Scrambled Words and Toast.
Do your words lay in clumps across the page, like scrambled eggs? Do they yearn for something more than a comma or a period?
Do they need a fork to guide them, a menu to organize them? Do your words lose their meaning and look more like toast?
It happened to me. Just me and my scrambled words and toast. Food for thought or thought for food? No matter. They both end up in the digital crapper. I press the delete key and flush. Lately, I can’t figure out if I should be writing humor, fiction or humor-fiction. And then there’s the dark stuff. Love the dark stuff.
Chocolate cake for the brain. No matter how far I dig I can’t seem to find that comfortable place for preparing a recipe of words.
What kind of words? Big ones, small ones, made up ones, as in badoodling crappy stuff on the page, the leading cause of scrambled words and toast.
Should I write with a knife? Use a pen as a toothpick? It’s all so confusing. Betwixt and befuddled. And in what direction should I point the keyboard?
scanned from 1900 Wizard of Oz book (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I feel like Dorothy, in the Wizard of Oz, at the crossroads where she meets the Scarecrow, when she asks him, “…But which road should I take?”
The Scarecrow crosses his arms, his fingers pointing in opposite directions, and says, “That way!” That’s where I am, stuck at “that way,” heading in two directions at once, getting nowhere.
Stuck on the breakdown lane of the Internet highway. I’ve never had a blogging niche.
I’m not a food blogger or a mommy blogger and don’t know anything about gardening, except for weeds. I know how to grow them but not get rid of them. That’s why I’m stuck in them. I’m not an expert on anything.
I just enjoy observing the world and interpreting what I see. And what about scrambled words and toast? That’s Paul McCartney’s fault. “Scrambled Eggs” was the original title for “Yesterday.”
One evening, I watched an old performance of his on the public broadcasting channel. He described how the song, “Yesterday,” came to him in a dream.
He didn’t know what it was at the time and so he called it “Scrambled Eggs.” Hence, scrambled words and toast, or let’s call it what it really is – scrambled brains.
Do you have scrambled brains?
Bacon. Where’s the bacon for my scrambled brains? Nom. Nom.
I love your humor. Until you find your way, here’s some salsa for those eggs. Yum.
Salsa is perfect but I can’t keep the beat.
“Lately, I can’t figure out if I should be writing humor, fiction or humor-fiction. And then there’s the dark stuff. Love the dark stuff. Chocolate cake for the brain.”
Lauren, your humour – especially your satire – is brilliant. Your forays into fiction are always enjoyable. And the dark stuff? Well you’ve described it perfectly – chocolate cake for the brain. Everything you write, regardless of genre, is engaging and beautifully written. So. This leads me to ask the question: Do you HAVE to choose just one genre? Do you HAVE to find a niche? Must your menu ONLY have chocolate cake – in all its various incantations, to be sure but chocolate cake nonetheless – on it? Is there no room for cheesecake? Or red velvet cake? Or lemon cake? Not carrot cake though because a vegetable should never be cake. I believe it even says so in the Bible. In any case, the point – and yes there is one that I will eventually reach – is that we do not eat the same thing all the time so why should we write the same thing all the time? Whatever you write, your “voice” is evident and maybe that qualifies as a niche.
Okay, I’ll stop my rambling now. Although I will just say that I’m really in the mood for chocolate cake.
Nicky, what a great comment. I agree with everything, except that vegetables should never be cake. In theory, I concur. But the truth is, I love a good zucchini bread.
There. I said it.
LOL!
*shakes head, tears brimming in eyes*
Oh June. You sinner.
LOL! Hey, thanks Nicky.
I get frustrated at times because I keep changing things up. I can’t stick to one genre of writing. Though I do try to keep things light, funny light,not brain-dead light. But brain-dead ain’t bad at times either. I guess I shouldn’t worry about niche. I actually have so many more things to worry about, like how to fix 4,000 broken links on my blog.
Nicky left the best comment EVER. Seriously. I don’t have anything to add – other than I don’t have a blogging niche either. And I’m okay with that.
Yes, she did! I was thrilled by what she said. I probably should have told her that. I have a tough time taking compliments. I think having an older brother who is retarded does that to a person. We’re 18 months apart and I always thought I was stupid like he was. Still suffer from stupidity syndrome. So, accepting compliments has always been difficult.
I’ll try to be okay with being nicheless, too. : )
I have a hard time taking compliments too. xoxo
I know the feeling of being pulled in several creative directions at once and feeling like you’re not doing any of them justice. But maybe it’s just a time of growth and exploring new directions. Maybe you’re not supposed to be pinning yourself down to any one thing right now. At least this is what I tell myself. I’ve never been a “niche” blogger either, and I’m glad. Who wants to be predictable.
Keep on keepin’ on, my talented friend. It will all come together.
Thank you Jayne.
I hit that proverbial WTF? wall and had to rant about it.
To quote Stephen King…
“Sometimes you have to go on when you don’t feel like it, and sometimes you’re doing good work when it feels like all you’re managing is to shovel shit from a sitting position.”
― Stephen King, On Writing
I’m right there with you, Lauren. Your post wasn’t just witty and clever. It described my own ongoing quandary. I have only so much time. Where to invest it? It’s an ongoing source of overwhelm and confusion.
You’re a brilliant writer, Lauren. Why don’t you write what you enjoy most?
This, from the most bewildered writer on the net.
Thanks for sharing on this topic. Great post.
Thanks June!
I know. There’s been a lot of talk lately about WTF we’re supposed to be writing. I never know. I wish I could scream with my fingers without the cap lock on.
Hey, just write about whatever fancies you at that moment. Everything you write is pretty damn good anyway. Just make sure there is a side of crispy bacon with those eggs.
Mmmm…….bacon.
I keep forgetting the damn bacon, especially when I’m fried. Thank you, Phil.
I don’t have a niche either and I’m all scrambled up myself, so I guess we’re in the same boat. Now which way shall we go Lauren? Or should be just hang our feet over the edge and start kicking?
I say, just write about whatever comes to your mind at the time. You are unique in your writing style already so fortunately you are in a great position to pick and choose what you want to do, as the end result will always be great. Don’t get bogged down in writing about just one thing, it will frustrate you to no end.
So the next time a thought comes to mind, jot it down and keep going.
I appreciate that. You’re right, of course. I shouldn’t box myself in and should jot down every precious idea. I try to.
Writing/blogging is so isolating…like being locked in a box…during the creative process. It also comes with a bunch of insecurities. Will this be any good? Did I forget a comma? Did I add too many commas. Am I in a coma?
Thank you for this fine article. It’s great to read your blog.
I don’t see why you need a niche. That puts limits on your abilities. I enjoy reading anything you write and love variety. Just let it flow, whatever direction it takes. That’s what makes your writing good and interesting to read.
Thanks so much, Babs.
It’s just that sometimes I wish I had tried cooking every recipe in Julia Child’s cookbook…even if I can’t cook worth a damn.
Well Lauren, you did pretty darn well on this one for scrambled eggs 🙂 Go with the flow and see where it takes you! I sometimes freeze up just as I’m about to hit that publish button – afraid of what typo I will find later 🙂
Thank you, Lisa.
The dreaded typo. I often return to the dashboard, after publishing a post, to make additional changes.
Such a classic illustration from Oz.
Hi Lauren. Yup, I have scrambled brains. Absolutely scrambled, that’s me. I can never decide what I should be doing with my free time.
I’m sorry you’ve got scrambled brains, too. Looks like we both have egg on the face, which includes the head and everything inside it.