It’s been a while since I participated in Napowrimo. There’s no specific reason. Just too many thing going on during the month (during all the months). But, I decided I’d give a go, this year.… More
Leave the World Behind
I just finished watching Leave the World Behind on Netflix. The film is an adaptation of a book by the same name, written by Rumaan Alam. I started reading the book today. I’m roughly halfway through and I feel that the book is more subtle in its observations about the environment, racism, classism and conspiracy than the film is. The book gives you room to decide how subtle or blatant any of the illustrated social issues are in this type of crisis. (I’m nowhere near the end of the book, so this subtly I’m describing may change.)
I enjoyed the film to a certain point. There is a buildup as one strange thing after another happens to the two families involved, but for all of the build up, I feel like the ending fell flat.
Leave the World Behind is what I would call. “a quiet film.” There wasn’t a lot of action. There was a lot of conversation between characters, and outside of the loud and scary things that were happening in the film like planes, falling out of the sky and ships running aground, there wasn’t much action.
Many of the comments that I’ve seen about this film have said that it seems like the main message of the movie promotes hate against white people. I disagree with that. I think the film, like the book, took a look at things that already exist and considered how we respond in a crisis when we have limited or unverified information. (Remember COVID and the run on toilet paper and water?) It examined the types of things that might happen leading up to a collapse or infiltration of our infrastructure. It talked about conspiracy theories, our overreliance on technology, and yes, it did talk about racism and classism, too. It also talked about how fear changes the people you thought you knew well, and how all of the unknowns makes us compete for limited resources to the point of violence.
Even though I’m not a fan of the ending, I still recommend the film, and encourage you to read the book. It’s a good story. The book will give you plenty to think about.
What are your thoughts on the film and book?
How We Close
Here we are again on the cusp of saying ‘goodbye’ to the current year and rushing into the arms of the New Year. 2021 is being swept, dusted, mopped and saged out of our dwellings.
Many will proclaim the exiting year as horrible and glad to be rid of it. Declarations will be made regarding personal change, owning the new year and resolutions will be written about improving health, finances and relationships.
Rubbing up against all the declarations, proclamations and resolutions is the desire to “return to normal,” in the face of a persistent and deadly virus that has decided to take up residence in our lives. Isn’t it interesting how we long for the years we called horrible as the calendar moves from past to present?
Jim George is credited with saying, “It’s not how you start, but how well you finish.” If that is the case, it seems like searching for what was good in 2021 is a good way to set the tone for 2022.
No year is completely perfect. There will be ups and downs. That’s a part of life. More than several times this year when asked how I was doing, my response was, “Life is ‘lifing!’” (I know “lifing” isn’t a real word…but I’m a writer. I have the fine privilege of creating new words.) Somewhere along the way, I got tired of listing the things I see as “bad.” Besides, nobody really cares.
And so, as we bid 2021 farewell, I invite you to consider all the things that were good, all the things that went according to plan, and anything that created a new opportunity or opened a door for you (even if it was attached to a less than perfect experience). Walk into the New Year by making peace with the last year.
I wish you and yours a Happy New Year. Make it great.
What I’m Working on Now
I’m sure you’ve noticed the enormous gaps in blog posts over here. (I am SO sorry!) I’m still writing…in spurts. My physical and mental writing space has been cluttered for a while. My creative focus however, has shifted a bit.
For the past several months I’ve been having online discussions about Black Cinema. I’m uncomfortable calling them “reviews.” We aren’t “thumbs-up” or “thumbs-down” about every movie. We discuss the backgrounds of the movies, the cultural impacts and influences the films may have had at the time, we even talk about a little film history. (My co-host, Don is like a walking film library!)
I love breaking down the story, Don can tell you all about the actors, directors and production details, and Nicole keeps me and Don from going off the rails!
You can find these lively discussions on the Facebook group: Movies That Move We, our YouTube channel: Movies That Move We, and every week on Clubhouse (you guessed it) on Movies That Move We!
Stop by the YouTube page and take a sneak peek at some of the previous shows. We’re a lively crew! (And we keep the conversation going over on Facebook!)
120 Seconds
I see them every day on my commute. They don’t have access to proper face masks, so they pull the hoods of their jackets over their heads and draw the strings tight until they only have a slit to peer through. It’s the only protection they have from the virus.
They work each end of the intersection, one holding a sign stating his cause, the other two held bunches of flowers and walked between the cars, trying to sell them whenever traffic came to a stop.
