Monday, March 28, 2011

Double-Sided

Double-sided tape is the best invention ever. Seriously.

And I think you should aspire to the awesomeness of double-sided tape. Here's how:

1. You're story should be smooth with no creases and wrinkles. It should look and seem flawless. (Even if every writer out there knows it took a crapload of effort. It shouldn't look or feel that way.)

2. You want your story to stick with people. You want them to feel it long after they've put it down.

3. You shouldn't waste any words, sentences or scenes. Everything should be multi functional and serving double duty to create layers and impressions and inspire feelings.

How do you achieve all these? With some natural talent, a desire to improve your craft, critique partners who will point out the flaws and a whole lot of revision.

But, if you work hard enough, you can be as awesome as double sided tape!

Good luck.

I apologize for the lameness of this post. School is currently frying my brains. I don't have enough cells left to create something brilliant.


What do you want to be like? How was your weekend?
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38 comments:

  1. Creepy Query GirlMarch 28, 2011 at 5:22 AM

    and you can also stick it on your boobs to keep your shirt in place if you've gone braw-less! Yes, double sided tape is the thing of miracles:)

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  2. LindsayMarch 28, 2011 at 5:32 AM

    It isn't a lame post -- I love it.

    Now I want to be as awesome as double-sided tape.

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  3. Janet JohnsonMarch 28, 2011 at 5:42 AM

    You are hilarious! Love the comparison. :)

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  4. Áine TierneyMarch 28, 2011 at 5:45 AM

    Double-sided tape normally gets stuck all over me! Love the way you do these apparently crazy comparisons, that on-reading are inspired. Hope school eases off for you soon.

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  5. B.E. SandersonMarch 28, 2011 at 6:20 AM

    It's not a lame post. I think it's an excellent analogy. And I never used double-sided tape, so it was informative, too. =o)

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  6. ✗✗March 28, 2011 at 6:20 AM

    This is an awesome post!! I love how your mind works.

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  7. GailMarch 28, 2011 at 6:38 AM

    Wonderful analogy...did I spell that right??

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  8. Lydia KangMarch 28, 2011 at 7:19 AM

    The flawless part is hard! Still working on it...
    :)

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  9. Abby MinardMarch 28, 2011 at 7:44 AM

    Dude, SO not lame. Love your analogies and you hit it spot on!

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  10. LunaMarch 28, 2011 at 7:50 AM

    This is a great analogy, Melissa! I now aspire to be like double-sided tape. :)

    Have a fabulous week!

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  11. Laura S.March 28, 2011 at 8:09 AM

    Love it! I will strive to be like double-sided tape.

    Good luck with school!

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  12. Michelle MerrillMarch 28, 2011 at 8:23 AM

    Not lame. Cool analogy. I love the part about the story sticking with you long after you've read it. Those are my favorites :)

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  13. KrispyMarch 28, 2011 at 9:19 AM

    I don't know how you come up with these things, especially if your brain cells are currently fried. Katie beat me to it, but I was also going to mention how it's good for keeping strapless tops in place. Haha.

    Hope school lets up on you soon. My weekend was fun but maybe too fun. I'm intensely tired today. :P

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  14. CiaraMarch 28, 2011 at 9:22 AM

    Nothing lame about it. I loved the post. Great job!

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  15. Sondrae BennettMarch 28, 2011 at 10:00 AM

    Funny comparison. Great post.

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  16. Danyelle L.March 28, 2011 at 10:47 AM

    Love this thought! Especially the part about making the story smooth. The more effortless it looks, the more it probably killed the author to get it there. And I definitely love when stories stick to me and leave hollow places filled in my heart. :)

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  17. AngelaMarch 28, 2011 at 11:10 AM

    Your analogy is brilliant!

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  18. Jennie BaileyMarch 28, 2011 at 11:49 AM

    I LOVE double-sided tape! It IS the best invention ever. You can even use it in a pinch on your jeans. No time to hem? Um, hello double-sided tape.

    Weekend was good, but no time for rewrites and I missed seeing you girlz! Like you said, it felt awkward. Wrong. Can't wait for tonight!!

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  19. GrandpaMarch 28, 2011 at 12:38 PM

    This is short and sweet. And useful. Definitely not lame.

