As is evident by the mere existence of this blog, I have delusions of writing grandeur. Some people fantasize about being a movie star or living like a king; I fantasize about book interviews. Hey, it could happen!
I recently found a toy to add to my dream state. It is called "I WRITE LIKE". You submit some text, click the analyze button and viola you now know whose writing style you follow. Could not be easier. I pick out a few pieces and cross my fingers that my work will resemble the greatest, significant writers the world has ever known. I don't want a David Sedaris (sorry sir) but I would love a David Eggers. Dare I dream of real classics - Mary Shelly, John Updike, Jack London, Ernest Hemingway, Shakespeare. Hey again it could happen!
I submitted two flash fiction stories to be analyzed. These are the writing samples I am most proud of and encouraged by. One fiction claimed I write like Raymond Chandler. Really? He is one of the greatest detective novelist but I can't really see it. Next...Douglas Adams. Who the hell is that? Fortunately the marketing geniuses at Amazon allow me to immediately click to all of my fellow writer's books for ease of purchase. Dougie boy is the author of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I thought this book was ridiculous and the movie competes with Lord of the Rings for my longest and most painful cinematic experience. I am in trouble.
New approach, I will submit some blog entries. Now we have something and I am feeling a little better as David Foster Wallace pops up. Granted I have never read one of his books but coincidentally Infinite Jest is on my TO READ NEXT list. All three blog samples resulted in David Foster Wallace. So this must really work right? It is consistent. Now I have to read him.
I should have stopped there, but now I had to press my luck. One more blog entry. Just when I was starting to buy it, I was analyzed with Margaret Atwood. I read many of her books and love her. The problem is the blog I submitted is NOTHING like her, I am sorry to say.
Either way, I am loving this. This little exercise took about 2 hours of my time and will be a regular game for me. What a brilliant concept. It grabs you, so return visits to the site are guaranteed. The site is getting a targeted audience so advertisers should be thrilled. Amazon immediately allows you to purchase a book by your alter ego writer. Try it - you will be hooked.
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Monday, July 19, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Library Enthusiasts in Kenmore
I promised my son I would pick up two specific books at the Kenmore library today. He had researched what he wanted on line, found the books were at this specific location and gave me the library hours. I thought that was significant enough to have me run this brief errand, plus I have a secret love of visiting libraries (bizarre huh?).
I had never been to the Kenmore location so I pull into the parking lot at 9:59 (it opens at 10 am) and there are no parking spots available. Glancing toward the entrance I see a line of at least 40 people. Holy cow, I didn't know Kenmore had such library enthusiasts! So from the time I parked my car and walked into the place, I keep thinking how amazing this was. What was this location doing to gather a line outside? Does Kenmore have a statistically brighter population? Seriously I was pleasantly dumbfounded. In the 5 minutes it took me to get to the door, I had already planned out a strategy for speaking with Kenmore politicians to see what they were doing right.
The dream ended when I walked through the entrance doors. The library is located upstairs so why is the line downstairs ? I go upstairs and there are a few, maybe 4 people in this beautiful space. So what's with the line downstairs? According to the librarian, free tax help was offered downstairs and that was what drew the crowd. When I told her my earlier thoughts, she laughed with a kind of regret. Guess they don't grow them brighter in Kenmore, just fiscally more confused.
Anyway, the librarian was helpful. I found the books and will visit again. I am becoming such a fan of libraries. In the past year, I have taken out books for my book club, I have taken my father in law on a field trip and I have hung out with coffee. The only problem is I really despise reading books that have obviously been read before by someone who insisted on eating while reading. Totally gross.
I had never been to the Kenmore location so I pull into the parking lot at 9:59 (it opens at 10 am) and there are no parking spots available. Glancing toward the entrance I see a line of at least 40 people. Holy cow, I didn't know Kenmore had such library enthusiasts! So from the time I parked my car and walked into the place, I keep thinking how amazing this was. What was this location doing to gather a line outside? Does Kenmore have a statistically brighter population? Seriously I was pleasantly dumbfounded. In the 5 minutes it took me to get to the door, I had already planned out a strategy for speaking with Kenmore politicians to see what they were doing right.
The dream ended when I walked through the entrance doors. The library is located upstairs so why is the line downstairs ? I go upstairs and there are a few, maybe 4 people in this beautiful space. So what's with the line downstairs? According to the librarian, free tax help was offered downstairs and that was what drew the crowd. When I told her my earlier thoughts, she laughed with a kind of regret. Guess they don't grow them brighter in Kenmore, just fiscally more confused.
Anyway, the librarian was helpful. I found the books and will visit again. I am becoming such a fan of libraries. In the past year, I have taken out books for my book club, I have taken my father in law on a field trip and I have hung out with coffee. The only problem is I really despise reading books that have obviously been read before by someone who insisted on eating while reading. Totally gross.
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