They all kept a pace. But, I noticed the young man working the northbound traffic the most. He had a noticeable limp, but his gait held purpose. As soon as the light turned red, he left his position at the top of the median and began marching between the cars. During this time of day, he could only walk between the turn lanes. He knew he only had 120 seconds to make it to the bottom of the turn lane before the light turned green and he would need to begin his march back to the top of the median, again. I watched him do his work, counting his steps and the seconds, waving the bouquet of flowers in his left hand while clutching three other bouquets in the crook of his right arm, hoping all the while a driver might have a few dollars to spare for some flowers. He wasn’t asking for a handout, he was trying to make some money to buy something to eat, or maybe to get some more comfortable shoes. The soles of his of his boots were falling apart.
The light turned green. I glanced in my rear view mirror to see him marching back up the median, counting his steps as traffic moved forward and new rows of customers rolled to a stop.
Motherhood
Ten little fingers,
on two perfect hands.
Ten perfect toes,
on two perfect feet.
The first precious breath,
first wail of new life
erases all pain,
and fills the senses with delight.
This period of gestation,
labor and rending
was well worth the wait.
What a miraculous transformation.
I thought I was whole.
You’ve wholly changed me;
enlisting me into this new sorority: Motherhood.
New Chapters
The first quarter of the year has come to a close. (That was fast!) I am a co-author in the recently published, Women Overcome Through Writing Anthology. I hope my chapter will encourage anyone who is considering writing her memoirs to push past the fear and write! My contribution to this book has been one of my most challenging projects, so far. Challenging, humbling, and worth it!
Thanks to Coach Jaime Washington for her encouragement and wisdom and we worked through our fears and committed our truths to the page. Congratulations to my co-authors! You ladies are amazing!
Stay tuned! I’ll be sharing a link where you can purchase a copy of this inspiring anthology very soon!
Writing the End, First
When the television show, Scandal, premiered, I recall Shonda Rhimes saying, she knew exactly how the series would end. Being a ‘pantser,’ I was amazed! How did she do that?! I declared her and her writing team a group of stone-cold, geniuses at that moment!
As I mentioned in my previous post, my coaches have challenged me to do some things differently. It’s caused me to revisit the way I approach my writing. I usually start at the beginning, and write in a relatively chronological order – without an outline. (This hasn’t been working for me.) It’s a great way to start and get ideas down on the page, but I’m realizing that I have plan (outline) and perhaps, know where I want the story to end, first. I think I’ll finish more projects if I take that approach.
In the meantime, I have two projects in which to figure out their endings. I’ll keep you posted. (Pray my strength!)
No More Pants
Once a year (usually around November) the question comes up, “Are you a ‘pantser’ or a planner?” This question is usually a reminder that I need to work on my writing organization style. I’m a total ‘pantser.’ I sit down at the desk, and create “by the seat of my pants.” No outline. I let the story wander where it will, and then go back (while I’m still writing) and fix the noticable loopholes. This is a HORRIBLE writing habit. It slows me down and leaves as many holes in my story as there are in swiss cheese.
One of my broad goals is to plan (and execute) better. I have two coaches in my life challenging me to do so. (The funny thing is, I didn’t go looking for coaches. They “happened” to me! LOL! #TheLordProvides!) And so, I’ve spent the last couple of weeks trying to plan, then write. Let’s just say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. This is going to take some work, and getting used to! But I’m determined to become better at planning and executing. My writing life depends on it!
I’ll be sharing more on the process I’m using in coming posts. Stay tuned!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I won’t state the obvious about time passing, days on the calendar, etc., blah, blah, blah…but I will greet you with good tidings, great joy and many blessings for the remainder of 2019! 😀
As for me, the new year started several months ago – at least the emotional and mental prep-work did. I was warned of specific changes coming to my life. Some changes dropped into my lap, forcing me to adjust and be graceful and grateful. (I wasn’t always. I don’t like being pulled out of my comfort zone.) Other changes have been more methodical and deliberate. I do periodic self-evaluations, and determined it was time to let go of certain things so I could move on to better things in life.
I have a few new things in the works. I’ll share those in upcoming blog post. Stay tuned! And I’ll be making some changes here, too. (New window dressing, a little dusting…ya know…clean the place up a little!) So far, 2019 is off to a great start! I hope the same is true for you!
They Shut Me Up
They shut me up…
or at least they tried.
Don’t they remember?
I was born wailing.
I came into the earth
with a God-ordained purpose.
My lips will not be sewn shut.
I’m not a ballerina in a music box.
You can’t close the lid and hide me.
You can’t bring me out for a moment of delight,
then shut the lid and hide me away.
My melody will haunt your imagination.
And long after my demise,
my words will linger.
Someone will remember,
and repeat,
and pass my words on to the next one.
They tried to shut me up.
They tried and failed.
Photo credit: Music Box by Tilemahos Efthimiadis
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