I've learned something new today: When getting the carpet replaced in my apartment, the workers informed me that the heater needed to be on. Due to my inability to speak Spanish (my mono-lingual status I do hope to correct one day) I was unable to get any clarification on the subject, so I decided to use that wonderful collection of information: the Internet. And after viewing a couple of sites I finally found one that kind of explained the necessity of heat: "The best time to install carpet is when the temperature ranges from 55 degrees F to 95 degrees F..." (Welty "How to Install Carpet") but that's all. Still no sufficient explanation as to the why. The search continues...
And we have a winner! On a website titled Complaints.com, I found, in the middle of a complaint obviously, a tidbit of information that provides an answer, "We were told that the room had to be a certain temperature for the the carpet to stretch appropriately" ("Empire Carpet Installation," my emphasis). And while I found this bit of information somewhere I was not expecting, it did prove helpful.
Well that Internet quest has been completed. However, it has not entirely distracted me from the fact that my apartment is a sauna right now, and I'm sitting in the kitchen. I wonder how the two guys doing the installing are feeling? Hot as hell would be my guess.
So far this seems like a random post, doesn't it? Well, it is. I started this post in an effort to forget about the heat and because Moby Dick just wasn't doing it for me (I'll finish one of these days, I swear!). As I sit here, I'm wondering how I could relate this experience to writing, since that's the new focus of my blog. The immediate answer is, "I'm not entirely sure." The next answer that comes to mind is, "Any moment is a good writing moment."
In truth, writing is something that must be actively participated in. Just like any other skill out there, writing must be practiced. Take the guys installing my new carpet right now for example. They've been here just over an hour and a half and they've completed the entry closet, the living/dining room, the master bedroom, and the master closet. Their movements are efficient and assured. They know what their doing. I, on the other hand, would not even attempt to work at their speed should I ever take up carpet installation, at least not at first. The first room I tried would invariably take me a whole day to complete, and I would probably waste money because of inaccurate cuts. For the experienced worker, no movement is wasted, every movement is a fluid continuation, a dance of sorts.
So it goes with writing. Any new undertaking is bound to be riddled with stops and starts, successes and failures. However, the point is to not give up, and don't be afraid to try something new. It takes time and practice to find a rhythm in anything. As the cliche goes, "Practice makes perfect." And while I may not entirely agree with that declaration (as my partner's war against my clutter rages on) I do agree with its sentiment: We may never be entirely perfect in everything we attempt, but with practice at least we can reach a level of competence in the things we do. All I ask of my students, or anyone wanting to write better for that matter, is a large amount of curiosity about the world around them (I for one learned a bit about carpet installation today) and the willingness to practice.
Two hours later I have a new blog entry, new carpet, and cold air.
And we have a winner! On a website titled Complaints.com, I found, in the middle of a complaint obviously, a tidbit of information that provides an answer, "We were told that the room had to be a certain temperature for the the carpet to stretch appropriately" ("Empire Carpet Installation," my emphasis). And while I found this bit of information somewhere I was not expecting, it did prove helpful.
Well that Internet quest has been completed. However, it has not entirely distracted me from the fact that my apartment is a sauna right now, and I'm sitting in the kitchen. I wonder how the two guys doing the installing are feeling? Hot as hell would be my guess.
So far this seems like a random post, doesn't it? Well, it is. I started this post in an effort to forget about the heat and because Moby Dick just wasn't doing it for me (I'll finish one of these days, I swear!). As I sit here, I'm wondering how I could relate this experience to writing, since that's the new focus of my blog. The immediate answer is, "I'm not entirely sure." The next answer that comes to mind is, "Any moment is a good writing moment."
In truth, writing is something that must be actively participated in. Just like any other skill out there, writing must be practiced. Take the guys installing my new carpet right now for example. They've been here just over an hour and a half and they've completed the entry closet, the living/dining room, the master bedroom, and the master closet. Their movements are efficient and assured. They know what their doing. I, on the other hand, would not even attempt to work at their speed should I ever take up carpet installation, at least not at first. The first room I tried would invariably take me a whole day to complete, and I would probably waste money because of inaccurate cuts. For the experienced worker, no movement is wasted, every movement is a fluid continuation, a dance of sorts.
So it goes with writing. Any new undertaking is bound to be riddled with stops and starts, successes and failures. However, the point is to not give up, and don't be afraid to try something new. It takes time and practice to find a rhythm in anything. As the cliche goes, "Practice makes perfect." And while I may not entirely agree with that declaration (as my partner's war against my clutter rages on) I do agree with its sentiment: We may never be entirely perfect in everything we attempt, but with practice at least we can reach a level of competence in the things we do. All I ask of my students, or anyone wanting to write better for that matter, is a large amount of curiosity about the world around them (I for one learned a bit about carpet installation today) and the willingness to practice.
Two hours later I have a new blog entry, new carpet, and cold air.
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