Writing Well

I love writing. Choosing the perfect word and placing it in the perfect place is difficult and stressful, but if you can conquer the sentence, it can make a reader think, visualize, and understand. Writing is building, really, almost like a mason or a carpenter.

Only that which is well-built will last.

This morning a Marine asked me to revise an essay for his college writing class. After we were through, I thought to myself, 'wow, you are the worst person to ask for revision.' Instead of a few red pen scratch marks, I gave him an hour-long regurgitation of what I've learned to work for me. I know it was more than he bargained for. But those lessons made my mind ignite. So with my mind still firing, I'm capturing my own tips:


1) Use An Active Voice. The subject of each sentence should do the doing, not have the doing done to them. I ate the apple. Not this apple was eaten by Tom.

2) Vary Sentence Length. Run-on's suck, but so do sentences that are exactly the same length. The reader loses interest. He or she stops paying attention.

3) Use The Least Amount Of Words Possible Of Convey The Most Information. A writer can imply more by saying less. It makes the reader have to think more.

4) Describe, Don't Classify. The apple was good. That's classifying the apple as good. Instead, the apple was sweet, and the skin stuck between my teeth. The reader identifies with the sweetness, and the sweetness can be classified by the reader. And the reader can perceive him/herself picking at those apple remnants with a toothpick.


The depressing part about my regurgitation, was that when I went back to give an example of good writing, I came up short. A lot of my old posts are heinous. (That's classifying) Blogging certainly doesn't promote revision.

Finally, no post would be complete lately without a riding clip. This time the clip is short, and captures my day off Wednesday...

Learning Skill

WR-426 on MX Course
Originally uploaded by tommykline

I really like learning new things. And learning them well. So lately I've been concentrating on learning to ride in the dirt. Your body has to know what to do, kind of like playing an instrument. But unlike playing music, riding off-road can break both of your legs. So I have been researching and implementing, bit by bit. The reward is in feeling it go 'right' one time.

That feeling makes you want to try more.

There is a comfort zone one has to get one's self out of to learn or improve, but there's a skill-zone that if one passes, hospital bills ensue.

I came home Friday with a better feel for sliding into and accelerating out of turns, no injuries, and a big appetite to learn more.

Windstruck Ernie, and Clean Cars

Windstruck Ernie, and Clean Cars
Originally uploaded by tommykline

This is a quick photo of Ernie in a baby swing. He's inside my local carwash, and we have breakfast every Friday. Before returning to Indiana, I'd handwash my vehicles every Friday after work. But
here there's a Carwash Company that is remarkable, and much easier. This isn't a plug for them.
I love a clean car. It feels new, it feels like I'm doing 'good.' Clean cars make me excited for the weekend. I guess I'm a little like 'Monk', obsessive, but when my ol' bucket' is dirty, I start
to think 'new.' And we've all felt the buyer's remorse of that.
So for now, here's to sipping my coffee with Ernie.

A Year

One year ago today, Alison found peace. I walked by her side through each and every day of her struggle. I was there for every tear... I was there for every laugh. Together we found a strength that got us through. My love has never faultered. Neither has my faith. My physical strength gave way long before my will did. On that fateful day, I held her in my arms as long as I could. I feel terrible for not holding her longer. But I think it's right that she went when we looked away.

I am writing this from Center Cemetery; it's beautiful here.

New Message
Originally uploaded by tommykline

The sun is shining through the muggy air. The corn almost hides the church completely, just like it did last year. It's here that I know that truly, I will never move on. The loss is felt now as it was felt one year ago, as it will be felt in 50 more. But I have to heal. No pain this deep could ever be sustained in one heart.

With all of her spirit and grace, I have to show as much now.

Dirt Road Whoops

Dirt Road Whoops
Originally uploaded by tommykline

One of thosse new hobbies. I have been having a great time learning to ride in the dirt. A few weeks ago I even participated in an Enduro Race in Matthews, Indiana. It was a ton of fun.

Books Call Out

I've been thinking about returning for some time now. Writing is a difficult endeavor, especially if you're not well-practiced. So each time I've attempted, I've fallen short. But tonight a few books called out to help me while I was at Barnes and Noble. Have you ever noticed how you'll gravitate toward one book amongst thousands? Call it bookstore-karma. Put yourself in the right frame of mind, and the perfect book will present itself to you.
Tonight two books stood out: "The are of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein and "Love is a Mixed Tape" by Rob Sheffield. I sat down, and found why Stein's book was appropriate. It's written in the perspective of a dog, and seems to be about the bond between a dog and his/her owner. Kai is my new dog. Sheffield's book was a more direct correlation: after 7 years of being with his wife, she died. I was with Ali from 2001-2008. Initially I thought 'Why can't I escape this theme?' And then I answered myself, 'Because it probably holds something for you.'
So I cut to the chase: page 213. If you're in a bookstore in the near future, you can read the second paragraph in lieu of me trying to get my own words out there; he spoke them for me.
To both the author and my own revelation, life after loss is not a second-rate life. The radiance is still there. It's no copy.
I've found new hobbies, new avenues for happiness, new direction, and even new love. I've found life before and life after impossible to compare, and in that impossibility, there is no competition. It's simply different.
It's my intention to keep writing. Not because people are reading, but because I need to write. And the story is not complete.