Saturday, May 14, 2011

The '25 Things' of Alex Past...


While looking through my documents I found this; My '25 things' from 2009. I stand by everything I wrote here. Number 7 is of particular interest in reference to this blog...

1.    There is nothing more terrifying to me than the idea of dying alone and friendless. I understand that most people have this fear, but it terrifies me nonetheless. In year 10 I had to read ‘The Pigman’ (written by somebody amazing yet sadly forgettableL). This book changed my entire view regarding the relationships you make throughout your life. Until I read this book, I held the idea that once you found your “true-love” you would never be lonely again. This book completely shattered this notion. DAMN YOU PAUL ZINDEL! (that’s his name by the way:P)
2.     Despite this however, I’m also terrified of developing close relationships with people – friendship is fine but anything more intimate frightens me.
3.    I wish I was more intelligent then I am. I guess I’m incredibly jealous of/ intimidated by the people I associate with regularly.
4.     I love being a Jewess. It makes my uncontrollable political incorrectness somewhat justifiable…
5.     I hate it when people assume that because I’m Jewish I must also be pro-Zionist. I AM NOT! I believe that politics has NO place within religion, and that I shouldn’t be forced to embrace a cause I do not support simply because of my ethnicity and cultural ties.
6.    I have never broken anybodies heart or had my heart broken. I prefer to watch other people living their lives instead of living my own. It’s just easier that way.
7.    I wish I had the creativity/ talent to write anything of significance, whether it be stories, music, essays, speeches, anything really. Words don’t come easily to me (surprisingly)! I have so many thoughts buzzing around in my head at any one time, that ordering them to form coherent/complete sentences/ideas is usually so much effort that I lose all pleasure in doing so, thus defeating the purpose of writing anything in the first place.
8.    Despite this lack of talent, I won the state prize in the Nestle Write Around Australia Competition in 2001. My story was about a boy that got eaten by his rubbish bin. It was called ‘How I Died from a Simple Chore’.
9.    I have trouble sleeping at night. It’s really becoming a problem.
10. I genuinely believe my life would be better if I was a man, least of all because I would (hopefully) have the capacity to grow a crazy-delicious beard without being judged by society.
11. I feel sad if I’m not one of the funniest people in the room mainly because I feel that my sense of humour/ the ability to make other laugh is all I really have to contribute to society.
12.  If you’re lost, you can look and you will find me, time after time.
13.  I really wish I could sing musicals well and hit up Broadway! Of course, even if I was amazing I would still have to be able to dance (which I can’t)… damn… it was an amazing plan while it lasted…
14. Surprisingly, I really don’t hate people. Unfortunately I have the capacity to strongly dislike somebody for an extended period of time, but once I’m left to stew, I realize that I never hated them in the first place, nor shall I in the future. This is yet another example of why the things that I say should be ignored…
15. I really dislike weddings and funerals – really any place where it is dictated how you should emotionally react to the situation. I’m the sort of person who would cry at a wedding and laugh at a funeral. This isn’t because I’m a horrible person or anything (mum), but because that is how I deal with things.
16. I can’t stand to see men cry – if they cry, I cry. I think this is because of my father. Growing up, I only ever saw my dad cry in sadness twice – when I was 7 he cried because my nona’s dementia had become so bad that she didn’t recognize him anymore, and when I was 12 and she passed away. I guess I associate men crying with truly devastating events, events that I should feel horrible about…
17. I don’t read as much as I used to. This saddens me
18.  I do not have any hobbies or interests.
19.  If I eat too much sugar I start crying uncontrollable about insignificant things. It’s really awkward to both experience and justify to people who aren’t aware of this.
20.  When I was in primary school I was bullied a lot and had no friends. I think it’s because of this that I worry that nobody likes me. Even when I’m in a crowded room or in the centre of a circle I feel excluded.
21.  I love colour. The only colour I don’t like (although it is really a shade) is white. I have never liked it, and I doubt I ever will. I find it too cold, uninviting and unemotional.
22.  I love my bother but hate what he’s become. Unfortunately he can’t see how his actions affect us all. I think that dealing with him has taught me a lot about tolerating the behaviors of the people you love even if you hate what they are doing to themselves.
23.  My bedroom looks like an amazing combination of a museum, library, second hand shop and apothecary on crack. I love it.
24. When I develop crushes on people (which I do A LOT) they tend to last for a long time. This is because I’m generally attracted to my idea of the person rather than the person themselves. What this means is that if I have ever had a crush on you, you are not in a relationship and we haven’t have a falling out of massive proportions, chances are I still like you to some degree… you have been warned:P
25.  I’m sorry for inflicting my insecurities upon you. I will never do it again… today. 

Friday, January 7, 2011

Ah, unrealistic/highly romanticised ideals, my old friends...

As is apparent, it has been a while since my last post. I would like to say that life has been standing in my way, holding me back from all progress on this not-so-epic quest to self realisation, but if I did I would be lying. Yes, life has made it difficult, robbing me of time and energy, but the complete lack of motivation is not life's fault, it is my own. 

I think it is safe to say that Short Fiction and it's many subgenres is not my thing. With five Short Fiction subgenres left to explore (55 Fiction, Drabble, Flash, Microfiction, Pinhead) I found myself unable to dedicate time to any of them, found myself unable to care enough...

I find Short Fiction too limited, to fixed for me. I want to write, unhindered by the constrains of world limit or the convention of a twist ending. I want to to swept away by an idea and be able to go as far as I can with it without worrying if I've gone too far. At this point in this experiment, the only thing I know for certain is that I don't want to feel like the genre is holding me back. 

It is for this reason that I'm going to shut the door on Short Fiction and focus on another genre and it's subgenres. I haven't quite decided which yet, but will (wankily) let my heart decide. 

A new genre, a new adventure, a new reason to greet the world with excitement, wonder and awe. 

Here's hoping I learn something...