Day Two: Helping Others
(I received the following e-mail from Jon yesterday morning.)
Dear Fluid Pudding:
My brain just went "ping" and I am driving great big ol' ZILCH-mobile
of things to say down the road of doom that leads to a giant dead end
of a blank page.
I don't swear that often, but damn, I'm screwed.
Can I just steal your stuff?
-Jon
(I answered him with the goal of establishing empathy. You MUST establish empathy before you suggest something huge.)
Dear Jon:
I woke up this morning with a HUGE sense of dread.
I fucking HATE NaBloPoMo!
You know it's bad when you're considering just puking up some Cher song lyrics...
-FP
(He got the empathy thing. Now we're getting somewhere.)
Dear FP:
Resolved:
I am just going to start stealing stuff.
So what if people get confused because I start talking about my
kids, "Harper," "Henry," "Leta," and "Jackson"? They'll get over it, I
need material!
And since NaBloPoMo obviously isn't going to be about quality
writing, I can feel free to become what I've always wanted to become!
The Wal-Mart of Blogging—Cheap, plentiful and smells kinds of strange.
ONWARD!
-Jon
(The following should not be juggled around to make me look like an accomplice. I'm just trying to squirt the juice of creativity onto everyone, and perhaps score a "I need somewhere to store this" vehicle in the process! I am not responsible for anyone else's actions. I am not Marilyn Manson.)
Dear Jon:
Wait a second. I think you've got something!
"I am just going to start stealing stuff."
Why don't you spend the month shoplifting--and then document how it made you feel?
Increase the value every day.
Like, today you could take a penny
out of those "take a penny if you need it" containers.
You don't need
that penny--but you're going to take it, damnit! Stolen penny!
Tomorrow? Steal candy.
Thanksgiving? Steal a flat screen television!
November 30th? Jeep Cherokee.
I promise to NEVER turn you in.
-FP
(Let's keep this exchange on the DL, by the way. The last thing I need right now is a screechy Katie Couric at my door or an orange suit on my person.)
Submitted by
Kathy
at 11/2/2007 9:23:35 AM- "The Wal-Mart of Blogging—Cheap, plentiful and smells kinds of strange."
I want to steal this and use it as my new tagline.
Submitted by
Kathy
at 11/2/2007 9:48:58 AM- Except that I see Jon already has it as his NaBlo tagline.
Still all kinds of awesome.
Submitted by
jon deal
at 11/2/2007 10:25:45 AM- Kathy—Feel free to steal the Wal-Mart tag-line! Get into the spirit of the "Steal Other People's Content for NaBloPoMo" extravaganza/movement FP and I are building.
Submitted by
Erin
at 11/2/2007 2:36:52 PM- Lovely little tagline there...and oh so true. Ever been to walmart at a late hour? I had to buy some last minute christmas tree lights one year...and I don't think I'll be returning to Walmart after dark!
NaBloPoMo is so daunting...I don't know how you people do it. I just posted my 1st blog today...and that was intimidating enough. I can't imagine vowing to spew forth readable type for 30 entire days!
Submitted by
kara
at 11/2/2007 2:41:02 PM- I kinda want to steal it, too. I still don't have a topic for today.
Submitted by
palinode
at 11/3/2007 2:46:25 AM- At least now I know whose creativity juice got squirted onto me.
Submitted by
Mizmell
at 11/3/2007 7:01:20 AM- We're all under pressure to perform... how awful!
I liked your WalMart analogy. How about joining me in my boycott of that horrendous excuse for shopping that insults by providing nothing but cheap shit?
Submitted by
Badger
at 11/3/2007 5:58:54 PM- Just for you, I am totally going to puke up some Cher song lyrics this month. And some Marilyn Manson, too. You ain't seen nothin' yet, peaches.
Your post is way better than his.
(I'm just trying to jerk his insecurity chain, is all)
(But yours *is* better)