Lyric Fire

Lyric Fire: Please Fix That Typo In Your Bio!

                 

I love writing. I love reading. Lord knows I do! I love reading all sorts of writing. Books, blogs, hard news, feature writing, social media sites, comment threads, the back of soup cans. Yes, I'm serious. I will read anything at any time. But the thing that can spoil my writing and reading experience, the very bane of my existence is the dreaded typo! We all suffer from "typoitis." It is a dreaded finger and brain disease that afflicts billions of people on a daily basis. It strikes for many different reasons. Sometimes our brains are working slower than our fingers and at others our fingers are moving faster than our brains. Sometimes the cause can be traced back to our early education. Perhaps our teachers weren't up to par. Perhaps we weren't the best students. But I think one of the biggest reasons why we are developing typoitis at an alarming rate is due to our fascination with and usage of social media. Let's delve into this. 

Before we go any further, I must admit that despite the graphic above, I do make typos. More times than I would like to admit actually. In evaluating my own typoitis condition I've noticed that I make the most typos while texting or engaging in conversations on Facebook and Twitter. Now more often than not, I always blame the technology! Oh darn this phone! The predictive text is acting up! Or dag blast Facebook! It doesn't auto-correct our writing! But if truth has to be told, I am the cause of each typo that I make. When I am in social mode, my mind runs faster. I feel obligated to return messages at a rapid rate because I feel the person I'm speaking to needs my immediate feedback. Communicating through social channels, like texting or through social sites can be akin to fast-food drive-through shopping. We don't want to wait for the response too long. We want it steaming hot and with a side of fries thank you very much! 

Communicating effectively is supposed to involve accurate and articulate language is it not? It can even be considered a bit sensual. Have you ever observed two people speaking to one another? Depending on the subject matter, they often lean in closer and touch one another to solidify a point they are making. Or when they are drawn into fits of laughter or rage, their whole bodies move, contort and engage. Hands touch, legs bump and shoulders flex. In writing, back when we weren't so inclined to move at the speed of sound, the words were more expressive, the tone was less combative and we longed to receive letters from each other. Letters were a gift to the soul. They were often written on carefully chosen stationary, sprayed with cologne or perfume (if sent to one's lover) and written with great care. But we no longer have to wait a week or more for a letter, we can receive instant gratification through texting, Twittering and the like. Now that we have removed the time constraint from language, It has been reduced from being a gourmet meal to a quickly dispensed vending machine snack. 

Don't get me wrong, snacks can be delicious, but they will never sustain us. We must regain our respect for language before it's too late! In order to do this, we must shed light on our bad habits and correct them. The following are just a few instances that I've noticed in others writing and my own that can be corrected:

• Using text-speak in everyday communcations such as e-mails and letter writing. Save the Smiley's, LOL's, ROFL's and BRB responses only for phone texting, Instant Messenging and SOME social media situations. If these acronyms start to show up too often in business, personal e-mails and more serious social media interactions, you will not be taken as seriously as you would like. You will also begin to lose reverence for language and start speaking and writing in texting shorthand more often than you should. 

 

• Sabotaging promotional efforts with lackadasical writing and editing. This can be geared toward anyone trying to promote any sort of business, but it is even more critical to those who are trying to build and publicize their writing or editing careers. I can't begin to count the number of times where I've seen a writer, publisher or editor have a social media profile or website bio filled with spelling and grammatical errors! If you are touting yourself as a writer, please take care to proofread your profiles. I have seen the following: Upcoming auther looking for editorial projects... Or, currently working on my fiction novel... Author is misspelled and a novel is a work of fiction so you don't have to say it twice! 

 

• Overusing the same words. Admittedly, this is something I have to battle. I took a fiction publishing course a few years ago and this bad habit was quickly brought to my attention! Here is an example: Susan made a wonderful dinner last night! Everyone in attendance kept saying they had a wonderful time! I can't wait to be invited to her next dinner party. I'm sure it will be just as wonderful as the last! I definitely exxagerated this instance, but you get the point. The best way to eliminate this is to read what you've written out loud in your editing process. The eye can get lazy while writing so you may not see this even if you've looked at it more than once. Reading your writing out loud can be extremely helpful! 

These are just a few ways we can get ourselves back on course when it comes to writing and editing and return to a state of grace in our communications. I welcome your comments, suggestions and additional tips on how we can best cure typoitis! 

