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Your Stuff Says Stuff
Posted on August 24th, 2011 3 commentsThat’s right. According to Sam Gosling, a social psychologist, our stuff says stuff about us and our personalities. In fact, he says that in order to really learn about the people you know… don’t spend time with them, spend time with their possessions.
And I just have to say this idea made me SO curious as a writer that I decided I had to find out more. And then the sociologist in me got curious. And then the snoop in me got curious. And now I am in the middle of nowhere without a bookstore to be seen and I am literally burning with curiosity. I’m curious what my stuff says about me (I actually had issues with building a house way back when there were no houses on the market and the only way to get a house was to build one as I feared what living in a brand new house would say about me), what sort of things I can put in my stories to leave telling traces that allow the reader to see what my character is really about–or not about. I’m curious about what my friends are really like, my parents, my in-laws, my relatives of all shapes and sizes, my neighbours, my … well, you get the point. I’m curious!
So, I’ve ordered Gosling’s book “Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You.” And I will report back here on what I read. But come on… you have to admit, aren’t you a touch curious too?
“Sam Gosling is an engaging writer, a brilliant psychologist, and a charming individual—and he must never, ever be allowed inside my office!”–Mary Roach, author of Stiff and Bonk
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Book Review: The Wisdom of Crowds
Posted on December 24th, 2009 No commentsBook Review: The Wisdom of Crowds
By James Surowiecki
Good quote: “It may be, in the end, that a good society is defined more by how people treat strangers than by how they treat those they know.” (Page 118)
An interesting read from a sociological perspective. Basically, Surowiecki proposes that often crowds are smarter than individuals. Maybe not smarter an expert, but crowds are made up of everyone (experts included) and that often a crowd can predict the correct outcome or the correct weight of an ox–better than any one individual. Isn’t that something? And the thing is, it’s true. After reading this book, I tried it. I used the wisdom of crowds and found myself out of a large maze in record time. His theory, in my books, is now considered tried, tested and true.
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Boom! Sociology and Romance: The Link I’ve Been Waiting For
Posted on April 7th, 2008 No commentsSince the urge first struck to write a romance, I have been shaking my head wondering where this came from. Generally, I am not a super-romantic sort of a girl. So, how did I end up writing and loving chick lit/romance/romantic comedies/women’s fiction? Good question and until now, I did not have the answer.
Then last night, laying in bed while trying to fall asleep, it hit me (like all my great ideas do) with a bang. The answer, was suddenly there like it had been there all the time. Fully formed. Boom.
So, you may ask, what does make an educated, independent sort who is not particularly romantic decide to write romance? Well, it is my background in sociology. Say what? Sociology? I know! How did I not notice before? You see, in university I majored in sociology. I loved doing research and particularly on sex roles, gender roles, feminism, images in the media, and all that fascinating stuff that involved the relationship between men and women as well as perceived images of men and women. Naturally, since I am fascinated with such issues, it has led me to…romance.
Really, when you break it down, the leap isn’t that huge. In sociology I studied sex roles and gender roles. In romance, what are you looking at? Well, sex roles, gender roles and the way they affect the relationship between the two sexes. Boom. There it is. Now I know.
Welcome to my Website and Blog
I am an aspiring fiction writer (children's, women's and commercial) and an agented nonfiction writer. I am also a member, critiquer and site moderator over on AgentQueryConnect.com. And, I also blog with other fabulous writers at all stages of the writing game on From The Write Angle.
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Enjoy!
my currently-reading shelf: