Tag: storyteller

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Tags blogger, pea soup, personal narrative, storyteller, teacher, very delicious, writer

Lifestyle

Knowledge and Wisdom – How To Make It Happen

Post author By Liz Brenner
Post date February 7, 2024
1 Comment on Knowledge and Wisdom – How To Make It Happen

Knowledge and Wisdom

I’m involved in several different creative workshops.

A writing group, a book club, and a speakers lab.

I love the collaboration.

Recently, at one of these workshop meetings, we discussed the paradox of knowledge and wisdom.

The subject came up during a discussion about false beliefs.

How you can think you know a thing, until you learn new facts.

And then you question everything you thought you knew.

The example was a long-term, dependable co-worker who, it turns out, had been embezzling the company all along.

It was an inspiring discussion.

We all agreed that when we were young, we were know-it-alls who knew nothing, but now that we are older, we realize that we know nothing, which is actually quite wise.

Lest I get too full of myself and my new-found wisdom, the Grown Son rolled his eyes at me over one indiscretion or another.

I don’t even know what I did to annoy him.

The list is long, and I’ve lost track.

Also, I don’t care.

Which only goes to prove my point about the paradox of knowledge and wisdom.

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

Your Voice Matters – READ a free article about starting to write your own stories!

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Tags blogger, knowledge and wisdom, personal narrative, storyteller, writer

Family

The Birthday Boy Is Pushing His Luck

Post author By Liz Brenner
Post date February 5, 2024
No Comments on The Birthday Boy Is Pushing His Luck

The Birthday Boy

The Grown Son had a recent birthday.

He requested a birthday-eve dinner of Chicken Cordon Bleu.

And then a birthday dinner of Tri Tip.

He got both.

The Birthday Boy mentioned, during his birthday dinner, that he would like a post-birthday dinner of chicken parm.

Hahaha, nope.

He’s pushing his luck.

I cooked two special-order birthday dinners in two days.

Now I’m done.

He’s been sufficiently celebrated.

Happy birthday, Kiddo!

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

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Tags birthday boy, blogger, personal narrative, storyteller, writer

Lifestyle

The Perfect Lyrics – How To Find Your Own Voice

Post author By Liz Brenner
Post date January 31, 2024
No Comments on The Perfect Lyrics – How To Find Your Own Voice

Perfect Lyrics

February’s coming.

The month of love.

I recently saw a young woman swooning over a Beatles song.

“I want her everywhere. And if she’s beside me I know I need never care.”

Yes, it’s a beautiful love song.

But it was sung by a bunch of kids.

Idealistic kids who had no idea what was in store for the rest of their lives.

Now don’t get me wrong.

I still love, and admire, and respect my husband.

I still enjoy spending time with him, and he still makes me laugh.

But I’d like to see a love song about socks on the floor, falling asleep on the couch, and burnt toast.

What’s that noise, where are the scissors, and why is every single light on in the house.

We’re out of eggs, why is this sticky, and what’s the dog got in her mouth.

I’ve got nothing against romantic idealism.

It’s sweet.

But I’d like to hear a realistic love song for once.

Sung by an older person.

From the suburban trenches.

It would probably have perfect lyrics like, “Shhh, I’m on the phone,” or “Are you sitting on the remote,” or “Oops.”

Now that would be an enduring love song for the ages.

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

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Tags blogger, personal narrative, storyteller, teacher, writer

Family

How To Be A Successful Grump

Post author By Liz Brenner
Post date January 29, 2024
No Comments on How To Be A Successful Grump

Grump What a grump.

When I told Bob that today is National Curmudgeons Day, he said, “Whatever.”

Whatever?

Seriously?

That’s a response more appropriate to National Apathy Day.

Which is not today.

He’s been a grump-in-waiting for his entire life.

“C’mon,” I encouraged him, “You’ve worked so hard for this day. Don’t let it go to waste.”

“GET OFF MY LAWN,” he snarled, brandishing his cereal spoon in rage.

It was a good try.

But the curmudgeon effect was spoiled because he was laughing.

He can try again next year.

Whatever.

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

This post might include affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission from the seller at no cost to you.

TRIED AND TESTED WRITING RESOURCES!

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Tags blogger, grump, national curmudgeons day, personal narrative, storyteller, writer

Lifestyle

Schnapsidee Is My New Favorite Word

Post author By Liz Brenner
Post date January 25, 2024
No Comments on Schnapsidee Is My New Favorite Word

Schnapsidee

Schnapsidee.

It’s a German word.

There’s no real English translation.

It refers to an idea conceived while drunk that seems brilliant at first, but turns out, on second thought, to be stupid.

This makes perfect sense because ‘schnapps’ is in the word.

It makes me think of the Gypsy-Rose Blanchard murder case.