Please leave your blog and website links in the comments section with your feedback. I am super happy to belong to such a vibrant blogging community and would like everyone to get to know each other better. Try to visit a different site or blog each week to broaden your network and also become exposed to some great writing! Cheers! 

*Also, if you notice any typos in this post, please charge it to my head and not my heart! Often when pointing out weaknesses, our own are exposed! 

Lyric Fire: Passionate Betrayal - Friday Flashback - Tamstarz's Diary

It's fun to look at some of our earlier writing isn't it? It can take us back to a time when we were feeling certain emotions and in quite different places in our lives. I wrote the following poem on September 10, 2007. I was artistically stifled, (pre-blog) and working a lot of hours. I had to steal time in the morning before work to write my novel and I didn't have much of a social life to speak of. I did have someone I was seeing casually and after having a disagreement with them, Passionate Betrayal was born. Nothing in the poem was related to the discord, but channeling my frustration through the story was very cathartic. 

It's also eerie to me now that in the story I speak of a half-sister and just last year I learned that I indeed do have a half-sister! We met for the first time in July. Was I speaking her into existence? Hmmm. Wishful thinking perhaps at that time. 

I hope that my lyrical skills have sharpened since writing this. I cringed after reading a few lines, but I'm leaving them in to keep the integrity of the post. Please pardon the coarseness, but as most of you know depending on the subject matter, I find it hard to hide in my writing. I try to burn the page each time I disgorge literally and this work is no exception.

As I look at where I am now just four years after writing this, I'm glad to note that I still work out a lot emotions through my writing, but I have more of an outlet to do so now that I have a blog. I work a lot less hours (currently looking for full-time work) and what I lack in steady employment, I more than make up for in creative time which has helped me connect to some amazing bloggers and other artists and produce some writing that I'm really proud of. I'm still as passionate about my craft now as I was then. I hope in another four years I will be looking back on this post as a published author and established screenwriter. In my minds eye I imagine myself heading to a book signing or a TED event as a speaker. Today I flashed back so it's only fitting that I flash forward, right?   

CHALLENGE: Select a past poem, short story, essay or blog post from a few years back and reflect on what you were feeling. If you had to write the same piece today, how would it be different? How have you changed since then? Are you happy with the changes? If not, what do you plan to do about it? 

 

Passionate Betrayal

my passion is endless

from sun up to sun down

my mind charts a path of

sensual delights to revel in

 

i almost can't remember

how you smell or feel because you are

so far away from me

in the federal state pen

 

i know,  i know

a girl as smart as me

should have ran in the opposite direction

when I learned of your various crimes

but I was drawn to you

the way you move, the slight tilt of your jaw

and most importantly your erection

 

there would be no deflection when you

undressed me that day with your eyes

flipped me over and gave me your juicy surprise

 

all the while I was preparing to walk across

the stage to get my prize

a piece of paper that

would be my ticket to ride

while you were snatching and grabbing anything

you could find

 

you came home smelling of secret deals and sweaty gun fights

while I drew your bath and adorned us in candlelight

a little fantasy will wipe away reality i told myself

as you attempted to hide your street wounds and battle bruises

 

i can't help the way the danger made me feel

alive, riveted, plugged in and turned out

you made me forget the struggles of my journey

trying to be the good girl while others made all the money

 

with you i could be both,

the smart sassy sister by day

and the bling wearing cristal drinking

ghetto socialite by night

 

you brought out my dark side

my goodness subsided

as i lived your truth

you drained my youth

and my love canal too

after you were done I had no juice,

you licked me dry

with your tongue, your lips and your sweet talk

so much so that I almost forgot my plan

 

my job was easy they said

just get him into bed you know

do that thing you do

you know you got that bomb killer cum inducing head

 

that very first night that we lay down together

when you stretched me out hitting every spot

working me in slow motion until I spit out your love potion

 

i loathed every inch of that

sweet fat ass dick

you fed me

so generously

but i had to do it baby cuz u see

 

well that was my half-sister you led down the alley that night

as she started to take flight and soar

up on angel wings

her voice resonated in my dream as her soul started to sing

 

it's last song and in that bittersweet refrain

she told me your name and what you did to her

and how she came to lose her soul that day

she begged me in a chorus to avenge her death

and make you pay

 

so I obliged

while you were filling me up with all of your cum

and telling me secrets you rendered yourself dumb

 

i took it all in and pretended to be your lover and friend

when all the while I was doing you in

 

i wish I could say I hated you more with each passing day

but as a true archer you know I can't LIE

with every hip thrust, deep soul kiss, explicit verbal exchange

and ear-splitting orgasm I learned what my sister must have known so well

never trust a 12 inch dick, bulging biceped motherfucker with a sideways story to tell

all it will get you is a broken heart, a pussy that swells and a cold and lonely ass jail cell

