Alice Munro: Nobel Prize Laureate. Short Story Writer. Hand-Washer Of Clothes.

Alice Munro wins Nobel Prize.

"So why do I like to write short stories? Well, I certainly didn't intend to. I was going to write a novel. And still! I still come up with ideas for novels. And I even start novels. But something happens to them. They break up. I look at what I really want to do with the material, and it never turns out to be a novel. But when I was younger, it was simply a matter of expediency. I had small children, I didn't have any help. Some of this was before the days of automatic washing machines, if you can actually believe it. There was no way I could get that kind of time. I couldn't look ahead and say, this is going to take me a year, because I thought every moment something might happen that would take all time away from me. So I wrote in bits and pieces with a limited time expectation. Perhaps I got used to thinking of my material in terms of things that worked that way. And then when I got a little more time, I started writing these odder stories, which branch out a lot. But I still didn't write a novel, in spite of good intentions."

On Why Creatives Must Learn to Follow Rules, Or Not

I failed one of my first creative writing classes in undergrad. 

Well, not failed, but I got a C which isn't a passing grade when the course is integral to your major. 

Integral? Well, it WAS my major.

Never mind that I took it again and did much better. 

The point is that I got a C.

Because I didn't follow the rules.

"Rules? But I got into a creative field for the lack of rules!"

Or so I thought. 

With a broken spirit

 (or so I thought) 

I retook the course with another TA and passed.

I played by the rules, used all of the required literary elements and wrote my thesis by. the. book.

Then I got out of that course and started breaking every damn rule they taught me.

Or so I thought.

I had to know the rules to break them.

Or so I think.

What do you think? Do you think art has rules?

How to Apply for a Job

I've given advice on how to get a job before. Now I want to focus on the actual application.

The Mr. is hiring someone for his office and I am no stranger to job applications, so I thought this is a perfect time to get a few pointers of my chest.

1) Resumes are one page. Period. If you can't be succinct, you don't know yourself, your business or your language very well. Learn how to edit! Regardless of this article, I think that people need to be more critical of their professional past and cut, cut, cut away the fat. The digital age may make it convenient to send a longer resume, but that doesn't mean HR will take the time to read one.

2) Review. Be sure you have someone look over your resume for errors. If you misspell the word "college" in your education section, you deserve to not get the job.

3) Don't overlook aesthetic. Be aware of your margin alignments, fonts and white space. Resumes need to be easy on the eyes even if you aren't applying for an artistic job. A good looking resume conveys that you know how to use the program (Word) and that you have an eye for detail.

4) Be unique. I border on "weird" anyway, so I find myself reigning in my written work. Many people though don't branch out and leave white space here or left-align things there. If nothing else, make sure that your cover letter is specific to the job to which you are applying.

5) Which brings me to generic cover letters. Don't do 'em! Make sure that you name the position you're applying for and the reason you want it specifically.

6) Do your darnedest to send the letter to a person - not just  "to whom it may concern". Cause you know who that concerns? Nobody! Even if you send your letter out with the wrong name on it (which I've done before), chances are it will get more attention if the recipient walks it over to HR and it all like, "Hey, I got this letter and I think it's for you. They wrote some good sh*t. You should probably consider hiring them." (Which has happened to me!). Don't misaddress it on purpose, but take your best shot. If no name is specifically listed with the job posting, find someone through LinkedIn who is a recruiter or in the department to which you are applying and send your application to them.

7) Let go of neuroses. For instance, I like using commas to a fault and will come up with a third adjective just to round out a list trio. Resist! Too many commas make your writing seem panicked (Think "would I take a breath here if I was speaking this?" If no, then no comma.) and too many adjectives make you seem like a rambling, self-centered, unnecessarily verbose thesaurus.

more here

Did Daylight Savings Slap Anyone Else Awake This Morning

'Cause, guh. I'm not on the horse yet.

So I'm reading about getting in the right frame of mind.

A few rules of storytelling from Pixar:

"Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You’ll feel like you’re losing valuable stuff but it sets you free."

This is why I maintain that every good writer is made by through editing.

From here. Originally seen here.

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This past weekend the Mr. and a friend hung our new chandelier over our dining room table (See Instagrams to the right on this page). It took them, GodBlessIt!, 7 hours to hang. They are smart cookies though and got the job done against all odds*.

