tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32203742.post6168120779185757424..comments2023-09-10T16:56:55.697+03:00Comments on When in Cairo: American_in_Cairohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372576948482303159noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32203742.post-74544311012845316842007-11-06T16:33:00.000+02:002007-11-06T16:33:00.000+02:00Uh-oh. I'm not sure I can fulfill my tagged respon...Uh-oh. I'm not sure I can fulfill my tagged responsibilities at the moment. Self-affirmation in this area, least of all the public kind, is not quite where I am right now. :) Rather than make this a full-fledged post elsewhere, given that I don't think I can come up with 5 things just now, I'll just give myself at least this here: (1) Now and then, if in the right mood, I can be witty. (2) I'm terribly sentimental, I'm afraid, <I>but</I> sometimes that works the way I want it to--gets people emotional and thinking. (3) And when I'm in the right space, and the flow is there, like Sari I can get the words and ideas to come out with good, effective, lyrical rhythm. I can't be proud of a sentence when its flow and rhythm and the combination and order of words don't sound just right to me.Stephanie E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00654132388197327210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32203742.post-49755496191795243662007-11-06T04:39:00.000+02:002007-11-06T04:39:00.000+02:00I just realized that we have dueling strengths--my...I just realized that we have dueling strengths--my 3 vs. your 2.<BR/>What's weird is that I've always admired how you write about land--and yet I'm still completely (and unapologetically) sentimental. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, I think your list is spot on! I would add though--word choices. You have this enviable ability to find the exact right word.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32203742.post-58020945097108809962007-11-06T04:29:00.000+02:002007-11-06T04:29:00.000+02:00Oh, this should be fun. I'll write this list, then...Oh, this should be fun. I'll write this list, then I'll start writing . . .<BR/><BR/>1. This is kind of a slanted answer (not to mention an Anne Lamottish answer), but it's also true and probably explains my procrastination: I appreciate my writing the most when I'm imagining how it could be--that glorious, perfect, non-written brilliance. <BR/><BR/>2. I care about word choices and rhythm and clarity and I think that comes out in my prose. <BR/><BR/>3. I'm sentimental. I know it's not exactly hip, but I think it's good for my writing. It softens my sarcastic edge.<BR/><BR/>4. I think I'm funny. This is a terrible thing to admit--and probably should not be done, ever! And now, I feel this pressure to actually be funny. And I've got nothing! But really, I'd say that reading P.G. Wodehouse and James Herriot had such a positive impact on my writing. And so next quarter, I get to have my students read P.G. Wodehouse and I'm excited! And if they hate him, I'll just have to beat them up.<BR/><BR/>5. I have a good ear for dialogue. Even when I was a terrible writer--and really, no false modesty, I was awful--the dialogue, at least, was believable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com