 

yes, I'm locked down too boo

i couldn't let them do my dirty work for me

i set it up and did it all just to turn state's evidence on you

 

i had a good teacher you see  

i studied your every move and watched you intensely

 

i'll serve my time that's for sure

and i'll be waiting on you when you're done with yours

time doth heal all wounds

and I'm looking forward to fucking you again real soon

don't worry my sister will forgive me

she knows how irresistible good dick can be

Lyric Fire: It's All In The Comments, Or Not! - Part 2

A few posts ago I talked about my love of feedback and comments in blogging, but this time I want to focus on submitting meaningful comments and how to handle not receiving as many comments as you'd like on your blog posts. 

Whether you belong to a blogging community or several or none, there are countless numbers of blogs out there. Some will appeal to you because the subject matter is of interest or features information on a topic that you want to learn more about. Once you have a list of blogs that you regularly follow, it may become a chore just to keep up with them all. 

An easy way to stay connected is to follow bloggers on Facebook or Twitter so you can always be notified when they have new posts. Google Reader is also helpful, in that all of the blogs you follow are listed in one place and you can access them rather easily. You must follow the blogs through Google Connect though in order for them to be present in Google Reader. 

Another way to keep up with your favorite bloggers is to set up a block of time whether it's 15 minutes or an hour to do nothing but read blogs. I love to do this on Sunday mornings if I can, because it's the day that I'm most reflective. I find that people who post on Sunday usually have something inspirational to say and that helps me as I face my day. I can also then visit some of their other blog posts I may have missed during the week. 

When you comment on blogs you are really having a conversation. Read the other responses. If someone talks about something that sparks your thought process, refer to them in your comment as well. Sharing like this is a good way to network. That person could have a blog or website that you might be interested in. Scroll over the names of people who comment. Sometimes their blogs or websites will pop up. You can also click on their names and most likely be taken to their sites. 

Be mindful and respectful of the blogger's space that you're commenting on. If you don't agree with their point of view, say so in a way that can add to the conversation instead of just being negative. Ask for clarification if you don't understand something.

Also, bloggers can be very sensitive and intuitive beings. They can tell if you didn't read their post and just want to promote your own blog. If you don't have time to read the post, wait until you do and then comment. It's almost worse when you get a comment that has nothing to do with your post or illustrates that the person didn't read your work, than not getting a comment at all! Most importantly, when you do receive comments on your blog, RESPOND! People feel valued when they are acknowledged. They will return to your blog if you make them feel welcome. Ignore them and they will ignore you! 

Now, we all have those blogger friends that always seem to have scores and scores of comments on their blogs. Sometimes it can be disheartening to see a post have over 100 comments and then you go back to your blog and your average number of comments is four or five. There are many factors that can explain the discrepancy. The other bloggers may have had their blogs up longer and have had more time to build a following. Your posts may have been missed as no one is online all day. We do have to go to work and attend to our offline lives. Don't get discouraged! Remember that we blog not to get comments, but for the sheer pleasure of writing! It is amazing when we get a lot of comments, but the most important thing is to keep honing your craft and getting better. 

Sometimes people who read our blogs may not be commenting at all! I have a close friend who told me that she reads a lot of my posts. I was so shocked being that she never commented. But she just isn't into commenting. We had a lovely conversation about some of what I wrote about and it was evident that she was a regular reader! How about that! So it's best not to assume that since you didn't get 80 comments that no one reads your blog. It's not true! 

So keep writing and promoting your blog! Join as many blogging communities as you can through many of the social media sites. Go to networking events and give out business cards with your blog link. Visit and comment on the blogs that you are interested in and leave your blog link. 

