On Saying “No” & November Writing

November 15, 2018November 12, 2018 / Sasha A. Palmer / Leave a comment

Rings a bell?

‘Whatever anyone talked about, and there was a lot of talking, you couldn’t tell anyone that what he was saying was wrong. You couldn’t tell anyone that. You had to say, “Yes, that’s right.” To say “no” was not allowed — death. And those folks wouldn’t stop saying, “Freedom.” How strange.‘

— K.A. Korovin, a famous Russian artist; a diary entry on the post-revolutionary Russia

Do you keep a diary?

Might be a neat idea for the writing month of November — starting a diary. Or, if you feel like socializing, check out ten online writing communities recommended by Writer’s Digest.

Whichever writing activity you choose — spring into action, and enjoy!

Image: K.A. Korovin, “Spring” 1917, public domain

It’s Not about Politics, but…

October 18, 2018October 16, 2018 / Sasha A. Palmer / Leave a comment

Never Again, He Remarked Gloomily

“The Passive Voice is not a blog about politics.”

It’s not. Still, if you’ve been following TPV for sometime, you’ve noticed that the blog is not entirely apolitical.

As Passive Guy himself admits “the heat of political dialogue in the United States…is almost impossible to avoid.”

My blog is about writing.

I started out with an idea that I’d never ever touch the hot topics, such as religion, politics, and the great pumpkin; but I’ve had trouble staying away from them lately.

Writing–like living, feeling, thinking–is inseparable from freedom. And this freedom is under attack.

Faith is under attack.

‘They err who say “the world is turning pagan again.” Would that it were! The truth is that we are falling into a much worse state.’ — C.S. Lewis March, 1953

Our children are not safe.

They are being brainwashed, manipulated.

This vicious nonsense is everywhere, including the world of the written word.

So, when I see evil, I’ll post about it. After all, my blog is about writing.

Image: William James Glackens. Never Again, He Remarked Gloomily, 1909. Black crayon and white gouache with blue crayon underdrawing on paperboard, Overall: 11 3/8 x 13 5/8 in. (28.9 x 34.6 cm). BF2028. Public Domain.

Can We Talk? or the Battle for Free Speech Is in Full Swing

May 10, 2018May 9, 2018 / Sasha A. Palmer / 1 Comment

Luncheon (Le DÃ©jeuner)

“There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.” — Linus

The majority of links I post are writing-related. Writing–like living, feeling, thinking–is inseparable from freedom. And this freedom is under attack.

If you write something that doesn’t fit the narrative — you’re evil. If you happen to be a straight white male, you’re evil a priori, before you dare write anything.

However, no one is safe.

Adhere to the narrative, and you’ll be fine. Break a stereotype — you’ll be condemned. Your sexuality, race, gender won’t matter.

Put to shame “the height of prejudice (which) is to look at somebody and think you know what they think because of the color of their skin.”

“Too many people of all persuasions act as though there are views, based on one’s perceived identity alone, that others must share. No matter what else might be said, that is an extraordinarily warped view of freedom.”

Fight for the right to write. The right to think, feel, live. Be brave.

Enjoyed the post? Share it with others, press ‘like’ — thank you.

Image: Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Luncheon (Le Déjeuner), 1875. Oil on canvas, Overall: 19 3/8 x 23 5/8 in. (49.2 x 60 cm). BF45. Public Domain.

On Guest Posts, Poem Painting, & Freedom

November 2, 2017October 6, 2017 / Sasha A. Palmer

Want to write a guest post for Indies Unlimited? Read this.

“But your poems are rather hard to understand, whereas your paintings are so easy.
Easy?
Of course — you paint flowers and girls and sunsets; things that everybody understands.
I never met him.
Who?
Everybody.”

Find out who the poet/painter is.

Do you pity yourself? Bully yourself? Choose to be free:

Confucius et al., and Anne R. Allen

April 7, 2016April 7, 2016 / Sasha A. Palmer

On the paralyzing effect of “concrete, defined plans for life,” the glory of change, and the liberating power of play and experimentation.

“The talents and weaknesses we are born with get in the way if we allow them to determine what we can and cannot do. The only thing you really need to be good at is the ability to train yourself to get better.”

— Michael Puett and Christine Gross-Loh (with a nod to Xunzi), from “The College of Chinese Wisdom,” The Wall Street Journal, Review, Sat.–Sun., April 2–3, 2016

“Having fun and letting yourself play can be the key to unlocking that box and freeing your creativity from the beliefs you don’t even realize are keeping you trapped inside.”

— Anne R. Allen, from the post “We are All Prisoners or Our Unexamined Beliefs: Is a False Belief Holding Back Your Writing Career?”