Comments on: Death By Flying Typewriter http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/ Listen to stories on anything from honeymoons to WWII, from award-winning journalists to first-time writers alike, from anywhere in the world. Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:36:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: J.R. Smith http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1910 Mon, 29 Jan 2007 17:39:15 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1910 Felice, what a great story. Its a good thing you decided to start writing again. I think I know who your teacher was, and its driving me nuts. Are the initials of this certain writer H.C., and has he written a novel with a title that rhymes with "A Feast of Cakes?" How about "The Gospel Ringer?" This certain writer is one of my personal favorites, and I would give anything to have him throw a typewriter at my head, let alone be my writing teacher. Anyway, I really enjoyed reading this, thanks. Felice, what a great story. Its a good thing you decided to start writing again. I think I know who your teacher was, and its driving me nuts. Are the initials of this certain writer H.C., and has he written a novel with a title that rhymes with “A Feast of Cakes?” How about “The Gospel Ringer?” This certain writer is one of my personal favorites, and I would give anything to have him throw a typewriter at my head, let alone be my writing teacher. Anyway, I really enjoyed reading this, thanks.

]]> by: Ellyne Gaal http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1678 Fri, 19 Jan 2007 02:15:33 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1678 Felice: As someone who has known you probably longer than just about anyone else, I never doubted your talent. You never cease to bring a smile to my face as I read, whether it's(or it is, depending on whom you ask, or who you ask) about raising children, or growing up(in which I was there, also). As an educator, I am amazed that someone would throw a typewriter at a student. No matter how frustrated I get at the students, and we all know how frustrating that can be, I would never think about throwing a typewriter. A nerf ball or a pair of socks, maybe, but never a typewriter. It just proves, the bigger you are, the bigger the jerk. May you get big and famous, but never, ever become a jerk. Felice: As someone who has known you probably longer than just about anyone else, I never doubted your talent. You never cease to bring a smile to my face as I read, whether it’s(or it is, depending on whom you ask, or who you ask) about raising children, or growing up(in which I was there, also). As an educator, I am amazed that someone would throw a typewriter at a student. No matter how frustrated I get at the students, and we all know how frustrating that can be, I would never think about throwing a typewriter. A nerf ball or a pair of socks, maybe, but never a typewriter. It just proves, the bigger you are, the bigger the jerk. May you get big and famous, but never, ever become a jerk.

]]> by: Edmund http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1669 Thu, 18 Jan 2007 18:12:45 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1669 Hi Felice, Hi Beverly Good work, Felice, as always. Almost motivated to write something myself. Hi Felice, Hi Beverly

Good work, Felice, as always. Almost motivated to write something myself.

]]> by: J. Ledbetter http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1421 Wed, 10 Jan 2007 00:23:38 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1421 Ms Prager, Thank you for sharing this part of your past! You write so well...as one commentor said, "..always interesting, always so easily conversational.." I especially appreciate this story now, as I approach my 40th birthday in a few weeks (yikes!). I think most of us have a time in our life that we can look back and remember someone "clipping our wings". Somewhere around our 40th birthday, we realize the spark is still there...its ALWAYS been there..and we finally learn to fly. Thank you for sharing this and helping us all to remember to spread our wings and soar!! We get one shot at this life; your story helped to remind us all of that. Ms Prager,

Thank you for sharing this part of your past! You write so well…as one commentor said, “..always interesting, always so easily conversational..”

I especially appreciate this story now, as I approach my 40th birthday in a few weeks (yikes!). I think most of us have a time in our life that we can look back and remember someone “clipping our wings”. Somewhere around our 40th birthday, we realize the spark is still there…its ALWAYS been there..and we finally learn to fly.

Thank you for sharing this and helping us all to remember to spread our wings and soar!! We get one shot at this life; your story helped to remind us all of that.

]]> by: Rob Daugherty http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1384 Mon, 08 Jan 2007 17:28:23 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1384 I always enjoy your writing, Felice. I feel as though I'm sitting next to you on the porch as you blab on and on about something that's been on your mind -- always interesting, always so easily conversational. What I'd like to know is what happened to all those in your class that WERE inspired by this author. I'd also like to know what, exactly, inspired them. I'd like to know because I would love to be accidentally inspirational -- where I don't come across all self-help-cheezy-poofy but people leave with that little bit of something that moves them. (I'd also like to throw a typewriter, because that's sounds like fun.) Your writing does that to me. I always think, "That was good. It seemed so effortless and so casual. I think I'll give it a try." And so, my compliments to the late-bloomer. I always enjoy your writing, Felice. I feel as though I’m sitting next to you on the porch as you blab on and on about something that’s been on your mind — always interesting, always so easily conversational.

What I’d like to know is what happened to all those in your class that WERE inspired by this author. I’d also like to know what, exactly, inspired them.

I’d like to know because I would love to be accidentally inspirational — where I don’t come across all self-help-cheezy-poofy but people leave with that little bit of something that moves them. (I’d also like to throw a typewriter, because that’s sounds like fun.)

Your writing does that to me. I always think, “That was good. It seemed so effortless and so casual. I think I’ll give it a try.”