SHARE YOUR SUCCESSES! - If you receive a lot of comments and are a whiz at getting new followers for your blog and want to share your best practices, please leave them in the comment section! What is the best comment you ever received on your blog?

Lyric Fire: It's All In The Comments... Part I

What's the best part of blogging for you? Is it the spark you get when you come up with a killer idea for a post? Does formatting and selecting photos soothe your soul? Or do you get giddy when you receive notifications from your CMS letting you know you have a million comments in your in-box?

If you're a true blogger, a combination of the above should make your heart vibrate. Who really wants to admit they are totally and SOLELY addicted to feedback? Hmmm. Well, you can if you want to. You're safe here! 

I absolutely LOVE getting comments. I enjoy when my readers ask me questions or let me know that something I wrote touched them. Even if the comment is one where someone is disagreeing with me, I still get pleasure from it. Why? 

CONNECTION...

When we share our opinions with each other a bond begins. There is nothing more beautiful than brain cells merging and melting into one another. Knowing that I wrote something of value that traveled thousands of miles across wires, water, land and sea to get to you the reader makes me almost orgasmic. Sorry, but it's true! 

So to pay homage to you for taking the time to visit me here and drop your love on me, I have selected some of the comments that have touched me the most and featured them below. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS! - You're welcome here anytime! Please come again! 

______________________________________________________________________________

"You are one beautiful soul Tameka :) I just love the way you shared your sister with us. I felt the love there beyond words." - Melissa T.

"Sister stories make me cry. I am never going to be over losing my sister. Cherish those moments...every single one of them because some of us would trade years of our lives to have those moments back. Thank you for sharing a beautiful story and sentiment." - For Jen's Sake

"See, if someone told me this was about food before I read it, I would have missed out on a stellar piece of writing. If not for the pictures (lickable, I say!) I would have hardly noticed this was about food. Playful, sleek and really well pet together. Every line is crafted tight and I love the way the it builds to release in the end, Tameka. I am always amazed by the messages beneath the surfaces." - Ioannis P.

"Great start. Buona fortuna and all good things will come in time." - Lisa F.

"Hello there : ) 
Why is it that men and women (society generally) still prejudge people with tats. Women especially? I'm a 26 year old F, have 11 tattoos, lots of which can't be noticed on my daily travels. 5 To 6 during the warm months are pretty much constantly on display. I do not aim for attention and I have a loving boyfriend WITH NO TATTOOS. I get the impression that numerous people think that tattooed people are blind, as we get stared at, even if we return a glance many people keep on staring. When will society change?" - Anonymous

"As we move deeper into the instant-gratification generation of the online, instant-messaging, no-time to talk, too-busy-chatting world of information communication, it is inevitable that our mindsets become assimilated by the popular trends and language of the shared medium. In other words, our speech is going to continue to devolve unless we take a stand and encourage others not to lose sight of our basic fundamentals of reading, writing, and the other thing. Incidentally, I've only recently acquired a cell phone for the first time and I've done little more than send random messages and voice-mails to friends at weird hours of the night. Other than that, it makes for a really fancy watch." - Louminator

"Happy blogbirthday!" - Beth M.

"Sunday Solace...I hear a song in there somewhere. Beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this list and the joyous thoughts and feelings that came to mind as a result. Gorgeous photo BTW.
Michael Franks! I LOVE that song!!!" - Margo D. 

"I love this! Absoloutely love this! Sometimes I feel that way about new things in my life. For me its not really about cereal, juice or soap. It's about acceptance and things we don't like to change. It's also about things we hold on to because we don't want things to be different or we just feel as if they should be there (ex. People). Sometimes we keep people on "the shelf" because we know they aren't quite enough but what if we need them? What if we look up and no one else is there? Just like that bar of soap, we will have them around when all else fails when we know that they can/will never be enough. Good Post!" - Jasmine

"DAMN I am going to go take a cold shower.. Very sensual and very good :)" - Jim B!

"I know how hard it is to keep up the poetry challenge, but I congratulate you on getting this far. I enjoyed your work. As for your shoulders, brush them off and relax them. I hope you feel better soon!" - Sweepy Jean

 

My Blog Lyric Fire: Friday's Favorite Word Feast

On this sunny Friday afternoon I have so much on my mind, and even more things to accomplish and do, but I'm finding it very hard to concentrate.  