She just got out of prison.

And now she’s an internet sensation.

I guess she deserves her newfound fame – she was very badly abused.

That mother had some serious schnapsidee.

From now on, whenever my kids complain about anything, I can point out this case and say that at least I never did that.

Yet.

I guess there’s still time for a little schnapsidee.

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

This post might include affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission from the seller at no cost to you.

I brush, I floss, I rinse.

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Tags blogger, personal narrative, schnapsidee, storyteller, writer

Lifestyle

What Makes National Popcorn Day Such A Conflict?

Post author By Liz Brenner
Post date January 19, 2024
2 Comments on What Makes National Popcorn Day Such A Conflict?

National Popcorn Day

Today is National Popcorn Day.

Oh, I’m so conflicted.

I love popcorn.

But popcorn doesn’t love me.

After eating it, I spend days and days and days picking shrapnel out of my gums.

It’s so painful.

But still, my gums are plagued.

You’d think I wouldn’t eat it, knowing how much pain I’ll be in.

But you’d think wrong.

I eat it.

And then I complain and swear I’m never going to eat it again.

Every time.

Stupid popcorn.

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

This post might include affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission from the seller at no cost to you.

Maybe I need to get a fan with a remote control.

Tags blogger, national popcorn day, personal narrative, storyteller, writer

Lifestyle

The Ceiling Fan Rules Make No Sense

Post author By Liz Brenner
Post date January 16, 2024
No Comments on The Ceiling Fan Rules Make No Sense

Ceiling Fan Rules

It’s been cold here in Texas.

How cold has it been?

It got so cold that, for the first time in ages, I actually turned off my ceiling fan.

That fan is always running because I sleep hot.

But last night, despite many blankets including a weighted blanket on top, I couldn’t warm up.

I had to turn off the fan.

It was a very, very, very cold and frigid walk across the room to hit the switch.

Cursing may or may not have taken place.

I can’t confirm.

At any rate, I warmed up, so I was happy.

For awhile.

A couple of hours later I woke up, suffocating in the stifling, still room.

I had to turn the fan back on.

My poor, patient husband.

I’m certain I’m driving him crazy.

I know I’m driving myself crazy.

But hey, I don’t make the rules.

I just follow them.

The ceiling fan stays on.

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

This post might include affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission from the seller at no cost to you.

Contact me – I’d love to help.

Tags blogger, ceiling fan, personal narrative, storyteller, too cold, too hot, writer

Work

Why Your First Draft Needs To Be Awful

Post author By Liz Brenner
Post date January 15, 2024
No Comments on Why Your First Draft Needs To Be Awful

That First Draft

You can’t write and edit at the same time.

There, I said it.

And I meant it.

Writing is creative and embraces possibilities while editing is logical and follows specific rules.

When you try to do them both at the same time, neither one turns out well.

Your brain ends up tripping over itself and mixing up the issues.

Learn to be OK with a messy first draft.

Don’t worry about specific words or grammar or structure.

Let your creativity flow unimpeded.

Then go back and tidy it up.

Ernest Hemingway once said, “The only kind of writing is rewriting.”

Every piece of great writing that you’ve ever read started out as a messy attempt.

Learn to embrace that awful first draft.

It’s a necessary step in the creative process.

Need support with your manuscript?

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

This post might include affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission from the seller at no cost to you.

Tags editor, first draft, great writing, personal narrative, storyteller, writer

Dog

Why It’s Good To Be A Spoiled Rotten Dawg!

Post author By Liz Brenner
Post date January 11, 2024
No Comments on Why It’s Good To Be A Spoiled Rotten Dawg!

Spoiled Rotten

I completely forgot.

I felt terrible.

My poor, spoiled rotten, Blue Dawg.

When we first rescued her, we were told that she had been abused in a crate and that she was, therefore, terrified of crates.

Not using a crate was a condition of the adoption.

I agreed.

On the rare occasion when I need to confine her, I just tie her off on her leash.

She has no problem with this.

Our groomer understood and has never put her in a crate.

But we recently lost our groomer, and we had to find a new one.

I completely forgot about the crate issue until Blue and I arrived for her appointment.

The groomer told me that it’s company policy to use a crate.

She told me that she’ll do her best with my dog, and if there’s a problem, she’ll call me.

I worried all morning.

I didn’t want Blue to be traumatized.

She’s been through more than enough already.

But I never got the call.

They told me that Blue had no problem at all with the crate.

She was calm and happy when I picked her up, so I know they told me the truth.

I’m so glad that our spoiled rotten girl has, apparently, forgotten her past trauma.

Yay rescue dogs!

Good girl, Blue, good girl.

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

This post might include affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission from the seller at no cost to you.