    All the best with your studies.

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  20. Maria McKenzieMarch 28, 2011 at 1:11 PM

    Lame? NOT! It was a great post:). Short and to the point. I love the analogy of a story being like double sided tape--very clever!

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  21. Colene MurphyMarch 28, 2011 at 1:50 PM

    Hahaha! I was thinking invisible and sticky?
    Love you how spun it, though! Can definitely tell you have been in project mode for a while too ;)

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  22. Denise Covey March 28, 2011 at 2:56 PM

    You used lots of adjectives like 'flawless'. Great to aspire to. Now I'll be seeing visions of crinkly tape when I edit.

    Denise<3

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  23. Kenda TurnerMarch 28, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    Cute and creative--both in how useful double-sided tape can be AND your analogy to writing! Fun post. Your brain cells can't be too fried to think this up!

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  24. MeredithMarch 28, 2011 at 6:38 PM

    Haha, how cute! I'm going to strive for double-sided tape writing from now on. :)

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  25. AnonymousMarch 28, 2011 at 8:26 PM

    That's too awesome! And duct tape is like the force. It has a dark side, and a light side. It also holds the universe together. I loved this analogy, thanks for sharing! :)

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  26. CarrieMarch 29, 2011 at 1:02 AM

    Fun post! I can't imagine a world without tape. I don't think I'd survive :)

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  27. fashioneggpplantMarch 29, 2011 at 2:35 AM

    it's a cute post :)

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  28. TaleiMarch 29, 2011 at 6:07 AM

    Nothing lame about this! First thing that popped into my mind was exactly what Katie said... Boobs, I mean breasts, tap to dress, hold in place = no flashing. Wish some of the Hollywood stylists would use more of it, really. ;-)

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  29. Theresa MilsteinMarch 29, 2011 at 7:02 AM

    Ha! Not lame at all!

    Your first one reminds me of watching ballet. It's graceful and easy to the audience, but I know it's anything but. Just like iceskating.

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  30. CiaraMarch 29, 2011 at 7:21 AM

    Hi Melissa,
    I love your blog so much,I've given you a blog award. Go to www.ciaraknight.com to see. Congratulations!

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  31. Tyrean MartinsonMarch 29, 2011 at 9:39 AM

    Awesome! Your brain must work well while fried on school work. I agree with the double sided tape . . . however I've always wanted to write like a dancer in perfect groove with the music - whether it be a ballerina, a breakdancer or a sure-footed tap dancer . . . I want my words to be like a moving dance number to a song that soars.
    By the way, I posted an award for you at my blog last Thursday, but I've been somewhere off-line since then. So check out my Thursday post and grab an award!

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  32. Hart JohnsonMarch 29, 2011 at 10:39 AM

    I don't have the coordination for double stick tape. In fact I have trouble with regular tape. Basic motor skills are one of many reasons I didn't go into medicine... that, and my lack of interest in medicine... *cough*

    I'd LOVE my stories to be like a really well done book! Yeah, okay... so I got nothin...

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  33. TracyMarch 29, 2011 at 11:04 AM

    Nice analogy, but I'd be lying if I said double-sided didn't weird me out. I'm always paranoid about touching it and leaving my fingerprints on one of the sides. (Have no idea why, because it's not like I'm a criminal or anything).

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  34. LTMMarch 29, 2011 at 11:25 AM

    this post is so not lame, it is so true! Hard work, critters and some stickiness win every time~ :D <3

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  35. Jolene PerryMarch 29, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    Dude.
    Double-sided tape is effing brilliant.

    :D

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  36. UnknownMarch 29, 2011 at 5:42 PM

    I wonder if it will work on my butt. One cheek has seemed a little off for months now. Anyways, this post was great. Sonotlame. Stay in class, you're putting too much pressure on the rest of us. LOL.

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  37. PK HREZOMarch 30, 2011 at 3:50 AM

    Love how you tied this into writing. You rock! And it's so challenging making our work seem effortless.

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  38. Jessica NelsonMarch 30, 2011 at 4:18 AM

    Not lame at all! I agree, every word does double dute. :-)

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Thank you in advance for commenting, I read and appreciate every single word.

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