Monday, April 30, 2012

Give Me a Z! ZEST

Welcome to The Blogging A-Z Challenge April 2012! Some of the most popular posts here at The Shellshank Redemption are the Motivational Mondays. So, after consulting the tortoises, we decided to make April our Motivational Month! Please join us for this (almost!) daily dose of alphabetical inspiration. We hope you enjoy it! 

* ZEST. GUSTO. HOW RARELY ONE HEARS THESE WORDS USED. HOW RARELY DO WE SEE PEOPLE LIVING, OR FOR THAT MATTER, CREATING, BY THEM. YET IF I WERE ASKED TO NAME THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS IN A WRITER'S MAKE-UP, THE THINGS THAT SHAPE HIS MATERIAL AND RUSH HIM ALONG THE ROAD HE WANTS TO GO, I WOULD ONLY WARN HIM TO LOOK TO HIS ZEST, SEE TO HIS GUSTO.  (RAY BRADBURY) *

If you looked up the words “zest” or “gusto” in the dictionary . . . you would not see my picture. I am quiet and tend to hover on the edges, in the background. I am more likely to be part of the team than to be its leader. And yet…

My verve, my oomph, my zest is there - it’s just on the inside. It emerges in these blog posts and in my stories and novels. I am not quick with the witty comeback or the snappy retort but oh! my characters are. If you ask me about a book I read, my eyes will light up. I can talk about writing and imagination and creativity the way people talk about their children - with love and awe and gratitude.   

On this last post for The Blogging A-Z Challenge April 2012, I give you these wonderful words by Ray Bradbury and I wish you zest and gusto in all your future endeavors.

20 comments:

  1. What a great quote. You have showed ZEST by completing the A-Z challenge.

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  2. I'm the same way, usually reserved but when it comes to reading or writing... boy, do I have zest.

    Most of my characters' witty retorts are products of those not-so-witty moments where, hours or days later, I finally think of something I should've said in response.

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  3. Donna - thank you!

    Avery - I think it just goes to show that every one of has something we feel passionate about, even if we don't show it all the time. :)

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  4. Yay! You made it! Nice job on the A to Z Challenge! I've enjoyed your posts!

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  5. Love, love, love Ray Bradbury!!!! he is one of my mentors. I also love zest, and ry to maintain my zest. What a great word! I'm over saying hi on this last (boo hoo) day of A to Z, so pop on by if you like! (Catherine Stine's Idea City)

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  6. Julie D - right back at you! :)

    Catherine - I have his ZEN book on my shelf, waiting to be read. Thank you for stopping by! :)

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  7. Congratulations on finishing the challenge with such gusto! It's been so much fun getting to know you.

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  8. Me again - I could have sworn I was already following, but I definitely am now!

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  9. My zest is like yours- internal. And my characters? Well, I suck at fiction so the two that I have toyed with are, shall we say, zestless? LOL

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  10. Congrats on a great month of posts, Madeline! I can so relate to you in this, I often wish I could talk the way I can make my characters talk!

    Thanks for a very motivating month. :)

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  11. Great Bradbury quote. Thanks for sharing! And congratulations on finishing the challenge.

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  12. Annalisa - thanks! And congrats to you, too. :)

    Empty Nester - ha ha! I'm sure it wasn't that bad.

    Julie - you're very welcome! And congratulations to you, too. I enjoyed learning all about your city.

    Jenny - thank you! It's been so much fun! :)

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  13. It is with great WONDERFUL Zest that I end this challenge in a sane state of mind :)

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  14. You sound just like me. I'm very quiet and tend to hover at the edges, too, but when it comes to writing or reading - or anything I'm passionate about - that's when the zest and gusto come out. Great post! :-)

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  15. Love it! Love zest and gusto! And I love that you know where yours is! It's a great things to know yourself and I love that a lot of this comes out in your characters as well. So cool!

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  16. i'm full of zest and gusto to get back to my routine!
    great getting to know you!

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  17. Marie - thanks! :)

    Leigh - thank you so much!

    Tara - yeah, I'm looking forward to getting back to my routine, too. :)

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  18. I am like you. I think I am the most animated when I am talking about an awesome story. Thanks for sharing.

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  19. Jessica - I think there's a lot of us out there. :) Thanks for "following" us here at TSR!

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