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Lifestyle

Music Theory Will Make You Better At Everything

Music theory will make you better at everything.

Including writing.

Here’s how:

When you’re practicing your speech, or when you’re reviewing your writing, a useful thing to do is to hum the words out loud.

This allows you to focus on the structure of the sound of the piece.

It will give you insight into the rhythm, the pacing, and the underlying shape of your story.

Think of your composition as a musical piece.

Because it is.

Music theory is pretty much underlying everything we do.

When the Grown Son was a kid, he used to spar.

Once I caught him brutally trash talking his opponent.

Who was trash talking right back at him.

“Knock that off,” I told them both, “That’s rude.”

Both boys cheerfully insisted that it was necessary.

It was part of the sport.

They were each trying to figure out the other guy’s rhythm.

While not letting the other guy figure out theirs.

Oh.

Music.

Which was ironic because this kid fought me tooth and nail against his music lessons.

But here he was using music theory in his sparring.

So, yeah, I did let him carry on with the trash talking.

But I also didn’t let him quit his music lessons.

Music theory really will make you better at everything.

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

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Lifestyle

Today Is The Best Day To Write A Story!

Write a Story!

Today is National Write A Story Day.

I never even knew such a day existed.

But it’s perfect!

Everyone’s got a story.

Even if you think you don’t, you do.

I’ve got this incredible writing group where everybody writes from the same prompt.

It’s so amazing to see that every person has a different perspective.

It doesn’t matter if there are 5 or 50 people in attendance, there will be that many different interpretations of the same prompt.

Your story is worthy because it’s from your unique perspective.

No one else could tell it but you.

Celebrate this day and write a story!

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

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Lifestyle

Show Your Voice – Why Your First Draft Is So Important

I’ve read thousands of books about writing.

And thousands of books about writers.

I’ve read thousands of books that demonstrate good writing.

A very clear message has resonated throughout all of these books.

The message?

It’s all good.

There are no right or wrong answers.

There is no right or wrong way to write.

You don’t need permission for anything.

Just write.

Show your voice.

See what resonates with your audience.

Tweak it.

And write some more.

Here’s another thing I’ve learned.

All first drafts are awful.

And wonderful.

They’re awful because they’re raw and unedited.

But they’re wonderful because they’re new ideas going in new directions.

Embrace that raw first draft.

It’s your ticket to a more polished second draft.

That, eventually, is your ticket to a finished manuscript.

Don’t fuss over those clumsy first drafts.

They’re part of the process.

Babe Ruth, who was the home-run king of his day, was also the strikeout king of his day.

He never would have gotten all those home runs if he let each strikeout get him down.

Be like The Babe.

Celebrate that awkward first attempt – it’s a necessary step in your creative process.

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

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Lifestyle

Why Going Cold Turkey Is The Only Thing To Do

Going Cold Turkey

Gahhhhh!

I blew it!

My winning streak is over.

This is exactly why I should never multitask.

I’m talking about Wordle.

When I hit 300 wins, my plan was to aim for 365 for a perfect year.

Actually, 366, because it’s a leap year.

But I blew it.

Here’s what happened.

I was at the dog park.

Since I was the only human there, and since Blue was occupied with sniffing, I sat on the bench to start the daily puzzle.

However, I noticed a commotion out on the street.

There was a smashed-up Mercedes, and a tow truck, and a couple of cops.

But there was no debris to indicate an accident.

It was probably a stolen car, and this was where the bad guy was caught.

By this time, more people had arrived at the dog park, and the true-crime excitement was causing quite a stir.

Plus, there was dog chaos.

There’s always dog chaos.

And that’s when it happened.

Oh, I should have known better.

I am notorious for screwing things up when I multitask.

I should have put down the Wordle and saved it for later.

But I didn’t.

I kept half an eye on the puzzle in the midst of the commotion.

And I lost.

Gahhhhh!

That’s it.

I’m done.

No more Wordle for me.

I’m not quitting because I’m a sore loser.

Although I most certainly am.

I’m quitting because I realize, now, that this Wordle winning streak has been an enormous time suck.

I’m going cold turkey.

No more Wordle for me.

Gahhhhh!

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

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Lifestyle

Spring Has Sprung, And Now It’s Time To Say Goodbye

Spring Has Sprung

Spring has sprung.

The temperatures are pleasant, and the afternoons are long.

Jackets and boots are no longer necessary.

Some early blooming plants have already started to flower including the dogwoods and something pink.

I don’t know what that pink tree is, but it’s beautiful.

Other plants are starting to bud, and the air is bursting with anticipation.

Spring is such a lovely time of year.

Except…

Well, I hate this one thing that happens in the spring.

I hate putting away my weighted blanket.

It’s such a warm and cozy companion all winter.

Bob does not like the weighted blanket.

He says he feels pinned down and trapped.

Of course, he’s wrong.

The weighted blanket is the coziest thing ever.

The only thing cozier than a weighted blanket would be more weighted blankets.

Since he refuses to use it, I never have to share.

But now it’s getting too warm.

It’s time to wash those heavy blankets and put them away, along with my fluff-lined boots and my fleece-lined leggings.

Goodbye old friends, see you again next winter.

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

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Diabetes

I Understand, But It Could Be Acknowledged Better

I Understand

Today is February 29.

Leap day.

Today is also National Rare Disease Day.

I understand why Rare Disease Day might be celebrated on a rare calendar day.

However, as the mother of two Type One Diabetics, I think that rare diseases should be acknowledged every single day of the year until a cure is found.

It’s also National Toast Day.

Is it because you’re toast on Leap Day?

Nah, National Toast Day is the last Thursday in February, so it just happens to be on the 29th this year.

I’ve never met a piece of toast I don’t like.

White, wheat, rye, sourdough, it’s all good.

Jam, butter, cream cheese, they’re all good too.

Today is a good day to eat toast, to leap, and to find a cure for those rare diseases.

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

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Dog

Second Winter Really Caught Me By Surprise

Second Winter

The backyard is not yet ready for Blue.

I’m still taking her to the dog park several times a day.

And I’ve noticed that we have experienced all the seasons in just this week alone.

We’ve had lovely Early Spring weather in the 70s.

Followed by sweltering Fake Summer heat in the 90s.

Today we’re back to Second Winter in the 40s.

I bundled up to go to the dog park this morning.

Turtleneck, hoodie, hat, mittens, boots, and big jacket.

I debated wearing my parka.

But I thought that maybe I would be too hot.

It turns out that I froze my a$$ off.

Literally.

The parka is long and goes down to my knees.

My backside would have been much warmer in that.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll wear the parka.

Although, with my luck, tomorrow will be Fake Summer again, and I’ll be too hot.

Soon enough it will be Real Summer, and the weather will be predictably hot.

I guess I should just be grateful for the cool weather while I’ve got it.

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

Blue's favorite things
Read stories about Blue Dawg

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Dog

Sometimes Neologism Is The Only Thing To Do

Neologism

It’s been an incredibly mild, gorgeous February.

The ten-day forecast shows even more gorgeous weather.

Bob decided that this would be a good time to reseed the yard.

This means that we can’t let the dog out.

She’ll need several walks a day.

It won’t be a problem in the 70⁰ afternoons.

This time of year, however, it still gets cold overnight.

This morning it was 37⁰ when I walked Blue to the dog park.

I was hoping that a rousing round of fetch would warm me up.

Blue wasn’t having any of it.

She was determined to slowly and meticulously sniff every square inch of the park.

It’s a small park.

But it felt enormous as I was popsicling in the frigid morning air.

Is popsicling a word?

Yes.

It’s the gerund form of the noun popsicle.

It means, “Freezing your a$$ off while you’re waiting for your dog to painstakingly sniff every #@$#% scent in the park.”

Popsicling – yes, it’s a word.

So is neologism, which refers to making up new words.

I can’t wait for our afternoon walk, where I will bask in the warm spring sunshine.

She can take all the time she wants to sniff.

At 70⁰, I won’t care.

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

Blue's favorite things
Read stories about Blue Dawg

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Work

How To Make Flowery Language Work Effectively

Flowery language

Flowery Language

I love this quote by Gary Provost.

This passage speaks about rhythm.

But it could also apply to word choice.

So many people feel obligated to fill their stories with big, complicated words.

More often than not, however, those folks are just writing circles around themselves and running out of steam.

Big words aren’t bad.

But too many of them end up resonating like the gray-colored section.

Use your flowery language like the yellow segment. 

Sparingly.

For emphasis.

Surround the magniloquence with regular words, with common expressions, and with language that will resonate.

 I had to look up magniloquence.

 It means “pompous in talk.”

Yeah, that.

Don’t do it.

Read 100 Ways to Improve Your Writing by Gary Provost.

Don’t just write words, he advises, write music.

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

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Categories
Diabetes

Type One Just Won The Superbowl!

Type One

The Superbowl, more often than not, is a blowout.

This year was an exception.

That game was exciting all the way to the end.

And the commercials were funny.

I’m so glad that humor is back.

For the past couple of years, the advertisers were trying too hard to be profound.

Being profound isn’t, in principle, a bad thing.

But it doesn’t go over well at a football party.

A Superbowl audience just wants to have fun.

Save that deep and meaningful content for a more serious venue.

I wasn’t rooting for either team in particular.

However, Kansas City does have Noah Gray, who is a Type One Diabetic.

As a Type One Mom, I was rooting for The Chiefs.

Woo Hoo – Type One just won the Superbowl!

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

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