Who wants an award?

The award season has begun and many actors and singers have already been chosen as winners in 2013. Big shows in which we all celebrate the incredible work all these people are doing. Whether we agree with the winners or not, we watch these shows. I love them too, like the People’s Choice Awards, the Golden Globes or the SAG awards. I sit there, excited, hope that my favorite will win. But so often that there is a category in which I think more than one of the nominees would deserve the price. I have to admit that normally I don’t think we should compare a person to someone else because everyone is unique in his or her own way, but I also think it must be an overwhelming feeling for the winners to be chosen in their category. And in my mind it’s even more important to them, when the fans chose them. When you can vote on the internet, and the winner is not made by a jury but by the people, it’s their choice. You know that there are people out there who like your work, like what you’re doing, and isn’t this something great? I guess it’s more about that than the actual trophy.

picture: The Gold Guys

But why do only singers and actors get honored? Okay, there are also prices for producers, writers, and so on, but why don’t honor the firemen? Why not the police officers, or the butchers? Do they not do a great job, too? Maybe the office girl, or the house keeper are not that popular, but they also do a great job. What would we do without them? Every job has to be done, so in every job people should be honored. They do not need a big live TV show, or a big golden trophy. But what is wrong, when the boss tells his employees they did a good job? Some nice words, maybe an extra pay or more days off to show them, that he respects their work.

I worked for some years in an office, and it was mostly like that: the boss expected you to do your job without any mistakes – he took that for granted and didn’t say anything, but when you did 1% wrong, he always came complaining about that single, little mistake. I guess it’s also in other companies like that which is very sad. What is wrong to tell someone when he did a good job? I guess that motivates him. It shows him that he’s respected and his work is appreciated.

So what do you think who should get an award? Who would deserve what kind of award? So let’s talk about people who should be honored for what they did. This can be a friend, who was always there for you, your family, someone who helped you out and were on your side when you needed her the most. Like such award shows, we love to hear something nice, when we can affect someone else in a positive way and he or her appreciates what we’re doing. So please leave a comment and tell me, if you watch and like such award shows and who should get what kind of award, or should be honored for something incredible. There is no big show needed, and that person doesn’t have to be a celebrity, but it's never wrong saying you appreciate to have someone special in your life.

I’d like to give an award to my parents who always supported me and still do, and to my best friend for being always on my side for almost 18 years. I can tell you everything, it’s so good to have you in my life. We have a beautiful and long lasting friendship, and I feel very blessed having you in my life.

Afraid

Here's a new poem I wrote. Hope you guys like it and I can read your comments.

picture by Alyssa L. Miller

Why am I so afraid?
I know you won’t hurt me.
I want you to see me.
I want to be a part of your life.
I am just too afraid.
Afraid you don’t let me in
Afraid you’re gonna hate me for trying
Afraid you think I am just a weirdo,
One of so many out there
But I’m not.
I won’t hurt you, I want you to be happy.
I care for you so much.
I am afraid
I don’t wanna be afraid.
I wanna dare, I am simply too shy.
I really hope I can find a way,
Find it soon.
Wanna be part of your life,
But I don’t wanna hurt you, don’t wanna blame you.
Don’t want you to suffer.
Maybe I am a weirdo, maybe I think too complicated.
If I only wouldn’t be so afraid.
Why am I? Why can’t I dare?
I miss you, I love you.

Inspiration is everywhere

As I do not only write blog posts, but also enjoy writing in all its way, this post is just about that. So if you love it too, first question is: how do I start? Writing a novel, or play is not just like writing a blog post. You have to think about a good storyline, you have to create believable characters who develop in your story and make it interesting for your readers.

picture by Alfred Lohmann

When I start writing, I firstly think about what do I wanna tell people, what is my intention, my main topic? Inspiration is everywhere, you just have to keep your eyes open. It might be hard to find something good to write about, and even harder to create the characters. So what can you do when you don’t wanna write a fan fiction?

Fan fiction is a good thing to start with, as you only have to think of the story and not of the characters. You don’t have to explain so much about them, because people already know the characters, where they live, who and how they are. So it’s also for you easier to think of the behavior of them. How they handle and what they say in various situations. No character is exactly the same, they can’t agree all the time, that would not be real life. And even you as a writer want to write about people who could really exist that way, so they also have to have some imperfections, some problems they have to deal with. They have to overcome their fear, or do something that is worth to be written about.

Different characters have different opinions, so you reach more people. Some agree with one character and some with the other. You can show two different sides, and don’t think in only one way. Development is also important because your readers want to feel with your characters, so they get more and more interested in his or her life, and when they find some parts of your character in themselves and talk about them like they would know them personally, you have won. That’s a very good thing for your story.

Every person speaks differently, so it’s good, when your readers just read the spoken words and know which of your characters is saying that. So before you start writing, you think about all the characters that appear in your story. Think what they like, what they don’t like, where they come from, write them a family story. Are they related, are they friends, do they know each other or do they meet at some point of your story? When you know everything about them, you can easier feel like them and have a better imagination how they would talk and what they might say. Then it’s like fan fiction – you have the characters and can finally write your story.

picture by Tony Fischer

But where do you get the information you need that you can create characters? Well, I love to watch people and think what they might say to each other. Imagine you’re sitting on a bench in the park. A woman walks by with her dog. Kids are playing nearby. What could she think? Does she like the kids? Does she wanna have her own kids, or does she already have a girl or a boy? Maybe she and her husband are separated and the kids are with him, and she has to go alone for a walk with the dog. The kids can remind her that she misses her own kids, maybe that she went to that playground very often with them. Or she thinks about her childhood, that she used to live here, then moved and came back because of her mom who needs her help. What could have happened? Why is she going for a walk, or is she on the way to her girlfriend?

People are everywhere, and so is the inspiration. You wanna write about the real life, so go out and watch the real life. Don’t follow anyone, just watch people in one specific moment. No matter if you're on a bus, at the mall, or anywhere else. Think what these guys could think about. Why are they here? What are they doing? With whom are they here? Think about their story. This helps me a lot to find something to write about.

Just go out, get your inspiration and write. Good writing needs time and also lots of rewritings, editing and changes, but it makes fun to create a story and characters. You can also write in a coffee shop, or at the library. Maybe there is more inspiration, as only sitting on your computer at home.