Prompt Time
June 29th 2010 12:13
Today's prompt is:
Write 500 words to the prompt 'Taking Risks'
My response:
Life is all about taking risks. Every time you cross the street, even if the light tells you to walk, you're risking getting hit by a car. Every time you say hello to someone, you're risking that they'll swear at you or spit in your face. Every time you make a new friend, you're risking that someday that person will betray you. And every time you ask somebody out, you're risking that that person will say no.
A friend of mine told me today that he refuses to get attached in a relationship. Every time he starts to get attached, he lets that person go. He's afraid of getting hurt, and that's all right, but eventually you have to take the risk. You'll never have a meaningful relationship if you don't take the risk, and you've gotta learn what heartbreak is before you can truly understand love. Be careful about getting attached, but let it happen, and let yourself love somebody.
The world will beat you down, and you will get hurt, but if you never take the risk, you'll never find true happiness. For every risk there are two possible ends, one good and one bad. If you're falling in love, you might get hurt, but you might be with that person for the rest of your life. If you're making a new friend, you might get stabbed in the back, but you might have that friend until the day you die. If you're submitting a poem or a short story to a magazine, you might get rejected, but you might get your first publication.
As writers we have to learn to take risks, and lots of them. Every submission to a magazine is a risk. Every time you send your query, partial, or your novel to an agent, you're taking a risk. Risk is a daily part of our lives, and we need to accept that. The best way to do it? Build yourself a shell. Thicken your skin. Get used to criticism; take every negative word with a grain of salt. Don't turn a blind eye to every criticism, but pick and choose what you listen to. Know that there will always be somebody who hates your writing-and there will always be somebody who hates you.
Take risks. Live the way you want to, do the things you want to, be with the people you want to be with-don't stop yourself because of the risk. But take precautions. Get to know a person before you start going out with them. Read the submission guidelines before you submit your latest short story to that magazine, and double check your formatting. Life is all about taking risks-but make sure you think about those risks. Think about what might happen. Think about what you can do. Most importantly, decide whether or not it's worth the risk-is the possible hurt more than the possible gain?
Next time you're thinking about backing out of a relationship because you're starting to fall in love, remember that you're throwing away something good that might just last the rest of your life, and don't let the fear overtake you. Take your chance and love that person as completely as possible-and pray the love can be returned.
What do you have to say about taking risks?
Write 500 words to the prompt 'Taking Risks'
My response:
Life is all about taking risks. Every time you cross the street, even if the light tells you to walk, you're risking getting hit by a car. Every time you say hello to someone, you're risking that they'll swear at you or spit in your face. Every time you make a new friend, you're risking that someday that person will betray you. And every time you ask somebody out, you're risking that that person will say no.
A friend of mine told me today that he refuses to get attached in a relationship. Every time he starts to get attached, he lets that person go. He's afraid of getting hurt, and that's all right, but eventually you have to take the risk. You'll never have a meaningful relationship if you don't take the risk, and you've gotta learn what heartbreak is before you can truly understand love. Be careful about getting attached, but let it happen, and let yourself love somebody.
The world will beat you down, and you will get hurt, but if you never take the risk, you'll never find true happiness. For every risk there are two possible ends, one good and one bad. If you're falling in love, you might get hurt, but you might be with that person for the rest of your life. If you're making a new friend, you might get stabbed in the back, but you might have that friend until the day you die. If you're submitting a poem or a short story to a magazine, you might get rejected, but you might get your first publication.
As writers we have to learn to take risks, and lots of them. Every submission to a magazine is a risk. Every time you send your query, partial, or your novel to an agent, you're taking a risk. Risk is a daily part of our lives, and we need to accept that. The best way to do it? Build yourself a shell. Thicken your skin. Get used to criticism; take every negative word with a grain of salt. Don't turn a blind eye to every criticism, but pick and choose what you listen to. Know that there will always be somebody who hates your writing-and there will always be somebody who hates you.
Take risks. Live the way you want to, do the things you want to, be with the people you want to be with-don't stop yourself because of the risk. But take precautions. Get to know a person before you start going out with them. Read the submission guidelines before you submit your latest short story to that magazine, and double check your formatting. Life is all about taking risks-but make sure you think about those risks. Think about what might happen. Think about what you can do. Most importantly, decide whether or not it's worth the risk-is the possible hurt more than the possible gain?
Next time you're thinking about backing out of a relationship because you're starting to fall in love, remember that you're throwing away something good that might just last the rest of your life, and don't let the fear overtake you. Take your chance and love that person as completely as possible-and pray the love can be returned.
What do you have to say about taking risks?
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Comment by RedParrot
Blog is above.
What a great topic for 500 words. G20 reactions have left me annoyed and this is a perfect excuse to consider the position.
I am bowing the the likelihood that it's an unpopular position. It's entirely possible that I will keep this post up only for a short time.
Having said that - it was lovely to haven an opportunity to get this off my chest.
I really enjoyed your post, too ... especially your calm and orderly approach to writing and art and putting it out there. : )
As ever, looking forward to the next post.
Cheers!
RP
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
I missed the riots altogether; all I know is Starbucks got smashed and a couple cars got tipped over. I do agree that some people are making a big fuss about a little bit of damage, but I also think the police may have gone too far. That said, it wasn't necessarily the metro police; there were cops from everywhere here and any of them could have been responsible for whatever screwups there were.
I like the clear voice in which you write the post and the honesty with which you give your opinion. It definitely takes courage to stick your neck out about a controversial topic on the internet, even if you only have five readers.
I like the blog-love the title-and hope to read more there.
~Dianna
Comment by Anonymous
On the other hand, only having 500 words really does force the issue of what is really at the heart of the point. I ended up having to figure out what I felt most strongly about.
I'm really looking forward to having more prompts and writing about them. I find them a great deal of value and get insights every time - either about the topics or about the process.
Cheers!
RP
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
I'm glad you enjoyed writing to this prompt, and I definitely enjoyed reading what you've written.
Writing to prompts is a great way to write with a little less pressure-the central idea, to some extent, is already there. You just have to make it your own. It allows for a certain freedom and the words tend to come quicker when writing to a prompt.
I haven't paid too much attention to the G20-probably less than I should have-because I feel there's little I can do about it. Most people won't listen to someone who is in my place in life-sixteen, not the best of students, doesn't have a summer job-and I can't vote. It'll just make me angry about things I can't necessarily change.
That said, while the effort made by the police can be commended, the results aren't necessarily a good thing, and beating down peaceful protestors, while it happens all the time all over the world, isn't a good thing. It's definitely not black and white, but then again, nothing ever is.
~Dianna
Comment by Chris Kelworth
I've also been trying to take risks with my writing directly - to try rearranging scenes and rewriting passages that I loved creating, but I know could be better or don't fit the finished product. Again, it's tough - but it can be amazing in the end.
Risky business all the way!
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
It's all right to stay in your comfort zone some of the time, but if you always stay there, you never grow as a person. And if you never leave your comfort zone as far as writing goes, you never grow as a writer either.
I'm hoping to take a few steps out of my comfort zone this summer, and I'm hoping that it will allow me to grow as a writer and reach for my dream of publication.
Thanks for reading,
~Dianna