Part of the way through the process were were joking about just up-and-moving to leave the holes in the ceiling and the half-hangin' chandy to the next owner. There was a mega-home down the street available with a separate nanny-quarters and lush courtyard. It reminded me of how much I loved day dreaming about buying too-much-too-'spensive-homes. Some gems in the Chicago:

TV in the shower, next to the tub

Making white cabinets look good

Frank-Lloyd Oh-So-Wright

Wine Cellar



*I like the chandelier, but the craftsmanship was really shotty. Just and FYI in case anyone else is looking to purchase a piece from Shades of Light, a company based in Virginia.

Writing Requires Some Degree of Apathy

When I write to a fork in the road, I get the urge to pick one at random or turn right around. Taking  careful thought and filling your choice with reasons, arguments is the hard part. Anyone can take up chance or take up giving up. But to defend yourself!

Once choosing, I either love it or hate it. I'd rather erase the whole page and start fresh or erase nothing and stand behind misplaced comas and vague words. Stubborn, take-my-pen-and-go-home game.

Writing requires some degree of apathy. You have to care enough to keep going, to keep in what's really meant there. And, more importantly, you have to be willing to slash with a machete and a sweaty palm what is common, cumbersome or cliche redundant.

Grown-Up Advice: How to talk like a lady and Mr. S's Birthday

Lady's don't swear. I'm working on this one as the sailor mouth has gotten really brine-y.

As I can't advise you on how not to swear (maybe insert another word like "AhKellyClarkson!" - like from the movie 40 Year Old Virgin), but I can give you a list of other things you're saying that make you sound like an unprofessional, 14-year-old  idiot.

- Stop saying "like" as a space-filler in conversation. Have someone write down every time you say "like" or wear a rubber band on your wrist for one day and snap it every time you say "like".

- Don't misuse the word "random". Definition: proceeding, made, or occurring without definite aim, reason, or pattern. "Random" is not a cool buzzword to make you seem different or hilarious. Your night was not "so random" last night. That email was not "so random". Your Facebook album from the lake house weekend was not "random".

- I get it, pronouns are hard. Learn when to use "I" or "me", "She" or "her". Correct: "They are going to help her and me." Incorrect: "They are going to help she and I." 


Think grammar doesn't matter? It may matter to your boss. It might be the make or break skill that decides your future. Think I'm being dramatic? Read this.

That said, let's not all become the grammar police. If we know what people are saying (and we aren't their superior), it's best to let mistakes slide. If you are in the position to use someone's grammatical mistake as a teaching point, make sure you doing it gracefully. No one likes a know-it-all.

And for Heaven's sake, don't use proper grammar and then point it out to people. If using correct grammar requires clarification, maybe you should change or simplify your sentence structure.

I'll admit that I get hung up on lie/lay (people lie down themselves, people lay down objects) and hanged/hung (again, one for people and another for objects), but I try to sort it out each time I use these words to make a new, correct habit out of it.

Do you stumble over any particular grammar rules? Are you a stickler for grammar or do you think grammar may be becoming less relevant?

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This past weekend it was the Mr.'s birthday. His paternal family hosted a wonderful celebration at a lake house on Lake Gage near Angola, Indiana. It was in the 80's, sunny and quiet. Such a good time!

Lake house. Lake hair. Per usual, I didn't wash my hair all weekend. 'Twas pretty gross by the end, but the schmoutz helps you need less hairspray to hold your hair together with the wind/wave runner/lake water variables.

Local wine. Only sold in Indiana. Made in Steuben County. This one was pretty good. The red was just so-so in my opinion (too sweet).

The birthday chair. He's 28 going on 8, so we brought out the child in him.

I made brownies...

And his aunt got a lovely cake from a boutique baker in Ft. Wayne. He got to blow out the candles on two desserts for twice the birthday wishes!

He really got into it the second time around.

If you follow me on Instagram, you already saw these. Sorry for nothing new!

Leave it to the paper company to suggest the Thank You note.

Some good rules for business etiquette. I agree with them all. I find etiquette so interesting and sort of a lost art.

1. Send a Thank You Note

I work at a paper company that manufactures stationery and I'm shocked at how infrequently people send thank you notes after interviewing with me. If you're not sending a follow-up thank you note to Crane, you're not sending it anywhere.

But the art of the thank you note should never die. If you have a job interview, or if you're visiting clients or meeting new business partners—especially if you want the job, or the contract or deal—take the time to write a note. You'll differentiate yourself by doing so and it will reflect well on your company too.

2. Know the Names

It's just as important to know your peers or employees as it is to develop relationships with clients, vendors or management. Reach out to people in your company, regardless of their roles, and acknowledge what they do.

