Category: writing

So You Want To Be A Writer

So You Want To Be A Writer

by MichelleMcHatton

Yes, despite the cynicism of this poem, I still certainly DO want to be a writer!

So You Want to Be a Writer
By Charles Bukowski

if it doesn’t come bursting out of you
in spite of everything,
don’t do it.
unless it comes unasked out of your
heart and your mind and your mouth
and your gut,
don’t do it.
if you have to sit for hours
staring at your computer screen
or hunched over your
typewriter
searching for words,
don’t do it.
if you’re doing it for money or
fame,
don’t do it.
if you’re doing it because you want
women in your bed,
don’t do it.
if you have to sit there and
rewrite it again and again,
don’t do it.
if it’s hard work just thinking about doing it,
don’t do it.
if you’re trying to write like somebody
else,
forget about it.
if you have to wait for it to roar out of
you,
then wait patiently.
if it never does roar out of you,
do something else.

if you first have to read it to your wife
or your girlfriend or your boyfriend
or your parents or to anybody at all,
you’re not ready.

don’t be like so many writers,
don’t be like so many thousands of
people who call themselves writers,
don’t be dull and boring and
pretentious, don’t be consumed with self-
love.
the libraries of the world have
yawned themselves to
sleep
over your kind.
don’t add to that.
don’t do it.
unless it comes out of
your soul like a rocket,
unless being still would
drive you to madness or
suicide or murder,
don’t do it.
unless the sun inside you is
burning your gut,
don’t do it.

when it is truly time,
and if you have been chosen,
it will do it by
itself and it will keep on doing it
until you die or it dies in you.

there is no other way.

and there never was.

“The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create.”—President Barack Obama

“The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create.”—President Barack Obama

by MichelleMcHatton

Today the graduates of Worcester Technical High School will experience something not everyone will get to experience in their lives:  a commencement speech made by the President of the United States made at their graduation.

Principal Sheila Harrity took over Worcester Tech in 2006, taking it from one of the lowest-performing institutions in the state to becoming a Blue Ribbon School in 2013.  Ms. Harrity is also recognized as National High School Principal of the Year and was honored by the president at the National Teachers of the Year event at the White House on May 1.

When the White House contacted Harrity about having President Obama speak at the commencement, she was in tears.  Then she held an assembly to notify the students of the event.  Since then the school has been all a buzz with the pending arrival.

President Obama has a strong initiative in wanting to reform education in America, to make it better, more accessible and more affordable for everyone.

As Obama has stated:  “We have an obligation and a responsibility to be investing in our students and our schools. We must make sure that people who have the grades, the desire and the will, but not the money, can still get the best education possible.”

That is what Principal Sheila Harrity has succeeded in doing at Worcester Tech.

 

One girl’s courage

One girl’s courage

by MichelleMcHatton

Imagine waking every day as a female knowing that your love of reading, math, science, learning…just wanting an education, could get you killed.

I’m grateful for young women like Malala and Kainat who have the courage to stand up for what they believe in.  No girl should have to risk her life because of the desire to learn.

I couldn’t fathom not being able to read a book, attend a seminar or get an education because I’m a female.  Knowing I can do this makes me very proud to be an American.

Other than the Taliban’s warped thinking that females should not be educated, their reasoning for shooting these girls is unclear.  However, I think I may have the answer:  fear.  The Taliban are so fearful that these females will achieve something substantial in their lives, something the Taliban will never do.  Because the Taliban are nothing but a bunch of cowards.  These females will continue on with their educations, and with what they learn, they will outsmart the evilness of the Taliban and make the world a better place.  Not just for females but for everyone.

 

The Longest Way Home

The Longest Way Home

by MichelleMcHatton

I’ve started reading Andrew McCarthy’s book “The Longest Way Home:   One Man’s Quest for the Courage to Settle Down.”.  I haven’t gotten too far into it yet (okay, I’ve only read the dust jacket), but if it’s as well written as some of the travel articles he’s written, I’m sure I’m in for a real treat.

In comment to McCarthy’s statement about Americans being afraid to travel, I have to ask “why shouldn’t we be”?  One minute you’re on a plane flying from Boston to wherever and end up crashed in a skyscraper in Manhattan.  You can hop a train in Switzerland during your vacation and become a bombing victim.

