Patricia Stoltey

Author

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
  • Contact

Saturday Soliloquy

May 12, 2012 By: Patricia

Talking to myself (but never aloud, of course) is a very satisfying way to deal with the annoying things in life.

Things like people on Facebook who endlessly harp on political or social issues by parroting news headlines or the latest propaganda without actually reading and understanding the issues.

Like people on Twitter who throw out provocative tweets just to aggravate and agitate.

Like “news” stories that deliberately distort or exaggerate the facts.

By talking to myself I can say things I’d never post to Facebook or Twitter, or never write in a comment on a blog or online news story.

Talking to myself is also helpful in a positive way. Affirmations are a good example. I can create a mantra made up of affirmations such as “I am young at heart, healthy in body, and feel great.”

Or imagine a dialogue between two characters in my manuscript.

Or practice what I’m going to say (and what the agent will say) in an agent pitch session at a conference.

There’s also something very satisfying about plopping down in a rocking chair and having a good talk with myself from time to time. No one argues, lectures, or complains during one of our little chats.

I’ve been feeling pretty cranky about that Facebook, Twitter, and news thing lately, so I think it’s time we had a talk. How about this afternoon?

Works for me. I’ll meet you at the rocking chair.

More from my site

  • Tips and Techniques for Interviewing Witnesses by Colleen Collins and Shaun Kaufman, Guest BloggersTips and Techniques for Interviewing Witnesses by Colleen Collins and Shaun Kaufman, Guest Bloggers
  • The Search for Good IdeasThe Search for Good Ideas
  • Brain FreezeBrain Freeze
  • Solo Signing — The Rest of the StorySolo Signing — The Rest of the Story
  • Chilling TodayChilling Today
  • A to Z Challenge:  S is for Sociology (and Susan Spann and “Stories Gathered at the Kitchen Table” by Anne Randolph)A to Z Challenge: S is for Sociology (and Susan Spann and “Stories Gathered at the Kitchen Table” by Anne Randolph)

Category: Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Dean K Miller says

    May 14, 2012 at 12:11 am

    Ahhhh, the Rocker. That wonderful feelng of moving without going anywhere.

    Sensationalism still rules the airwaves and social media waves as well.

    When enough stop following it will subside. Just wish it would happen sooner instead of later.

  2. lizy-expat-writer says

    May 13, 2012 at 3:38 pm

    I’ve been talking to myself for years – since I was a child, in fact, which is well over half a century ago – and thought I was the odd one out. Perhaps I was simply moving in the wrong circles!

  3. The Golden Eagle says

    May 13, 2012 at 1:24 pm

    It’s amazing what inflammatory things people will say for no good reason. I’m not on Twitter or Facebook but the more I hear about social networking, I can’t say I’m all that eager to join.

  4. Patricia Stoltey says

    May 12, 2012 at 3:33 pm

    Medeia — it’s wise not to react. People seem to have very short fuses these days. And thanks for the Mother’s Day wishes. My kids live out of state, so I plan to hang around the house in sloppy clothes and relax…offline.

    Diane — really, talking to ourselves makes a lot of sense. That way, no one ever goes away mad. πŸ˜€

  5. L. Diane Wolfe says

    May 12, 2012 at 2:13 pm

    A friend warned me not to even send her a Facebook message but to email since everyone in NC came unglued Wednesday after the voting. (Neither of us did though!) I rarely look at the stream there though. Rather go talk to myself.

  6. Medeia Sharif says

    May 12, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    I have my favorite sitting areas to be by myself, simmering in my own thoughts.

    I don’t react to aggressive tweeters or Facebook drama.

    Happy Mother’s Day.

  7. Patricia Stoltey says

    May 12, 2012 at 12:07 pm

    Lynn — my rocker is starting to creak…probably need to slow down.

    Greetings, Hilary — we’ve had so much warm summer sun this spring that the current two days of gray skies and rain are very welcome. The sun will come out tomorrow… πŸ˜€

  8. Hilary Melton-Butcher says

    May 12, 2012 at 12:00 pm

    Hi Patricia .. finding our way – so much unnecessary ‘chat’ out there – mostly waffle ..

    Totally agree – now I need a rocking chair .. but actually some warm summer sun too ..

    Happy Mother’s Day tomorrow – cheers Hilary

  9. Patricia Stoltey says

    May 12, 2012 at 11:40 am

    Stephanie — “the tweets of the bird-brained” is perfect! Love it.

    Hi Jacqueline — I do love Twitter for connecting with some interesting bloggers, but I’m finally learning to unfollow folks there and unfriend them on Facebook if they’re only using the site as a soapbox for their attacks on whatever and whoever they think will trigger a fight. Life is too short to spend time fuming over nonsense.

  10. Lynn Proctor says

    May 12, 2012 at 11:39 am

    haha i know what you mean–enjoy that rocker!

  11. Jacqueline Seewald says

    May 12, 2012 at 11:20 am

    I’m not that thrilled with Facebook or Twitter either. I use them a bit but doubt anyone pays much attention to it.

  12. Stephanie V says

    May 12, 2012 at 10:50 am

    Is there room for another rocking chair? FB and Twitter – and the news media, too – are worthy of a rant. I do exactlky what you do with FB and I’ve never understood the drip of mediocrity that comprises most of what I see in twitter. I do not play but it’s hard to avoid when the tweets of the bird-brained are posted everywhere. oops! I think I said that out loud. Thanks for the soapbox.

  13. Patricia Stoltey says

    May 12, 2012 at 9:35 am

    Hi Alex — I’ve been avoiding Facebook too. I log on, look for updates from a few good friends, type my update to promote my guest bloggers, then get out. I think I’ll stop watching the news as well. πŸ˜€

  14. Alex J. Cavanaugh says

    May 12, 2012 at 8:18 am

    I have a couple friends who are just avoiding Facebook this week. Glad I’m not on it.

Meet Patricia

I read, I write, I blog, and sometimes I do the laundry and cook. My 2014 novel, Dead Wrong, was a finalist in the thriller category of the 2015 Colorado Book Awards. Wishing Caswell Dead (Five Star/Cengage, December 20, 2017) is a historical mystery set in 1830s Illinois in the fictitious Village of Sangamon. The novel was a finalist for the 2018 Colorado Book Awards for General Fiction. My most recent release, In Defense of Delia (Five Star/Cengage, November 2022), is available in hardcover and will soon be available in ebook and trade paperback. Read More…

Search

Categories

In Defense of Delia

In Defense of Delia

Wishing Caswell Dead

Dead Wrong

Copyright © 2023 · Customized with by: Upperdale Designs