My great-grandfather ran a large manufacturing plant. He would take his daughter (my grandmother) through the plant; she recalled that he knew everyone's name—his deputy, his workers, and the man who took out the trash.

We spend too much of our time these days looking up – impressing senior management. But it's worth stepping back and acknowledging and getting to know all of the integral people who work hard to make your business run.

3. Observe the 'Elevator Rule'

When meeting with clients or potential business partners off-site, don't discuss your impressions of the meeting with your colleagues until the elevator has reached the bottom floor and you're walking out of the building. That's true even if you're the only ones in the elevator.

Call it superstitious or call it polite—but either way, don't risk damaging your reputation by rehashing the conversation as soon as you walk away.

4. Focus on the Face, Not the Screen

It's hard not to be distracted these days. We have a plethora of devices to keep us occupied; emails and phone calls come through at all hours; and we all think we have to multitask to feel efficient and productive.

But that's not true: When you're in a meeting or listening to someone speak, turn off the phone. Don't check your email. Pay attention and be present.

When I worked in news, everyone was attached to a BlackBerry, constantly checking the influx of alerts. But my executive producer rarely used hers—and for this reason, she stood out. She was present and was never distracted in editorial meetings or discussions with the staff. And it didn't make her any less of a success.

5. Don't Judge

We all have our vices—and we all have room for improvement. One of the most important parts of modern-day etiquette is not to criticize others.

You may disagree with how another person handles a specific situation, but rise above and recognize that everyone is trying their best. It's not your duty to judge others based on what you feel is right. You are only responsible for yourself.

We live in a world where both people and businesses are concerned about brand awareness. Individuals want to stand out and be liked and accepted by their peers--both socially and professionally.

The digital landscape has made it even more difficult to know whether or not you're crossing a line, but I think it's simple. Etiquette is positive. It's a way of being—not a set of rules or dos and don'ts.

So before you create that hashtag, post on someone's Facebook page or text someone mid-meeting, remember the fundamentals: Will this make someone feel good?

And remember the elemental act of putting pen to paper and writing a note. You'll make a lasting impression that a shout-out on Twitter or a Facebook wall mention can't even touch.

Do you like etiquette? Do you find it out-dated?

See the full article here. 

How to Enter Modern Day Survival Mode/Advice I'm Giving Myself

The modern woman worker adult person sometimes just has to pull up their britches and keep on trucking. We often get overstimulated rather than under and let me tell ya, it's overwhelming.

Survival mode: Being so bogged down with stuff to do that one has to trim the fat in their day and decide what really needs to be done. Out of the options of fight or flight, put up your dukes. 

Some of you might know this as "finals week", "end of the quarter", "the publication goes live in x hours", "grades are due", "the G8 is coming to Chicago", "callbacks" or  "sh*t hit the fan".

All Photos via Pinterest. 

I've been busy lately. I've picked/torn/filed off all of my nails (after just painting them this past weekend!) from writer's block. We've had leftovers for dinner (which usually are only reserved for lunch) even though we have many fresh-meal options. I am only running a fraction of what I aspire to each day.

So how do we survive it all?

Here are my tips for surviving survival mode, keeping your friends/family and not looking homeless while doing it.

Health and Beauty Maintenance

- Stretch your hairstyles. Wash as little as possible and look up fun ways to do a bun to save you time in the morning. Say hello to more sleep.
- Don't get down on yourself if you don't stick to your usual workout routine. As long as you get moving everyday, let that be enough. Sometimes your time cannot be stretched. Let is go and catch up on the treadmill time after your deadline.
- Wear your glasses. Hide the eye-bags.
- Have a week's worth of work outfits ready in case you sleep in. You can still get dressed in the dark/with your eyes closed when you know what pants/shirt/socks go together. Plus, this will keep you from making a game-time decision to put on a "desperation outfit". You know you've had one.
- Keep a pair of nude/black/neutral shoes at your desk. I used to tote my shoes back and forth to work since I use public transit and commute in flats/Merrells Mary Janes. Now I keep all of my non-flashy pumps at work. I have an entire shoe drawer and I'm so lucky to have it.
- Get enough sleep. If you're stuck on a problem, go to bed if you can. Chances are you'll have fresh eyes and a clear head in the morning.

Friend and Family Maintenance

- Think twice before emailing/calling/texting. You're in survival mode and what comes out of your mouth might not be what you really mean. Think things through twice and even ask a 3rd party if what you're saying makes sense. You can always say "I'll get back to you" and think it through when you have a chance to slow down.
- Keep the appointments you've made, but make no more. You don't want to appear anti-social and you also don't want to keep piling on the obligations. Freeze your Calendar.
- Look a week/month ahead to see where birthdays are coming up. Use Facebook or your mom's memory to help you get them all mapped out now. Use an online service to help you send a card - at least - or have your significant other/roommate/mom remind you.

