Every month a question will be posed that may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Remember, the question is optional. You can write about anything that relates to your writing journey.
Let's give a warm welcome to our co-hosts: Jemima Pett, J Lenni Dorner, Cathrina Constantine, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Mary Aalgaard!
This month's question is: In your writing, where do you draw the line, with either topics or language?
This one's easy. For me it's graphic sex, language, violence. Since I mostly write for children and teens I don't see the need to perpetuate the negatives of life. I'm more about passing on a little wonder and magic. Call me old-fashioned, or a hippy, but I'm more about peace and love. Particularly in this day and age, it seems, it's what the world needs more of. I'll leave the those other topics, and the language that goes with them, to other writers.
On that note I leave you with this song, written in1964 by Dino Valenti who was in the band Quicksilver Messenger Service. It was first recorded by the Kingston Trio that same year. The Youngbloods didn't recorded it until 1966 and released in July of 1967. The summer of '67, was momentous for me, and this is one of the many songs from that time that had an impact on my 17 year-old brain. It not only has a beautiful melody, the words are pure poetry.
57 years after being written (FIFTY-SEVEN YEARS!!) it is still relevant, still beautiful, and still has meaning.
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now
Love is but a song to sing
Fear's the way we die
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Though the bird is on the wing
And you may not know why
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now
Some may come and some may go
We shall surely pass
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last
We are but a moment's sunlight
Fading in the grass
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now
If you hear the song I sing
You will understand (listen!)
You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It's there at you command
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now
Being Thankful
Today I'm thankful that we've had more rain. Fall is coming. There are morning hints in the coolness of the air and there is the ever so slight fading of green in the leaves.
What are you thankful for? In your writing, is there a line you won't cross? Are there any songs from your childhood/youth that had an impact on you?
Hi, sex and violence is a big no no for me too.
ReplyDeleteI think there are a lot of out here who feel the same.
DeleteI so agree with your answer to this month's question. And thanks for the song this morning. A great way to wake up.
ReplyDeleteLove is but a song to sing!
DeleteGreat song! No point in focusing on the negative in life.
ReplyDeleteRonel visiting for IWSG day as co-host The IWSG Goodreads Book Club
Thanks for stopping by, Ronel!
DeleteIt's probably been well over 40 years since Coca Cola first used that song in a commercial. It was a huge success right from the get-go. I was a teenager, I think, and me and all my friends sang it for a month. Great song! I wish I could remember the date. It's been used several times since then.
ReplyDeleteI had to look it up. It was a Pepsi commercial from 1995! I'd never seen it. It was cute, except for the ending...
DeleteHi Bish - definitely agree with your answer - as too that brilliant song - still so appropriate today ... thanks for the reminder of it. Cheers - Hilary
ReplyDeleteI think that song needs to be part of the American Song Book, a standard.
DeleteI love that song. I got a new job on Monday. I hope I can go into it with love and positive feelings after a bad experience at my last job. Playing this song on the way to work will help me.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I hope your new job is a good match for you and I hope the song made it even better than you hoped!
DeleteI love that song too. And I'm careful with my language because I write for MG and YA too. I'm grateful for a lot of really good changes coming together in my life.
ReplyDeleteOooo, good changes, I like that. Wishing you all the best!
DeleteSince I write adult books, I don't have to babysit language and situations. I do have lines, but I'm pretty much middle of the road. I'm thankful for all the mornings I've woken up ♥ And so much more.
ReplyDeleteI'd say you are not graphic, like some books I've read. I'd say you are quite appropriately adult without going into the sewer.
DeleteI was just a kid when this song came out, but I remember it well. And you right... it is beautiful and does have meaning for today ... if only everyone would OPEN THEIR EARS and HEARTS!
ReplyDeleteMe too, Michael. I do wish people would open their ears and hearts.
DeleteI love that song! Remember it well. I don't want to give my readers sadness and despair. I want them to be happy inside and maybe smile.
ReplyDeleteI like that you are focusing on the lighter things and want to give kids magic and wonder. That's so needed right now!
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful for fall too, for my dear family, good friends (especially my writing buddy), and a job I love.
Such a classic and perfect song for these times...
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with wanting to spread some wonder and magic. :)
ReplyDeleteYour kid's books have so much magic to them.
ReplyDeleteFall is coming here too! Can't wait for 80-90 degree weather to pass.
ReplyDelete