. Dialog in particular needs to have pace so it doesn't sound silly. Cheers to you my good man!

    V: It's probably regional. I was thinking about writing a limerick this afternoon, but they were all too naughty. Heehee!

    Songbird: I think those three help me with my economy. And blogging has also helped me with that.

    Kyra: I think the main lament was that people can't figure out how it works, and Google isn't telling them how it works.

    Dix: You did see CAKE! Lots of it.

    Charles: I fought with it a little bit, because I always find more weaknesses than strengths. Or I guess I should say areas to improve. Anytime I think I do something well, there seems to be a caveat in my head telling me how I can do it better.

    Sandee: Thank you Ma'am. I appreciated the tag.

    Mimi: I'm glad you enjoyed yourself!

  1. Misty DawnS says:
    29 November, 2007 17:56

    Ahhh the queen is not running low on awesome birthday cakes... which proves she will also never run low on friends. Isn't she wonderful!?!?

  1. Linda says:
    29 November, 2007 20:57

    Another tasty-looking castle cake, what Queen wouldn't be pleased??

    I'm with Katherine on that whole needing-to-find-a-king thing, though I'd settle for a Prince or a Duke or a Lord ...

  1. Linda says:
    29 November, 2007 20:58

    ... Or a common serf with beautiful eyes and kissable lips!

  1. Joely Sue Burkhart says:
    30 November, 2007 05:18

    I know zip about how Google ranking happens or how people actually earn money on their blogs. I'm afraid if I got into that, the blog muse would dry up and blow away.

  1. Travis Cody says:
    30 November, 2007 17:08

    Misty: She is. And do you suppose she'll put the leftover CAKE in some tupperware so we can keep nibbling on it?

    Linda: That's not too much to ask for. I'll keep a watch for someone matching that description.

    Joely: Well, I guess it just depends why a person blogs. It's definitely got some folks upset and it's costing some others some money.

  1. Mimi Lenox says:
    05 December, 2007 07:38

    I see leftover cake!
    I'm absconding with the cake.....tiptoes away.
    Shhh.....

  1. Mimi Lenox says:
    05 December, 2007 07:41

    Oops. I got carried away with the sugar content. It made me hyper and I had to go run around the run for a minute.
    I'm back to say that your writing strengths meme was awesome. All good suggestions and reflections on your own writing. I think you do all those things very well. I hope you'll find time to write more.
    Don't we all need more time to write??!

    I'm catching up with blogs this morning. There are ten unread posts from you in my google reader. You'll see my half face a lot today. And anyway, I don't know what to do with your batting eyelashes. I only have one with which to bat back!

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