Media Maintenance

- Turn the TV off. Just do it.
- If you are chewing off your fingernails in frustration, try putting on some mellow music. Distract the immediate (medical term, I'm sure) part of your brain so that your deeper conscious can sort through a problem. I guess it works in classrooms too. Might I suggest Ron Pope's "Shoot Out The Lights".
- Close your email, turn off your phone. If you don't need these two things for the task at hand, then they are distractions just laying-in-wait. Give yourself a window of time when you can check them both and then turn them back off/log out.

Head/Heart Maintenance

- Be kind to yourself. Reward yourself for milestones or the job completion. Let yourself have a treat, but be wary about making food a reward. You're not running as much as you should, remember? Choose a low-cal popcorn, one piece of candy, as much sugar-free tea as you like, allow yourself to buy that book on Amazon, spend too much money on a candle at Anthropologie (it smells like "good boy"!), or just take a break and walk around in the fresh air.

Then get back to work.

Ok, long winded. Now you tell me. What do you do when in survival mode?

Flip-It Friday: Brevity

My other blog, Addressing the Corner, was born out of a debate I had with my high school creative writing teacher. "If you aren't going to write so that people can understand (and want to read), then why not go write yourself to death in a corner?!" He said.

Being able to let go of words that don't further your message is tough, but should be an active part of writing.


Do you think that in a world of micro-bloggers that we are losing the art of words? Or is condensing our points into 140 poignant characters making us more effective communicators? Does it hinder or refine art?

I got in a debate with my father-in-law about this over Christmas.

Here's one perspective.
Microblogging might be what you make it.
Biting, sassy words from a copy writer.

What do you think?

What to Resolve for NYE

Do you have a new years resolution?

I'm reading that some people are tossing them out of the window and just living 2012 like they did 2011. Fine, fine. But if you're going to change something, why not resolve to change it when you have the support of the world and their resolutions too?

Lost on what to resolve? Here are some strange/sincere/silly suggestions:

- Eat dessert. Whenever it's available.
- Do a walking tour of your hometown or some place familiar.
- Go to bed an hour earlier (or later... but do something awesome with that hour!).
- Pick a new tv series and follow it religiously.
- Immerse yourself in a new author's works and finish the lot of 'em.
- Cook "Around the World" by making a dish a week that represents another country.
- Become a "Yes man", but within reason. Not like Jim Carrey.
- Incorporate a new article of clothing into your regular attire (ponchos, scarves, argyle).
- Give up holding grudges.
- Live on less and save or donate the rest.
- Vow to do one thing that scares you a month (ski, see a movie alone, sing in public)
- If you haven't been in a while, go to the dentist!
- Give up caffeine (or don't, haha!).
- Instead of trying to lose weight, vow to mind portion sizes and keep a food journal.
-  Date wildly in 2012. Whether you have a permanent person to date or whether you are still open to suggestion. If you're shy, ask for phone numbers. If you're used to meeting people at bars, approach someone in an art museum. Walk up to the bassist after a metal show. If you're dating/married don't forget to date that person. Ask them out. Wear perfume. Turn up the charm! [Note: This is not a hint to S. I feel well dated... er, you date me well... er... you know what I mean.]

Maybe my favorite suggestion: Treat Yo Self

Drink pairing? Champagne of course!

Note: I am still not drinking until New Years. I got through the holidays only having 1 beer because I couldn't find an ibuprofen. I think it was a fair trade.

Reads

No advice today. This week has been all up in my grill.

Read this in the mean time. You know you can trust her, she's a Jenny too!

Advice to other bloggers: Stop apologizing

"I'm sorry I haven't been around lately, I've been:

a) sick
b) busy
c) sick and busy working - it takes me 3x as long to post because I can't see through the allergy tears and the NyQuil makes my head womp-womp when I try to read
d) lacking motivation/creativity/personal stories to share."

All excuses are boring and telling us what keeps you away is making us wish you just went away until you had something awesome to contribute.

I've been guilty of this too.

And my rant is equally irrelevant.

I'm not apologizing.

What I am doing is giving you this - some non-boring blog-goodness to get you through Monday:

She's never boring. I'd like to be her friend. Or her live-doll.

This is interesting. I found it here first. Do you know what you are putting on YOUR skin?

Good for a nerdy laugh. And they post several times a day, so go getcha some.

