Reflecting on the Chapter "Blue Lipstick and a Cigarette Hanging out of Your Mouth"

     As we are progressing in Fiction section of this class, this week we reconnect with the book, Writing Down the Bones. In previous posts, I've said that I loved some chapters from this book and again I am confirming that opinion. This week we are reading the last third of the book and I found many chapters to be interesting and helpful for getting better at the art of writing, however, these tips are also great to help us give a better outlook on our lives. There are multiple chapters in this book that are truly inspiring. One chapter, however really spoke to me.  This chapter is called "Blue Lipstick and a Cigarette Hanging out of Your Mouth." It's only one page, but just the way how Goldberg gives advice in this chapter really opened my eyes in the writing life and in life generally.

     In this chapter, the author explains that there may be times while we write material, that we may get sick of writing the same stuff over and over again. Whatever we do that helps us get into the writing may even get boring. She writes that once this happens, you must find something else that can help. You have to find something out of the box, something that you don't do regularly. Let's face it, doing the same things or the same rituals over and over again, can be a bit boring. Our human brains often get bored and we get stuck thinking, "What am I doing with my life? This is so boring." Eventually, we get so tired that we stop doing what we were doing or we get unmotivated to do it anymore. Like writing or other hobbies that we do every day. I do this all the time. I'll write everyday or listen to music and then I am bored. I get sick of writing the same stuff or listening to the same song. Soon, I just stop doing them all together. After reading this chapter, if this sort of thing happens again, I will listen to a new genre of music or maybe write in a different place or in a different state. 

     Another piece of advice Goldberg gives is that this out of box thing that we do should be able to do these things in a different angle. That's what you have to do to make things everything, you have to see/ be in a different angle. A different light or scenery. In writing or in our lives, having the same cycle continuously can make us feel like there is no excitement anymore. So we get the urge to dye our hair a different color or get a tattoo. And Goldberg encourages that. Do something that reminds you that there is substance in writing or in life. If it just takes a small prop that gives you another place to write, use that prop for a while. For example, when I write, I always have a cup of milk to drink. Milk usually makes me feel relax and I always write better when I'm relaxed. Sometimes I get sick of drink milk, so I'll drink hot tea instead. I especially like to write while I am drinking tea because I write all the flavors I taste as an exercise. This usually helps me think of a more descriptive language/ detail and that really gets me into the mood to write. 

       For some people, it is hard to get motivated when it comes to writing a story, poem, etc. When they are motivated, repetitiveness is always one of the factors that makes them quit. A simple fix is to just do something out or their comfort zone, something that gives them material that can be written. Or it can help if they change their setting when they write, This goes for other things that we do in our lives. If your not motivated to do house chores, then maybe start with outside chores first. Plant a garden, then do the dishes. Or simply put favorite song while you do the dishes, to make doing the chore fun. There are many things out there that are unique and can help you motivate yourself to do your every day list of things to do or the story you need to write. One simple change can make a hobby or life more exciting.