Stones, birds and killing them
Monday, January 24, 2011 Help me fellow blogger... you're my only hope.
Some of you may know that I'm going to be speaking at Blissdom in a few days. This is not unlike me, 28 years ago, saying "some of you may know, I have a book report due in a few days." Because tonight is when I crack open the book, read as fast as I can and hope that some semblance of coherence comes out of my mouth later on. Also, since speaking at a blog conference kind of requires one to have a blog, I have to dig this old thing up and post on it.
So, bird #1. Killed.
For bird #2? I'd like to use one of my lifelines: blog a friend.
My presentation is titled: Innovative Writing Techniques: How to Keep Your Audience Breathless
Funny story behind this. See, I'm a lazy home writer. A large part of my day job involves writing, as in proper intro paragraphs, good grammar, sentence transitions, punctuation, and all these other elements that communicate an idea as coherent narrative. This means that when I write for pleasure, the last thing I want to do is use any of that. Instead, I do lazy things like make videos, impersonate the Food Network, sing duets, dance, write fake newspaper articles, make more videos, do mad libs, write some Haikus, eat dog food (and put it on video), make lists, photoshop LEGO scenes, etc. All in an effort to avoid paragraphs. And I say it's worked out pretty well so far.
Until someone thought it was innovative.
Now I have to stand there in front of hundreds, dozens, tens, some people and talk about it. Is this what they call a public calling out? Luckily, I have some real pros helping me with this (Amy Turn Sharp and Leslie Flinger). But I still need to drag some others down with me. My powerpoint skills only go so far.
Here's where you come in: I would like to highlight as many "innovative" blog posts as I can during my presentation. Have you ever written a post that conveys an idea or story in an unorthodox way? Something that wasn't neatly wrapped up in an intro paragraph, 2 body paragraphs and a conclusion?
If so, leave me a link to it in the comments below. I may use it in my presentation at Blissdom. You scratch my back, I get Blissdom attendees to marvel at how creatively lazy you are.
I can see the birds falling out of the sk...
Too soon? Yeeeah, sorry.
Reader Comments (19)
I don't think I have many posts that would qualify, because I'm kind of fond of the whole grammar, punctuation, paragraph structure thing. :-)
But this one came to mind because it relied on pictures that I'd essentially scribbled on in a very amateur attempt to use photo editing programs: http://onepingonly.blogspot.com/2010/01/we-have-winner.html
Have fun at Blissdom; I'm sure you'll knock 'em dead no matter what you talk about.
Backpacking Dad Recommends The Universal Everytool.
http://backpackingdad.com/2009/11/backpacking-dad-recommends-the-universal-everytool/
I have a hard time doing straightforward reviews since that one. I always want to start from the reviewer-doesn't-understand-the-product voice and go from there.
Perhaps I'm too busy being absorbed in my not-going-to-be-at-blissdom pout to focus on actually offering well thought out assistance here, but dude, as far as I can tell you're already golden... you've got Amy. For real.
You'll rock it, like you always rock it. Rock on!
A video of this speaking engagement wouldn't hurt though, you know, for
comedyposterity.Why, I believe i have just the thing: http://www.beingmichaelsdaddy.com/2008/10/05/a-journey-into-michaels-mind/
This would have been an ordinary "kid gets into trouble and dad gets mad" kind of post, were it not written from a different perspective.
Innovative? Not really. Lazy? Absolutely!
I went all Suessian when I busted my blog once:
http://www.realmendriveminivans.com/nlog-blog/
And this is how I announced we were having a girl:
http://www.realmendriveminivans.com/application-approved/
http://loadedmashedpotatoes.blogspot.com/2011/01/underwater-mystery-theatre-3000.html
I normally have a running story through the thing (as well as actual bloggy stuff) But this time, instead of making an actual story telling effort, I used pictures of paper cutouts that I made to tell the story of "Underwater Mystery Theatre 3000!"
So, when you said, "Epic" you were talking about your procrastination skills? Awesome.
Um...I got nothing. Unless you count my run-on sentences.
http://momo-fali.blogspot.com/search/label/Question%20of%20the%20Day
Squirrel photos and a haiku, it's my go to.
http://www.raisingcolorado.com/2010/10/its-about-to-get-rowdy-with-a-haiku.html
I am pretty sure that any thing of mine would freak all the ladies out with the language.
Cause Americans don't under stand my accent.
;)
Good luck dude, you will rock it.
Posting artwork that you didn't even draw is always an easy one:
http://permissiontoperuse.com/index.php/2010/12/07/art-imitates-life-or-something-like-that/
Talking about iphone apps with screenshots is fun
http://permissiontoperuse.com/index.php/2010/11/10/wordless-wednesday-words-that-wwf-wouldnt-let-me-play/
Recipes have got to be the easiest
http://permissiontoperuse.com/index.php/2010/11/05/italian-walnut-salad/
Posting pictures of celebs work for a lot of folks :)
http://permissiontoperuse.com/index.php/2010/08/30/emmy-2010-wrap-up/
Sharing favorites through a collage picture
http://permissiontoperuse.com/index.php/2010/08/17/give-a-hoot-2/
OK, I'm just trying to help a brotha out. Good luck...wish I was going to be there to hear it and hug your neck.
Well, if you want to seem really innovative, try using Prezi to make your presentation rather than Powerpoint. That way, your actual writing can be 'meh' but your presentation can be amazing.
Although you know I love me some paragraphs, I try to think outside the box sometimes. Parodies are always good. As in, rip off someone else's brilliance but change a few words, right? (e.g. If you give a Preschooler an Inch)
Or photo essays.
Or original poetry. (you can thank me later for not posting any of that, since I haven't written any since high school, and it was very very bad.)
This should be fun!
For some reason my href link didn't work. So, here's my ripoff of the great book If you Give a Pig a Pancake, in super-ugly, not hyper linked anything: http://www.mommysmartini.com/2009/10/if-you-give-preschooler-inch.html
I suggest a pump action fast repeater bb gun. You will kill more birds that way
If you can't be innovative, post a naked photo on your blog, I say. I mean, my blog. I mean, not a naked photo of YOU. Uh... moving on.
Nail it, dude.
Hi BD, I'm pretty sure you'll do great. I have nothing for you but I wish you all the best.
There's the ever popular "Ten on Tuesday" where you link to ten other links. Not much work in that: http://www.growingkidsministry.com/parents/top-ten-on-tuesday-parenting-resources/
Or, there's the "We had a great party, check out the video": http://www.growingkidsministry.com/resources/media/videos/pumpkin-and-pajama-party/
I've also posted our annual Christmas letter, a puppet script, stuff like that. :)
I echo everyone else though -- you're going to do great!
I'm too late to help, and I couldn't have helped anyway. Hope the presentation went great. I'm sure it did.
Did you take advantage of your time in Nashville to really live it up Redneck style?
How did Blissdom go??