Don’t get me wrong.  Traveling is a great thing.  I love to do it myself.  But it’s become a much higher risk for people today than even 20 years ago.  The world is a much scarier place today than it was back in 1992.  It’s enough taking a risk traveling to work every day, not much to a far off destination somewhere halfway around the world.

Aside from fear, another reason so many Americans, and people in general, may not travel so much anymore is financial.  When the airlines are charging $100.00 a bag, what average American family can afford to fly to Orlando?  With gas prices the way they are, driving there isn’t much cheaper.  And forget international travel.  It’s costly enough to travel within the United States; what average American traveler can afford to fly OUTSIDE the U.S.?

No wonder so many people are opting for “staycations” these days.  Besides, it’s a great way to relax and enjoy reading “The Longest Way Home” and dream of your ideal travel destination.

Wild about “Wild Boy”

Wild about “Wild Boy”

by MichelleMcHatton

I hate to use this blog as a place to post my reviews of books, movies or music I’ve enjoyed or hated, but I felt after I finished this one particular read, it deserved some attention here.  Maybe this will be the start of an on-going thing.  Who knows?

The book I’m referring to is “Wild Boy” by Andy Taylor.  For those of you who are thinking “the sherrif from Mayberry wrote a book?  ‘Wild Boy’?  Was that about Barney?”, the answer is no.  This Andy Taylor is/was the guitarist for the phenonemal 80’s pop group Duran Duran.  If you are reading this and are/were a DD fan, I need not explain any further.  You may have already read the book yourself.  If you were not a DD fan, read on.

At one time in my life (say around 14, 15, 16) I was the ultimate Duran Duran junkie.  I slept, ate and breathed Duran Duran.  I will not go into the crazy details here.  They will make your head spin.  When I think about some of my crazy antics (none of which had to actually do with the band, mind you), I shake my head.  But reading this book really took me down memory lane.  And it also opened my eyes to what I would never have guessed (or dared to have thought) about the five guys I so admired.

First of all, I was highly impressed with Andy’s writing.  He comes off being very well schooled and quite intelligent.  Trust me.  I’ve read books by other rock stars (written by the rock star themself) and it was not as well written as this book.  Very well done.

Andy’s story takes us from Duran Duran’s beginnings, their ups and downs, highs (literally) and lows, illnesses (his own and his wife’s) to the end when Andy said “enough–let me off this crazy roller coaster”.  In reading all the tales, I find it hard to believe John Taylor is still alive today.  Out of all the members, I never thought he would’ve been the worst as far as drug problems went.  I always thought it would’ve been Simon.  Just goes to show you how much of a “real” fan I was, huh? haha.

I know Andy’s story is just his side of it.  It’s from his view.  I’m sure if the other four members wrote their own tales, some of what Andy wrote about would come out differently.  For instance, maybe Nick would be pointing the finger at Andy for bringing up problems with the lyrics instead of Andy pointing the finger at Nick for doing that.  Andy referred to Nick as the “Lyric Police” for his nitpicking Simon’s lyrics.  I’ll admit some of Simon’s lyrics are quite odd.  I’m still trying to figure out what a “lizard mixture” is and what the hell is “The Reflex” anyway?

The conclusion of the book at least clarified in my mind what I had originally thought back in 2005 when they were touring again:  they needed the cash.  I was right about that one.  Yet Andy and Roger were only going to be seeing a portion of the profits due to the fact that they had not worked with the band during the 90’s.  So I guess by this time Duran Duran really were not Duran Duran any longer.  They were just five individuals who needed some money and the only way they could get it was to go on tour again.

If they’re all still alive twenty years from now and need the cash, maybe they’ll tour for their 40th anniversary.  They’ll all be pushing 70.  Hey, if the Stones can do it, why not Duran Duran?

Still, this was a very entertaining read.  As a Duran Duran fan, I also followed them during their solo ventures and this book led me to drag out Andy’s solo album.  I forgot how much I used to love listening to “Thunder”.  It’s too bad he didn’t really reflect much on his solo career in the book.  I thought it was pretty good music.

I’m sure we won’t be hearing Andy any time soon on a new Duran Duran CD (unless they can talk him into that 40th anniversary tour); but I hope he does do his own thing musically and continues to do what he loves most.