Thailand again

Here is another post about how books (and movies) are being used in Thailand to protest the new government. Books do make a difference, which is both exhilarating and terrifying. There is great responsibility as an author when you're deciding what to put down on the page. You never know how it will be used. 

Reading as protest

One thing we see in many dystopians  is some sort of banning of books and literature.  Unfortunately, it doesn't just happen in books. There are times in history and places in our world today where people can’t read anything they want, where people are only allowed to learn or know what their government approves.  I saw an article here, where the people of Thailand are using reading as a form of peaceful protest against the new  military rule. It remains to be seen what, if anything, the government will do with these protesters.  

  

But it makes us wonder why. Why is reading an act of defiance? Why are books some of the first things to go in restrictive or dystopian governments?  Why does that scare us so much?

Reading can expand our minds, teach us new things, show us that their way isn’t the only way, give us strength to say no.  A government, real or imagined, that wants to control the people need to control how they think, how they see the world. To do that they must control what people put into their brains. They must make sure that only literature supporting their decisions, or making their decision seem logical is available to the masses. Otherwise the people might just start thinking for themselves. But  they can never take away whats already there, the things we already know, all the books we've already read.

Sometimes, reading can be an act of defiance. I hope those people in Thailand that are using books to show their discontent are safe. I applaud them for standing up for literature and for the society they want to have. I wonder if I would be so brave. 

Do I have talent?

There's a post here at Writer Unboxed titled "Do I have writing talent?" You're asking the wrong question. The post talked about why this question didn't work and posed some different questions that would help us gauge our writing progress.

There have been several times I've seen people come to Compuserve, post some writing, and ask, "Do I have talent? Should I keep writing, or should I give up?" Maybe you've seen this in your writing groups, too.

Writing is a difficult profession.  We all need positive feedback.  We have to have some encouragement because there is a lot of discouragement in the process. But if you have to ask the question "should I give up?" then the answer just might be, yes.

Because there is so much discouragement in writing we have to know, in and of ourselves, that this is what we want to do. That this is what we NEED to do. We have to have the conviction so we can keep going.  If your only commitment is from outside sources maybe you should put down the pen and save yourself a lot of hurt later. Or maybe you just need to take the time, think about what you want and you'll come to that conviction on your own.

Absent

When a person lives with something for a long time, an addiction, an illness, a child, a spouse, it becomes the new normal. It’s easy to forget what it was like to live without it. When that thing is taken away we are dropped in a whole new world. Maybe a good world, maybe a bad one.  For a time we may be lost, confused and alone, wondering how in the world we can adjust. How we can get back to normal.

Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, humans are adaptable. The events in our lives mold us, refine us.  Yet no matter how horrible, or how good, we move on, we find a way to change, grow, and deal with those events. We may struggle while doing this, but the possibility to adapt is there, even while wondering what to do, or how to live with that absence.  

Gradually we remember how to be the us we once were.  The us that lived without it. The person a part of us still is. Only now we’re tempered with the wisdom that life has brought us.  

Lest any of you believe I have lost a loved one that is not the case. For me the absence is a good one.  It won’t be gone forever. It will return sooner than I wish. But for now, I am rejoicing in the me I once was, in the freedom I currently have.

Sacrifice

Friday, after months of struggling, our router stopped working for good.  To our surprise, our dishwasher followed along within an hour of the internet being gone.  We've had problems with the dishwasher from day one and The Engineer has had to fix it several (lots of) times. This time he couldn't.  He looked me in the eye and asked if I would rather have a dishwasher or the internet.

Easy question.

"Internet." I said without batting an eye.

I can wash dishes by hand, even the amount we go through with two kids and a mom who loves to cook. But I can't stay in touch with friends, my writer's websites, or my career without the internet.

I knew taking up writing professionally would require some sacrifices, Though I hadn't really thought about the dishwasher. I knew that I might not get out socially much. Hobbies have been dropped to the wayside. My house isn't as clean as it once was. But I have no regrets.

 If you need me, I'll be washing dishes.

Who am I kidding, I'll be on the internet.

What would you choose?  What have you given up to write?

I'm back!

Hey all!  It’s good to be back at the blog.  I want to apologize to all the comments I didn’t get back to.  I’ve been out of town but I plan to come visit everyone soon. 

Congrats to all you A-Zers. I hope it was a great experience for all of you! 

After a month of taking it easy I’m not up to speed on what’s happening in the blogging world.  I do know DL Hammons is kicking off his yearly Write Club.  If you are at all interested I suggest you do it. It’s a blast! 

So what have I missed?  Anyone with good news, an announcement, or just something to say?

Winner

Time to announce the winner of IN PURSUIT OF TAMSEN LITTLEJOHN.

Congrats to Morgan!  

I've sent you an email, please respond before Wednesday or I'll have to pick another winner. 

Thanks to all who participated or commented, I hope you all enjoy the book.