Spent some time window shopping here and here this weekend. Surprisingly not all that expensive. And by window shoppin' I mean that my fingers did the walkin'.

via

And maybe this evening you can get a bunch of children together and make Gertrude Steins and have a puppy party. Always a good choice.

Happy Monday. Don't be boring.

Tipsy Tuesday: J.Mill's Take on the Mrs. Lilien's 7 Persuasions of the Extraordinarily Successful

Pretty awesome list of how to be awesome from Mrs. Lilien (blogger I just found today via Fancy Schmantzy's blog roll). Boom goes the name dropping and the shout-outs. I know Mitzi of Fancy Schmantzy personally. I have no idea if the Mrs. is even a woman. Here we go.

I decided to do my own list of 7 Persuasions Of Awesomeness. Here's the J.Mill version:

1) The Mrs. says: Bedeck to Impress.

J.Mill says: Dress to the 9's, yes. Dare to upstage. Think: "Can I get away with wearing jeans?" But then add a blazer. Avoid wearing panty hose unless it's cold. Panty hose will cut-you-in-half. I have the oddly mishapen waistline to prove it.

2) The Mrs. says: Begin with High Stakes in Mind.

J.Mill says: Under promise, over deliver. If you set the bar low, then people will appreciate your follow-through. Get a pat on the back just for waking up in the morning whenever possible.

via

"Hiiii-ya!" She gets a pat (or did that sound like a chop) on the back for waking up, fo sho.

3) The Mrs. says: Put Leisure First

J.Mill says: Can't argue there. Just make sure you define leisure in your own specially-tailored way. I, for instance, find shopping to be stressful, not leisurely. I'm more of a stare-out-the-window type of relaxer. Speaking of relaxers, muscle-putty-pills work for leisure-inducing too! Or at least they make shopping tollerable. You may walk out of a downtown Chi-town Target with nothing on your list, but at least you walk out of Target (as opposed to running, screaming out of Target).

4) The Mrs. says: Think Chin-chin. (cocktails)

J.Mill says: Can't argue with this one either. But to deviate from the Mrs., I suggest that you go more daring with your drink dates. Don't drink with friends. Drink with a bartender. Drink with Facebook. Drink with a good book. Drinking alone, once considered sad, now (or maybe not yet) is considered brave! One mojito down and I was de-friending half of my facebook friends. I didn't even KNOW these people. Try it. Purge your FB, your closet, your fridge with a glass of Malbec in hand and see how productive you are!

via awesome

5) The Mrs. says: Accessorize with Abandon

J.Mill says: Take only one piece of advice from Suzie Orman and only wear like 3 pieces of jewelry over and over again. Invest in some dime-store plastic pearls and wear them 'til the cows come home and crush'em. (If your cows are crushing your pearls, learn your lesson and pick your pearls up off of the floor/barn.)

via



6) The Mrs. says: Make Marveling Merry (rando acts of kindness)

J.Mill says: I just try not to scowl at the people who play their music too loudly through headphones. Random acts of kindness might be out of reach for me. (J/K... I do nice things)

(That's not me, btw. That's a random child. Get it. Random?)
7) The Mrs. says: Capitalize on Conviviality

J.Mill says: I don't believe conviviality is a word. Woopsie daisy. It is. It means to have a good ol' time with folks. I suppose I can stand behind that. That, or invite people over and then hide in the bathroom with a 6 pack and some kebobs.

Nom nom.



Untagged photos are via pinterest.com

Ten Tips Tuesday: How NOT to Have a Heart Attack When Your Google Reader Reaches 600 Unread Posts

Read some LOLs, and then unsubscribe from blogs that are:

1)overwhelming
2)overwhelming because of having 15 contributing writers who post 10 times a day
3)overwhelming because they clip their posts in blogger and force you to go to their website and then, before you know it, you have 10 windows open with at least 3 tabs each and you can't find the screen with your work outlook email in time for the boss to look over you shoulder and you panic and leave the i Can Haz Cheeseburger site up and it make you blush and you lose your train of thought and...

4)overwhelming because they don't apply to you. So. Many. Blogs. About. Babies.
5)overwhelming because they have a stupid Tuesday post format that makes them stretch for grasping-at-straws points beyond what makes sense to fill a self-imposed quota.

*pant pant pant pant*breatheintoapaperbag*popsaidpaperbag*shriek*sigh

Seriously. Reading blogs should not make you feel like you are climbing uphill. My advice? Purge your Google Reader at home and work while at work. So weird that I don't always/ever do that...