Rabbit Trail---The Word Reading

I decided to go to The Word reading.  In all honesty, the offer of extra credit was a huge factor.  I like feeding my kids dinner every night, and I had to miss a dinner in order to attend.

 I love going to things like this, but without extra credit being offered I would not have had a strong enough reason to go.  Anyways, I went to The Word reading and learned a few things.

this tea looks a little different
Longjing (Dragon Well) tea steeping

Leave Grandma at Home. 

Unless your grandma is an ex-hippie free love type or currently in a wild faze that makes the rest of the family feel uncomfortable, this will not be your grandma’s cup of tea.  I would also advise you to leave your pre-teen/teens at home as well (the car ride back would be quite awkward). 

Why?

Well, the short stories at this semesters reading were. . . .how do I say this. . .  a little on the risqué side.  Hell, I felt downright awkward during the several very sexual parts of two of the short stories.  

My thoughts:  “wait. . . . what? The opening of the story was a description of that? . . . . In public you’re talking about that?”

The writing was quite good, but I was really distracted by a feeling of discomfort during the two more graphic short stories.  It isn’t like the stories would need to be published with a half naked Fabio on the cover; I am just not used to hearing that kind of thing in public.  Maybe it just surprised me.

Question:

Are the readings always that sex filled?

Based on this semester I would not recommend The Word reading to:

·         my parents

·         fellow church members

·         children

·         those with a heart condition

·         recently clean coke/sex addicts

·         men who have recently taken Cialis

Who would I recommend it to?

·         almost everyone else

I did think several of the pieces were amazing.   And I have to give props to the writers/readers who were willing to read their works like that.  I can’t even give a presentation without feeling awkward.  I could never read something so specifically about naked, sex, lust stuff in front of a bunch of strangers.

Would I go again?

Sure. Well, maybe. There are certain restrictions on the life of a single mom of two.  I shall see.

What did I learn about writing?

Bravery is as Key to writing as Kim KiBum is to Shinee fans (ha ha ha).  I think I need to be brave.

I do LOVE constructive criticism, but I always think my work is horrible so I don’t let others read it.  I am not going to get any better if I don’t let other people help me improve. 

Maybe I need to follow the lead of my fellow CWI students, and bravely expose my writings to the harsh, cold and demented world.  Or just let a few people read them.  

                                                                                (\__/)

                                                                                (='.'=) – “Chicken!”

                                                                                (")_(")

                  

                                (The bunny is not very supportive)