I’m not just a writer.

I’ve noticed that among all the blogs I come across and the bloggers I interact with, people define themselves as writers. Sure writing might be the skill we’re all most proud of, but I’m sure there are other things too by which we can defined. Let’s take me for example, I’ve been writing since I was five or six, and I like to think I’m good at it… but it’s not all I can do!

I’m a foodie. I love trying out new things when it comes to food. When I go to dine somewhere I try to pick a different dish every time, and I’m not deterred if it’s something too unusual. I love Italian food, even though I dislike garlic and onion, and almost any chicken dish is a winner in my book! Cooking, however, is not something I’m good at. I can’t even fry an egg properly.

Pixar’s Rules of Storytelling

The other day I came across the 22 rules of storytelling, shared by Emma Coats, a storyboard artist at Pixar Studios, on her twitter account. I found them to be truly inspirational and yet at the same time quite simple, and when you think about them and consider Pixar’s great films, you realise that these rules are all you need to create a wonderful, gripping tale. My commentary is in plain text. 🙂

1. You admire a character for trying more than for their successes. Does this remind you of Mr. Fredricksen from Up? We didn’t know if he would succeed in getting his house to Paradise Falls, but yet we all cheered him on and admired him for the way he tried to get there.

N-no, that’s not a tear… oh, who am I kidding?

A cookie and a toughie I am not.

I’m a sap, I won’t deny it. I’m a sucker for touching tales and tearjerkers, even though they turn me into a blubbering mess and help me waste a number of tissue papers. I never bother telling myself not to cry anymore, because I know I will cry or get teary-eyed regardless. It’s something many people make fun of me of because I’m supposedly one tough cookie, and yet I cry buckets when I watch a touching scene.

I don’t think it’s bad, personally… hey, we’re all human, right? And it just means I’m easily moved by things. It takes one reunion, one confession of love, one moment where someone’s heart is on their sleeve, one farewell, one death or even a victory to turn on my waterworks. I can’t help it. Yesterday I even got tear-eyed over a talent show rerun. The lady was so incredibly happy when she won that I got really moved by it. Don’t laugh – these things can get highly emotional!