My 50th Triond Article
I have been experiencing a nasty case of writer’s block since posting my 49th article. I have spent the last week trying to come up with the perfect topic for my 50th.
I would like my 50th article to be special, full of wit and humor, with a generous dash of sentiment to invoke the reader’s empathy, maybe even a tear or two.
It should start with an engaging hook to draw my readers in. Something novel and catchy that will appeal to a wide audience. Perhaps something about how nothing funny happened on my way to work this morning, because I work at home and I am still in my PJs at 3:45 in the afternoon.
I have written about embarrassing but cute things that my kids did when they were younger. I had to promise a share of my profits to garner permission to share their childhood antics with all of my friends on the World Wide Web. (Mommy can I have? The Writing on the Wall, That’s Yucky, Mom!)
I have ranted about the emotional anguish that accompanies the parenting of teenagers. I am told that there is a reliable cure for teenage angst: just wait another five to ten years. Their hormonal rages and unwarranted temper tantrums will hopefully have settled. Plus they will be out of the house (we hope!) and discovering the realities of life by then. I am looking forward to the day that they recognize how intelligent and well-informed their father and I really are. (Sibling rivalry, Where’s my village? Five ways to get your kids out of bed.)
I have written ad nauseam about life with Parkinson’s Disease: from the challenges of being a parent with Parkinson’s, to the perspectives that have helped me to cope with chronic pain – like: “If life throws a pile of crap into your back yard, spread it out on the garden and grow flowers.”( Perspectives on Parkinson’s, Parenting with Parkinson’s)
I have chronicled in gory detail the saga of my brain surgery. An eight part miniseries documents this ordeal from the day of the first surgery to a six month update of life with a Deep Brain Stimulation implant.
Post surgery daze
The first night after surgery
Restless in Portage la Prairie
The second surgery
Done at last
More waiting
DBS device turned on at last
Life five months after surgery
I have shared my woes about weight in a couple of articles (Weight loss, science vs. myth, The vengeful wardrobe mistress); I have attempted to entertain with witty repartees about my country (Like, totally Canadian, eh?), and poked fun at my own ineptitude with any electronic invented after the 8 track player (Techno Challenged Mom, What’s an eight track?).
Most eternally significant have been the articles in which I shared my faith in Jesus Christ (What is a Christian, Why the ten commandments still matter). My relationship with my creator defines who I am more than any writing talent that I may or may not possess, and definitely more than how much money I make using this talent.
So perhaps the topic for my 50th Triond article could be something like a stroll down the memory lane of the first 49. I just have to make sure I don’t close with some cheesy cliché about how I’m looking forward to writing the next 50.
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Tags: biography, humour, parenting, Parkinson's disease, topics, writer's block
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November 21st, 2008 at 9:06 am
Karen, congratulations! Here’s to another 50. In honor of your anniversary, I will go back and read some of your previous gems.
Brian
PS What wonderful topics you have written on. May your heart and mind be flooded for great ideas and loose fingers for #51.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:30 am
That was a great idea. It helps those of us who are new here to get a better sense of you and your writings. It also helps to spark the intrigue and as Brian said, “go back” and read some of your previous work.
50… wow… sounds like such a menacing number when you’re fresh off the block. Congratulations! You’re a gem
November 21st, 2008 at 10:47 am
And yout 50th article was indeed a gem!
Best,
Inna
November 21st, 2008 at 12:22 pm
This is a great article. Can I suggest something that may make it slightly better?
Link up your other ariticles when you discuss them. So for example, when you mention having written about the cute things your kids have done, those words should be a link up to the articles about which they speak.
In your next paragraph about emotional anguish, you should link up your articles about emotional anguish. By the end of the article, you could’ve linked at least half of your other articles. This will provide the reader with an option to read all your other articles, right from this page.
November 21st, 2008 at 8:03 pm
You did choose wisely. I enjoyed reading your 50th article. I hope you continue and publish 50 more. you have my best wishes, Ruby
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Hello Karen, Very nice… I was drawn to your page because of a comment you left on an article about advertising from the early 1900’s. You hit the nail right on the head with your comment “…but I personally think that the cultural pendulum has swung a bit too far to the side of neurotic parents…” You are absolutely correct, maybe the next generation will find a median ground!
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
You have a talented writing style. I will have to read more of the 48 I haven’t gotten to yet.
Grant
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Enjoyed reading this one. You could have added some links to your other articles. I will be looking forward to seeing you publish 50 times more articles.
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Thank you all for your encouraging words. I still have my writer’s block, though. Anything you want to know about me?
November 24th, 2008 at 7:10 am
How clever! This has gotten you a ticket on MY TRIOND BANDWAGON come and find it!
November 24th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Congrats on your 50th. It’s a fine read, and has caused me to want to read more of your 50 in the next few days.
December 9th, 2008 at 2:09 am
Well its a bit late, but congrats, I’m so glad you are still writing, good luck on the rest.
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:33 pm
congratulations for ur half century.
July 13th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Your 50th! Congrats…:)
Don’t worry, writer’s block has attacked me as well in the past…just writing and/or taking time off will generally work.
See you later!
-Fresh Writing