My Problem with my Status Update

It's crazy to me when someone I haven't seen in a while starts talking to me about what's been going on in my life, as if they're explaining it to me. And just when it starts to get really annoying, I remember...

Oh, I put that in my status update, didn't I?

"Oh, so you've already seen pictures of my niece."

"Right. I did do flights of bourbon in Louisville with my friends Emily, Kory and Sarah."

"Sorry. I did take the Lord's name in vain last week."

IN some ways it's good to have a status update repeat your status back to you in the form of a friend who reminds you of how busy you are and how much writing you've been doing lately. I've never noticed that I'm an incredibly prolific, wide-ranging, nimble writer before. Seriously. I'm usually really busy freaking out about deadlines and feeling like a loser to realize how productive I'm being. So thank you, status update for that.

And I notice people congratulating me on how productive I am. That's a boost. It makes my life seem more interesting than I find it. And it gives me the opportunity to be witty a lot.

My status update helps me remember how many people in my life are fans of either RuPaul's Drag Race or The Real Housewives of New York City or Glee. Then it reminds me of how many gay people I know.

Lots.

Actually, it doesn't seem like I have a problem with my status update.

Except maybe that it means I don't hear my friends' voices as much as I used to.

What is going to make me feel better?

Frankly, I've been getting massive enjoyment from turning on music in my kitchen and making tacos. Last night was pretty amazing. I had five tacos with homemade turkey taco meat. I've been watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on ABC and telling myself that it's not about eating salads and veg, but it's about making things myself. So it's perfectly okay if I'm making chicken fingers and homemade ketchup and french fries. I'm not buying the processed shit. It's the new health food. Just make it yourself, no matter how much butter, oil, sugar or fat. Just imagine how much MORE fat there would be if you got it through the drive-thru.

Yes, it's not as good as a raw food diet. But it's not as bad as McDonald's every day. I mean, that is what's driving American towards obesity. And I'm not anywhere near obese.

Five tacos? It's not like I finished the entire box of taco shells. That would be sad.

Brain food. That's the other thing I tell myself. It's brain food. And I'm doing A LOT of writing these days. I deserve it. It's a reward. More things I tell myself that just keep me eating.

I'm a taco freak. What can I say? That and fried rice and tostadas are things I like to make for myself when I'm not feeling great. Or when I want something fast. Or when I'm watching a favorite TV show. Or when I'm having a childhood memory.

Okay, so those are the things I like to eat whenever, wherever, however.

Whatever.

What is Good Writing?

I'm a writer.
I think I know what good writing is.
My opinion comes more from reading than it does from my MFA.
This came up yesterday and this morning with my boyfriend and this application
he's putting together where he needs to write a personal statement.
The thing to know about my boyfriend is that he's very smart and well spoken.
He went to the University of Virginia. THE University.
So he's a brain and very impressive.
And he has a command of the language and loves big words.

This is the thing that I, personally, know about writing. And I'm only speaking for myself.
I believe good writing is economical. For me, it's not about how many five dollar words you use or even how many words you use, period. It's more about how
much feeling can you pour into expression using the least amount of words possible.
But the most important thing is that it sounds like you.
But just a real expensive, more articulate
version of you.
It's kind of like being Carrie Bradshaw.

And I love how my boyfriend expresses himself...
Well, I love HIM, so when I looked at his personal statement,
I wasn't excited.
Because it sounded so remote. And abstract. Nothing about
the language he was using felt like I wanted
to get to know more about him. Mainly because
there was very little about him personally in that statement.

Well, then I have to have that conversation.
Actually, I get out of the conversation by sending
the less uncomfortable email
because I'm a coward.
But I sound very authoritative in my cowardly email.

And he comes back with something that sounds so professional,
but so personal at the same time. And that to me is good writing.

I love vernacular. I love voice patterns.
I love how people aren't aware of what's coming out of their mouths,
but their body language gives them away.

That's why I love certain reality TV shows because
it's such a great dramatist's lesson.
I know, it sounds blasphemous. But it's "real" life being played out.
And by the time people are filming multiple seasons,
they are no longer guarded about having breakdowns or
"private" conversations on camera. It's a real master class sometimes.
For real.
Ha ha.

Good writing is writing that you aren't always aware of.
Just like good directing or good acting.
It makes you feel and it's clever,
but it's insightful in a way that
feels familiar and fresh at the same time.
It's language that brings us closer, not by
commanding but by persuading.
It doesn't always draw attention to itself.
But can when the moment is necessary.
It says things that everyone can understand
and makes everyone feel a bit more
insightful for agreeing with the sentiment.
It's just good.

Now back to the good writing that I'm trying to work on.