And so, my compliments to the late-bloomer.

]]> by: G Adams http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1312 Wed, 03 Jan 2007 21:57:29 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1312 Certainly a great story that I think most adults can relate to in some fashion. My personal downfall in college was creative writing, a required class, that ultimately flunked me out of that esteemed institution. To present a paper on the workings and concept of the internal combustion engine, NO PROBLEM. Write 200 words on \"Why\", I\'m dead in the water. I never had a taste for Math and with a father who earned a nice living in the accounting division, again I was in a bit of a bind. As the years passed and my experiences grew I once again was forced to utilize various forms of math from the simple addition and subtraction to rather advanced algebra. Then, of course, came the advent of the computer with formula\'s being the only way to create a spreadsheet customized to your application. To my surprize, I adapted rather well. What\'s happening, I\'m actually GOOD at this stuff. Can\'t be, I HATE MATH. But this is almost fun, writing formulas, creating spreadsheets, making the program do what I want it to. I think I\'ll teach others how to do this. And for a number of years I made a nice side job of teaching people how to use this wonderful machine that 20 yrs ago would have been akin to something George Orwell or Jules Verne wrote about. What a wonderful story that we must all look back into our own pasts and smile. Just a bit. Gary Certainly a great story that I think most adults can relate to in some fashion.

My personal downfall in college was creative writing, a required class, that ultimately flunked me out of that esteemed institution. To present a paper on the workings and concept of the internal combustion engine, NO PROBLEM. Write 200 words on \”Why\”, I\’m dead in the water.

I never had a taste for Math and with a father who earned a nice living in the accounting division, again I was in a bit of a bind. As the years passed and my experiences grew I once again was forced to utilize various forms of math from the simple addition and subtraction to rather advanced algebra. Then, of course, came the advent of the computer with formula\’s being the only way to create a spreadsheet customized to your application. To my surprize, I adapted rather well. What\’s happening, I\’m actually GOOD at this stuff. Can\’t be, I HATE MATH. But this is almost fun, writing formulas, creating spreadsheets, making the program do what I want it to. I think I\’ll teach others how to do this. And for a number of years I made a nice side job of teaching people how to use this wonderful machine that 20 yrs ago would have been akin to something George Orwell or Jules Verne wrote about.

What a wonderful story that we must all look back into our own pasts and smile. Just a bit.

Gary

]]> by: Tom Soltan http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1297 Tue, 02 Jan 2007 02:56:56 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1297 A great personal story that the writer brings to life in a vivid way. Nice work, Ms. Prager. A great personal story that the writer brings to life in a vivid way. Nice work, Ms. Prager.

]]> by: E. Doctorow http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1291 Mon, 01 Jan 2007 20:55:06 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1291 In regard to the above comment from Jim Dwyer, the subject of contractions is interesting and, of course, one for debate. If you search the web, most style sheets agree that contractions are perfectly acceptable in dialogue but should be avoided in formal writing. Some grammarians totally avoid the subject. It is 'old school' vs 'new school' - traditionalists tend to win. In many cases, the editor-in-chief or publisher is the final word on the issue. In regard to this essay, I did not feel the traditional use slowed the essay at all. In fact, I think it added some emphasis to points made and I would not (contraction use avoided deliberately) be surprised if that had been the author's conscious choice. E.D. In regard to the above comment from Jim Dwyer, the subject of contractions is interesting and, of course, one for debate. If you search the web, most style sheets agree that contractions are perfectly acceptable in dialogue but should be avoided in formal writing. Some grammarians totally avoid the subject. It is ‘old school’ vs ‘new school’ - traditionalists tend to win. In many cases, the editor-in-chief or publisher is the final word on the issue. In regard to this essay, I did not feel the traditional use slowed the essay at all. In fact, I think it added some emphasis to points made and I would not (contraction use avoided deliberately) be surprised if that had been the author’s conscious choice.

E.D.

]]> by: Jim Dwyer http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1285 Sun, 31 Dec 2006 15:55:59 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1285 Felice, Nice work. Two things to consider: 1.) Use more contractions (change "I could not write for him to "I couldn't write for him) to speed up the story. 2.) Contact the typewriter-throwing teacher to let him know he inspired you. Thanks! Jim jimdwyer.blogspot.com Felice,

Nice work. Two things to consider:

1.) Use more contractions (change “I could not write for him to “I couldn’t write for him) to speed up the story.

2.) Contact the typewriter-throwing teacher to let him know he inspired you.

Thanks!

Jim
jimdwyer.blogspot.com

]]> by: Bob Cohen http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1241 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 17:21:51 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/12/15/death-by-flying-typewriter/#comment-1241 In H.S. I had an art teacher throw a "D'" battery at me for the way I was holding a paint brush. I gave up being an artist. Felice, luckily for us you never gave up being a writer. Keep your eyes open for flying criticism. In H.S. I had an art teacher throw a “D’” battery at me for the way I was holding a paint brush. I gave up being an artist. Felice, luckily for us you never gave up being a writer. Keep your eyes open for flying criticism.

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