So because my attention span is at negative zero, I thought why not blog about words? In the news these days some very warped words have been repeated over and over again because they were spouted from the mouth of a troubled actor who once was a great talent. I won't mention his name because by now we've seen and heard it quite enough. 

I do find it amazing how drawn we are to certain words no matter what the circumstance or context. So each Friday I will list one of my favorite words and invite you readers to do the same. Feel free to list a word you use a lot and love and share why.

Here goes!

One of my favorite words is:

SPICY!

I love this word because it describes some parts of my personality and it makes me think about tasty food. I love excitement in all aspects of my life and anything spicy is welcome in my world. You will often hear me say, "Hmm you're really spicy today." That could mean you're in high spirits or quite cranky. But whatever it is you are, you're most certainly not BORING!

What's one of your favorite words? Tell us why. Join the Friday Favorite Word Feast!  Word up! ;-) 

 

My Blog Lyric Fire: Book Binge: "Peace from Broken Pieces: How to Get Through What You're Going Through" by Iyanla Vanzant

Making personal and professional decisions are not always easy. I can think of quite a few that had my head spinning: Do I stay in my hometown or move to a new city to pursue my goals and dreams? Should I leave a "stable" but unsatisfying job and take on a freelance gig that promises more money and creative opportunity? Can I make this relationship work or should I move on to someone new? Sometimes I find myself still questioning my decisions, even though I know I made the best choices I could make at the time with what I was equipped with mentally and emotionally. 

Imagine that you're Iyanla Vanzant. Successful author, relationship guide and guru and besties with none other than Oprah Winfrey. Okay, maybe not besties, because we all know Gayle King holds that title, but she likes and respects you enough to not only give you face time, but talk time on her show at the beginning of your career. She also lets you take the stage while she sits in the audience. Then an opportunity comes up with another big name in television, Barbara Walters, who wants to give you your own show. Oprah does too, but feels you need to wait and grow more. Which choice would you make? Stay with Oprah and wait a while before you get to take the TV reins, or go with Barbara where you can hit the ground running NOW? 

Iyanla was forced to make that difficult decision which had a great impact on her life, career and relationship with Oprah. She writes about this painful period in her new book entitled, "Peace from Broken Pieces: How to Get Through What You're Going Through", which is my Book Binge selection this week. 

Being a fan of Iyanla's I can't wait to read this book. I didn't know much about what happened between Vanzant and Oprah, but I did wonder why she hadn't been on television in a while. The book also covers her personal triumphs and tragedies during the last ten years and how she was able to endure and continue to flourish. 

The following is an interview which aired on Feb 16th where Iyanla and Oprah clear the air about what really happened between them. It is riveting television that will make you laugh, cry and also think back on some of the decisions you've made. It is a teaching and learning moment. Stay tuned next week as the two media queens conclude their conversation on Feb 23rd. I will post the clip along with my personal thoughts. 

Also, visit Oprah's website for behind the scenes information on the interview and exclusives from Iyanla Vanzant. 

PERSONAL CHALLENGE: Think back on a difficult decision you had to make. With the benefit of time, would you make the same choices? Why or why not? What were your life lessons? Please share! 

 

My Blog Lyric Fire: What's Your Narrative?

Writers are always searching for new ideas and inspiration and most times they find things to spark their creativity in publications about writing. 

I've been looking for a new literary resource for a while and I recently found one that according to their website, is dedicated to advancing literary arts in the digital age. Founded in 2003, Narrative Magazine is primarily a digital publication (available on the web, Kindle, iPod and iPad), but can also be found in libraries or purchased via their online store in hard copy. 

The magazine features fiction, non-fiction, poetry, topical interviews, book reviews and information about various writing contests. 

More than just a magazine, Narrative is a non-profit organization that promotes the importance of reading. With so many other distractions reading has become a lost art. Unfortunately cable television, video games and social networking have taken the place of reading a book or a magazine. According to Narrative, more than half of Americans between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four no longer read for pleasure, and less than one-third of thirteen-year-olds are daily readers of any book at all.

I'm planning on jumping onto the Narrative website each week to stay on top of the literary scene. I just might download the app on my Kindle as well. 

CHALLENGE: Try to incorporate a few additional hours of reading into YOUR daily schedule. You may find something that could inspire greatness in you! 

Keep up with all things Narrative by "liking" their Facebook page.